But was it really all right for a mere village girl like herself to run in a divine realm like this, flanked by beautiful maids? Enri hesitated, and her feet betrayed the conflicting emotions in her. In the end, she ended up moving like a half-dead frog, starting and stopping, her mind running through all the worst-case scenarios that could result.
While Enri was still limping along, Nemu had already reached the side of the village’s savior without resistance.
“Is it that impressive?”
“Yup! It’s really amazing!”
“Is that so? Amazing… no, perhaps that’s true.”
Ainz reached out a hand, and calmly patted Nemu on the head.
“Is the place where I live truly that wonderful?”
“Yeah, it’s really wonderful! Did you make this, Gown-sama?”
“Hahaha, yes, that’s right. My friends and I did.”
“That’s amazing! Gown-sama and Gown-sama’s friends are all amazing!”
“Hah! Hahahaha!”
The clear and bright laughter reverberated through the hallway.
By this time, Nfirea and Enri had hesitantly reached the two of them. Enri tightly gripped Nemu’s hand, infused with a will that would never let go.
“We thank you for your kind invitation from the bottom of our hearts!”
“There is no need for such formality. We are here to celebrate the production of your new potion. Be at ease.”
“Gown-sama, I am truly sorry. My sister Nemu has been rude to you.”
“Really, think nothing of it. She was moved by the sight of my residence, was she not? Then that is no insult to me.”
Ainz seemed to be in a good mood as he replied.
“Then… next up, I intended to speak to Nfirea-kun… Nemu, how about it? Do you want to see the home that I, no, that we created together?”
“Yes! I wanna see! I want to see the amazing house Gown-sama and his friends made!”
Nemu spoke before Enri could refuse.
“Hahaha. Very well, very well! I have such sights to show you…”
Enri was unable to speak, once she saw the good mood Ainz was in.
♦ ♦ ♦
She settled down onto a recliner, remembering that she had been asked to wait in the receiving room while Nemu was shown around.
Rather than say she was invited here, it would be more accurate to say that she was like a small animal that had been taken from its nest. She sat uneasily, and looked around herself. Beside her ― regardless of the size of this place, the two of them stuck closely to each other ― her lover Nfirea was also unable to keep still, much like a small animal himself.
Enri could understand that her village’s savior, the magic caster known as Ainz Ooal Gown, was a mighty being, but what she had seen today went beyond her wildest imaginings.
It was as though she had stepped into a shining dreamscape, or a story where princesses and other great figures took center stage.
The fireplace was decorated with glass birds that had been carved to life-like perfection. If she broke one, she could work her entire life and still be unable to pay for it.
The sofa was exquisite, and Enri wondered if she was dirtying it with her clothes.
The chandelier, the first she had seen in her short life, was not lit by torches, lanterns, or candles, but by magic instead. She had seen magic lights before in E-Rantel’s Adventurer’s Guild, but they couldn’t compare in brightness or style.
The furniture was tasteful and luxurious. Of particular interest was the weightiness of the ebony table before her. Even though Enri had no idea how valuable these kinds of things were, she was still able to tell that this was a very valuable piece.
A lifelike portrait of a beautiful woman hung on the wall, painted in intricate detail.
Even the carpet on the floor made Enri hesitate to step on it. It was so soft that while sitting on the sofa, she gently raised her feet, thinking that it would be better not to let her feet touch the floor.
Enri was so nervous that she was about to faint.
“I knew we should have gone with her.”
Although Ainz had refused, the idea of Nemu going by herself made her stomach boil in anxiety.
“I just hope she doesn’t trouble Gown-sama…”
“It’ll be fine, don’t worry. Gown-sama is very accommodating. I think he’ll overlook any minor rudeness from a young girl.”
“Mm, but, you see, if you anger a noble, you’ll be executed…”
“I’ve heard that too, but to be honest, I’ve never seen it before. E-Rantel and its surrounding territory are administered by the king himself, so I don’t think the nobles would dare to make a fuss… Is Gown-sama a noble?”
“Isn’t he? Anyone with such a luxurious manor and so many pretty maids would have to be a noble, right? There’s no way they could gather all these things otherwise.”
“Mmm? Is that so? To be honest, I don’t think even a noble could assemble beautiful maids like these.”
Enri’s eyebrows shot up at a dangerous angle.
It was fine if she said the maids were pretty, but when Nfirea said it, it made her feel uneasy. Just as she turned a sharp gaze on Nfirea ― there was a knocking on the door.
“Eee!”
Enri’s shoulders twitched violently, and because the two of them were pressed against each other, the twitch was transmitted to Nfirea, who shuddered as well.
The knocking came again. Enri frantically thought about what the knocking meant, and in the meantime Nfirea opened his mouth.
“Ah, that, please come in.”
“My apologies.”
The way Nfirea had given the right answer with such calm mystified Enri, and what entered was a maid pushing a silver cart. She was a beautiful woman, dressed in sparkling clean and spotless clothes which even an amateur could recognize as a high-class maid outfit. A gentle, warm smile adorned her face. However, Enri was worried that at any moment it would twist into an angry expression as she exclaimed, “What are you two doing!”
“―The beverages are ready.”
“N-no need!”
The maid’s face displayed stunned confusion for a moment as she parsed Enri’s lightning-fast answer. Then she turned her gaze to Nfirea, and then back to Enri.
“…Ah, will this be all right?”
“Ah, yes.”