Tears of Nazarick

Inside Nazarick

Tenth Floor

Ainz restlessly sat upon the throne of kings, barely stopping himself from turning the bones at his fingertips to dust from clutching the armrest tight. By his side, a weapon of immeasurable power floated ominously, the darkness expelling from it almost mimicking the aura the supreme being gave off.

'If Albedo tries anything, the guardians will be here to fend her off. In the worst case scenario that they take her side, I might have to leave the staff on auto-pilot to keep them at bay while I teleport somewhere far-off from here…'

The Overlord could swear he saw the eyes of the golden snakes adorning the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown burning brightly, if only for a moment.

'All I wanted was to make them happy, this has been for their sake… But I clearly can't keep everything in their hands anymore, I need to get stronger on my own.'

Suddenly, various vortexes of consuming light appeared before the throne, the guardians all coming at once to see their lord.

'Interesting. Aureole must have conducted them in an emergency alert, they all look eager.'

Albedo was the last to arrive, shifting uncomfortably as she stepped up to Lord Ainz's side.

"My lord! The guardians have gathered before you!"

"You all did well. I'm sure you have all been called here in a hurry, so I apologize if I've interrupted you in any way."

"Nonsense, my lord! It is our duty and greatest pleasure to come see you in person!"

Demiurge would never say differently, and the rest of the guardians quickly nodded in succession. Ainz, however, just looked his way and gave a curt nod, causing a drop of sweat behind the devil's neck.

'Has something happened to have dampened Lord Ainz's mood? Have I overlooked anything after the developments in the Elf Kingdom? My Lord has not given me any orders regarding the half-elf intruder yet, perhaps he expected initiative of me, perhaps-'

"Demiurge."

"Forgive me, Lord!"

He was cut off from his overthinking once again, quickly apologizing and falling in line.

Ainz sighed, inspiring uncertainty in the heart of every guardian present.

"You have all been summoned here for an important hearing. It regards the future of all the Great Tomb, our current approach to our goals, and my own stay here in Nazarick."

Eyes widened.

Teeth gritted.

Frost exhaled.

The somber words coming from their lord gripped at the guardians very souls. They wanted to raise their heads and cry out to Ainz, ask if they had done something wrong, if their devotion wasn't enough, that they could do better, but the overwhelming darkness emanating from the Overlord kept their heads close to the floor.

Even in the Frozen Prison and the Cherry Blossom Sanctuary, Nigredo and Aureole knelt in silence, praying that their lord wouldn't leave them.

Another sigh.

"Albedo." The succubus looked back, hiding an expression of disbelief from the guardians. "You will be the one to tell them. Inform them all that you told me last time we spoke."

Her pupils cracked. The last light from her eyes dimming out.

'Don't think I take pleasure in this, Albedo.' Ainz gripped his staff tighter, urging her to proceed.

Recollection flashing before her eyes, she could only think of the beautiful moments she has already shared with her lord, how she sacrificed and gave them away...for this.

"Floor guardians. It is my duty to inform you! One of us has betrayed the Sorcerer King, and the full extent of Ainz Ooal Gown!"

Heads were raised in shock, but they eagerly awaited Albedo to continue.

"This perpetrator has been acting behind the back of our lord for some time, they prepared for a time another Supreme Being would arrive, fully intent on slaughtering them, no matter who'd they be."

Eyes looking outwards in shock and anger, the auras the guardians gave off raised ever further, with the words uttered by the overseer even causing the flames in the overlord's eye sockets to ignite once more.

Albedo has lowered her head at this point, leaving a dreading silence over everyone in the room. She then continued, in a hushed tone:

"A-And that traitor, the one who has come this far to disgrace our lord's name, is…"

"It's me, I was the one who wanted it."

.

.

.

Twelve seconds passed.

.

.

.

The guardians could swear they heard the sound of glass shattering inside their heads.

Such a thing was incomprehensible to them. That challenged the very core of their beings.

One could hear a faint sound, like a pin needle hitting the ground. Ainz looked through Albedo, the guardians looked…

Another tear hit the ground.

"E-Even Bukubukuchagama-sama?"

It was Mare, his face a mix of confusion and...something else, while Aura silently seethed, her arms shaking as she practically begged to reach for her whip while gritting her teeth.

"Yes, Mare. Bukubukuchagama-sama, Ulbert Alain Odle, Peroroncino, Touch-Me. She would not even spare her own creator, Tabula."

The scowl on their faces darkened with Ainz's words, even Mare had stopped crying, looking down in anger while holding hands with Aura. The siblings armed themselves with their off-hands.

Demiurge wanted to scream. Behind the shattered crystal eyes was a mind desperately trying, no, begging that all of this was a plan by Lord Ainz. He thought of every possible scenario, every way he could be trying to test them, but all of it came crashing down when he looked to his lord, disengaging all his ideas with one glance of disapproval.

'I hate to treat them like this, but they need to understand the severity of the situation.'

Pandora's Actor was in conflict. He was the odd one in there, thinking of what he would in the Overseer's situation. 'Would I kill another Supreme Being if Ainz-Sama asked me to? Then again, if Albedo would dispose of even Tabula...She is beyond redemption.'

Shalltear had her own issues, her undead emotional nullifier ringing out multiple times after hearing Peroroncino's name in Albedo's awful scheme. If it were not for her lord's own oppressive aura and her emotional nullifiers, she would have already jumped the succubus to tear her to shreds.

Cocytus was appalled at the show of dishonor coming from the guardian overseer, his mandibles clacking, unrelenting to break the tense silence.

"The. Ones. We're. Supposed. To. Eternally. Serve. Our. Own. Creators. And. Friends. That. Our. Lord. Holds. Such. Regards. Over. What. Were. You. Thinking. Albedo?!"

Everyone turned their heads up to look at the downcast succubus, both eager and furious to hear what words she had to justify herself, if even. Albedo herself looked up to see faces staring daggers at her, even the dark elf siblings were ready to kill her if she made a move.

The worst thing is, she knew that a little, little part of her still thought she was right. An immutable piece that, if she could, she would rip out of her being and gore into thousands of pieces in front of them.

But she couldn't fight it.

"Don't you all see!? I...I wanted this for Ainz-Sama..."

"YOU BITCH!" Shalltear had finally heard enough. Normally, the other guardians would hold her off and reprimand her for this behavior, but they were all caught up on their own turmoils.

"Albedo, you know how important the Supreme Beings are for Lord Ainz, you really think he would be happy with us if we KILLED THEM?!"

Shalltear's voice cracked in anger, the pupils in her eyes barely able to sit still while staring at Albedo. The True Vampire could not hold onto her fury and summoned her Pippete Lance, ready to start the overseer's execution.

Albedo could only shut her eyes in shame, after looking at the scowl in the floor guardian's faces, she knew they would let Shalltear rip her apart. Really, it was only fair.

Suddenly, they all heard the click of the Staff hitting the floor.

"THAT'S ENOUGH!"

The Overlord spoke out, Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown in hand. The terrifying pressure emanating from him brought all the guardians to kneeling once again, even Shalltear and Albedo.

"I have said this once before, and even now, it is still the truth. I see you all as the children of my friends, and I don't want to see my children slaughter each other."

"However." Ainz's voice was laced with guilt and venom. "I cannot let this betrayal stand, Albedo."

The Overseer stood up, looking at the face of her beloved for what she thought would be the last. Was he going to execute her himself? She could only wish, to be wiped from this world before any part of her could hurt Lord Ainz again.

His next words, however, would shock all the guardians in the room.

"Albedo, you are being stripped of your position as Guardian Overseer. Not only that, from now on you will be permanently relocated to the eight floor. All of your current and future duties as overseer will be distributed to the others."

It was not the execution they were expecting. But even in their lord's infinite mercy, they could decipher the true meaning of his words.

Not only is she being stripped of her very own reason for existence, no one is allowed entry on the 8th floor. This was an exile.

She would never see them again.

"That is all." Ainz stood up from the throne, getting ready to call the guardians off. "Pandora's Actor, Shalltear!"

"Lord!"/"Mein Gott!"

"You two will be responsible for carrying Albedo off to the Eight Floor. Do not approach or interact any of the beings in there. Victim will guide you three to the Twisting Nether, where you will leave her and then exit the area immediately!"

"sdnammoc eno emerpus eht sA!" ("As the supreme one commands!")

Albedo hung her head low in shame, unable to even spare a last look at her lord as Pandora's Actor produced enchanted chains from the treasury to restrain her with. He and Shalltear followed Victim as Aureole cast a [Gate] for them, ready to meet them on the other side.

Ainz hushed a sigh, not sure to himself if it was of relief or not.

"Demiurge, I will appoint another overseer in time. You will handle Albedo's documents for now."

"Of course, my lord."

"The rest of you are free to return to your posts. You are dismissed."

Most of the Floor Guardians took their leave, but two still stood, firmly holding hands as they approached the Overlord.

Mare and Aura didn't get to speak their mind, they timidly approached Ainz until he finally took notice.

"L-Lord Ainz…"

"Why would Albedo do something like that? I don't understand it…"Aura said this, unconsciously clutching at the wristband that echoed Bukubukuchagama's voice…

Ainz sighed as he held the twins close.

For once, he wished he was the all-knowing being they thought him as too...