It was a world whose air seemed aglow with red light.
Crimson lava flowed like river, with numerous bubbles in these currents bursting as they reached the surface.
There should have been a fire-elemental damage field effect in place here, but since that effect had been temporarily suspended, the area was merely hot instead. However, despite the word “merely”, this was not a place where the living could easily survive. The scorching air would easily strip throats and skin of their moisture in seconds.
Even freshly beaded sweat would instantly vaporize into steam, causing a steady accumulation of fatigue.
This place, which was thoroughly inimical to the living, perfectly fitted the description of a “hell world”. Even so, many creatures lived here, part of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
For instance, demons.
Many demons were resistant to fire. Even hazardous environments like these would have no effect on them. Indeed, one could already see the outlines of several demons in the smoke clouds that hung low and heavy in the air.
In addition, there were corrupted spirits of fire called mephits, monsters who were resistant to fire. Further in, one could find undead with very strong resistance to fire. In addition—
— There was the meandering flow of a river of lava. The Death Knight was following its course, walking along the path that ran over a dam. Every now and then, he turned his gaze toward the lava.
Just at that moment, the gigantic, writhing creature that had been keeping pace with the Death Knight — though he could not tell if it was walking or swimming, given that he could not clearly see it beneath the lava— seemed to lose interest in him, and left.
That was the Area Guardian of the 7th Floor’s River of Flame, a giant abyssal slime — Guren.
As a creature optimized for combat, its fighting ability was easily on par with the Floor Guardians.
If the Death Knight had been an enemy, he would have been dragged into the quicksand-like lava by Guren’s tentacles and attacked by a virtually invisible opponent. Simply put, Guren was a far more dangerous opponent than Demiurge, this floor’s Guardian. Because it did not need to breathe, it could hide its body in the magma, and defeating it with normal methods was nearly impossible.
Although the Death Knight did not think that Guren would actually attack and all that might have just been a prank, the Death Knight knew that even a playful swat might have resulted in lethal amount of damage for him.
The feeling of relief was an utterly alien thing to an undead creature, but as Guren fell back, the Death Knight could understand that emotion.
The Death Knight continued its long strides. Soon, he could see a cluster of randomly-strewn white columns ahead. Once, this place might have been a majestic Grecian-style temple, but the columns were scattered like they had violently collided with each other, and the statues of various gods had been profaned and smashed. The ceiling had been broken down, and the pieces were lodged in the ground.
It resembled the ruins left after demons had cast the gods down from their place in heaven. Desolation permeated the entire scene.
And among them were the forms of demons that were far, far superior to the Death Knight.
They were the Evil Lords, demons that were around level 80.
Their eyes seemed to contain an emotion resembling curiosity. It was only a natural reaction given the appearance of a hitherto-unknown undead creature. However, they were still able to discern that the Death Knight was on the same side as them, so they did not indulge the basic demonic instinct — to make others suffer.
They asked the Death Knight which Floor Guardian it served, with the utmost courtesy.
Their response to the Death Knight’s answer was dramatic, to say the least. All of them respectfully bowed to him, and asked him the reason for his arrival in the most self-effacing language.
When they received the answer that he had arrived to speak to the relevant Floor Guardian and ask questions of him, one of their number promptly fell back, and almost immediately returned with another demon.
It wore a dirty white hood that concealed its features. Its body was twisted and lumpy, and it looked like it could whisper a few words to a human being to have them devolve into a demon.
It wore a large piece of golden jewelry on its neck, inscribed with what seemed like letters.
“Please come this way.”
The Death Knight followed behind his guide.
After passing through the desecrated temple, they seemed to have arrived at the center of the area. A pale white throne sat atop the uneven, slightly lumpy ground, and atop that throne sat the person the Death Knight had come to find.
He could feel Demiurge using his slitted eyes to probe him.
“Demiurge-sama. I have brought Ainz-sama’s messenger before you.”
“Thank you for your effort. Leave.”
Demiurge slowly rose to his feet.
Almost immediately, the Death Knight interjected that there was no need to stand on ceremony.
“Understood. You are… I see. As I thought… it’s like this. Just over an hour ago, someone passed through the seventh floor; would that be yourself?”
There was no doubt about that. After the Death Knight nodded in agreement, Demiurge smiled.
“So — what orders does Ainz-sama wish to give me?”
Demiurge’s smile seemed to gleam with anticipation.
Unsurprisingly, the first question was the same as the previous time.
“I see. This is Ainz-sama’s intention. Well then… I believe I can coordinate with any of the other Guardians in order to accomplish my objectives. However, I consider myself something of a jack of all trades, so during combat, I doubt I could work very well with the command-oriented Aura. I feel I would work best when partnered with Cocytus, but as I said before, even if I were unable to get along with any of the guardians, if Ainz-sama willed it, I would match my abilities to those of any Guardian or their subordinates… indeed, even though I am ever-incompatible with Sebas, I doubt he would take any actions that ran counter to Ainz-sama’s dictates.”
Although the Death Knight had spoken with several other Guardians by now, this was the first time he had met anyone who actually said that they would not get along with anyone else. Perhaps if he was a living being, he might have followed up and asked more questions, but the Death Knight was undead and his heart was not troubled by such petty impulses. Seeing as Demiurge did not have any intention of continuing, he asked the next question.
“…My desires, then. Indeed, that is something of a challenge…”
Demiurge adjusted his glasses.
“…May I ask about the motives underlying that query? Oh, my apologies, you need not answer… it is the duty of an excellent subordinate to discern his master’s true intentions and take the necessary action to fulfil them. Although, by my estimation, the exact nature of those motives can be narrowed down to two options, but which of them is correct? Or perhaps, the third…”
Demiurge was immune to fire, yet sweat drops began forming on his forehead. Although the Death Knight was freed from the burden of answering, it was not as though he could have answered in the first place. In the end, the muttering and murmuring Demiurge finally exhaled at the end of his ruminations.
“It must be one of these two options. First, if Ainz-sama wishes to know which domain this one wishes to govern for him after the world becomes his, then I will ask for the right to administer the sky on his behalf.”
The Death Knight nodded. After all, only his master could decide who received the sky.
“Alternatively, if he wishes to know what I would require to strengthen Nazarick, then my answer is that I would need nothing. Although I do not know if you can fully convey the message to our master, I hope you will observe this domain.”
Demiurge spread his arms.
“This land, this dominion was designed and created for me by Ulbert-sama, so it contains everything I need to perform my function. Indeed, it may appear as a mere ruin to you, and the center where we stand may seem like a little more than a barren waste, but many things are hidden within it. These tumbled ruins are the true expression of Ulbert-sama’s love.”