He saw a buff on his status screen. It was the same as that time when they had once obtained a World-Class Item, but then lost it.
That was — WORLD. It implied an entire world, and the ultimate protection it bestowed.
“What’s wrong, Momonga-san?”
Even in a world without facial expressions, anyone would find it strange if someone suddenly froze and did not move.
“Is it a nanomachine depletion message?”
“No… This… this is a World-Class Item.”
Silence fell across the guild members, who were lined up for the photo shoot. They could not understand what Momonga was saying.
“Hey, it’s true. Seems to be a reward for clearing the dungeon on the first try.”
It was a calm voice that startled the listener himself. Nor could Momonga properly express himself due to the magnitude of the shock he had just received.
A great commotion erupted from his friends. At first, it was only the phrase “World-Class Item” that fell from their lips — and then it was thunderous cheering.
Just like before, great shouts of “shitty developers!” rang out.
“I knew it from the start. Clearing this dungeon in one shot would give us a World-Class Item.”
“As if you really knew that.”
“Awesome! How about that?! You Seraph bastards!”
“Yahoo~”
As everyone began dancing strangely, Momonga decided to rise from the throne and vacate it, so anyone could sit down. He moved to a quieter, more distant place.
Soon, Touch Me and Ulbert came to stand before Momonga.
“Well, that was amazing, Momonga-san!”
“That’s right! A guildmaster who gets us a World-Class Item in our first guild event — that’s crazy, right? Seriously!”
As he mused about whether “crazy” should be used as a form of praise, Momonga nodded to Ulbert and Touch Me.
“What are you saying, all this was because everyone gave freely of their resources to help us clear this dungeon.”
“There’s no need to be so humble. Takemikazuchi-san was right. I couldn’t have done something so wild. I would’ve been afraid of our first guild activity failing and suggested a safer and more sensible monster hunt instead. This is something only you could do, Momonga-san.”
“No—”
Momonga wanted to say that it was a miracle that happened because everyone tried their hardest. Saying that it was all thanks to himself made him feel guilty.
His friends touched the throne all over, arguing over who should be next in line to sit on it.
It was because of them.
“Nonono, Momonga-san. There’s no need for that. If the venture failed, you were willing to bear everyone’s disappointment and unhappiness, weren’t you, Momonga-san? If that’s the case, then you should accept the praise that comes from succeeding. Otherwise it would be strange, no?”
It was hard for him to accept those words, even if Ulbert said them.
“Aw, don’t be like that. I regretted this thing so many times. I’ve been psyching myself up to be a guildmaster who handled communication, coordination, and other odd jobs.”
He spilled his guts in a thoroughly exhausted voice.
The two of them seemed to find it amusing, but their laughs were not those of scorn.
“Got it. For all we know, this reluctance of yours might make you a good guildmaster. Though I think it would be good if you were more of a take-charge kind of person—”
“What are you saying? Isn’t that one of Momonga-san’s virtues? I mean, aren’t we all following him because he’s like that?”
“That’s right… yes, indeed, it’s just as you say,” Touch Me said in a self-reflective voice.
Was he thinking about the person who withdrew from the game?
“Oi, oi, what are you babbling about over there? Come quick! We’re taking the photo now!”
“Come, come! Guildmaster! Have a seat on the throne!”
Nishiki Enrai and Warrior Takemikazuchi practically pushed him onto the throne. His other friends were already lined up and waiting for him.
“All right! We’re going to take the photo!”
Everyone struck a pose of some sort. They used their bodily motions to compensate for the lack of facial expressions in the game. Momonga touched his console, and selected a smiling face from one of the emoticons.
“Here we go! Three, two one!”
The floating orb-like camera before them was a cash item, which made the sound of a shutter clicking. At the same time, a ding-dong rang in Momonga’s ear.
He knew without looking that this was the chime of a received message — a picture of Ainz Ooal Gown and the prize they had won in their maiden venture.
Momonga smiled.
He let his thoughts wander to what he and Ainz Ooal Gown would do now, and in the future…
THE END
Character cards
Extra art
A Djungarian's Life
Drinking Syad
