Chapter Text
Ulbert sat on the huge table, across from Momonga.
“...Momonga. Are you sure you would not like to stay behind? Even if not just for a small little bit longer?”
If emotions had been implemented in this game, Ulbert would’ve had a dejected look in his eyes.
“I’m extremely sorry, Ulbert-san. My boss is already trying to chew my ass off. I will, however, return the items you gifted me. I have transferred them to your inventory.”
Ulbert sighed. “I guess it can’t be helped.”
He displayed a 'happy' emote to Momonga. “Goodbye, Momonga. We had a wild ride together.”
“Yes, we have.” Momonga also replied with a 'happy' emote. “I’m guessing we’ll see each other again in Yggdrasil II, eh?”
“...Yeah.”
Momonga logged off.
The room was now empty. Ulbert stared up at the ceiling. The now empty room was once filled with all 41 Members of Ainz Ooal Gown, filled to the brim with laughter, joking, liveliness - He even missed arguing with Touch Me all the time.
He pounded the dining table. A quick 'Unbreakable' notification popped up.
“Don’t fucking lie to me!”
They were doing nothing more than escaping. They didn’t know how to deal with it, same as him, and to avoid the pain, they were escaping as quickly as possible. Only Momonga had stayed behind as long as he did.
There was no promise of a Yggdrasil II. VR tech had outgrown Yggdrasil’s old engine, and it would now be extremely hard to catch up.
He teleported outside of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, and stared up at the simulated night sky. He tried inhaling the crisp air. He glanced at the corner of his screen.
30 seconds left until shutdown. This wasn’t a bad way to end it all, right?
He sat down on the cold grass, and stared up at the night sky. The moon and the stars were so beautiful. He had always been one for evil, but even now he admired its beauty.
00:00:05… 00:00:04… 00:00:03... 00:00:02… 00:00:01....
It was fun… It was definitely fun…
Ulbert closed his eyes.
Ulbert opened his eyes.
...What?
He looked down at the timer.
00:00:001… 00:00:02...
Had the shutdown been canceled? He immediately attempted to 『Message』 an admin.
He tried this five times to no avail. No response. He attempted to open up his in-game Web Browser.
Also no response. What the fuck?
He attempted to logout. Still no response.
He took a look at his surroundings. This was not… the swamps that Nazarick had previously been in. A prank by the admins? No. They would never do something like this.
He teleported back into Nazarick, into the Throne Room.
He looked at his surroundings. Everything was the same indoors, he concluded.
“...Is there something wrong, Ulbert Alain Odle-sama?” A female voice resounded throughout the room. A fucking voice. Was it an admin?
He immediately turned around.
“I apologize if I startled you, Ulbert Alain Odle-sama.” Albedo bowed.
This was obviously impossible. Albedo was an NPC.
...Stay calm. Is this a test build for Yggdrasil 2, where AI are sentient or something?
“...Albedo. Please rise.” He stated calmly.
Albedo did as instructed and awaited instructions.
“Call all the Floor Guardians here.”
What an absolutely surreal sight for his eyes. All the Floor Guardians were bowing before him.
He scratched his fur.
...What? He felt an itch.
That was impossible, even with modern-day VR tech. This was getting even more bizarre.
He turned his attention back to the Floor Guardians. His gaze lingered on Demiurge for a moment, his very own creation.
“Please rise.”
They all rose in unison.
“We all pledge our loyalty to the Supreme Being, Ulbert Alain Odle-sama. What instructions do you have for us?” Albedo spoke as their representative.
He decided to play along for now. “Nazarick is no longer in the swamps it formerly was in. What intel do we have on this?”
No answer.
“It’s fine that you cannot answer. It is perplexing to me, as well.” He covered for them.
“Sebas. You will go out and collect intel. Until then, all Floor Guardians remain on high alert, and bring security up to the max. Dismissed.”
They all bowed. Ulbert teleported to his room, out of sight.
“...Oho.” Demiurge breathed out in awe, and shifted his glasses.
“So that is Ulbert Alain Odle-sama, the one known as the Demon of Great Disaster. What a truly outstanding aura. As expected of the Supreme Beings.” Albedo stated.
“HE. IS. TRULY. FIT. TO. BE. A. SUPREME. BEING.” Cocytus gave his own two cents.
“He was a bit scary, but he was also very charismatic…” Mare stated.
Sebas nodded and rushed off to fulfill his tasks.
Two days had passed since then. Ulbert laid in bed, and peered into the Mirror of Remote Viewing.
Sebas Tian stood next to him, as still as a statue.
“Would you like to sit, Sebas?”
Sebas shook his head. “Standing would make me be able to serve you faster when you needed it. My apologies.”
Ulbert shot him an is-that-so look and turned back to the mirror.
Ulbert was not an incompetent person. He had tested everything within these two days. Magic, items, NPC intellect, emotions, and facial expressions. It was like a fantasy world.
...And he had grown to like it, surprisingly. While he dearly missed his friends, this world was a lot more fun than the last.
He let such thoughts drift while scouting out the area.
It was plains for kilos. That is, until his eye caught something.
A village.
He wasn’t alone, after all.
Although, something seemed to be off. It seemed like there was a siege happening on the villagers.
“Hm…”
He still did not have enough information. He would go check it out.
He got up. Sebas Tian, perhaps detecting his intentions, stated, “Shall I call out one of the Floor Guardians for you?”
“...Sure. Call Demiurge.”
…
Demiurge now stood in front of him with a face of utmost respect. He looked at the village, and he seemed to be suppressing a grin.
A thought had crossed Ulbert's mind suddenly from this errand.
“Demiurge… What do you think Nazarick would do if I had died?” This was a foreign world. He was one of the most powerful magic casters in his world, but it could be entirely different in this one.
Demiurge’s face twisted. “My creator, Ulbert-sama. We would immediately resurrect you, and hunt down the filth that dared touch you. Personally, I would subject that worm to eternal suffering until he was but a shell of a former lifeform.”
Ulbert… smiled at the grotesque descriptions. What was this?
...He decided to ignore it.
Demiurge looked absolutely pleased at the fact that he had made his master smile.
“Let us head off. Sebas, raise Nazarick’s security level to the maximum.”
“Yes.”
“Gate.”
A portal opened, and Ulbert walked through.