Reborn as an NPC in the Great Tomb of Nazarick

The Forest of Tob loomed, its tall trees stretching skyward.

The late afternoon sun struggled to pierce the dense canopy, casting jagged shards of light onto the forest floor. Twigs snapped and leaves rustled as two small figures tore through the underbrush, their breaths ragged with exertion and fear.

"Faster, Nemu! Don't stop!" Enri Emmot's voice cracked as she glanced over her shoulder, her heart pounding like a war drum. Her younger sister, Nemu, struggled to keep up, her small legs trembling with every desperate step.

Behind them, the metallic clang of armored boots grew louder, accompanied by the sharp, mocking shouts of their pursuers. The knights of the Baharuth Empire were closing in.

"There's no point in running, you little rats!" one of them bellowed, his cruel laughter echoing through the trees. The other knight followed with a shout of his own, "You can't escape! We'll make this quick for you!"

Enri clenched her teeth, forcing herself to run faster despite the burning ache in her legs. She was only a teenager, she could run on her own...

But her little sister was a different story.

Enri's brown and yellow tunic was torn, and scratches marred her arms and face from where the branches had lashed at her. She gripped Nemu's hand tightly, practically dragging her younger sister along.

"Enri, I can't—" Nemu gasped, her voice quivering with exhaustion. Tears streaked her dirt-smudged cheeks.

"You can!" Enri cut her off, her tone fierce. "You have to! Just a little further, Nemu. Please!"

But the sound of the knights drew closer, their voices jeering, their armor crashing through the foliage like an unstoppable force. Enri's breath hitched as panic clawed at her chest. Her mind raced, searching for any way to save her sister.

Then, she made her decision.

"Nemu!" Enri shouted as they ran, her hold over her sister tightening as her green eyes burned with desperation. "Listen to me. You're going to run ahead—do you hear me? Run as fast as you can and don't look back!"

"But—"

"No buts, Nemu!" Enri's voice cracked, the raw urgency in her tone leaving no room for argument. "I'll catch up to you. But you have to go now!"

Nemu's lip quivered, her tiny frame shaking as she looked up at her sister with wide, tear-filled eyes. "Enri, I—"

"GO!" Enri shouted, letting go of her sister as she stopped running and turned to their attackers.

Reluctantly, Nemu continued to run, her small feet stumbling over roots and uneven ground. Enri watched her briefly, her heart aching as she whispered, "Don't look back… Please don't look back…"

But just as hope flickered in Enri's chest, she heard it—the sickening sound of a foot catching on a hidden root, followed by a cry of pain.

"Nemu!" Enri screamed, her legs carrying her forward as she felt cold metal cut into her back from behind.

Ignoring the searing pain, Enri pushed forward.

Nemu lay sprawled on the ground, clutching her ankle as tears streamed down her face. "It hurts, Enri!" she sobbed. "I can't move!"

"No, no, no…" Enri dropped to her knees beside her sister, her hands trembling as she inspected the injury. The ankle was already beginning to swell, the unnatural angle confirming the worst—it was twisted, maybe even broken.

Enri felt the sensation of blood pouring out of her back, her life didn't matter right now.

Nemu would die because she failed to protect her. And she felt anger, dread, and her looming desire to live soar at this realization, yet she was powerless.

Enri heard the stomp of the boots right behind her, mere seconds remained until she would die. And her little sister would follow.

Enri tightly hugged her sister, putting her body in the way of the knights and the only thing she had left, and clung to it tightly.

"God... Please..." She begged, voice shaking and face paling.

The clanking footsteps behind her came to an abrupt halt.

A metallic shuffle. Then a sharp gasp.

Enri's breath caught. Something had changed.

Had her desperate plea been answered? Had her prayers somehow deterred the soldiers? She turned her head toward the knights slowly, her heart pounding as a faint, inexplicable dread took root in her chest.

The knights, so imposing moments before, now stood frozen. Their swords hung limply at their sides, and though their faces were obscured by helmets, the fear radiating from them was palpable.

Enri could see it in the way they trembled, in the shallow rise and fall of their shoulders, and in the way one of them took an instinctive step back. These men, who had mercilessly slaughtered her friends and neighbors, now quaked like children before the monster under their bed.

It was almost ironic—until she felt it too.

Perhaps it was because she was a normal girl, or maybe because she wasn't looking at it, but Enri knew that there was something behind her.

A cold, primal terror seeped into her bones, whispering to every nerve in her body to stay still.

But her curiosity overpowered her fear. And against every instinct, Enri turned her head.

Death stood before her.

A skeletal figure loomed over the clearing, impossibly tall—at least two meters, but its presence made it seem so much larger. Two orbs of glowing crimson burned within its empty eye sockets, piercing through her like spears. Those eyes were not just seeing her—they were crushing her, stripping her of every thought, every secret, every scrap of her existence, excluding fear and dread.

Its aura was suffocating. A supernatural chill rolled off its form, blanketing the world in stillness. Even the gentle rustle of the trees had stopped, as though the forest itself was holding its breath in reverence—or fear.

The creature was clad in robes of opulent black and purple, each fold and embroidery hinting at regality. The fabric shimmered faintly, as though woven from the night sky. Yet this majesty only heightened the dreadful inevitability it exuded.

In its hands, it gripped a staff—The golden surface gleamed in the faint light, its intricate design showing seven serpents coiled around one another. Each serpent clutched a jewel in its mouth, the gems glowing faintly with an otherworldly light.

Enri felt her mind falter—thoughts became fractured, scattered by the sheer weight of what she was seeing.

The sun dimmed, and shadows deepened as the air grew colder. The world itself seemed to shrink under the presence of this creature, muting into silence out of fear of offending it.

Enri's chest tightened painfully. Her lungs refused to draw breath, and her heartbeat stuttered. She felt small—so excruciatingly small.

Even so, she tightened her grip on Nemu, shielding the girl's face against her chest to keep her from seeing what lay before them.

Behind the skeletal figure, the air shimmered unnaturally. A tear in space swirled with violet and black energy, pulling inward toward a distant, glowing white dot. It was as if the void itself bowed in servitude to the figure that had emerged from it.

Its crimson gaze swept over the clearing, pausing briefly on Enri before moving to the soldiers. The knights, paralyzed with fear, dared not move a muscle of their free will.

The being raised a slender, bony hand, extending it toward one of them.

Its voice rumbled like thunder, deep and resonant, each syllable weighted with authority that disallowed opposition.

"[Grasp Heart]."

The words carried a finality that made Enri's blood run cold as, in an instant, a pulsing, spectral heart appeared in its outstretched palm.

Before the knight could react, the skeletal figure clenched its fist. The heart shattered with a sickening squelch, blood oozing down its fingers.

The knight crumpled to the ground like a discarded doll, lifeless and still.

"Hmph." The figure's deep voice murmured in dissatisfaction. "How dull. I was prepared to retreat through the [Gate] if my favorite instant-death spell failed, but it seems I overestimated them."

The remaining knight broke. With a strangled cry, he turned and ran, his heavy armor clanging as he fled through the underbrush.

The skeletal figure didn't follow. It raised a single finger, its crimson eyes glowing brighter.

"Alright then, let's see if this works. [Chain Lightning]."

A brilliant crackle of light erupted from its fingertip, arcing through the air with a deafening thunderclap. The fleeing knight was struck instantly, his armor glowing red-hot as the lightning coursed through him.

He let out a guttural scream, his body convulsing violently before collapsing into a charred heap. Smoke rose from the molten remains of his armor, the acrid scent of burnt flesh permeating the air.

"Pathetic," the being spoke aloud, its tone flat, almost bored. "To think a mere fifth-tier spell would suffice."

Fifth-tier. Enri's mind latched onto the phrase, recognizing it as a level of magic so powerful that only the most legendary of beings could wield it.

Yet this creature spoke of it as though it were trivial.

And then, the most dreaded thing of all happened.

It turned to them.

Enri tightly gripped her sister as a faint spark of determination formed to rise against her primordial fear, and yet, before anything could happen, another creature appeared.

Its crimson eyes bore down on Enri, radiating an almost oppressive sense of pride. They glowed faintly in the dim light as they seemed to pierce through her very soul.

Its skin was unnaturally pristine, a perfect marble white that seemed to emit a faint, ethereal glow. It exuded an aura of untouched purity—but the truth lay in stark contrast behind it.

Descending from its back were four black wings. Each feather shimmered with a faint, metallic sheen.

Embedded within the dark plumage were countless, red eyes—They shifted subtly, their movements both mesmerizing and deeply unsettling.

Some of the eyes gazed upon Enri with a strange empathy, their expressions gentle, as if they were looking at a wounded puppy while others looked on with cold detachment and pride, their indifference chilling in its absoluteness.

But a few—scattered among the rest—burned with a predatory intensity and recognition that sent a shiver of dread racing down her spine. Unlike the other two types, they were looking at the entire her, and they wanted her gone.

The creature's attire further deepened the contrast between its celestial beauty and the corruption that stretched from its back. It wore a suit so finely crafted it could have only been the work of a master, the material appearing as if spider silk had been woven together with threads of blood.

And lastly, atop one of his ears, there sat a beautiful red and black flower.

Nemu felt Enri's grip relax as she exhaled, and she immediately looked up at her sister.

Enri's blue eyes, once ordinary and soft, now shimmered with an otherworldly, gem-like brilliance. The fractured lines in her irises glimmered like shattered glass catching the light, radiating an eerie, crystalline glow that sent shivers down Nemu's spine.

"S-Sis...?" Nemu whispered, her voice cracking with panic as she grabbed Enri's face, her small hands trembling. Tears welled up in the corners of her eyes as she stared into the unfamiliar reflection of her sister. "Are you okay? Say something!"

But Enri remained still, her expression blank, her body unnaturally rigid as if trapped in a spell.

Momonga's crimson orbs flicked between Thoth and the distressed siblings, his skeletal face betraying no emotion. The child's cries barely registered to him. Instead, his mind methodically pieced together the puzzle before him.

'Crystallization of the eyes…' he thought, his vast pool of knowledge stirring as he searched for the source.

The answer came quickly. 'Ah, of course. Thoth's passive ability, [Aura of Sin], must have affected the two.'

Momonga tilted his head slightly in thought, his bony fingers tapping against the gilded surface of the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown. The [Aura of Sin] was a potent ability, usually meant to daze or destabilize enemies, rendering them vulnerable to attack.

But why use it on mere villagers?

A moment later, the answer dawned on him. 'Thoth wasn't here to witness me dispatch the knights. He must be acting cautiously, assuming these villagers could be doppelgangers or some other kind of threat.'

Though it seemed like an unnecessary precaution to Momonga, he decided the logic wasn't entirely unreasonable. With that thought, he turned his attention fully to Thoth.

"Thoth," he commanded, his deep voice cutting through the tension like a blade, entirely ignoring Nemu's increasingly desperate pleas, "These two pose no threat. Disable your [Aura of Sin]."

For a moment, Thoth froze, his crimson eyes widening slightly as realization struck him.

'…I have something like that?' he thought, the weight of Momonga's words sinking in. Then, as if a cold hand clutched his chest, panic began to rise.

'Wait—am I the one hurting them?!'

Guilt surged within him, tightening his throat as he watched Nemu sobbing over her unresponsive sister.

'Shit! I didn't even know I had an ability like this! How do I turn it off?!'

Thoth breathed deeply, the act meant to steady his nerves, but Momonga immediately misinterpreted it.

'...Did I miss something?' Momonga wondered, a creeping sense of regret blooming in his mind. 'Was my tone too harsh? Damn it, I shouldn't have said anything!'

Meanwhile, Thoth closed his eyes, his focus turning inward. He reached out with his senses, trying to detect the source of the oppressive force he was unintentionally emitting.

'Okay, think. I've felt magic before—when I cast [Light]. This should be similar, right? But more passive, something my body is releasing on its own...'

He concentrated harder, sifting through the invisible sensations emanating from his body. There was a heavy, stuffy sensation in his skull, like an oppressive weight pressing against his thoughts. Beneath it, he felt several distinct threads of power pulling and pushing in different directions, each one carrying a unique pulse.

'Which one is the [Aura of Sin]?' he wondered, growing increasingly frustrated. Each thread felt identical to him—alien, unfamiliar, and utterly incomprehensible.

Desperation gnawed at him. 'I don't have time for this! If I pick the wrong one, I might make things worse… but I can't just stand here either.'

Finally, gritting his teeth, he made a snap decision.

'…Screw it! Let's try this one!'

Reaching for one of the threads with his mind, Thoth tugged on it.

A sharp, cracking sound echoed in his head as an invisible wave of energy burst outward from him, rippling through the forest with the force of a supernatural gale.

The oppressive atmosphere around them lifted instantly, the air growing lighter as the weight of Thoth's aura dissipated.

Enri shook her head, her body shaking slightly as her blue eyes returned to normal, the crystalline fractures fading into nothingness.

"Sis!" Nemu cried out in relief, wrapping her arms around Enri and clutching her tightly.

Enri blinked slowly, her dazed expression clearing as she looked down at her sister. "Nemu…? W-What happened?"

Nemu's tears flowed freely now, her words tumbling out in a rush. "You—you weren't moving, and your eyes were all weird, and I thought—"

"I'm okay," Enri murmured, her voice soothing as she pulled Nemu into a hug. "I'm okay now."

Meanwhile, Thoth sighed, his wings twitching as he recovered from the sudden mental strain. The eyes scattered across them looked at him with a mix of disapproval and understanding, while a couple still looked at the sisters ahead with empathy or deadly focus.

'I did it!' he thought, relief washing over him like a cool breeze. But the lingering ache in his head served as a sharp reminder of how unprepared he was for this.

'It wasn't a concern in Nazarick, but out here, the people are way more fragile.' Thoth felt his headache dissipate, 'I need to be careful.'

Momonga observed the scene in silence, his crimson orbs dimming slightly as he watched Thoth release a weary sigh. The tension in the air had lessened, but the residual traces of fear and uncertainty lingered nonetheless.

Quietly, as the two girls remained focused on each other, Momonga reached into his inventory and equipped a large, ornate red mask. The mask's striking design depicted a crimson face with two large, radiant blue orbs for eyes and green, intricate markings adorning the cheeks and forehead. It concealed his skeletal visage completely.

Next, he quickly withdrew two gloves made out of thick fur and steel to hide his hands.

'In Yggdrasil, undead forms were a common sight among the heteromorphic races,' Momonga mused as he equipped his gloves, 'but judging by their earlier terror, it's better to hide my true appearance.'

Enri glanced upward, her blue eyes meeting the imposing figures before her. Yet, unlike before, the overwhelming fear that had gripped her was gone. Her mind felt foggy and worn out, as though the weight of her near-death experience had drained her entirely.

She was aware, intellectually, that she and her sister were still in the presence of beings far beyond her comprehension—beings that could decide their fate with a flick of their hands—but the part of her responsible for fear simply wasn't there anymore.

Her body, running on instinct, bowed deeply. Her voice, now devoid of trembling, rang out with genuine gratitude. "Thank you so much for saving my sister!" she said, the words full of emotion.

Beside her, Nemu mimicked the gesture, though her small frame still shook with residual fear. Tears clung to the corners of her eyes, yet she followed her sister's lead, bowing low.

Momonga regarded them with a dismissive wave of his skeletal hand. His tone was calm and composed, devoid of any warmth or malice. "There is no need to thank me."

As he spoke, a tear in reality appeared beside him, swirling with pure shadow. Momonga reached into the void with a smooth motion and pulled out two small, intricately carved wooden horns adorned with simple red leather straps.

'These are low-tier, practically useless items,' he thought to himself. 'But to them, these will appear as treasures. If I give these as a token of goodwill, I may secure favor with their village. That could prove advantageous in future negotiations.'

With a flick of his wrist, Momonga tossed the horns to the ground before the sisters. They landed lightly on the forest floor, just a step away from Enri.

"These are Goblin Horns," Momonga explained, his voice steady and authoritative. "If you blow into one, a small group of loyal goblins will appear to assist you. They will follow your commands without question."

Enri hesitated only briefly before reaching out to pick up the horns. She turned them over in her hands, her fingers brushing against the smooth wood. Then, clutching them tightly, she bowed once again. "Thank you so much! I… I don't know how to repay you!"

Momonga barely acknowledged her gratitude, his mind already turning toward practicalities. 'This area is relatively safe, but leaving these two alone would be a waste if they died in an ambush before they reached the village.' He extended his hand again, his bony fingers moving with precision as he cast a protective spell.

"[Cone of Protection from Arrows]," he intoned.

A faint, translucent green barrier materialized around the sisters, shimmering briefly before settling into place.

"This spell will protect you from ranged attacks," Momonga explained, his voice calm and instructional. "But be warned—it will not shield you from magic or melee strikes. Exercise caution."

Enri nodded rapidly, clutching the Goblin Horns to her chest as though they were sacred relics. "We will! Thank you again!"

Satisfied, Momonga turned to Thoth, who had been silently observing the entire exchange with an inscrutable expression. "Thoth," he called, gesturing for the Guardian to follow.

Thoth inclined his head slightly, his crimson eyes glinting faintly as he glanced at Enri, who dared not meet his gaze.

"Is it alright to leave it bleeding like that? The other one has a twisted ankle too." Thoth asked, pointing to Enri.

Momonga looked at Enri, now reminded of the large wound on her back, and resisted the urge to facepalm.

'Oh God! I got so caught up in my countermeasures that I forgot she was bleeding, how stupid of me!' He berated himself, 'And in front of Thoth too, he must be thinking how dumb I am!'

'Is he dumb?' Thoth contemplated as he watched more blood pour out of the wound, 'Oh no, don't tell me he expects me to heal them?! I don't know how to do that!'

The tension rose between the two as they stared at each other, Momonga screaming internally as Thoth prayed to God that he wouldn't be forced to heal them.

"U-Umu!" Momonga spoke as if everything was according to plan, "Yes, you are correct Thoth." Momonga then withdrew two red potions for the sisters, and Thoth visibly relaxed.

'Was he relieved that I healed them?' Momonga found that idea laughable, 'No, it is more likely that he didn't want to heal them himself, they are "lesser creatures" after all.'

Enri took the potion and thanked them once more, drinking it without hesitation. Nemu tried to stop her but failed to do so.

The two sisters watched in awe as Enri instantly stopped bleeding, a faint red glow emanating from the wound as it rapidly healed.

Nemu then also drank the potion, no longer afraid, and the two watched in awe as the ankle straightened on its own, in fact, Nemu felt healthier than ever.

Momonga nodded to himself, pleased, and motioned for Thoth to follow him, which he did.

Together, Thoth and Momonga began to walk away, their figures casting long, imposing shadows in the fading light.

"U-Um, excuse me!" Enri's voice called out suddenly, breaking the quiet.

Momonga and Thoth both stopped, turning back to face her.

Nemu tugged nervously at her sister's arm, whispering, but Enri stood firm, her curiosity overcoming her nonexistent fear.

"What… What are your names?" she asked, leaning forward slightly. Her voice was tentative, but there was a spark of determination in her gaze.

Momonga paused, his mind whirring. 'Should I establish an alter ego?' he wondered. 'If my friends from Yggdrasil are here, spreading my name could help them find me. But I must make it unmistakable—something only they would recognize.'

Straightening to his full height, Momonga extended his arms dramatically, his robes billowing slightly with the motion. His voice, rich and commanding, rang out across the quiet forest.

"My name," he declared, "is Ainz Ooal Gown!"

The world seemed to hold its breath as the name reverberated through the air, carrying an almost tangible weight.

"And this," Ainz continued, gesturing toward Thoth, "Is Thoth, my loyal Guardian."

Thoth inclined his head once more, his many-winged eyes glancing briefly at the sisters. His demeanor exuded a calm, distant pride, as though he were both above the situation and deeply entrenched in his role.

The sisters could only bow again, humbled and awestruck as the two figures turned and disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

-x-x-x-

Hi :)

Just a quick question, do you guys prefer the chapters "short" like this or the longer versions? The issue with these short ones is that they don't progress the plot as much, I mean, this is just three thousand eight hundred words describing Thoth and Momonga meeting Enri and Nemu, barely any progress, let alone the rest of Carne Village and then Nigun (the dude from the Theocracy) meeting him too.

Let me know what you think, hope the chapter lived up to your expectations, and have a good one!