Chapter 113: Taking Years Off His Life
The tall, silent figure stood before him, clad head to toe in black armor.
"Is this acceptable, Ainz-sama?"
The voice from beneath the helmet was Momon's — low, detached, unhurried. Gone was the exaggerated theatrical delivery from moments before, the deliberate swells and drops of Pandora's Actor's natural register.
The red light in Ainz's eye sockets flickered slightly.
This one is actually quite capable when he's not being insufferable.
"Yes. Good." Ainz gave a slight nod. "Regarding the specifics of the mission."
"Impersonate the adventurer Momon. Travel to E-Rantel and rendezvous with Narberal. Continue operating under the name of the team Darkness, and collect everything you can about the hidden forces of this world."
A pause. "...And one more thing." A note of gravity entered Ainz's voice. "This is a test."
The helmet tilted slightly, as though conveying puzzlement.
"You are my creation, and Nazarick's most powerful Doppelgänger. But you have remained in the Treasury all this time, with no real opportunity to participate in Nazarick's operations." The weight in Ainz's voice left no room for doubt. "This mission is your chance to prove yourself."
Pandora's Actor went still for a moment.
Then he snapped his ankles together, raising his hand to where the helmet's brim would be.
The gesture looked somewhat mismatched on the adventurer Momon's body.
"I will not disappoint you, Ainz-sama."
The composed register was gone. Pandora's Actor had become theatrical again.
Ainz looked at the saluting black warrior and covered his face with his hand.
This was a design decision he had made when creating Pandora's Actor — he had thought it was extremely cool at the time, and now —
Now he still thought it was cool.
Provided Albedo wasn't watching.
Green light flashed. Composure restored.
"Rise." Ainz said. "Your mission is to impersonate the adventurer Momon. Keep your identity in mind at all times."
Pandora's Actor rose and resumed the bearing of the black warrior.
"One more thing." Ainz reached into his dimensional space and produced an item — an adventurer's metal tag, the nameplate belonging to the Mithril-ranked team Darkness. "This is Momon's proof of identity. From this moment on, you are Momon."
Pandora's Actor accepted the tag and, in one smooth motion, hung it at his chest.
Albedo, who had been watching quietly from the side all this while, suddenly spoke.
"Ainz-sama." Her voice was gentle, the golden slit-pupils carrying a warm luster in the dim light. "This subordinate has a request."
Ainz turned to look at her.
"Please allow this subordinate to inform Narberal of Momon's destination, so she can prepare to receive him in advance." Albedo inclined slightly. "And please also allow this subordinate to maintain regular contact with Narberal, to ensure Momon's operations proceed without difficulty."
Ainz gave a nod. "Granted. That matter is yours to handle."
"Thank you, Ainz-sama." The corner of Albedo's mouth curved up in a sweet smile.
Ainz turned back to Pandora's Actor. Looking at the fully armed black warrior, he paused a moment in thought, then withdrew a ring from inside his coat.
The Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown.
It caught the dim light in his palm with a cold gleam.
"This is for contingencies." He held it out. "It will allow you to move freely within Nazarick when needed. However, remember to remove it before going out, to avoid having it taken by enemies."
Pandora's Actor received the ring with both hands and carefully placed it inside his coat.
"Yes, Ainz-sama."
"One more thing." Ainz's voice came again, and this time a subtle shift had entered his tone. "...You understand Momon's manner, don't you?"
Pandora's Actor was silent for a brief moment.
"Please instruct me, Ainz-sama," he said.
"Cautious." Ainz said. "You are impersonating Momon. Momon is me. So you must conduct yourself in my manner — nothing out of character."
"If you encounter danger and cannot gather the enemy's intelligence, withdraw immediately. And whatever you do —"
The last part came out firmer than he intended, the red light in his eye sockets fixing directly on the black warrior before him.
"Do not suddenly salute someone."
"Can you do that?"
Pandora's Actor drew himself upright and performed another crisp military salute.
"I swear by the name of my creator."
Something went flat inside Ainz. Wasn't that swearing by him?
He watched Pandora's Actor's emphatic, unwavering posture and had the uneasy feeling that if Pandora broke this oath, it would somehow be Ainz who suffered for it.
Pandora's Actor turned and activated the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown's teleportation.
In the instant before the light swallowed him, he spoke.
"Wenn es meines Gottes Wille."
Ainz's finger bones gave a small twitch. I forgot to tell him not to speak German.
The light faded. The Treasury settled back into silence.
Those mountains of gold coins and the treasures scattered among them gave off their faint, many-colored glimmers in the dim light, as though everything that had just happened were some fleeting dream.
"Ainz-sama." Albedo came up from behind, something tender in her voice. "You seem... reluctant to see Pandora's Actor go?"
"...No." He said. "I was only thinking about when he is ever going to stop speaking German."
Albedo tilted her head slightly, a small flicker of puzzlement crossing those golden slit-pupils. She didn't ask further.
After a moment, Ainz turned around.
"Albedo. The follow-up matters are in your hands."
"As you command. Please leave everything to this subordinate, Ainz-sama."
Ainz gave a nod and stepped toward the Treasury's exit.
---
Deep in the Tob Forest, the light was dim.
Momon's sword came down and the ogre's arm — the one gripping the crude stone axe — was severed clean at the root.
The beast-sized demi-human didn't manage a scream before the second sword swept back from the opposite direction and crossed its neck.
The massive head rolled away into the fallen leaves. The headless torso swayed once and hit the ground with a heavy thud.
Momon crouched, cut off the ogre's ear with practiced efficiency, and dropped it into the hemp sack at his hip.
"Third one." He rose to his feet.
"There's one more hiding behind the tree over there." Narberal stood a short distance away, one finger gesturing lazily to the right. "Shall I handle it?"
"No need."
The words had barely left him before Momon was already moving.
A black trail swept through the forest. Both greatswords came down simultaneously and the tree trunk, along with the ogre sheltering behind it, was cut clean through. A mist of blood spread between the trees.
He turned through the shattered wood and debris and found the fourth ear. It went into the bag.
The blood soaking through the cloth had stained it a deep, dark brown.