Chapter 5, Part 5

Riding the dragon behind Mare, Zesshi had a great view of the forested landscape. She could see a large lake, a village with a few dozen homes stood nearby, surrounded by orchards and fields of grain. In the distance, the stone walls of the arena rose up from the jungle. And not far from the arena a gigantic tree towered over the rest of the forest.

Normally, the size of the sixth floor would shock her. However, since Zesshi knew that this was no ordinary tomb, but rather a mythical realm created by beings far beyond her comprehension, its size was only appropriate. By the time the dragon landed in front of the giant tree, Zesshi had been able to calm down from the shock Mare’s revelations had induced.

After they dismounted from the dragon, Zesshi followed Mare toward a small door leading inside the tree’s trunk. Inside, she was greeted by a cozy living room – soft rugs covered the floor, a leather couch stood near a wall, while some carved, wooden chairs and a table were placed in the opposite corner. She wanted to look around more when she heard a female voice.

“Welcome home, Mare-sama. I’ve finished cleaning up,” a female elf in a maid uniform greeted Mare with a bow, after walking into the living room. “Oh, I see we have a guest,” she added after her eyes swept over Zesshi.

“Mm, yes. Her name is Zesshi Zetsumei, she’ll be staying here with us,” Mare nodded.

“My name is Elia, please let me know if you need anything, Zesshi-sama,” the elf bowed to Zesshi before addressing Mare. “Then, shall I prepare the guest bedroom?”

“Yes, please,” Mare replied.

“There is even a guest bedroom here? How big is this place?” Zesshi asked after Elia left.

“Of course, there is. The Supreme Beings who created this place have sought to fulfill our every need. Where did you think you would sleep if there were no guest quarters?” Mare asked.

“Um, so, how big is this place?” Zesshi asked while trying to cover up her blush.

“There are three floors, the first one houses the kitchen, living room and the bathrooms, the second is where Aura’s and my bedroom located, and the third room is the guest quarters. There is also a balcony there, so you’ll have a nice view of the jungle,” Mare explained.

“Cool. So, what is your day usually like?’ Zesshi asked while taking a seat on the couch.

“Normally, I would patrol around the floor once or twice, and um, read,” Mare replied gesturing at a stack of books on the table. “And, um, handle the Elf Kingdom, I guess,” he added while scratching his head.

“Oh? Handling the affairs of a whole kingdom is just an afterthought?” Zesshi teased him. “In other words, before the Elf Kingdom, you would spend most of the day reading? What are you reading?” Zesshi asked as she got up and made her way to the table. “These letters… is it the language of the Gods?” She continued after picking up one of the books and looking at it.

“Yes, it seems the beings you know as Players and the forty-one Supreme Beings use the same language,” Mare said. “As for what I read. I like a variety of topics,” he added.

“How curious,” Zesshi nodded.

She was about to ask more about the Supreme Beings when she heard a commotion was heard outside. She looked questioningly at Mare.

“Aura must’ve returned from her patrol,” the dark elf said.

Indeed, it didn’t take long for the front door to open and for Aura to walk in.

“Oh, Zesshi is here already,” she waved enthusiastically to Zesshi before continuing. “And Mare, what are you still doing here? You should’ve left for the Elf Kingdom already.”

“Ahhh, weren’t you supposed to do it?” Mare asked, doing his best not to stutter.

“No way! Do you know how much work there is to do there? On top of the usual stuff, they also need to handle the logistics of getting the remaining elves out of the Slane Theocracy. And most of these elves are like children, they insist on asking permission for literally everything! Uh-uh, no way am I dealing with that,” Aura replied shaking her head for emphasis.

“But, I-I wanted to spend time with Zesshi,” Mare tried to argue.

“You’ll have plenty of time for that. Besides, you wouldn’t put your own desires above Nazarick’s needs, would you?” Aura said.

“Um, i-isn’t it the same for you? Why do you get to stay?” Mare decided to make his stand.

“Someone has to stay here and patrol the floor, not to mention keep Zesshi company. And I bet she’d prefer my pets to your books. Isn’t that right Zesshi?” Aura asked the half-elf.

“Um, well, I…” Zesshi began to make uncertain sounds.

“My pets are really strong! You could try fighting them!” Aura exclaimed after seeing Zesshi’s hesitation.

“Oh, yes, I’d love that,” Zesshi replied nodding her head energetically.

“Then that settles it.” Aura said cheerfully.

“That’s not fair. Why did you agree so fast? I could’ve offered you to fight my dragons,” Mare told Zesshi with a gloomy face.

“Too late, she already made the choice,” Aura told Mare as she stuck her tongue at him. “Anyway, you have lots of work to do, no?”

“I am leaving,” Mare replied in a resigned voice.

The contrast between Mare’s sad impression and Aura triumphant smile made Zesshi laugh.

“He’s usually much more agreeable, I guess he really wanted to spend time with you,” Aura chuckled. “Then, do you want to see my pet collection? I got quite a variety of beasts!” She added.

“Yes, I’d love to see them, especially the strong ones,” Zesshi felt her blood boil at the prospect of fighting a powerful beast.

But, before they could leave the tree house a female voice emanated from a strange item on Aura’s wrist saying: “Time for lunch.”

“Ah, let’s eat first,” Aura said, slightly blushing, with a happy smile on her face, while she caressed her wrist.

“Um, what was that?” Zesshi asked curiously, spurred by the sudden change in Aura’s demeanor.

“That was Bukubukuchagama-sama’s voice, the Supreme Being that created Mare and myself,” Aura said with a wide grin.

“Oh, I, I still can’t believe there are such powerful beings. The power to create life… I wonder if I would get a chance to meet her, one day,” Zesshi said in an awed voice. “Did I say something wrong?” She added quickly after seeing the color drain from Aura’s face.

“No. It’s just… Bukubukuchagama-sama is no longer with us, she has… left,” Aura forced the words out.

“She has died?!” Zesshi exclaimed in shock. How could someone so powerful die?

Aura shot her an angry look, before regaining her composure. After wiping her eyes, she spoke in her usual tone of voice.

“No. There is another world, that the Supreme Beings inhabit, and she had left us for that world. In fact, all of the forty-one Supreme Beings had left for it, one by one. All, except the most merciful one, the leader of the forty-one Supreme Beings, Ainz-sama, who has chosen to remain with us instead,” Aura explained as she once again became teary-eyed.

“I, I see,” Zesshi said unsure how to comfort the dark elf girl, while her mind raced. If Ainz is the leader of these Supreme Beings, does it mean he is the most powerful one? My previous interaction with him was quite childish, in hindsight. Challenging him to a fight? Offering to have his babies? Laughable. I must be little more than a bug in his eyes, Zesshi thought as she laughed at herself.

“Aura-sama… the lunch is ready,” the female elf from earlier announced after entering the living room.

“Tha-thank you, Elia. Let’s go Zesshi,” Aura said. “The departure of the other Supreme Beings is not a topic we like to discuss,” she added while wiping away the tears streaming down her cheeks.

“I am sorry, I won’t bring it up again,” Zesshi apologized.

“It’s fine, it wasn’t your fault. Anyway, let’s enjoy our food and then I’ll show you my pets, and we can go on patrol while riding my wolf!” Aura said as she began to regain her usual cheerful personality.

In the throne room of Nazarick

“This is it? Truly a simple solution to the problem if I had ever seen one,” Ainz said as he held up ordinary-looking round glasses.

“It is as you say, Ainz-sama,” Pandora’s Actor replied with a bow. “Go on, tell us how you used it,” he added, addressing the four humans that were kneeling on the ground in the middle of the room.

After looking left and right at his colleagues and seeing that none of them were going to speak, Raymond Zarg Lauransan, the Cardinal of Earth, spoke in a shaky voice.

“It’s as we’ve told that thi…” he caught himself before he could finish saying “thing”. “Ahem, it’s as we have told the interrogator. These glasses had been created by Alah Alaf of the Six Great Gods. Looking through them, you can see if someone has a talent and what the talent is. In the Slane Theocracy, there is a custom that all children must receive a blessing of the Six Great Gods before they turn three. These blessings were held several times a year, and the Cardinal of Darkness would preside over them, wearing these glasses. He would note any child with talent and would invite them afterward for a more thorough investigation. That is how we’ve created a list of talent holders, whom we can call upon when needed,” Raymond explained while trying to keep his body from shivering.

“Is there a human with a talent that lets them ignore experience loss when casting spells?” Ainz asked while leaning forward.

“I, I don’t know,” Raymond replied weakly. “We, we normally don’t record useless talents like that nor do we care about what happens to them.”

“What do you mean useless?!” Ainz shouted, gripping the armrests of his throne as he felt his anger rising.

“Ah,” Raymond screamed while using his arms to cover himself as if he was about to receive a beating. “But, t-that is a useless ta-talent. There are no spells that consume experience,” he explained after regaining his self-control.

“I see. It just means more work for us,” Ainz said as he leaned back on the throne. The experience-consuming spells are at least tier eight, it’s only natural these bugs would think a talent like that to be of no use, Ainz thought. I guess my plans to test [Wish Upon the Star] will have to wait. Still, if they have recorded all of the useful talents they encountered in the last five centuries, it will be of great use to us. Even if it’s missing talents their small brains deemed as useless.

“Are there any records about how exactly Alah Alf created these glasses?” Ainz asked curiously.

“Historical documents regarding this topic are stored in the Research Institute. Should I ask Demiurge and Shalltear to secure them now?” Pandora’s Actor asked.

“Yes. It would be a shame if some fanatic went mad due to the fall of the Theocracy, and destroyed them. Have them use Hanzos and other units proficient in stealth, to keep the disturbance to a minimum,” Ainz nodded. “What else?” He asked Pandora’s Actor.

“It took a while to break them, but we’ve finally learned of their back-up plan in case the strike force failed,” Pandora’s Actor replied.

“Oh, so what was it?” Ainz asked curiously.

“They planned to use a legacy of the Six Great Gods. Although they have never seen the item, it is said that when the world plunges into despair and is ruled by evil, this item can be used to reset the order of the world.”

“That is…” Albedo exclaimed excitedly, her wings opening and closing.

“Yes, it definitely sounds like a World-Class Item,” Ainz nodded.

“It does,” Pandora’s Actor agreed. “I had relayed the relevant information to Demiurge and Shalltear, I imagine they will take possession of this mystery item soon.”

“Good job, Pandora’s Actor. Also, do relay my appreciation for a job well done to Neuronist Painkill,” Ainz nodded. It will be nice to add another World-Class Item to the treasury. Who would’ve thought that our collection would increase by two after coming to the New World?

“Do you think they are hiding anything else?” Ainz asked while glancing at the four humans.

“No, Ainz-sama. I believe they have told us everything they know,” Pandora’s Actor shook his head. “They tried to hold out on the last point, but Neurnoist was able to break the Cardinal of Water before he died. After that, the rest quickly caved as well. I don’t think they have the mental fortitude required to keep a secret. Do you?” He suddenly asked the trembling Cardinals.

“N-No! We, we would never think of kee-keeping a secret from you,” Raymond cried out while the other three Cardinals made begging noises as their shivering intensified.

“I see. So, the Cardinal of Water died, that should still leave five, where is the last one?” Ainz asked.

“The Cardinal of Darkness went mad after being forced to reveal everything he knew. I thought bringing him here would be pointless,” Pandora’s Actor replied.

“The rest of them don’t seem to be doing too well either. Then, since we can no longer use them to legitimize my take over of the Slane Theocracy, what should we do with them?”

“We can serve! I can serve! Please, allow me a chance to serve such a great being like you!” Raymond exclaimed as he began to kowtow to Ainz with such zeal that blood quickly covered his forehead.

“I, I will serve too!” Berenice Nagua Santini, the Cardinal of Fire cried out in a hoarse voice.

“Hmm, they don’t seem too reliable,” Ainz said looking at the shivering humans. “Didn’t you heal them before bringing them here?” He asked Pandora’s Actor as the humans’ pathetic behavior got on his nerves.

“My apologies, Ainz-sama. They are still in shock of everything that happened. Healing spells don’t seem to cure mental trauma,” Pandora’s Actor replied.

“I think their behavior is perfect for the pathetic bugs that humans are,” Albedo added.

“Mm,” Ainz made a neutral noise while looking at Albedo’s honest expression. She really does hate humans, he thought once again with a bit of regret. “Throw them and the other officials from the Theocracy into the Black Capsule. Once they are loyal, give them to Demiurge to use in the Slane Theocracy,” Ainz decided.

“No, please! I am loyal! You don’t need to do anything to me, I am already loyal. I would do anything for you!” Raymond began to shout energetically. He didn’t know what the Black Capsule was, nor did he want to find out. The other Cardinals seemed to share his thoughts, though they were less articulate in their speech, making pleading noises instead.

“Take them away,” Ainz said as he waved his hand. “That’s just pathetic behavior,” he added in disgust as he watched the insectoid guards lift the pleading humans off the floor and drag them away.

“I apologize you had to witness such unseemly display, Ainz-sama. I will ask Neuronist to make sure they are more presentable and can fulfill their jobs, before they are sent out by Demiurge,” Pandora’s Actor said.

Ainz nodded before continuing “Regarding the Cardinal of Darkness, I have no need for a mad man. Give him to Solution Epsilon as her reward for the work she had done in the Karnassus City-State Alliance. Also, give the dead Cardinal to Entoma.”

“By your will,” Pandora’s Actor replied bowing in his usual, exaggerated fashion.

And with that, the meeting concluded.

Inside the capital of the Slane Theocracy, Kami Miyako

Inside the Cathedral of Darkness, Demiurge and Shalltear walked up to the statue of Surshana, before walking around it to arrive at its rear. After a quick inspection, they had located a keyhole. Demiurge inserted the key, which was taken from the key chain of the Cardinal of Darkness, and after a bit of struggle, the key turned a door opened, revealing a small compartment. Reaching inside, Demiurge grabbed a small metal plate. A single word was etched into the plate on one side, while the other side contained a short string of seemingly random letters.

“The last one,” he said as he pulled it out.

“What does it say?” Shalltear asked curiously.

Demiurge turned the plate in his hands, before laying it on the raised platform Surshana’s statue stood on. He then proceeded to place five more similar looking plates next to it. The two of them then began to examine the words written on the plates, while ignoring the commotion at the entrance to the Cathedral.

It was unfortunate that they had attacked the six Cathedrals at this time. But, after receiving Pandora’s Actor’s information, waiting wasn’t an option. As such, Demiurge and Shalltear stormed each Cathedral with a small force, laying waste and destruction in their wake. The panic stemming from their actions would likely make it harder to take over the rest of the capital without excessive bloodshed, but that was a price they were willing to pay for the safety of Nazarick.

“Hmm, the exact order is debatable, but the overall message seems clear,” Shalltear said slowly as she looked over the plates.

“Yes, ‘Stand in Front of the Six Statues and Speak the Code,’ is the message no matter how you choose to arrange them,” Demiurge agreed as he arranged the plates in a certain order, a single word written on each plate.

“And where are these Six Statues? All the Cathedrals only had the one of their chosen God,” Shalltear said.

“There is one in the catacombs. The Hanzos reported it as having the best anti-scrying spells protecting it, even more powerful than their treasury. That must be the place,” Demiurge said as he pushed up his glasses.

They descended into the catacombs from the Cathedral, bringing the carnage with them. Dozens of humans tried to stop them, but it was a futile effort as both Shalltear and Demiurge brought powerful creatures from their respective floors.

Sometime later they arrived at the innermost part of the catacombs – the sacred room where the statues of the Six Great Gods stood. The room was very plain, with no signs of wealth. The statues stood against a wall, facing the entrance, various cleaning tools were placed on a stand to the left, while along, plain-looking table occupied the opposite side. This was the place the Cardinals and other top officials used to clean and hold meetings in.

Demiurge and Shalltear entered the room when suddenly the eyes of all the statues lit up, shining red, and a nova of light exploded from the statues and washed over everything in the room. Demiurge and Shalltear jumped back, ready to activate their defensive abilities. However, the light didn’t harm them, it did make their figures shine.

“Hmm, an intruder detection system? The Hanzos were right to stay away from this room,” Demiurge nodded while looking around.

“This should be “in front of the six statues,” but in what order do we chant the code?” Shalltear asked after walking in front of the statues.

“The code is written on the other side of the plates. But since the exact arrangement is unknown, it’s a gamble,” Demiurge nodded.

There were several ways to arrange the message: “Stand in Front of the Six Statues and Speak the Code,” “In Front of the Six Statues Stand and Speak the Code,” or even “Stand and Speak the Code in Front of the Six Statues.”

The two of them inspected the room for other clues, however, they didn’t find anything else.

“Do those foolish humans really know nothing about the order?” Shalltear asked.

“They had never even used the keys. The existence of the plates was news to them,” Demiurge shook his head.

“Then, we’ll just have to try every combination. It shouldn’t take long,” Shalltear said with a shrug.

“That might be dangerous. What if it’s rigged so if the wrong code is spoken the place will be destroyed? It sounds unlikely, but think of how far they went to keep this item safe,” Demiurge replied.

“What will we do then?” Shalltear asked.

“Hmm, what if… the statues are arranged in the order in which the code should be read?” Demiurge suddenly said.

“Right to left or left to right?” Shalltear asked.

“Hmm, Supreme Beings read from right to left. The Six Great Gods came from Yggdrasil as well. It should be right to left,” Demiurge offered, though he didn’t sound fully convinced.

“Should we ask Ainz-sama? This is an important matter,” Shalltear proposed.

“We can’t rely on Ainz-sama’s boundless wisdom every time we run into an obstacle. Ainz-sama believes we are capable of fulfilling his commands on our own. And while I feel that Ainz-sama is too generous in his assessment of our abilities, how can we let him down?” Demiurge asked.

He walked in front of the statues, arranging the plates in his hand to match the order of the statues, right to left.

“Stand back. In case this is a trap, you’ll be able to tell Ainz-sama what happened,” Demiurge said.

“Shouldn’t I be the one to go then? My defenses are superior to yours,” Shalltear said facing the demon.

“I doubt a trap could do enough damage to threaten my life, not to mention, I am carrying a World-Class Item. However, something like a self-destruction mechanism in case the code is entered incorrectly is possible,” Demiurge explained.

“I see, in that case, I am coming with you,” Shalltear said. “I can’t let you have all the praise from Ainz-sama,” she added flashing Demiurge a smile in response to his questioning look.

“To receive Ainz-sama’s praise is truly too much to give up for any of us,” Demiurge smiled in return. “Then, here we go.”

Both of them faced the six statues and Demiurge began to speak the sequence of letters etched on the plates.

*****

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