Great Tomb of Nazarick, Tenth Floor — The Throne Room.
Inside the massive hall, the lighting was dim, and the air was thick with a solemn and oppressive atmosphere.
On both sides, Nazarick’s strongest guardians stood in neat rows; from the Pleiades to the Floor Guardians, not a single one was absent.
Ainz Ooal Gown sat upon the High Throne, his skeletal face hidden in the shadows, with only two pinpoints of crimson light looking down from above.
Beside him, Makoto stood casually, his spear leaning against his side, his posture as relaxed as if he were sunbathing in his own backyard.
“I have summoned you here to make an announcement.”
Ainz’s voice echoed through the empty hall, deep and unquestionable.
“This is Makoto.
From today onward, he will stay here as a guest of Nazarick.
No one is to be disrespectful.”
Silence.
A deathly silence.
The gazes of all the guardians fell upon Makoto simultaneously—scrutiny, hostility, curiosity, and disdain, a mix of various emotions.
Albedo was the first to speak, her voice as sweet as honey, yet there was no trace of a smile in her golden slit pupils.
“Supreme Being, if I may be so bold as to ask—what exactly is the background of this ‘guest’?”
She placed a deliberate emphasis on the word “guest.”
Before Ainz could answer, Makoto spoke up.
“No background to speak of.”
He shrugged, his tone excessively casual.
“I’m just passing through, and your boss insisted on inviting me for tea.”
Albedo’s smile stiffened for a moment.
Demiurge adjusted his glasses, the reflection on the lenses obscuring his eyes, though the corners of his mouth curled slightly upward.
“Oh?
Lord Ainz himself invited you?
That is a rare occurrence indeed.”
His voice was gentle, like a warm spring breeze.
But Makoto noticed that those eyes were constantly measuring every detail of him—his weapon, armor, stance, and breathing frequency.
Like a shrewd merchant appraising merchandise.
Shalltear stood in the line, her crimson eyes fixed intently on Makoto, her lips twitching slightly as if she were restraining something.
Her fingers curled and uncurled at her side.
“Boring.”
She finally spat out those two words and turned her head away.
Aura Bella Fiora, on the other hand, made no attempt to hide her scrutiny, looking Makoto up and down several times before wrinkling her nose.
“He looks pretty ordinary.”
Mare Bello Fiore hid behind her, only showing his eyes as he peeked timidly.
Cocytus remained silent, his multiple arms crossed over his chest, his massive insectoid eyes betraying no emotion.
The atmosphere froze in a subtle tension.
Ainz sighed inwardly; he knew this would happen.
The guardians’ loyalty to him was beyond doubt, but this loyalty had a small side effect—extreme distrust toward outsiders.
Especially a human of unknown origin whom he had personally brought back to Nazarick.
“He is an old friend of an old acquaintance.”
Ainz finally spoke, his tone flat but absolute.
“I owed a favor while I was outside.
This is not a request, but an order.”
“Understood.”
All the guardians responded in unison.
But Makoto noticed Albedo’s wings twitch slightly behind her.
That was not a sign of submission.
After the audience in the Throne Room ended, Makoto was settled into a guest room on the Ninth Floor.
The room was huge, so large that one’s voice echoed.
The furnishings weren’t exactly extravagant, but they showed exquisite taste—the carpet was woven from the fur of some unknown magical beast, the tea set on the table emitted a faint magical Aura Bella Fiora, and even the bedsheets were made of high-quality silk.
Although the ones in Novas Aethel weren’t bad either, these were of two completely different styles.
Makoto leaned his spear against the bed, looked around, and whistled.
“Tsk, this treatment is way more over-the-top than a five-star hotel.”
Just as he finished speaking, there was a soft knock at the door.
“Lord Higashino, Lord Ainz has ordered me to bring you some refreshments.”
The door opened, and one of the Pleiades battle maids, Yuri Alpha, walked in.
Carrying a tray, she gracefully placed the refreshments on the table, then took a step back and bowed slightly.
“If you have any needs, please do not hesitate to ask.”
Makoto glanced at the items on the tray: black tea, pastries, and fruit, all arranged as exquisitely as works of art.
“Thanks.”
He picked up the teacup and took a sip (it actually went into Huginn’s mouth, as Golems do not need to eat), then suddenly asked.
“Do you always treat guests like this?”
Yuri Alpha’s expression didn’t change, her voice remaining gentle and polite.
“Nazarick rarely receives guests.
You are the first.”
Makoto raised an eyebrow.
“Then I’m quite honored.”
Yuri Alpha didn’t respond, simply maintaining her perfect smile as she exited the room.
The moment the door closed, the relaxed smile on Makoto’s face faded slightly.
He set down his teacup, walked to the window, and gazed out at the artificial starry sky created by magic.
The first guest, huh…
He calculated silently in his mind.
Ainz bringing him back was definitely not just because of those few words about Bukubukuchagama and Peroroncino.
Ainz wasn’t actually a great ruler, but his caution from his long years as a salaryman was a significant virtue.
Keeping him in Nazarick was both a gesture of trust and a test.
A test of his true intentions, a test of his strength, and a test of whether he was an enemy.
And the guardians’ attitudes were also interesting—obeying orders on the surface, while likely sharpening their blades in the shadows.
“Interesting.”
Makoto murmured, the corner of his mouth curving upward.
He turned back to the bed, picked up his spear, and gave it a flourish.
“Well then, let’s see how long this play can last.”
At the same time, in the Throne Room.
The guardians had not left.
Ainz sat upon his throne, with the others lined up neatly below.
Albedo stood at the very front, the smile on her face long gone, replaced by a rare seriousness.
“Lord Ainz,” Get faster updates on g.com.
Her voice was very low: “Could you please inform us who exactly this ‘guest’ is?”
Ainz was silent for a moment.
“He said he is an old friend of Bukubukuchagama and Peroroncino.”
At those words, all the guardians were shaken.
Bukubukuchagama.
Peroroncino.
To the guardians of Nazarick, these two names were equivalent to gods.
“That’s impossible.”
Shalltear was the first to speak, her voice sharp.
“How could an old friend of those two Supreme Beings be someone like—”
“Shalltear.”
Ainz’s tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable pressure.
Shalltear immediately shut her mouth and lowered her head.
Demiurge adjusted his glasses and spoke slowly: “Lord Ainz, I have no intention of questioning your judgment.
However, you also know that the safety of Nazarick is paramount.
We need to know more about this ‘Makoto’.”
“I know.”
Ainz stood up, walked down from the throne, his crimson eyes scanning every face.
“Therefore, I need you all to do one thing.”
“Observe him, interact with him, and test him.”
His voice was deep and powerful.
“But remember—do not get serious.
I want to know his background, not take his life.”
Albedo narrowed her eyes slightly.
“And if he harbors ill intentions?”
Ainz stopped in his tracks, his back to the crowd, and remained silent for a long time.
“Then…”
His voice was so soft it was almost inaudible.
“We’ll deal with it when the time comes.”
The guardians exchanged glances and bowed in unison.
“As you command.”
Meanwhile, in the guest room on the Ninth Floor, Makoto was sitting on the bed with his legs crossed, flipping through a “Nazarick Sightseeing Guide” he had found in the room.
“Ninth Floor…
Supreme Suite…
Magic Hot Springs…
Indoor Pool…”
He turned a page, and his eyes lit up.
“There’s even a Game Room?”
Outside, the artificial starry sky twinkled quietly, reflecting the meaningful smile on his face.
This place was much more interesting than he had imagined.
Maybe it’s not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
“And If you’re enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!”