{The Inner Vault of the Treasury, Kami Miyako, several days later after the Marshall’s death…}

The Cardinals and the Pontifex sat huddled, secluded deep within the Treasury. A single [Light] spell illuminated their grim faces.

“This is the end,” said Cardinal Santini, staring glumly at nothing. “The Marshall is dead, our armies scattered, the Third Legacy has failed us, the Sorcerer Kingdom’s army has landed to the south… Can we not sue for peace now? We are already defeated.”

“Peace? With the undead? Are you insane?!”

“No, she’s right, Dominic. Our nation is guaranteed to die if we continue to fight against the undead. I feel like a fool now. Four years ago, I looked down my nose at Emperor Jircniv when he swore fealty to the undead, and now we find ourselves in the Emperor’s shoes. We either join or die.”

“Not you too, Maximillian. We still haven’t played all our cards! We still have the Fourth Legacy, the Lucifer Project, and the Twelfth Seat of the Black Scripture is carrying a message to the Argland Council State for help.”

“Our plea to the Council State will fall on deaf ears. There’s no way the Council will abrogate the E-Rantel Accords, not when they see our fate. I don’t believe we should give in to the Sorcerer King, however. We simply need to surrender to secure a peace. Our armies and magic can’t defeat the Sorcerer King, but our faith will outlast him. Just as six hundred years ago, the Gods appeared in this world, followed by the Greed Kings a century later, and so on, we must pin our hopes on the heroes of the future. A new savior or saviors will appear in a hundred years or less, and we can only hope that they will cast down the undead. But for now, we must do everything to survive.”

“Ginedine, Berenice, Maximillian, surrendering to this undead will be an insult to our Gods. If you continue to despair, everything we are fighting to preserve will be lost. There’s no point in giving up anyway. We have seen that the undead is unwilling to accept surrender.”

“Yvon, please, be realistic! He’s bluffing. He wants us to surrender to him. He has to know the value of our land, especially to the southwest. Vast fertile farmland, enough to quadruple the grain output of his realm. There's no way he'd destroy it.”

“I believe we should take a formal vote. Do we send a petition of surrender to the Sorcerer Kingdom?”

“I, Cardinal of Fire, Berenice Nagua Santini, vote “Aye.”

“I, Cardinal of Death, Maximillian Oreio Lagier, vote “Aye.”

“I, Cardinal of Water, Ginedine Delan Guefli, vote “Aye.”

All eyes turned to the Pontifex and waited for his answer.

…

…

“Nay. The Slane Theocracy does not surrender. The ‘Nays’ have it.”

“What is our plan then?”

“The undead had to have destroyed a Dominion Authority to defeat the Sunlight Scripture. It follows that he must have used a vast amount of his power to do so. There is no way he will be able to survive a battle against the effects of the Fourth Legacy and the Lucifer Project. The foresight of the Gods was immense when they entrusted the latter to us.”

{Outside the walls of Kami Miyako, two days later…}

“So every possible route is cut off, Cocytus?”

“Yes. Ainz-sama. The. Emperor. Personally. Led. An. Attack. Yesterday. Against. The. Theocracy’s. Navy. Burning. Most. Of. Their. Warships. And. Trapping. Those. That. Remain. In. The. Harbor.”

“Excellent. I am very pleased with your work, Cocytus, and those under your command.”

“Ainz-sama. I. Apologize. For. Inconveniencing. You. With. This. But. One. Of. Our. Human. Subordinates. Neia. Baraja. Endangered. Our. Mission. At. The. Final. Battle. With. The. Theocracy. Forces. I. Bring. This. To. Your. Attention. As. You. Are. More. Capable. Than. I. Of. Punishing. Her. In. A. Way. That. Is. Wise. And. Useful.

“I see. Is she available now?”

“Yes. Ainz-sama. She. Is. Waiting. Outside. Now. Forgive. Me. If. I. Have. Overstepped. My. Bounds.”

“Not at all, Cocytus, I wished to speak with her. Show her in.”

Cocytus rose from one knee, and opened the flap of the royal tent which Ainz was currently seated in. It was almost dark out. The sound of the Legion at work, building defenses and siege weapons was clear to be heard. There, before the tent’s entrance, stood Neia, wearing her usual attire. The red cloak, the Turtle Shell cuirass, the Visor Mirror Shade, the Bracers of Archery, the Circlet of Iron Will, and the Amulet of Heavy Recover. Her bow, the Ultimate Shooting Star Super, was slung over her shoulder. She had a fresh scar, vertical, running down her left cheek, staring just below the eye and ending just above the chin. She seemed downcast, understandably so. She waited.

“Enter, Ms. Baraja.”

She did, saying nothing. She sank to both knees. She waited.

“Cocytus, tell me what happened, exactly.”

“She. Was. Ordered. To. Remain. In. One. Location. With. Her. Archers. But. She. Led. Them. Into. A. Charge. Directly. Against. The. Enemy. And. Her. Unit. Was. Nearly. Routed. Had. I. Not. Committed. The. Reserves. She. Herself. Was. Wounded. Truly. I. Respect. Her. Fervor. It. Has. Definitely. Clouded. Her. Judgement. And. That. Mistake. Has. Incurred. Undue. Costs.”

“I see. Ms. Baraja. Is there anything you wish to add to his statements or subtract? You may speak freely. There will be no retaliation for speaking your mind.”

“Ainz-sama. Cocytus-sama is right. I was ordered by him to remain in a certain area, to receive the enemy charge. But I grew impatient and dissatisfied with Cocytus-sama’s plans, and so I personally took up the flag of the Sorcerer Kingdom and went forth to meet the enemy. All of my people and several centuries from the Imperial Legions broke ranks and followed me. As Cocytus-sama said, had he not sent the reserves to aid us, all of us would have died.”

“I see you were wounded. Did you not get healing?”

“I was wounded by an enemy spear. I will not accept magic healing. I see that I had done wrong, and so I will wear this scar so that I will never forget to trust in Ainz-sama and those who represent His will.”

“I see. I do not hold this against you, since everything turned out favorably in the end. However, I will administer punishment. You will not die or be hurt. Firstly, you will get that scar healed once we are finished here. I forbid you and all of my servants to hurt yourselves or avoid treatment as acts of repentance. I will think of a punishment for you soon. That is all. You may go.”

“As You command, Ainz-sama.”

Neia rose, bowed, and left, bowing to Cocytus as well.

“Ainz-sama. Your. Plans. For. Baraja. Escape. Me. Forgive. My. Inabilities.”

“There is nothing to be forgiven. I intend to make good use of her once this war is done. The only true punishment I am giving her is the dread of what is to come. The ‘punishment’ I will give her after this is not really a punishment but a mission. She will spread my name to every corner of my kingdom. She will help instill loyalty in our other subjects, aided by our economic policies.”

“Only. A. Supreme. Being. Could. Have. Thought. Of. A. Punishment. To. Make. One. Useful. And. Yet. Preserve. Their. Loyalty. If. You. Had. Instructed. Me. To. Handle. The. Matter. I. Might. Have. Either. Exiled. Her. Or. Executed. Her.”

“For the future, Cocytus. Remember that the next time you find yourself in this situation. It will not be the last for some time. All the same, thank you for bringing this to my attention, Cocytus. How many of those men from the Legions and the archers went with her?”

“In. Total. They. Numbered. 750. Of. Which. 340. Remain. Alive. Including. The. Wounded.”

“I see. Have they been punished?”

“Emperor. Jircniv. Intends. To. Use. A. Punishment. Called. Decimation. When. I. Asked. The. Imperial. Knights. Separately. They. Explained. To. Me. As. The. Execution. Of. One. In. Ten. Soldiers. For. Serious. Offenses.”

“Hmm… Send word to the Emperor to delay punishment until the war is concluded. I will step in and make those people useful to me as well. Very well, Cocytus. I am returning to Nazarick to fetch Albedo and Shalltear. Tomorrow is her day, after all. If anything new or unexpected appears, inform me immediately.” Ainz used the guild ring and vanished.

{The Second Floor of Nazarick…}

Ainz appeared there, at one end of a derelict bridge. He stood at the main entrance to probably the place he wanted to visit in Nazarick the least, over all. The Vaults of Adipocere. Shalltear’s boudoir.

I really hope Shalltear doesn’t get the wrong idea of me showing up like this… I should just summon her to my office… but then again I’m not going to talk to her as her king but as a parent. I just want to talk over how good it will be to finally put this matter with her brainwashing behind us forever. I know it’s a sore spot in her heart, and now we’re finally making this right. I should have started this sooner.

Twin doors, ornate and dark, stood before him. He reached out a bony hand and knocked three times, and then waited.

I should turn and look around. It might give me a more thoughtful presence. He quickly spun around, pretending to survey the area, clasping his hands behind him. The doors swung open, and Ainz turned his head. One of Shalltear’s attendants, a Vampire Bride, had answered his knock. A sweet fragrance billowed out of the chambers. The sounds of the laughs, moans, and debauched revelry was mercifully muffled, but now audible. The Vampire Bride took one look at Ainz, before kneeling. Ainz turned.

“Ainz-sama, on behalf of Shalltear-sama I bid You welcome to the Vaults of Adipocere. Name Your desire to us, Ainz-sama. Be it pleasure, comfort, or company, we lowly servants will provide.”

“Ah. I actually wish to speak to Shalltear herself for a moment. I can come back if she is… indisposed. Also, I ask that she and her attendants are dressed.”

“At once, Ainz-sama. I escort You to the Parlor, which was designated by Pereroncino-sama as the room for Shalltear to receive guests. It would be an honor for us all should You deign to grace these Vaults with Your presence.”

“I will come in. Lead the way.”

The vampire rose, bowed, and receded into the chambers. Ainz followed. The twin gates closed behind him. He was guided to a large Victorian-style parlor, with wine-red walls, silk burgundy curtains, parted slightly to show the illusionary courtyard of a Victorian mansion. An ornate furniture set carved from ebony cushioned with blood red pads graced the dull red and black carpet, and there was even a large fireplace. An beautiful ebony table, with chairs, was set with a bone-white porcelain teapot and teacups for two.

The vampire maiden stepped out from the door, bowing to Ainz again. “I will inform Shalltear-sama of Your arrival. Is there anything I can provide You before I go, Ainz-sama?”

“No, just bring Shalltear. That will be all.”

“Thank You for coming to visit us, Ainz-sama.”

Ainz nodded, as the maiden left. He looked at the two cups. They were filled with a red liquid. Not tea. The wall over the mantlepiece was filled with paintings. What caught his eye was a portrait of a pale young girl in a charming burgundy dress, a matching bonnet, platinum blonde hair, and green eyes. Her name was Charlotte Tirel, Comtesse Sang-Tombé (1845-1859).

Okay, I really like what Pereroncino-san did here. I didn’t even know this room existed! I thought he spent all his time here fucking around, literally. Shalltear really fits in, visually. That portrait is probably how she appeared as a human in her fictional backstory. Good job, Pereroncino-san!

Ainz’s thoughts proceeded no further, as the door swung open. Surrounded by a slew of her vampiric maidens was Shalltear herself, wearing a wonderfully-embroided dress of a deep midnight blue, its matte surface aglitter with artificial stars. It was low-cut, and-

EHHH ?! SINCE WHEN DOES SHE HAVE ACTUAL CLEAVEAGE?! AND SINCE WHEN DID SHE HAVE THAT MUCH CLEAVAGE?! AND WHY IS THIS THE FIRST THING I NOTICED?!

Shalltear and her entourage knelt before Ainz.

“Ainz-sama. It is a glory and honor that You grace us with Your presence, especially as this will be my first-“

“Thank you, Shalltear, but I think you’ve gotten the wrong impression. I simply wish to talk with you.”

Shalltear looked right up at him, with deep confusion.

“I apologize for giving you the wrong idea. Please, sit down.” Ainz made his way for the chair in the room, which was only large enough for him.

“A-Ainz-sama… It feels rude and disrespectful to sit in Your almighty presence…”

“Even if I ask you to? Actually… never mind. I want you to be comfortable. Stand, sit, lay down, I’m fine with wherever you want to sit.”

Great. Good job, Satoru. Good job. Absolutely great fantastic definitely-not-fucked-up-at-all job.

“Ainz-sama. I have an idea that would allow me to serve You, while still giving You somewhere to sit.”

“You’re not referring to… “

“Vampire Brides. Move the couch out of the way. I’ll need space to serve Ainz-sama.”

The maidens swooped down on the couch, gently and quickly moving it to the side.

“Shalltear, wait! Wait! I’m not going to do that again. Can we please just sit and talk?”

“A-As You command, Ainz-sama.” Shalltear turned towards her attendants. “Return the couch.” They obeyed. Shalltear, rather hesitantly, sat down on the couch.

“Shalltear, firstly, I want you to relax. You’ve done nothing wrong and you’re not in trouble. I just want to talk with you about tomorrow. Tomorrow, we will go Kami Miyako and put this business with the mind control behind us once and for all. We’ve found out their strength, we’ve got them cornered. Also, I want to apologize for not trying to resolve this sooner.”

“A-A-Ainz-sama… please don’t bow Your head like that! You have every right to-“

“To insist you accept this apology. I owe it to you. I know how dealing with what happened still bothers you, even after I said you were forgiven. I know you still feel yourself inadequate because of what happened.”

“It’s true, Ainz-sama. I was-“

“Stop that. Please. It displeases me to hear you talk about yourself in such a negative way. Think of it this way; by berating yourself for an unfortunate event that I forgave you for long ago, you are essentially saying that I am incorrect. Think about that.”

“I-I… I never thought of it that way, Ainz-sama. All this time, I thought I was right for feeling shame at what happened… because I thought a true servant of Nazarick would never betray a Supreme Being and try to kill him like I did.”

“I understand how you feel.” No, I don’t, honestly. I don’t know the headspace of someone who lives in the same house as their god all the time. “I will not take offense or consider you disloyal for disagreeing with me, but I do want you to stop beating yourself up about what happened, especially after tomorrow.”

“Your kindness is indescribable, Ainz-sama. What will happen tomorrow, to be more specific?”

“That’s the kind of question I was waiting for, Shalltear.” Shalltear smiled. It wasn’t lewd or malicious, it was genuinely and joyful, with an innocent childishness mixed in, just like the portrait of the green-eyed Charlotte hanging over the mantlepiece of the parlor. It would be hard to imagine such a smile belonged to the ridiculously depraved, and oftentimes cruel owner of a vast harem of vampires, and one of the most dangerous people in all of Nazarick. I wish I could see that smile more. “Now, tomorrow, you, Albedo, and I are going to Kami Miyako. First thing tomorrow, I’ll brief you both about what awaits us there, and contingencies should any unexpected variables crop up. Like I said before, we’re going to make a big show out of it. And, as I promised, the members of the Black Scripture will be turned over to you to dispose of as you wish. Make them vampires, torture them, kill them, all of the above, it doesn’t matter to me. I will handle the Cardinals who command them. Oh, and of course, wear your full armor and bring the Spuit Lance when we depart, alright?”

“I understand, Ainz-sama.”

“Good. Even though things have been difficult, I want to say that I am proud to have such people as you at my side. Also, I want to talk about Albedo and my future plans in regards to taking a wife.”

“Ainz-sama! Have You decided? I knew You’d pick me, Ainz-sama! I-“

“I haven’t decided yet. And I likely will not be deciding for some time. It will be several centuries until I reach that stage of my plan and take someone as wife. So relax, I know you and Albedo have some… disagreements, but it’s really too early to worry about.”

“Ainz-sama! I feel so stupid! I don’t know how I didn’t think of that. Of course a Supreme Being would plan such things centuries in advance. I’m starting to sound like Demiurge, aren’t I?”

“Hm, hm, yes. We do think ahead on a few things.” WHY DO I NEVER GET USED TO THIS STUFF? IT’S BEEN FIVE YEARS, DAMMIT! “Well, again, I am very proud of you, Shalltear. Well, I have to be going now.” I might have said too much. If she gets hold of me… oh Lord.

“Ainz-sama. It is my highest joy to serve You in any way, even if I serve as a simple footstool. To receive any purpose from the Supreme Beings is an unmatched honor.”

That was surprisingly composed. I’ve got an avenue of escape.

“Indeed. Well, Shalltear. I must be going for now. I will see you tomorrow.”

“Shall I escort you personally, Ainz-sama?”

Oh dear.

“Y-You may.”

“Maidens, return to my room and await me there.”

Shalltear and Ainz made their way out of the parlor, and back towards the front door.

“Ainz-sama? How do I look?”

“Eh?”

“My chest, Ainz-sama. It’s from a wonderful little trinket we obtained from one of the Theocracy’s spies in the Empire… a Ring of Alter Self. I took the liberty of asking Pandora’s Actor to set aside any minor cosmetic alteration items for me after they had been logged in his records.”

“I see. That’s only a Legacy-class item. Quite the ingenious… use for it.”

“But the best part is that it has so many different… uses, as I’ve found out. It can create things that aren’t there and remove things that are there. It’s very, very… versatile. I can’t wait to see the looks on Albedo’s and Shorty’s faces when they see this at work!”

That’s Pereroncino-san for you. If he had known what the ring would do here, he might have given her one, or upgraded it somehow. Thank God, we’re at this door now.

“I’m sure they will be quite surprised. Well, we will part ways here for now. To answer your initial question, however, you look lovely, Shalltear. Good night.”

Ainz activated his ring, teleporting to his personal chambers, avoiding having to watch Shalltear hopelessly melt upon receiving his compliment. He collapsed onto his massive bed. The floral fragrance was there still, like Albedo’s perfume. He felt someone contact him with [Message].

“[Message]. Ainz-sama.”

“Cocytus? What is it?”

“Ainz-sama. Four. Cherubim. Gatekeepers. And. A. Seraph. Empyrean. From. YGGDRASIL. Have. Appeared. Over. Kami. Miyako.”