Nazarick, Tenth Floor
Punitto Moe paced wildly around the personal office of Ancient One, muttering heatedly under his breath. His tendrils continuously wrapped themselves into knots, and he was pretty sure his eyes were a dark orange, bordering on red, from his residual rage.
He and his partner, Ancient One, decided to retreat back to his office to give him time to cool down, and to also begin planning their next move. They were in another world now, for better or for worse, which meant they had to start taking precautions to ensure the guild's safety. To think they hadn't even spent three days in this place, and already part of the guild was up to their old shenanigans.
"Of all the stupid, idiotic, dumbass things to have happened here, why did it have to be Momonga, Garnet, and Bellriver?" he said, wringing the shaft of his mace. "Momonga I could foresee, since it's been such a long time and he was all alone. Garnet would follow that man anywhere, regardless if it led him off a cliff, but Bellriver? He should've had more sense than to go out blind like he did. What the hell compelled him to go about and do something like that?"
"Perhaps he is still riding some sort of post-mortem high. After all, it's not often you find out you were killed, your last memory is playing with the whole guild, only to gain a one-way trip to a fantasy setting in your old avatar."
Punitto Moe whirled on Ancient One, who sat pleasantly behind his expensive, wooden desk. "And?! That doesn't mean you can just throw common sense out the window! You and I know better than anybody the risks associated with just going in, guns blazing and no back-up! We're sure as hell lucky those soldiers were such weaklings and could get smacked like bugs!"
"Why must you put it so viciously, Punitto? I do not see any such cause for you to devote energy to rage that you vented already. You have delivered punishment, have you not? Perhaps you could use a cold drink to settle your nerves, or have your tastes remained the same since the last time we saw each other before… all of this?"
The phrasing was put delicately, but Punitto Moe got the general meaning behind the question. Leave it up to someone like Ancient One to remain so cold and grounded amidst all of the death vine player's floral fury. He yanked a chair back from the desk, plumbing down in it with a grumble.
"I still don't drink, no, and I don't see why I would change so easily, even if it has been three or four years. Damn alcohol makes me act like a moron, and I'd prefer to have my wits about me."
Ancient One shrugged. "So I suspected, but you must remember, your tastes and mannerisms may remain as they are, but could the same really be said of our comrades? It's been a long time since our last get-together. I highly doubt it is fair to hold the same reservations you did for people who may no longer adhere to old principles."
"Ha! Now you're just being dramatic. There's no reason to believe they would so easily forget our old methods. Game or not, we're here in our avatars, sitting in your office that was built in Nazarick, talking about friends we've raided and grinded with for literal years," Punitto Moe crossed his arms, tapping his foot on the ground.
With a sigh, the aminuzu seer leaned forward and steepled his fingers. He bore a contemplative expression on his face, which looked downright evil now that he was actually able to use facial expressions. Back in Yggdrasil, facial expressions were a technological impossibility, so to see it become real was somewhat unsettling.
It didn't help that his partner naturally was a thoughtful and reflective person. He reminded Punitto of a demon lord, plotting his next heinous act with the sort of incalculable precision and experience that culminated over eons. The truth was known to him, of course, but it was an observation he couldn't help but make anyways.
Ancient One hadn't changed either, just like him, or at least he put up a front that he was unchanged. It was so difficult to get a read on the sage player, even after so many years of questing together.
Now that the body he wore was effectively his, the poker face he might've used in real life was immaculately translated to his demonic form. Every movement he made, every word he said, every action he took possessed some grander purpose in whatever plan he may cook up. Nothing was wasted, nor would it be in the philosophy of such an intellect.
Punitto Moe had no doubt his own could rival the seer's in some ways, but at the same time, he was left hopelessly outmatched before Ancient One's genius.
Myself the battle strategist, and him the sociologist. Two halves of a single whole, able to complement each other in the fields where we're lacking. I know I shouldn't be trying to analyze him the way he does to other people, but sometimes I can't help myself.
"Punitto Moe, my friend," Ancient One suddenly asked, drumming his fingers together, "were I to ask you for a status report as to the strength of Nazarick, and our chances of successfully holding off an invasion force comparable to the fifteen hundred man invasion, what would your answer to me be, right now?"
He took a moment to think. "Well, if Momonga maintained the base as well as he said he did, of which I have no doubt about that, we're around the strength we had the first time the Eight-Guild Alliance came for us. The traps should still be in full working order on all floors, and the NPCs in their chosen posts. Add onto that the full might of the forty-one here, we're nigh untouchable."
"I see. I suspected as much, but it never hurts to hear a second opinion other than my own. Though, I do believe our defenses possess a significant hole, one that is paramount to be fixed, but easily so."
An eyebrow was raised. "Last I checked, Dynamite didn't blow off the cover of Nazarick, unless you're referring to something you and I both need to discuss, something that the three knuckleheads should've done more of before they left for… Carne, was it?"
A wicked smile carved itself across his face, Ancient One reaching down into his desk and pulling out a roll of parchment. He unfurled it, revealing the same map that Momonga, Garnet, and Bellriver acquired during their time at the village. Already, there was a mess of notes written all over it, questions and general observations based on what he heard second-hand and what he was told.
"I've been hard at work thinking of ways we can patch this hole in our defenses. Our intelligence gathering could use a few upgrades, and we can't expect Nubo to do all the work," Ancient One tapped the map. "The NPCs following us up to the surface did confirm to me something: they are able to leave the tomb, and if they can disregard the former regulations of Yggdrasil so readily, then what else could have changed about Nazarick, or anything Yggdrasil related for that matter?"
"Seems you read my mind already, since I was thinking something similar these last few days. Now that we have a small idea of what may lie in wait beyond home base, it may be in our best interest to start sending out preliminary scouts to survey the perimeter towns and even cities."
"You believe that we can acquire more information this way, preventing significant potential loss on our end by sending in disposable spies first?"
Punitto Moe pulled the map closer to himself to point out the major landmarks and cities. "Way I see it, we need to cover our asses. Maybe us coming here was a fluke of fate or magic or whatever, but I don't believe for a second that there couldn't exist other forces that could get the drop on us. We're strangers in a strange land, and we need to know what's out there and what their strengths and weaknesses are, so we can devise a proper contingency if need be."
"Have we considered what types of disposables we could potentially send out, once we have devised a plan? I do not wish to send anything that is too powerful, as that may draw attention to our presence, and nothing so weak that we would lose them in only a day or so."
A pause came then, as the two strategists thought about what would make for the best summon or mob to send out. They would need to think of team composition, deciding on if they wanted a team of spies to go out all at once, or to send single man expeditions out. With a team, they could get away with the chosen species being lower level, while with a single individual, they could get away with them being higher level than usual.
The problem with that strategy is that if we send too large a group, that could draw attention and possibly prompt people to label them mercenaries, whereas if we send only a single person, that might also draw eyes, especially if the spy is forced to engage in combat should they be accosted.
For that matter, Punitto Moe knew then they could not have a single man group. That would make the figure too tempting a target to bandits and rogue mercenary groups, should they exist.
Once those groups were inevitably defeated, it would spark unwanted rumors.
Likewise, having a large group may inspire fear in travelers who saw them, or otherwise ask questions as to who they were or where they were going. Given enough time, the pair could easily construct a passable backstory, but with the limited info they had on hand, that plan would come much later.
"I would like to summon Albedo and speak with her about other important matters," Ancient One said after a moment. "I am reasonably confident in our own plans, but now I think we should focus upon the homefront, and who would know better than the one who oversees all of its floor guardians?"
"I'll make the call then. Should I signal for any of the other NPCs to come along?"
"No, there will be no need for such a thing. I do not wish to crowd my office, as I fear their… overzealous nature may inspire them to act in ways we do not anticipate at first. It is her aptitude in base management and logistics I am more interested in, so she is really all we require."
Punitto Moe hummed in agreement, holding up two fingers to his temple as he sent out a private [Message] to the guardian overseer. His end beeped for only a few seconds before he received a reply from her.
"Good afternoon, may I ask who it is who reaches out to me?" Albedo's professional but sensual voice came through, a pleasing inflection to the death vine's ears.
"It's me, Punitto Moe. I'm with Ancient One right now in his office. Would you mind coming over to meet us? We have matters about the base we want to discuss and we believe your presence is needed," he identified himself, making a note for the future to always begin the call with his name.
"I'll be over right away. Shall I gather the other Lords of Nazarick as well? Or perhaps the floor guardians for this meeting?"
"That won't be necessary. Just you for now should suffice."
He cut off the transmission then. "She's on her way. Not only are we having to worry about what lies beyond, but also what might slip under the radar while we're home. The fact that we're so ignorant of what's around us is infuriating…makes my skin itch."
"Oh? I thought you might be beyond such things, considering your own biology has evolved significantly to be… less human now. I'm not a biologist by any means, however, so I'd need to ask Blue Planet for his professional opinion."
"Ha ha, very funny. Next thing you know, he'll be seating me and Flatfoot side by side to test what differences in our anatomy we have."
They shared a genuine chuckle afterwards, enjoying the comfortable silence that fell between them. He allowed his thoughts to wander idly, not really thinking too hard on any one subject. For a rare moment, he felt like he was able to relax with his friend.
And then the door to the office opened.
—-
Albedo had been in her room when the [Message] to her came, as she was happily sewing up the first of what she envisioned to be many plushies of her beloved Momonga. She wore a soft smile as she slowly sewed the fabric together, making sure there was plenty of fluff to fill it up properly.
Ah, my beloved Momonga. To think I could have such deep and true feelings for you, hidden from even myself. I would've been blind for the rest of my life had Lords Peroroncino, Ulbert Alain Odle, and Whitebrim, and Lady Bukubukuchagama not uncovered the veil over my eyes! I could never repay them for such a gift!
It was her plan to try and make plushies of all of the forty-one, as "welcome home" gifts and mementos of their return to Nazarick. Certain Supreme Beings would be finished first, such as Momonga, and then her father would be next in line. After those two, she planned to finish the rest of the plushies by going down the list of Supreme Beings.
Unfortunately, her desire would have to be placed on hold, since duty quite literally called for her now. She was not disappointed, far from it in fact, for to serve the Supreme Beings in any capacity they wished was an honor like no other.
Not to mention she could easily come back and resume where she left off. There were no pressing duties for the day, given the Supreme Beings were spending it to themselves. She wished to spend it with her beloved originally, but alas…
His shame must be great, to have hidden himself from me. I can't even go and comfort him when I don't know where he is, and I would never presume to [Message] him out of the blue like that. It'll have to be a waiting game now, until he is able to walk among the others with his head held high.
She set down the plushy and sat up from the bed, smoothing out any wrinkles in her dress. She checked the mirror to make sure she was presentable, quickly exiting her private quarters and heading to the office of Lord Ancient One.
Along the way, she did pass Lords Tigris Euphrates and Variable Talisman, the former reared up on his great length so that he could converse with the latter more easily. The powerful mimic was silent, just listening to the other Supreme Being sing praises about a new dish he was going to try in the cafeteria with the maids.
With a bow, she paid her respects to them, them not really paying attention to her save for a wave and a polite "Hello!" from Lord Tigris. Beyond them, her path was without eventfulness. In no time at all, she arrived at her destination.
Pushing open the door, she made her way inside, taking note of everything around her, so as to not accidentally knock something over or ignore anyone else who may be present. The office of Lord Ancient One was rather simple compared to Lord Punitto Moe's or her beloved Momonga's, but would still be considered superb by human standards.
It was done up in the same, tasteful black and white marble that composed the majority of the tomb, but there were hints of ruby-red mixed in, the Supreme Being of Secrets and Foresight's favorite color. The mid-section of the pillars that held up the arched ceiling were crafted entirely of the precious gemstone.
A rug with the emblem of Ainz Ooal Gown emblazoned on it covered the floor, leading directly up to the fortress of a desk that the demonic strategist had. It was polished to a perfect shine, the faint scent of lemons and roses filling the air.
There were various busts of seven Supreme Beings and an additional individual, which flanked the rug at regular intervals. She could, of course, name all of them off the top of her head:
There was, first and foremost, her beloved Momonga, the Supreme Being of Death itself.
Next came Lord Touch Me, Supreme Being of Justice.
Then there was Lord Nishikienrai, Supreme Being of Assassins.
Lord Wish III, Supreme Being of Primordial Fire and Deceit.
Lord Warrior Takemikazuchi, Supreme Being of War.
Lord Flatfoot, Supreme Being of Poison.
Lord Amanomahitotsu, Supreme Being of Blacksmithing and Craftsmanship.
The final bust was of another individual, one whose head was smooth all around and wearing a helmet forged of a rough, rocky material. She sneered automatically at it, the name of the person it represented rising up in her mind like bile at the back of her throat.
I understand Lord Ancient One's desire to have all the ones who helped create this illustrious guild on prominent display, but…must he show off the very one who BETRAYED everything this guild stood for? Such a vile, DISGUSTING piece of vermin, that one was!
There were only eight busts, however, the vile traitor's among them. Lord Ancient One never made a bust for himself, which she assumed was because he did not wish to have an odd number of busts disrupt the way he set them up. It was also plausible to think that since they led up to the desk, Ancient One could serve as his own representation in his office.
"Is everything alright, Albedo? I hope my taste in decor is not that upsetting to you. It is not to everyone's liking, but it is my own," Lord Ancient One mentioned politely, wearing that signature, almost endless toothed grin he was known for.
Albedo snapped out of her thoughts immediately, going into damage control mode. "Of course not, my lord. I merely saw that particular bust, and I could not help but to show my disdain for the individual it is fashioned after. I apologize if I have offended you in any way."
Lords Punitto Moe and Ancient One shared one of those conspiratorial glances. The aminuzu was shaking his head, chuckling.
"There is no need to apologize so readily for a mere comment. Though, your eagerness to please myself and Punitto Moe is noted. I only hope you are not attempting to worm your way into my favor."
"Her? Please. From what I've seen, they're all like that. Whether that's just their natural personality or something rearing its head because we're here… I can't really say," Lord Punitto Moe said dryly.
"Hmmm. Regardless, Albedo, you need not worry yourself. Your reaction is perfectly fine, though I'm quite surprised you know who Blue Wall is. I did not think anyone else besides us guildmates would."
He gestured to an open seat, inviting her to sit down. She hesitated for a moment, but chose the seat so as to not throw away the offer. Her natural instinct was to stand and deliver any thoughts or opinions, so it took some considerable willpower not to.
"I have heard enough stories over the years from the others, my lord," she said as she settled in. "Enough to know that his crimes against the guild were horrendous and unjust. After all you did for him, providing him family and security, only for him to betray you and steal one of the guild's sacred treasures? That is unforgivable."
Lord Punitto Moe raised a leafy eyebrow. "A lot of hatred for someone you've never even met, but we can talk about that later. We're not here to discuss old grudges, before your's or even my time."
"Of course, my Lord. How may I be of service?" she asked.
They proceeded to fill her in on the details of what their previous conversation had been about before they called her in. She listened dutifully and with rapt attention, absorbing every detail they gave her so she could make informed and well-articulated responses as needed.
As expected of the Supreme Beings. Already they plan ahead for their machinations towards the world at large. They cannot proceed ahead without ensuring their servants are just as prepared as they are, so they bring me in to test my resolve and knowledge.
"Our primary issue is that we wish to focus on some of the strengths and weaknesses of the tomb. A reassessment of our defenses is in order, not to mention the abilities of the NPCs," Lord Ancient One clarified.
"There's also the matter of deciding where we would want to send our chosen summons for our future information gathering missions. We need to decide which countries are the most worthwhile, what population hotspots we should look into, business like that," the Death Vine Supreme Being added on.
Albedo formulated a response quickly based on some of their given parameters. "Am I correct in assuming as well you will want eventual dossiers on high level government officials, as well as documents pertaining to country militaries, strategic cities, population density, economic state of being, and possibly more?"
"That would be most wise," Lord Ancient One commended her, "As expected, you are most efficient in such matters. We were right to call upon you first to discuss this."
Her wings fluttered slightly in pride, beaming brightly. "Of course, my Lords! As the Guardian Overseer, I make it my duty to try and keep up to par to the standards of the Supreme Beings. You also wished for me to go over some of the Tomb's defenses?"
"Yes, indeed."
"As you know, each floor has been assigned a floor guardian, a chosen individual whom you placed to safeguard and prevent invaders from advancing deeper within. There are also the various traps which the Great Tomb of Nazarick automatically maintains, as well as the naturally spawning minions and monsters of our glorious home."
So far, a routine report on Nazarick. Most of the information came easily to her, due to her own diligence in maintaining an up-to-date catalogue of their capabilities. Were she being tested right now, she was sure she was acing it.
But that does not mean I should ever begin to slack on my work. It has been some time since all of them were gathered back in Nazarick like this. Brushing up on our defenses and their capabilities does well in sharpening my own self-awareness.
"Ah, that does remind me about some of our resident floors. I don't think we have any guardians for the ninth and tenth floors, do we?" Lord Ancient One asked, more to himself it sounded like, but it was a question she was more than happy to answer.
"Technically speaking, my lord, Sebas Tian and the Pleiades serve a somewhat similar role, but due to the Pleiades' weaker states, they would not hold up well against beings powerful enough to reach this divine place. The Pleiades would do no more than buy you seconds at best, save Sebas."
Lord Punitto Moe fiddled with the hem of his robes in thought. "I suppose you're right. Next floor I know had… It was Victim, right? It's been a few years, but he was Nubo's creation?"
"That is correct, my Lord. Victim has been assigned as the Eighth Floor's guardian. He was quite instrumental in helping to route the Eight Guild Invasion."
A sigh of nostalgia came out from the aminuzu seer. "That takes me back. Despite the precariousness of it all, that was a good bit of fun. To have so many march against us, spending all that time and resources to get so close… Should they have succeeded, however, they could have easily made back two or three times what they lost."
"Yeah, sure, a 'good bit of fun'," Lord Punitto Moe joked dryly, "I think the entire invasion lasted a whole day, having around fifteen hundred enemies throwing themselves at us to die. Only ended because Victim came in clutch with his abilities, now that I'm beginning to remember it more."
Lord Ancient One laughed. "Yes, yes, he truly did. A splendid display! We could wade through the miasma and strike all those on the Eighth Floor down with a single hit because of the debuff without being harmed ourselves. To think–"
The Supreme Being of Secrets quieted immediately, bearing a contemplative look. Albedo's shoulders tensed involuntarily at the sudden lack of reminiscing. Her anxiety built the longer he remained silent, compounded by his counterpart's own look of worry.
Did I miss something when I began recounting everything I knew!? I must have, since Lord Ancient Once stopped so suddenly. His memory is vast, so I wouldn't put it past him to have remembered or realized something I overlooked, or perhaps he merely felt there was an intriguing aspect from those days that came to the forefront.
Finally, her Lord spoke. "…I just realized Yggdrasil possessed a non-friendly fire feature, ensuring that our own spells and effects wouldn't harm our allies. Am I correct in recalling that tidbit of knowledge, Punitto?"
The death vine battle-priest stared at his partner with confusion. "Yeah, that sounds about right. That's pretty much the only reason we got to wade through Victim's miasma unscathed. I don't–" he paused, looking at the floor in thought, "oh wait… If there isn't an 'off' feature for friendly fire in this world, that means...Victim just became a hazard."
"It's unfortunate, but if I am correct, then that means there are other security risks to consider. We are no longer living by game rules, so it is time to abide by reality once again."
Slowly, an understanding came to Albedo while she listened, realizing the gravity of his statement and what that meant for Nazarick. If there was a hole in their defenses, or worse yet, a liability that could hinder her masters, then it would need to be rectified right away so as to prevent as little damage as possible.
These are the head strategists of Ainz Ooal Gown afterall, two of the four intellectuals this guild has to offer. It's always a treat to see them at work, dissecting their problems and piecing together clever solutions. A rare honor indeed.
She was so giddy with excitement she almost missed Punitto Moe's slow nodding. "Damn, I didn't think about that. Victim will definitely need to be reassigned, if something like the fifteen-hundred man invasion happens again. I think we're gonna need to look into some of the other defenses too, figure out which releases AOE effects and what they do specifically."
"That would be most important. Albedo, can I entrust that task to you and some of the other NPCs to handle?" Lord Ancient One ordered. "The floor guardians can create a list of all defenses which may pose potential hazards, and then report back to us."
"Certainly, my Lord. I'll see to it right at once, as soon as my meeting with the both of you finishes."
"Excellent! Now, I believe earlier we discussed the need to figure out potential targets for our spy missions…"
For the next hour or so, Albedo was more than happy to partake in their planning, the Supreme Being of Secrets pulling out a map of the surrounding area that her beloved Momonga and Lords Garnet and Bellriver acquired. Using a pen, they were able to take note of a few areas that would take the most priority in intelligence collection.
Making contributions to the conversation was intellectually stimulating all on its own, listening to the high-level planning the two strategists partook in. The more they spoke, the more the simultaneous feeling of learning their methods and absorbing them for herself grew. She was but a child before their grand genius.
"...given we have made contact with a representative of their kingdom, I do think we should send spies first to Re-Estize," Lord Punitto said during that time, "Nubo can scry Gazef to get an idea of his political importance and where he sits in the hierarchy. I know it was mentioned he was a 'Chief Warrior', but I'm unsure what that could mean other than he's a high-ranking officer."
"It could be, my Lord, that he is not only an integral part of the military structure of Re-Estize, but also close to the ruling figures of the country. Once you send in your chosen spies, might I recommend that you assign a permanent watch over Gazef, so as to better understand his standing?" Albedo suggested.
Lord Ancient One tapped his chin appraisingly. "We can do that, and we could also make use of those hostages from the Sunlight Scripture to fill in any holes in our knowledge regarding the Chief Warrior and his charges. I am unsure how willing they would be to share sensitive info, but I believe it can be safe to assume they were at least briefed enough to figure out how to best slay Gazef as part of their assassination attempt."
"You think maybe they could give us some clues as to the other countries and their importance? The ones we don't know on the map?" The battle-priest pointed at the map to indicate what he was referring to.
Based on the map and the location of Carne village, Nazarick seemed more closely situated to the kingdom of Re-Estize, a sizable landmass composed of many small villages and larger cities and towns. One had been circled in black charcoal, which she was informed was known as E-Rantel, a close-by human city.
On the opposite side of the afforded map was another kingdom, the name written in a language she could not read. She had no doubt that her masters already created a cipher for the language and knew what it said, but since they did not directly mention it, she figured that translating it herself would be another test they would give her.
A third kingdom closer to the bottom of the map was also prominently displayed, but the bottom was sheared off short enough so as to only show that it was there, and not how large it was. She frowned when she realized that effectively meant most of the surrounding area was related only to that third kingdom. While the information gleaned from study could prove beneficial, she would have preferred that she had a more complete map to work with.
"Perhaps we could utilize advanced interrogation techniques to get the knowledge we need by force, my Lords. It may not be pretty, but if we utilize mind magic with the help of Lord Wish III, it may yield some promising results," Albedo mused, smirking somewhat cruelly at the thought of bending the humans to her masters' will.
"Who can say for certain?" Lord Ancient One shrugged, "It may be that they're fully willing to cooperate with us either out of an attempt to 'atone' for their mistakes or out of a fear for their lives. Regardless, we cannot be certain they would even be able to tell us what they know. Magic exists in this world as well, so who's to say their own superiors have not placed safeguards to prevent a data leak on their end?"
Lord Punitto Moe waved his tendril arm around. "We can do that if they refuse to cooperate. Now that we've started talking out some of the possible paths we could take, here is what I propose for our next step: We assemble an initial team of stealth summons to send into Re-Estize and its surrounding areas to compile necessary data on important, strategic figures."
He tapped the desk with a leafy vine. "Once the necessary dossiers are assembled, we delve even deeper by sending in some dopplegänger's to replace lower-level but vital figures in their government, primarily people who might serve the higher ups directly. They interact on a daily basis and can get more personal details the initial team would have missed."
Lord Ancient One hummed in contemplation. "That would be wise. It may give us a better idea as to this world's power level as well. Though, given what we have observed of this world so far, I find it rather strange just how much weaker the natives are compared to us. That Dominion Authority the Sunlight Scripture unleashed was only around level fifty-five, correct? There does seem to be the issue of someone attempting to scry upon the battle as it was happening. Which may suggest a fifth-tier diviner from all the way back in their home country was keeping an eye on the scripture, until Nubo intercepted it."
"Gazef doesn't strike me as very powerful either. Based on what Garnet said about him, he seemed maybe, at most, around level thirty. Given he is the Chief Warrior of the Re-Estize Kingdom, whatever that may mean, that doesn't exactly inspire the most confidence in his kingdom's average levels among its military," Lord Punitto Moe stated.
"Yes, how peculiar… I do hope it remains this way. Some peace and quiet would be quite agreeable to me."
Taking a small break from their strategizing, the two supreme beings idly chatted, including Albedo as well from time to time. She made sure to engage when they asked, but she never dared to go any further than she was invited to. Listening to the two of them reminisce about their glory days and discuss more mundane topics was actually relaxing to her, loosening the shoulders and lowering her guard.
I'm glad they saw fit to include me in their activities, allowing me to help Nazarick the best way that I can. Although, now that I think about it, it would seem one of the major issues that my masters are facing is a lack of understanding about the immediate area. They have intelligence gathering covered, so how could we address this issue with the map beyond the stealth summons?
An idea came to her then. "My Lords, might I propose something to you? I think I may have a solution to the incompleteness of the map, and how we could potentially create a more localized version for the surrounding area."
The strategist pair immediately shifted back to business, giving her their full attention and emboldening her to continue.
"I would never dream of risking the safety of the Supreme Beings of Nazarick, so what I suggest is this: We can send out reconnaissance like Aura and Mare to map out the area closest to Nazarick and begin making note of any important landmarks or towns nearby, beyond just Carne Village."
"Ah, smartly put, dear Albedo," Lord Ancient One commended, "Having a beast tamer and druid check out the grasslands outside our home is well thought out. They could also bring back valuable data about the wildlife, too. I'm sure the children will enjoy that, if my observations about their personalities are correct."
"Ha! Knowing you, they are," Lord Punitto Moe snarked playfully, before turning back to her. "That's a good idea, Albedo. That's something else you should do when you leave. Let the twins know we want them to scout around and draw up a map. We'll make copies when they come back, and give them out to the guild members at our next meeting."
The amnizu seer tucked his chin into his chest while he pondered what he wished to say next. "For the time being, that will be all. Once you've done as we have asked in their entirety, report back to us. In the meantime, my partner and I will speak with the other floor guardians and assess them as well. Thank you for your time, my dear."
He gestured towards her, and she stood up without another word. "Of course, my Lord. I will make sure to complete everything you asked me with to my utmost ability, you have my word. Please, do not hesitate to call upon me if something else comes up."
Her chest filled with pride at having served her purpose, and she bowed with grace. There was nothing else to really say, for her next action would be to fulfill her given orders. She smiled in anticipation, glad that she would be able to advance a small part of their plans.
—-
Punitto Moe and Ancient One watched as the image of beauty left their office, their eyes on her hips for a brief moment. The former grunted once the door closed behind her, and it was just the two of them again.
"That captain, Gazef Stronoff, promised Momonga and the others books about the area as payment for help in defending the village, right?" The death vine asked.
"Indeed. However, he was on horseback with a sizable group of men, so it'll be a good week or two for them to return home and then make it all the way back to Carne for a pickup. Provided they don't run into any trouble along the way," Ancient One clarified.
"Bah! I hate that we'll have to wait so long for him to come back, if that's how long it really takes him. I'm glad Albedo suggested using the twins in the meantime to help us complete the map."
He stood up from his chair. "By the way, I had some time to think about what kind of summons we could use. Let's go pay Grievous a visit, I haven't gotten to see him at work in the library since we got here. He could help us out."
Ancient One bowed his head in acknowledgment and joined him, the two swiftly exiting the office and waving away the maids that waited outside to serve their every need. None had been allowed into the office, due to Punitto Moe not wishing to be served and the aminuzu seer wishing to keep their conversation private out of habit.
An ironic twist of fate, to know that among all their comrades, all their friends, the two of them likely remained the least changed of all. It was comforting in a way, to know that his best friend was as reliable and intellectually stimulating as ever to speak with.
Though, with the destination we have in mind, maybe we could convince Grievous to leave the library and join us. He hardly leaves the place as is, even back during the height of our Yggdrasil career. He'll have to come out and eat… eventually.
Despite the years of absence, the path they took felt like second nature to them. Before they knew it, they stood before the impressively-crafted doors that led into the library, guarded by high-class golems that stood on either end. They inclined their heads with respect at the approaching players, and opened the path before them to enter.
Inside, sprawling hallways of shelves filled to the brim with books reached all the way to the ceiling, spanning multiple floors that could only be reached by stairs closer to the back of the room. Marble pillars flanked certain junction points of each shelf, which were squarish and thick. Intricate statues and other designs and iconography were present all over, adding a flair and richness to the architecture that could be found nowhere else.
A horde of spirits and liches flitted around the place, tending to various titles and pulling books off their shelves or returning them to their rightful places. Their scholarly roles and dignified air signified them as part of the team tasked with keeping the library up to pace and clean.
Some made it their job to dust off the various art pieces and paintings that filled up the room. The painting on the ceiling, for example, was meticulously scrubbed and cared for by wind spirits, lesser versions of the species that Tempest Aizawa was a member of herself. Back to the books themselves though, the sheer volume of it all made it near-impossible to take in everything with a single glance.
Punitto Moe's facial leaves shifted as he and Ancient One were subjected to the library's glory. "Easily one of the guild's greatest accomplishments. All this data and knowledge, I'm glad Grievous has his own playground to spend time in."
"So long as it is not to the detriment of his own health," Ancient One reminded him with a stern look. "Player body or not, that doesn't mean he can neglect his own needs."
"Naturally, of course. Speak of the devil…"
Rounding the corner of one of the shelves was Grievous Sin himself, nose deep into tomes and holding four simultaneous ones in each arm. The worms that made up his body each held a pen in their mouth, writing furiously into their chosen space and flipping pages the moment they finished on one.
He was flocked by the five guardian Overlords that protected the library: Aelius, Aurelius, Cocceius, Fulvius, and Ulpius. Accompanying them was the chief librarian of the library itself, Titus Annaeus Secundus, the personal creation of Shijuuten Shizuku.
Among the undead minions that served Nazarick, Titus was a unique specimen, bearing an appearance similar to an amalgamation of beast and humans. A pair of horns grew out of his head, poking out from the silk hood draped on him.
A rich, red gown covered most of his body, adorned with many accessories and powerful magic items. Among these was a bracelet with seven jewels embedded into it, alongside several different rings on his four-fingered hands. A belt of gems wrapped around his waist, giving him an overall decadent appearance.
The clopping of his hooves ceased all together as he caught sight of the two strategists first. He hushed the Overlords who spoke excitedly with Grievous, which in turn led to the mgalekgolo scholar looking up from his chosen tomes.
"Hmmm… I was not anticipating your arrival yet. No, knowing you both, I have simultaneously prepared for you. You're here for summons aren't you? Yes, yes, that sounds like what you need right about now," the scholar muttered, half-interested as he focused part of his attention on the tomes he wrote in.
"Meticulous as always, Grievous. I trust you've been keeping yourself busy since we arrived?" Ancient One complimented and asked, giving one of his trade-mark, wide grins.
"Of course, of course. I'm currently working on a collection of Shakespeare's plays. No copyright to keep me back this time, no. I currently have eighty-seven percent of Hamlet, Thirty-three percent of Midsummer Night's Dream, fifty-four percent of The Canterbury Tales, and ninety-one percent of Antony and Cleopatra completed. Once done, I plan to finish the rest of the collection as needed."
He said all of this with a strange, robotic tone of voice, like how a computer might speak, underplayed with a high-pitch from the various worms that spoke alongside him. His four arms darted from book to book, keeping track of his progress.
The only reason he was able to watch where he was going was because of the worms that took double-duty acting as another pair of eyes. Although, the way the Overlords and Titus hovered protectively around him, they acted as an added precaution to keep him from bumping into a wall or bookshelf.
"Tell me, what summons will you need?" Grievous asked, all four eyes focusing on the pair of them. "There is a likely chance you require summons that will have stealth as a function. You need some that are quick to escape notice, but not weak to avoid combat. Yes, yes, I see now. Come with me."
The mgalekgolo swiveled on his heels, his bone armor clacking from the sudden movement. Ancient One and Punitto Moe shared a knowing look, quickly following their friend and his entourage.
Because of the expansive size of the library, Titus was able to slow down and speak with the both of them. "Well hath met, mine own Lords. Forsooth, it doest this undead servant well to seeth thee. Prithee, bud me, art thee well?"
Punitto Moe waved to nothing in particular. "About as well as you can expect. I'd say I wish we were here for a better reason, but I see no other reason to visit here unless I'm getting what I need for my own projects or entertainment."
"Ah! Then thee cometh to the right lodging as at each moment, mine own Lords! I seeth nay better reasoneth to visiteth the library then to armeth yourselves with knowledge."
"You know us well enough, Titus, that is our job after-all," Ancient One smoothly replied, "Though, I must ask, has Grievous been getting the rest he needs? I'd hate to think we've neglected him in our own haste to cover our own needs."
"Worry not, mine own Lords! The other custodians and myself has't already arranged for yond. A maid endues that gent food and drinketh ev'ryday, anoth'r doth take that gent to the baths to crisp himself. That gent couldst not taketh bett'r careth!"
Titus was already waving away their concerns, and the Overlord nodded their assent to the truth as well. Punitto Moe's shoulders, as well as Ancient One's, relaxed to have that worry taken care of already.
In no time, they arrived at an unremarkable shelf, one that looked no different than the others. Grievous paused in front of it, muttering under his breath as he apparently walked through where he placed what he was looking for.
"Section H, third from the left, four down. Should be a book bound in black cloth and a symbol matching Nishikienrai's. Placed there March third, 2133. Ah, here it is."
Rather than close the books he was writing in, a worm that made up his midsection slithered out and clasped its pincers on the chosen book. It reached up and extended itself to the strategists. Punitto Moe took the proffered book, only to be given two others by two other worms.
"These will serve you well. One Hanzo, level eighty, skilled in countering stealth and shadow concealment. One Kashin Koji, level eighty, skilled in illusion magic and assassination techniques. One Fuumu, level eighty, skilled in hand-to-hand combat and specialized techniques. All humanoid in stature, which lessens detection chances if caught sight of."
Grievous nodded to himself with satisfaction. "While the use of higher tier mercenaries may be a slight detriment, I predict a better chance of survival should they run into trouble. I hope they accomplish your tasks."
This time, the loremaster did actually close a book, likely one of the ones he was closest to finishing or already finished. He used the free hand to pat them on the shoulder as he walked between them. Titus and the Overlords followed after him, returning to their original formation. They eventually disappeared into the near-endless bookshelves and marble pillars, returning back to their work.
Punitto Moe stared down at the chosen mercenary summoning books with a mixture of respect and expectation. "I used to wonder sometimes why he never bothered becoming a strategist like us. He has the technical knowledge at least."
"Sometimes, those who seem the most form-fitting are the least willing to go into the field. I believe Grievous is happiest where he is now, writing down every last line of dialogue into his tomes," Ancient One shrugged.
"That's just it, though, he used to be a lot more calm about this sort of thing. Now it seems like it evolved into a full-blown obsession for him. I know he had some sort of project with the Old Net before it went down, but what the hell happened to make him like… this?"
At this, the aminuzu seer gazed somewhat sadly at where the mgalekgolo player disappeared to. "It is as I said. It has been a long three years. I still remember when he changed his name from 'Lieutenant Four-Arms', and I cannot help but feel it was an indicator of a drastic change in his life."
Calling back to their original conversation in the office, Punitto Moe did recall the same thing. Back in those days, Grievous had gone by a different username, and was generally less withdrawn and even sociable.
It was like the change happened overnight. One day, Nazarick's resident loremaster simply logged on with a new name and an entirely changed attitude. Whereas he seemed merely introverted before, now he was a recluse who hardly left the library. He could still remember how other guild members complained he never bothered to grind with them anymore.
His build was altered as well, minmaxing into classes that prioritized data collection and spell retainment, making him one of the greatest sources of magic learning in the entire guild. His original build was more of a utility-based mage, one who didn't specialize but was capable of casting a wide array of spells to cover a majority of situations.
Apparently, Grievous must have enjoyed that aspect of his old self to not only retain a portion of it, but become a storehouse of every spell in the game. He could still only cast the initial three hundred he learned as part of his progression, but the other fifty-seven hundred were all stored onto the worms that made up his body, allowing other mages to learn spells that would otherwise be difficult or near impossible to obtain under normal circumstances.
From what Punitto Moe knew of the specific ability, it was Grievous's innate trump card, [Library of Babylon], that allowed him to store the spells for other mages to learn. He could cast any one of the spells in his storage that existed outside the three hundred he knew, but it would come at a terrible, terrible cost.
That sole price was why Grievous didn't try to take advantage of the full extent of his abilities, for to do so would essentially mean wiping away the "library" he strove so hard to cultivate within himself. Better he remain in the safety of Nazarick than going out and essentially nuking his spells and himself just for an extra additive of damage.
"Anyways, these books are perfect. He picked out a pretty good team composition for us to use, almost exactly what I would've wanted to have on hand," Punitto Moe commented, "I think maybe we could add in some shadow demons and Eight-Edge Assassins, but that would be for later teams."
Ancient One smiled. "I think we could have a wide array of minions carry out our tasks in the future, once we've established a proper spy network. Oh, I wonder now if we could build up our own little army out of the mobs that spawn in the tomb. They might not be very powerful, but they could make for a forceful show of power to the natives."
"I'd have to figure out the logistics of it all, as well as figure out a proper chain of command. Takemikazuchi used to be a Staff Sergeant, right? I'd have to go talk to him and figure out what that might look like. I'm pretty sure Demiurge, Ulbert's creation, was designed to be a military strategist, so having him involved would lighten the load a bit."
They remained in the library for a bit, not in any particular hurry to leave now that Part One of their plan was complete. They ascended to a higher level, where the majority of the shelves were made of glass and used to house interesting items and trinkets. There was an odd book here and there, but the second floor was more like a museum displaying ancient artifacts.
Amanomahitotsu used to make ornate and grandiose weapon designs to help fill the cases. Despite their fanciful appearances, they were less than weapons, not able to even damage lower level players. They were simply decoration, nothing more and nothing less.
Ancient One was admiring a Jade and Imperial Gold guandao while Punitto Moe sat at a table closest to the railing, looking down at the first floor to watch the heads of the liches and spirits zip past in their duties.
"A.O., mind if I ask you a question?" the death vine asked, not bothering to look up.
Likewise, the amnizu seer did not turn away from the guandao. "Of course, my friend, what did you want to say?"
"I have no doubt in my mind that there are potentially other players in this world, but if we were to actually encounter them, then how do we go about handling them? Back in Yggdrasil, it was easy to say 'Just kill them.' or 'Just ignore them.', since it was all a game. Here, we're not so lucky to have that."
For a long while, his partner didn't respond, dragging a talon along the edge of the glass shelf which housed the beautiful decoration. Punitto Moe finally looked away from the edge of the balancing to watch his friend instead, seeing what his response might be.
They always tried to prepare for worst-case scenarios, no matter how silly or impractical it may seem to be. To try and take chances at all invited disaster, and why bring such destruction upon themselves if they could take the precautions to avoid it in the first place?
Having Nazarick and everything that came with it become real carried dangerous implications, even if the rest of the guild was still too trapped in their current euphoria to notice it. Here, the threat of death was real. Weak natives or not, there would always be a larger force to contend with.
Finally, Ancient One sighed. "Then we will do what we must to ensure the safety and survival of our own guild. In the past, it was relatively easy to avoid bloodshed, since it was rather distasteful unless it aligned with our own goals. Here, we may have no choice. Real life or not, Ainz Ooal Gown will come first, now and forever. Our policies will have to change, for sure, but for now, I am content to enjoy what we have."
The demon turned around with that trademark grin of his. "You never could learn how to relax properly. We will draw up the required protocols for such situations, to ease your mind, but in the meantime, you should take advantage of the peace. You never know when it may be yanked out from beneath our feet."
"Right, right, I understand. Maybe I'll try and take up some reading then, nothing too strenuous. We are in the right place for it after all."
"Astute as always, Punitto Moe."
And so, for the rest of the day, both strategists spent their time in the library, storing away their summoning books for later. Bit by bit, the leafy player felt like his worries were seeping away, melted down by the pure, refined joy of not having to worry, for once, about anything really.
He only hoped that he hadn't accidently jinxed himself with his own questions. Heavens above knew that if he willed something into existence just by giving voice to it alone, he would blow a gasket and unleash a temper so vicious it put others to shame.