Overlord (LN) - Volume 1 - Chapter Int

Intermission 

The pressure all but forcing their foreheads into the dirt vanished. 

They were all aware their creator and master, worthy of their worship, had departed, yet no one stood up. Some time passed before someone let out a sigh of relief. The tense mood relaxed. 

The first one to stand was Albedo. The places where her knees had pressed her white dress into the ground had gotten slightly dirty, but she didn’t seem to care one bit. She fluttered her wings to shake the dust off her feathers. As if given momentum by Albedo’s example, the others stood. Then scattered thoughts began to be voiced. 

“T-that was really scary, huh, sis?” 

“Seriously. I thought I was going to be crushed.” 

“I’d expect nothing less from Lord Momonga, but to think that his power would affect even us guardians…” 

“I KNEW THAT AS ONE OF THE SUPREME BEINGS HE WAS STRONGER THAN US, BUT I DIDN’T REALIZE BY HOW MUCH.” 

They all shared their impressions of Momonga. The pressure that had shoved them all toward the ground was the aura Momonga had been emitting. 

Aura of Despair. It caused the fear status effect along with ability penalties. Normally it shouldn’t have worked on NPCs the same level as him, but the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown had boosted its effects. 

“Lord Momonga has shown us his caliber as a ruler.” 

“Right? He had that authority all along, but he didn’t exercise it until we gave our titles. The moment we presented ourselves as guardians, he unleashed some of his great power.” 

“YOU MEAN HE SHOWED US HIS RULER SIDE IN RESPONSE TO OUR OATH OF LOYALTY?” 

“That must be it.” 

“Yeah, he wasn’t giving off an aura at all when he was with us. He was super nice. He even gave us something to drink when we were thirsty!” 

The other guardians bristled. They were envious to the point where it showed. Albedo’s reaction was especially big. Her hands shook, and it seemed like her fingernails were about to rip through her gloves. 

Mare’s shoulders jerked and he spoke up in a loudish voice. “S-so that was Lord Momonga being all serious as the ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, huh? Amazing!” 

The mood changed instantaneously. 

“You’re exactly right. He responded to our feelings by behaving in the manner of an absolute ruler—I’d expect nothing less of our Creator, the pinnacle of the Forty-One Supreme Beings and our merciful master who remained with us to the end.” 

Everyone seemed enchanted, listening to Albedo’s words, but only Mare’s expression contained relief. 

The Forty-One Supreme Beings were their Creators. Naturally, everyone was enveloped in incomparable happiness at having witnessed the true nature of one who deserved absolute devotion. 

The greatest joy of not just the guardians, but anyone created by the Forty-One Supreme Beings, was to be of use. After that came being paid attention. This was only logical, of course. For someone created to be useful to the Forty-One Supreme Beings, what greater joy could there possibly be? 

Sebas spoke to disperse the lax atmosphere. “Well, I’m going to head back. I don’t know where Lord Momonga went, but I should probably being serving at his side.” 

Albedo looked awkward for a moment, but recovered. “Got it, Sebas. Attend him respectfully, and if anything comes up, let me know immediately. If he calls for me, I’ll go running at once, no matter what I have to cast aside.” 

Demiurge, listening to this, had a faint look on his face that showed what a piece of work he felt she was. 

“Oh, but if he calls me to his bedchamber, tell him I’ll need a little time. I should bathe first. Of course, if he says to come as I am, I don’t mind at all. I’m keeping myself as clean as possible and paying meticulous attention to what I wear so he can summon me at any time. In other words, though it’s only natural, Lord Momonga’s wishes take priority—” 

“I understand, Albedo. If I waste too much time here, I won’t have as much to serve Lord Momonga. That would be terribly rude to him, so apologies, but I take my leave. Excuse me, everyone.” After saying his parting words to all the dumbfounded guardians, he jogged off. 

Demiurge spoke as if to dismiss Albedo’s look that said she hadn’t finished. “Well, it sure is quiet. What’s wrong, Shalltear?” Everyone turned to look at her. She was still kneeling. 

“WHAT IS IT, SHALLTEAR?” 

She lifted her head only after being addressed a second time. Her unfocused eyes glistened. 

“IS SOMETHING WRONG?” 

“Th-that awesome presence was so thrilling that my underwear are in quite a state.” 

Silence. 

No one knew what to say, so they just looked at one another. Shalltear had the most twisted fetishes of all the guardians, and all they could do was facepalm when they remembered her necrophilia. Mare was the only one who didn’t get it and stood there looking perplexed. But there was one present who wouldn’t let that be the end of it—Albedo. 

Something like jealousy caused her mouth to open. “You bitch!” 

The insult caused Shalltear’s lips to curl into an alluring smile. 

“Huh? Lord Momonga is one of the Forty-One Supreme Beings, as well as extremely beautiful. It’s a reward to be hit with such a wave of power. You’re crazy if you didn’t get wet! Maybe you weren’t made pure at all—maybe you’re just frigid! Hm? You big-mouthed gorilla!” 

“You lamprey!” 

They glared at each other. The other guardians didn’t think it would devolve into a death match, but they still looked on with anxiety. 

“I was created the way I am by the Supreme Beings, and I have no complaints. Do you?” 

“You know, I’m pretty sure the same goes for me!” 

Shalltear slowly stood up, closing the distance between them slightly. Their eyes remained locked. They moved closer and closer together until finally they were bumping up against each other. 

“You must think you’ve won because you’re convinced you get to be close to Lord Momonga just because you’re captain of the floor guardians, but isn’t that a bit far-fetched?” 

“Ha! Well, I do intend to achieve absolute victory while you’re busy guarding the most remote areas of the Tomb.” 

“Pray tell what you mean by ‘absolute victory,’ Captain.” 

“A bitch like you ought to understand! Yes, I mean that.” 

During the exchange their gazes didn’t budge. They continued staring expressionlessly deep into each other’s eyes. 

With a ruffling noise, Albedo’s wings stretched out imposingly. In response, a black haze began to come off Shalltear. 

“Uh, Aura, I’ll leave the girls up to the girls. If something happens, I’ll jump in to stop them, so just let me know.” 

“Wha—? Demiurge! You’re gonna shove this off on me?” 

Demiurge backed away from the standoff, waving his hands in surrender. Cocytus and Mare followed. They didn’t want to get involved. 

“GOOD GRIEF. IS THIS REALLY WORTH FIGHTING OVER?” 

“Personally, I’m quite curious what the outcome will be.” 

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, DEMIURGE?” 

“Could be in terms of beefing up our war potential or the future of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.” 

“What does that mean, Demiurge?” 

“Mm…” Demiurge wondered how to answer Mare’s question. For a moment the sadistic desire to spoil that innocent mind by filling it with adult knowledge reared its head, but he dismissed it without hesitation. 

Just like a demon should be, Demiurge was cruel and cold-blooded, but that was to outsiders of Nazarick. He saw others created by the Forty-One Supreme Beings as precious comrades in his loyalty. 

“A great ruler should have a successor, right? Lord Momonga stayed with us until the end, but he could still lose interest in us and go where the others went. It’d be nice if he’d leave us someone for us to give our loyalty to if he leaves…” 

“Uh, so you mean you wonder who will be the heir’s mo—” 

“THAT SEEMS A BIT DISRESPECTFUL. IT IS OUR DUTY AS GUARDIANS AND CREATIONS TO AVOID THAT FATE BY REMAINING LOYAL TO LORD MOMONGA AND WORKING HARD SO HE STAYS,” Cocytus interrupted. 

Demiurge turned to face him. “Of course, I understand that, Cocytus, but wouldn’t you like to be loyal to Lord Momonga’s son as well?” 

“AH. THAT DOES SOUND PRETTY GOOD…” Cocytus imagined giving Momonga’s child piggyback rides. But he didn’t stop there. He imagined giving him fencing lessons, drawing a sword to protect him from the oncoming enemy, and taking orders from him once he’d grown up. “OH, HOW WONDERFUL… I CAN SEE IT NOW, JUST WONDERFUL… HE CAN CALL ME UNCLE.” 

Demiurge averted his eyes from Cocytus and his uncle fantasies, wincing a bit. “I’m also very interested to see to what extent children could be of use in a plan to strengthen the Great Tomb of Narazick. I wonder. Mare, want to try making some babies?” 

“Huh? What?!” 

“That said, I suppose there’s no one for you to do it with… If there are any humans, dark elves, elves, or closely related species out there, I’ll capture one for you, so how about it?” 

“Huh? What?!” Mare thought for a moment and then nodded. “If it would be useful to Lord Momonga, then…sure. But how do you make a baby?” 

“Right, I’ll tell you when the time comes. But hm, if we go off performing breeding experiments on our own, Lord Momonga might scold us. Nazarick’s upkeep costs must be pretty precariously balanced.” 

“Y-yeah. Once I heard that a single Supreme Being was spawning minions here on a very strict budget. If we make the population jump weirdly, we’re sure to get scolded. I-I would hate for Lord Momonga…to scold me…” 

“Well, same here. No interest in getting scolded by a Supreme Being… If we could build a ranch somewhere outside of Nazarick, that might work, though…” Leaving off there for that idea, Demiurge tossed a question at Mare about something that no one had mentioned yet. “By the way, Mare, why are you dressed like a girl?” 

He tugged at the edges of his skirt as if to hide his legs even a little more. “Th-this is what BubblingTeapot chose. She said I was a boy, so I don’t think there’s any mistake about my gender…” 

“Hm, she must have put some thought into it. Then, that must be the proper attire for you, but…I wonder if all little boys should be dressed the same way?” 

“I-I’m not sure about that.” 

Although they had mostly disappeared, once one of the Forty-One Supreme Beings’ sacred names came into things, all one could do was accept the judgment. That meant that the way Mare was dressed was the most correct way within the Great Tomb of Nazarick. If anyone was going to tell him to stop dressing that way, it would have to be another Supreme Being. 

“I guess we need to consult Lord Momonga. It may very well be the case that all boys should dress that way… Cocytus, are you quite ready to come back to us?” 

At the sound of his colleague’s voice, Cocytus emitted a sigh of contentment from the bottom of his heart and then shook his head several times. “WHAT A LOVELY NOTION. IT CERTAINLY IS SOMETHING TO HOPE FOR.” 

“Oh yeah? Good for you… Albedo, Shalltear, are you still fighting?” 

The pair still staring each other down looked up when he called to them. But the one who answered Demiurge’s question was standing off to the side looking exhausted—Aura. 

“The fight…is over. Now they’re just—” 

“The issue is simply who will be his first wife.” 

“We concluded that it would be bizarre for the absolute ruler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick to have only one queen. But now we have to decide who his primary will—” 

“That’s very interesting, but tell me more later. More importantly, Albedo, could you give us some orders maybe? We’ve got a lot of things that need to get moving.” 

“Yes. Yes, you’re right. I need to give orders. Shalltear, let’s discuss this further at a future date. I’m sure it will take more time than we have now, anyway.” 

“I have no objections, Albedo. There’s nothing that will take us so long to discuss as this.” 

“Okay. Very well, I’ll come up with our plan going forward.” Albedo had put on her captain of the floor guardians face, and all the guardians responded by bowing their heads in respect. 

They bowed, but they didn’t kneel. She was worthy of respect as their captain, but she was not absolute. There wasn’t that much of a gap in status between those created by the Forty-One Supreme Beings. That said, it was the Forty-One Supreme Beings who had bestowed upon her the rank of captain, so she was given the respect appropriate for her position—and no more. Their behavior was a manifestation of that belief. And it didn’t bother Albedo, because she knew it was a most correct way to think. 

“First…”