Even if 30 level 100 players, fully prepared and forewarned of the battle ahead, did battle with one of these World-Class enemies, the outcome of the battle would still be in doubt. If one of these had appeared before them, it would be a threat to all of Nazarick.
The Death Knight shook its head. Nothing like that had occurred, and besides, if something like that had happened, there was no way Shalltear would not be informed.
“…So it’s like that… Although it’s a question from Ainz-sama… it’s totally not what I expected.”
After that, the Death Knight said that it would ask the other Guardians the same question.
“I see, I get it now. Although I don’t think the other Guardians would do anything that negatively impacted their health, does someone like that exist? …No, that’s not correct.”
Shalltear denied her own opinion as she was speaking it.
“There’s no way Ainz-sama could not have noticed anything like that. Because he assumed that we would make thorough preparations, he merely asked that question to keep us on our toes. As expected of Ainz-sama, our lord who could never be associated with the word ‘carelessness’.”
Although he wasn’t sure if that was what his master really meant, the Death Knight agreed that it was the truth.
“Then… Is the reason you came to me first because I am the furthest away from Ainz-sama? Was it purely a matter of distance?”
It wasn’t like that.
The Death Knight told her what his master had said, that “Shalltear is a very important person.”
The mood changed in an instant.
Something that felt like hot air roiled in front of him.
There was no change in Shalltear — no. Her crimson pupils glowed like lava.
“—Forgive me. I must have gone deaf for a moment, so I didn’t hear what you said just now. Do forgive me. Could you please tell me what Ainz-sama said, one more time?”
It was hard to believe that undead, with their immunity to biological status effects, could go deaf. But he had no reason to deny Shalltear’s request.
So, he repeated himself.
The corner of Shalltear’s mouth turned up.
“—Ha! Hahaha! Ahhh, if only Albedo was here to listen to this! Hahaha!”
After having a good laugh, Shalltear continued asking the Death Knight other questions.
“Did Ainz-sama say anything about Albedo?”
After hearing that Ainz hadn’t mentioned anything, Shalltear was all smiles.
“So it is, so it is. That’s really… Come, messenger-dono, can you tell me his next question?”
The next question was, “Is there anything bothering you?”
“About this…”
Shalltear furrowed her brow and placed her finger on her lip while looking at the ceiling.
Several seconds later, she looked back to the Death Knight.
“Nothing’s really bothering me.”
As she saw the Death Knight nod, suspicion and doubt drove Shalltear to speak.
“Did I answer wrongly? Did I misunderstand Ainz-sama’s true intentions?”
Conversations were like passing in basketball. If the exchange ended after only a couple of rounds, something was wrong.
The Death Knight had grasped his master’s thoughts upon creation, but even then, it was only a rough guess of his intentions and not a complete understanding. Therefore he had nothing to say to put Shalltear at ease.
Seeing Shalltear’s discomfort, the Death Knight asked the final question, “What do you want?”
Shalltear’s smile was bewitchingly beautiful as she made her reply.
“I want Ainz-sama’s love. I don’t mean to say it only has to be me. After all, it’s normal for a great man to claim many women for himself. It would be surprising if any woman could resist an absolutely amazing man like Ainz-sama. However, I want to be the first in his heart.”
The Death Knight left the room and headed back to the teleport gate in order to return to the 9th floor. From this end, he would have to go past every floor in order to return to his master’s side, but as an undead, he would not feel fatigued in body or mind, so this long walk was not a problem.
Suddenly, his master’s orders rang through his mind. A summoned creature had a mental link with its master, so even without ‘Message’ they could receive orders and transmit thoughts in general.
It obeyed its orders, and halted.
There was clearly nobody else on this path, yet he could see the shape of his master materializing out of thin air. He must have used invisibility-type magic to secretly get close.
“Although I told you to come back, that would probably be a waste of time. While it doesn’t matter how many times you go back and forth, I should still make good use of my time. 「Repel Undeath」.”
Ainz cast a spell that created a barrier to ward off low-level undead. Normally, the Death Knight would have been affected as well, but because he was under his master’s direct control, he did not shy away from Ainz.
“That’ll do. Now, tell me what Shalltear said.”
The Death Knight nodded and swiftly began his report. He began with the health question.
After listening, Ainz looked up.
“Well, that’s true. Asking about Shalltear’s health was pointless since she’s undead. No… it should be the same with the other Guardians. None of them would fail to protect themselves against disease or poison. What a useless question. Well, it was meant to lighten the mood anyway, so it doesn’t matter. Now, tell me about the next question.”
As he heard the answer, Ainz furrowed his nonexistent brows.
“That’s all? Was she just being polite?”
The Death Knight shook his head.
“No? No… does that mean she took the wrong meaning away from that question? We’ve only been here a while, so they probably wouldn’t have discovered any problems yet. I’ll ask something else.”
Ainz thought for a while, and then spoke to the Death Knight.
“Let’s amend the second question… Next time… hm, what should I ask. Do you have any ideas?”
The Death Knight groaned in confusion. It couldn’t give him any good ideas even if asked.
“Ah, yes, that’s right. Sorry. I think I’ll look at the bible, then.”
Ainz withdrew a book from thin air and flipped through it, stopping at a specific page.
“…I see. Got it, that’s what I’ll do. ‘Interpersonal relationships. Who are you closest to and who are you least close to’. Is there a more important question than this?”
The crimson light in his owner’s eyes glowed brighter.
“Interpersonal relationships are important. Even in unethical companies, if one’s relationships are good, they may be able to survive regardless. And in ethical companies, poor interpersonal relationships have been the cause of many resignations. The same applies to Ainz Ooal Gown.”
He wasn’t addressing this to the Death Knight. It seemed like he was talking for his own benefit.
Ainz’s voice became softer and softer, until the point where it couldn’t be heard. The fire in his eyes shifted, as though looking into the distance.
“Right, interpersonal relationships. The relationships between the Floor Guardians is very important. Can you do that, Death Knight? From the next round onwards, ask about that instead. …Very well. Then let me hear the answer to the last question.”
As he heard Shalltear’s answer, Ainz sagged like a puppet whose strings had been cut.
He addressed the Death Knight.
“…Besides Ainz. Append that to the last question the next time you ask it. Understood?”
Part 4
Freezing cold air blew from all sides. Normally there would be a cold-based damage-over-time field effect here, but with that deactivated, it was just very cold. Still, the Death Knight would have been fine even if the field effect had not been shut down.