It was late at night, around midnight, inside Lucien’s temporary rented house.
The dim oil lamp flickered on the wooden table, stretching the shadows of the two men into distorted shapes across the room.
“Take a look at this.” Lucien turned his wrist and retrieved an unremarkable-looking crown from his inventory, then pushed it across the table toward Ainz.
“I took this from the body of someone who looked like a senior member of that organization.
He was lying beside the altar in the underground fortress.” “If I’m not mistaken, he used this item to strengthen himself and summon that undead army.” Ainz’s gaze settled on the crown.
He cast an appraisal spell.
The red lights beneath his helmet suddenly contracted.
“The Crown of Wisdom…” Ainz’s voice became extremely grave.
The item’s quality was mediocre, and its effects could only be described as worthless by their standards.
Back in YGGDRASIL, something like this would have been the sort of junk they would refuse even if someone offered it for free.
It barely deserved to occupy an inventory slot.
But this was the New World.
Ainz immediately understood what Lucien was trying to say.
“Exactly.” Lucien leaned back in his chair, lightly tapping his fingers against the tabletop.
“The important part isn’t the item’s stats.” “It’s that the Appraisal function built into our system recognizes it.” Ainz remained silent for a long time.
Then he slowly spoke.
“Which means this item genuinely existed in YGGDRASIL’s database.” “And the only people capable of bringing something like that into this world…” “Are players.” Lucien finished the thought.
His expression turned cold.
“We’re definitely not the only two people who were transported here.” Ainz sat perfectly upright.
A storm of thoughts surged through his mind.
In truth, he had been guarding against this possibility from the very first day he arrived in this world.
It was why he continued operating within human society under the false identity of Momon.
It was why he refused to let the Guardians of Nazarick casually reveal their true strength.
Even when rescuing Carne Village, Ainz had carefully concealed both information and his identity.
All of it had been done in preparation for the possibility that other players existed.
“Thank goodness…” Ainz released a long breath.
His voice carried both relief and lingering fear.
“Thank goodness the decisions I made earlier were correct.” “If I’d arrived here with max-level strength and the entirety of Nazarick, become overconfident, and immediately started conquering the surrounding nations…” “Then by now, every hidden player in this world might already see me as a target.” Ainz understood better than most how vicious guild wars and competition over resources could become in YGGDRASIL.
If hostile players had arrived in this world carrying World Items, or perhaps even an entire guild base, and they decided to treat Ainz Ooal Gown like a raid boss.
The consequences could be catastrophic.
“Exactly.
The most dangerous situation is when the enemy knows about you while you know nothing about them.” Lucien strongly agreed.
“This crown is only a low-grade item, but it proves that something from YGGDRASIL has made its way into the hands of the people of this world.” “Either a player allowed these items to spread…” “Or the organization that resurrected Khajiit and Clementine was founded by players in the first place.” “Then we need to become even more cautious from now on.” Ainz’s voice was heavy.
“Until we understand the true upper limit of this world’s strength and learn more about any other players, we absolutely cannot expose our real identities or Nazarick’s location.” “Agreed.” Lucien nodded.
The two looked at each other.
Both recognized the same absolute caution and rationality that came from years of high-level gaming.
With the serious matter settled, the atmosphere in the room relaxed slightly.
Ainz cleared his throat.
Then he turned toward Nabe and Yuri, who had been standing quietly in one corner.
“You two, wait outside.” “Do not allow anyone to approach.” “I have a private matter to discuss with Lucien.” The two battle maids obeyed without hesitation.
They immediately left the room and closed the wooden door behind them.
Only Lucien and Ainz remained.
Ainz leaned forward in his chair.
His enormous skeletal face moved closer to Lucien.
When he spoke, his voice was extremely low, with an unmistakable hint of embarrassment.
“Well…
Lucien.” “You’ve been in this world for almost a month now, haven’t you?” “About that.
Why?” Lucien looked at the skull moving toward him and instinctively leaned backward.
“Ahem.
I was just wondering…” Ainz rubbed his bony fingers together awkwardly.
“Have you met any women you…
particularly liked?” “Someone you were attracted to?” Lucien froze.
He had completely lost track of Ainz’s train of thought.
A moment ago, they had been seriously discussing hostile hidden players and threats to their survival.
How had the conversation suddenly turned into relationship advice?
“No.” Lucien shook his head honestly.
“I’ve spent most of this month figuring out how this world works and gathering information.” “Other than buying things, I haven’t really interacted with many women.” “I see…” Ainz seemed somewhat surprised.
Like an unusually curious gossip, he leaned forward again.
The red lights inside his hollow eye sockets were now uncomfortably close to Lucien’s face.
“Then what about simple physical attraction?” “Anyone you’ve seen and immediately wanted?” Ainz lowered his voice even further, giving the question the unmistakable tone of private conversation between two men.
Lucien found the enormous skull staring at him distinctly unsettling.
He pushed himself and his chair back several inches to create some distance.
“Why are you asking me this?” Seeing Lucien practically retreat from him, Ainz immediately realized that he might have crossed a line.
He straightened in a hurry and waved both skeletal hands awkwardly.
“No, no!
Don’t misunderstand!” “I don’t mean anything strange!” “It’s just…” “Back in the real world, I used to read light novels.” “The protagonists would get transported to another world, become absurdly powerful, and then end up surrounded by women…” Ainz sighed.
His voice carried a profound sense of helplessness.
“But look at me now.” “I’m nothing but a skeleton.” “Even if part of me still wants those things, I don’t physically have the ability anymore.” “But that doesn’t stop my mind from thinking about them.” Hearing such an ordinary confession finally allowed Lucien to relax.
He understood now.
Ainz had clearly spent most of his previous life suppressing those desires, only to arrive in a body that made acting on them impossible.
He still had the thoughts, but no one to talk to.
That left Lucien as the only person who could sit across from him and discuss something like this as an equal.
“I’ve seen a few women who were very attractive.” Lucien rubbed his chin and answered carefully.
“But they all seemed to come from important families.” “Either major nobles or wealthy merchants.” “I don’t exactly get many opportunities to interact with people like that.” “Besides, I don’t have a noble title, and I don’t understand all the etiquette of high society.” “Even if I tried pursuing one of them, I’d probably have trouble fitting into that kind of family.” Ainz finally leaned back slightly.
The red glow in his eye sockets shifted as though he were carefully choosing his words.
“If…” “If you ever needed help, I could provide some.” “For example, I could look through Nazarick’s treasury and find some visually impressive magic items for you.” “Something flashy enough to make a strong impression on women.” “Or once I raise Momon’s identity to Adamantite rank, you could join my team and obtain the status of a top-ranked adventurer.” “With an Adamantite title, your social standing would rise dramatically.” “You’d naturally gain opportunities to meet noblewomen.” Ainz was now seriously planning Lucien’s future romantic prospects in the New World.
Lucien listened, then laughed and shook his head.
The whole strategy sounded ridiculous.
Using spectacular magic items to show off in front of women sounded like the fastest possible way to embarrass himself.
“I appreciate the thought, but I have absolutely no interest in grinding adventurer requests.” “As for finding a partner…” “If I eventually meet someone I genuinely fall for, I’ll pursue her myself.” “But that’s obviously not something I need to rush.” Lucien paused.
Considering that Ainz had already admitted something so private, including the frustration of having desires he could no longer act on, Lucien saw no reason to pretend to be some kind of saint.
“That said…” Lucien looked at him.
“If people around the level of Gazef really represent the normal upper end of this world’s strength…” “Then maybe someday I really will end up living like one of those absurdly overpowered fantasy protagonists with a whole collection of lovers.” Lucien assumed that was enough.
They were both men.
The meaning was obvious.
The subject could finally end.
Instead, Ainz remained seated there, visibly hesitant, as though there were still something he could not bring himself to say.
Lucien frowned.
“What is it?” “There’s obviously something else you haven’t said.” Ainz looked at him and released a long sigh.
He folded both hands beneath his chin.
Finally, he decided to say what had been troubling him for days.
“Lucien…” “I’ve always thought of the NPCs in Nazarick as the children my old guildmates and I left behind.” Ainz’s voice became much quieter.
There was a strange heaviness to it, almost like that of a parent.
“The night after I assigned Yuri to you, I regretted it.” “I spent the entire night turning it over in my head.” “I was afraid…” “I was afraid you might misunderstand what I meant and treat her as nothing more than someone to satisfy your desires.” “But I was the one who personally suggested sending Yuri to take care of you.” “I couldn’t simply reverse the order that same day.” “So I’ve been worrying about it ever since.” Ainz immediately hurried to clarify himself, apparently afraid Lucien would misunderstand.
“Don’t take this the wrong way!” “I’m absolutely not trying to take Yuri back!” “I just…” “I want you to value her as a living person.” “Not as an item or a piece of equipment.” “Do you understand what I mean?” Lucien finally understood.
So that was what all of this had been about.
Ainz had spent the entire conversation asking whether Lucien liked anyone, offering to help him pursue noblewomen, and practically helping him plan a future romantic life…
All because he had been building toward this.
Ainz was worried that Lucien had gone too long without a relationship and might simply turn his attention toward the maid constantly at his side.
Lucien immediately understood Ainz’s concern.
He also understood just how deeply Ainz cared about the NPCs of Nazarick.
“You should have just said that from the beginning.” Lucien smiled helplessly.
“Going around in circles like this was more likely to make me misunderstand you.” Then his tone became serious.
“Don’t worry.” “I will never use my friendship with you as an excuse to make unreasonable demands of Yuri.” “Unless one day she clearly expresses genuine feelings for me herself, I won’t lay a finger on her.” Hearing such a straightforward promise finally removed the weight that had been hanging over Ainz for days.
Even so, he still sounded slightly hesitant.
His voice dropped almost to a whisper.
“Well…” “Lucien, you really could find someone sooner rather than later.” “You’re different from me.” “You’re still a normal man…” “Enough.” Lucien looked at the overly concerned skeleton.
“You don’t need to worry about my love life for me.” To finally put Ainz at ease, Lucien decided to make his position unmistakably clear.
“Put it this way.” Lucien tapped his chest.
“Even if one day I completely lose control of myself, I’d sooner pay for a night at a brothel than touch one of the people you consider your children.” “Does that finally put your mind at ease?” Ainz completely relaxed.
He released a long breath.
Then, with all the tension gone, he accidentally blurted out the first thing that came to mind.
“Good, good.
And if you ever don’t have enough money for a brothel, you can ask me…” The words had barely left his mouth before Ainz wanted to slap himself.
He immediately realized just how inappropriate that sounded.
He hurriedly tried to salvage the situation.
“No!” “What I mean is, if you ever get caught somewhere like that and run into trouble, you can message me privately.” “I can come and get you out…” That somehow sounded even worse.
Ainz could no longer tolerate his own incoherent rambling.
He covered his face with both hands and mentally screamed at himself.
What was he even saying?
It became even worse when he noticed Lucien desperately trying not to laugh.
A level of embarrassment Ainz had never experienced before exploded through him.
Just as he felt as though he might die from sheer humiliation, intense green light suddenly erupted from his body.
His emotion suppression activated.
The green light flashed.
Ainz’s emotions immediately stabilized.
He lowered his hands and returned to his usual calm, dignified posture.
“Ahem.” “Anyway, that’s essentially what I wanted to say.” “As long as you understand, that’s enough.” “It’s late, Lucien.
You should get some rest.” “Nabe and I still need to visit the Adventurer’s Guild and handle the aftermath of the Skeletal Dragon incident.” “I may also be able to increase Momon’s adventurer rank and reputation while I’m there.” “All right.” Lucien smiled and waved.
“Have a good night.” Ainz stood, opened the wooden door, and disappeared into the darkness with Nabe.
(To be continued.) Quick Notice: I haven’t fully decided whether I’ll continue this one long-term, but I genuinely enjoy working on it, which is why I started it in the first place.
If it gets a decent response, I’ll gladly keep posting it.
If not, I may have to reconsider whether it’s worth continuing.
So if you’re enjoying the book, please support it however you can.
🫡 As for the bonus goals, since it’s a new week, I’ll do it like I always do.