The Undead King

by Kugane Maruyama

  Before this supremely good being, Nigun’s subordinates’ emotions exploded and they burst into applause.

  This will be able to kill Ainz Ooal Gown.

  It’s his turn to be scared.

  Know your folly before the power of the gods.

  Faced with the object of their delight, it was all Ainz could do to string a few words together. “That’s it?! This is you getting serious? This angel…is the ace up your sleeve?”

  Ainz’s astonishment banished Nigun’s insecurity from earlier; he started to even feel pretty good. “Yes, that’s right! This is the highest-level angel—I know you can’t help but be frightened. Normally it’d be a waste to use something like this, but I took the liberty of deciding you were a worthy adversary.”

  “What the heck…?” Ainz slowly raised a hand and put it over his mask. Nigun could see the gesture only as stemming from despair.

  “Ainz Ooal Gown. I summoned the highest-level angel against you—I respect you as an opponent. Take pride in that! You are a tremendously powerful caster!” He solemnly shook his head. “Honestly, I’d like to welcome you as a brother. It would be great to have someone as powerful as you for an ally…but forgive me. My orders this time don’t allow for that. But we will remember you, the caster who forced us to summon the highest-level angel.”

  In response to Nigun’s admiration came a cold voice. “This is truly…ridiculous.”

  “What?” Nigun couldn’t comprehend what had just been said. From his point of view, Ainz was nothing more than an offering to this angel. But he seemed far too relaxed…

  “Albedo, I’m sorry…for actually taking precautions against this kids’ stuff. You even used some skills for me…”

  “It was nothing, Lord Ainz. If you consider the possibility that something more than we were expecting could have been summoned, it makes sense that we should try to lower the chance you would be injured as much as possible.”

  “Hm? Well, you’re right, of course. Even so, I can’t believe that this is all they could muster. I’m stunned.”

  The two of them were giving off the strong indication that even bothering with Nigun and his men any longer was absurd. Nigun began to get hot under the collar. “How can you act this way before the highest-level angel?” he bellowed at them as they chatted in a leisurely manner, ignoring it. His delight was canceled out by their overwhelmingly superior attitude and his previous insecurity and fear returned. Ainz Ooal Gown couldn’t possibly surpass even the highest-level angel, could he? “No! It can’t be! It can’t be! It cannot be! No one should be able to beat this angel! It even beat an evil spirit! No human can win against this angel—you must be bluffing! This has to be a bluff!” Nigun no longer had the means to control his emotions.

  He couldn’t accept that there could be an enemy of the Slane Theocracy who was stronger than their strongest angel. Nor could he accept the fact that that enemy was standing in front of him. “Use Holy Smite!”

  There was a realm of magic humans could never reach: tier seven and above. In the Slane Theocracy they were able to use some of those spells by performing large-scale ceremonies, but a dominion authority could use them on its own. It wasn’t the highest-level angel for nothing.

  The spell Nigun asked for, Holy Smite, was a tier-seven spell. In other words, it was a spell of ultimate power.

  “Okay, okay. I won’t budge, so bring it on. Will you be satisfied, then?” Ainz’s response was totally easygoing, as if he were yielding at a stop sign.

  That attitude frightened Nigun.

  This angel was the strongest being on the continent, possessing ultimate power—it had even defeated an evil spirit. There shouldn’t be any way to take it out.

  But what if there were?

  What if the mysterious caster before me right now could do it?

  That would mean that this man is far stronger than an evil spirit.

  How could such a powerful overlord exist?!

  In response to its summoner’s wish for an all-out attack, the dominion authority’s scepter shattered. The shards began slowly revolving around the angel.

  “Aha. A once-per-summons special ability that amplifies spell power? It seems dominion abilities are also the same as in Yggdrasil…”

  “Holy Smite!”

  The spell was cast and a column of light shone down—at least, that’s what it looked like. With a roar, the pale, pure light enveloped Ainz as he held a hand up like a visor.

  The seventh tier—this was a spell impossible for a human to cast.

  Beings of evil would be “cleansed” by absolute purity. Even if they were good, they would meet the same fate. It was just a difference of whether a little bit of them would be left over or they would be completely expunged. That’s what a spell that transcended human potential could do. It would be strange if it couldn’t do something like that.

  …But Ainz was fine.

  The monster had neither been expunged, nor fallen to the ground, nor burned to a crisp, nor anything else—he was standing there on his two feet. He was even cackling.

  “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Just what I’d expect from a spell cast by a being strong against evil… So this is what it’s like to take damage? This is pain, then. I see, I see. But even in pain I can think clearly and my movements are not inhibited.” The column of light faded despite not having done much of anything. “Marvelous. Yet another experiment completed.” His voice was unconcerned—no, it actually sounded content somehow.

  Realizing that, all Nigun and his men could do was twitchily grin.

  There was, however, one person who was furious.

  “You lower…you base scuuum!!!” A shriek cut through the air. Its source, Albedo. “You lower life-form bastaaards! How dare you cause our loved and respected master, Lord Ainz—the man I love, the man I suuuuper love—to be in paaain?! Know your place as garbaaage! Death is a fate too merciful for youuu! I’m going to give you the maximum pain that exists in this world and mess with you till you go insaaane! I’m going to burn your limbs off with acid, make minced meat of your man bits, and force-feed it to youuu! When you recover, use magic to heal him! Aaaah, I hate you! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you so much my heart feels like it’s going to explode!” Her armored arms flailed.

  It felt like the world was warping around that spot. The sign of something twisted by an evil faith in death battered them like a bomb blast. It was wriggling violently beneath that full suit of armor. Something big was trying to burst through. Even though Nigun could see that was the case, there was nothing he could do but stand there stock-still and watch as a monster that would surely sully the world was born.

  There was only one person in the universe who could stop Albedo. He quietly raised a hand and said, “Albedo, it’s fine.”

  Even just that was enough to stop her short.

  “B-but Lord Ainz! The lower life-forms, they—”

  “It’s fine, Albedo. Aside from the unexpected fragility of their angels, everything has been going pretty much according to my plan. So why get angry?”

  Hearing those words, Albedo put a hand over her heart and bowed her head. “You’re always right, Lord Ainz. It’s so fitting that you would have such a carefully laid plan. I am deeply impressed.”

  “No, I mean, I’m glad you were anxious for me and got mad, but…Albedo, you’re more charming when you smile.”

  “Tee-heeeee! Ch-cha-charming! Ahem. Thank you, Lord Ainz.”

  “Well, then, sorry to keep you waiting.”

  Nigun, who’d been going numb watching how carefree they were, came back to himself at this address. “I know what you really are! Evil spirits! You’re evil spirits!”

  Nigun had practically no knowledge of beings who could do battle with high-level angels. There were the six gods, which included the one he believed in; the kings of dragons—the most powerful race—dragonlords; the legendary monsters who were supposedly so strong that one could take out a country, nation breakers; and evil spirits.

/>   It was said that the Thirteen Heroes defeated the evil spirits and sealed them away. It made the most sense to Nigun to consider that blast just a moment ago the seal on an evil spirit being broken.

  And if they were evil spirits, Nigun still had a slight hope that it would be possible to defeat them, as long as he had his angel.

  “Again! Beat him down with Holy Smite!” Ainz said he’d felt pain last time. So maybe he took damage? He’s standing, but maybe that’s all he can manage. Innumerable maybes occupied his mind. If they didn’t, it would surely break.

  But Ainz wasn’t about to let him attack twice.

  “It’s my turn, isn’t it? Know despair: Black Hole!”

  A tiny dot appeared on the dominion authority’s glimmering body. Before everyone’s eyes, it grew bigger and bigger—a vacuum.

  It sucked everything in.

  Soon nothing was left and it had gone so laughably, stunningly easily.

  With the brilliant dominion authority lost, the light in the area dimmed all at once. The wind rushing over the plains, rustling the grass, seemed to echo. In the midst of the silence, a hoarse voice spoke. “What are you…?!” Nigun asked the impossible being again. “I’ve never heard of a caster by the name of Ainz Ooal Gown. But then, there can’t be someone who can take out the highest-level angel in one shot. It would be wrong for such a person to exist.” He shook his head weakly. “All I know is you’re vastly stronger than evil spirits. It doesn’t make sense… What ar—?”

  “I’m Ainz Ooal Gown. Once this name was known by all. But I think that’s enough chatting, don’t you? Any more than this and it’d be a waste of time for both of us. To prevent further time wasting I’m going to let you know ahead of time that I’ve cast anti-teleportation magic around here and I have men waiting to ambush you throughout the area, so know that escape is impossible.”

  The sun had sunk completely below the horizon and the land was wrapped in darkness. Nigun felt like this was the end, and it was obvious that that was the case.

  Suddenly space broke over his crouching men—like a clay pot shattered. But it was back to normal in an instant, leaving no trace of the abnormal view.

  As Nigun floundered for an explanation, Ainz gave him one. “Sheesh, you should be grateful. It looks like someone was trying to monitor you with intelligence magic! Luckily, I was within range and my attack wall activated, so I don’t think they managed to get more than a peek. Sheesh, if I’d have known this would happen, I would have linked it with a higher-level attack spell…”

  Those words were a revelation for Nigun. His home country must have been checking in on him periodically.

  “If I only use Explosion boosted to have an increased area of effect, they might not learn their lesson… Anyhow, that’s enough fooling around, I think.”

  Realizing what he meant, a chill went down Nigun’s spine. The taker of lives’ life was about to be taken. And he was so scared he couldn’t stand it. Just like everyone whose life he had taken so far, he was terrified to have his life stolen away. The eyes of his subordinates gathering on him was bothersome.

  He felt like he might start to cry.

  He wanted to cry and scream and beg to be spared, but Ainz didn’t look like he was big on mercy. So he held back his tears and groped frantically for a plan. But no matter how much he thought, there was no one to support them. In that case, all he could do really was depend on Ainz’s mercy.

  “W-wait! I’d like you to wait a moment, sir—Lord! Lord Ainz Ooal Gown. Please wait! I want to make a deal! I swear you’ll come out ahead! I’ll pay you whatever you want if you’ll spare our lives—no, even just my life!” In his peripheral vision he could see his subordinates staring agape at him, but they were no longer his concern. What was important now was his own life, nothing else.

  Besides, his subordinates were replaceable, whereas he was not. He ignored their resentful voices and continued. “It must be hard to satisfy such a great caster as yourself, but I will match your desired amount as closely as possible. I may not look it, but I’m quite a valuable asset to my country. I’m sure they would pay an exceptional sum. Of course, if there is something you would prefer besides money, I could arrange that as well! So please, I beg you, spare my life!” Having said all that in one breath, Nigun gasped a few times. “S-so, how about it, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown?”

  In response to Nigun’s desperate supplication came a soft, friendly woman’s voice. “Did you not refuse Supreme Being Lord Ainz’s most merciful offer earlier?”

  “But—”

  “I get what you’re saying. ‘Even if I took that deal, I would’ve been killed! I want to live!’ right?” The suit of armor’s helmet moved in a way that all but said, Good grief. “That attitude is plain mistaken. Lord Ainz wields the power of life and death in Nazarick, so when he says you will die, you lower life-form humans bow your heads and wait for the end, full of gratitude.” She spoke in a tone that said she believed every word from the bottom of her heart.

  She’s insane. This woman has no means of rational thought—she’s completely bonkers. Fully realizing this, Nigun turned to Ainz with a glimmer of hope.

  Ainz had been silently listening to their conversation up to that point, and when he realized they were waiting for his decision, he shook his head with a “sheesh.” “Let’s see, I think it went something like… ‘Quit your futile flailing and die quietly. I’ll take pity on you and kill you painlessly.’”

  2

  Night had fallen on the plain. Walking along, Ainz looked up and noticed again how full of pretty stars the sky was.

  Maybe I went a tad overboard.

  As long as Albedo was watching, he couldn’t do anything clumsy. As master, he had to carry himself properly in front of his servant. Partly due to that, he might have gotten a little too carried away, but still, he’d been playing his part as if his life depended on it.

  So did I pass or not? As long as she’s not disappointed in me…

  Ainz didn’t know she was thinking, Holy cow, you were so cool, Lord Ainz! Tee-hee-hee-hee-hee! beneath her close helmet, so he ran over again in his head how he had acted that day.

  “But Lord Ainz, why did you save Gazef?”

  I wonder… He didn’t feel like he could accurately explain the workings of his heart at that moment, so he said something else instead. “It was a problem we brought on them, so I figured we should be the ones to solve it if we could.”

  “Then, why did you give him that item?”

  “That was strategic planning. Him having that was handy for me, too.”

  The item he’d given Gazef was a cash store item from Yggdrasil—one Ainz had quite a few of. He didn’t think he’d be able to acquire any more, but giving one away this time was not a major loss. On the contrary, Ainz was happy for their number to decrease.

  Those items were consolation prizes for the five hundred–yen gacha, so having so many just reminded him how he’d wasted all his money and ended up poor. But that wasn’t all. After pouring so much cash into it and finally getting the super-rare item he’d been after, his former guildmate Yamaiko got it on her first try. The shock from that still remained in his mind as a hairline crack.

  He’d thought to throw them away many a time, but when he remembered that each one had cost five hundred yen, he couldn’t just chuck them.

  “Well, I could have used that item or not, but either way was no loss for me, so…”

  “Wouldn’t it have been better for me to wipe them out? There was no need for you to go save that lower life-form… I didn’t sense any truly formidable signals in the area. I don’t think there was any reason you needed to go personally.”

  “I see…” Ainz didn’t have this signal detector built in, so that was all he could say.

  In Yggdrasil, he could tell roughly how strong an enemy was compared to him by the color its name was displayed in. He could also get information from walk-through sites or his guildmates’ intelligence magic.

 
It was a little bit nostalgic.

  I should have learned some intelligence magic. Ainz regretted not having those abilities. Of course, he wasn’t sure if it would function the same here, but he probably wouldn’t have had to take risks like he had that day.

  Well, it’s no use crying for the moon. Ainz decided to think about something else.

  “Albedo, I know how strong you are and I trust you, but you shouldn’t take things so lightly. Consider the possibility that someday an enemy could defeat me. That’s especially important now when we don’t have much info about this world. That’s why I had Gazef do some work for me out there.”

  “Aha, so you sacrificed a pawn to test the strength of your enemy. Truly, that is the proper use for the inferior human race.” He couldn’t see her expression under her close helmet, but the tone of her voice was cheery as a flower garden.

  He’d been wondering for a while, but as a former human, current undead, Ainz wanted to know if she really hated humans that much.

  Not that he felt sad or lonely because of it. On the contrary, as the captain of the floor guardians in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the headquarters of a guild made up of grotesques, it was probably the correct attitude. It seemed that way to him anyhow.

  “That’s right, but of course, that’s not all. If you reach out to help someone when they’re on the verge of death, they’ll be extra grateful. Also, since the enemy we were up against was a special-ops unit, even if they were to go missing, their country probably wouldn’t be able to launch a high-profile search for them, so I felt like if I had the chance I wanted to intervene.”

  “Ahh, I’m impressed as always, Lord Ainz. Such deep thoughts… I suppose that’s why you captured the commander and his men alive? Brilliant.”

  Hearing Albedo’s praise, Ainz felt like bragging. He was making quick decisions and engineering plans with no inconsistencies or impossibilities. Maybe I’m executive material after all? he was thinking, all self-congratulatory, until he heard Albedo’s concerned voice.