The Great Tomb of Nazarick, Tenth Floor, Throne Room.
Bzzzt!
Thud!
Nigun Grid Luín was hurled out of the swirling black portal by an invisible force and crashed face-first onto the cold marble floor. Pain exploded through his ribs and jaw, but he forced himself up on shaking arms.
Where… am I?
Ignoring the throbbing agony, he looked around.
The ceiling towered impossibly high above, pitch-black and oppressively heavy, as though the darkness itself pressed down on him.
A long, blood-red carpet stretched the entire length of the hall like a vein of fresh slaughter.
Massive pillars lined the sides, each carved with intricate, nightmarish reliefs that seemed to writhe when not directly observed.
At the far end loomed the throne—obsidian and gold, flanked by skeletal braziers that burned with cold blue flames.
Momonga stepped onto the carpet, passing Nigun without a glance, and walked straight to the throne. He seated himself with deliberate calm, one skeletal hand resting on the armrest.
"Undead! The Theocracy will wipe you out!" Nigun shouted, mustering every scrap of courage left in his battered body.
Momonga's footsteps paused mid-stride. He turned slowly, crimson pinpoints flaring in the empty sockets.
"Wipe me out?"
Nigun swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "T-That's right! Once Lord Helant delivers the intelligence to the Theocracy, you cursed undead can just wait for death!"
He knew he would not survive in the hands of such a monster, so he might as well die defiant.
"What bullshit Sorcerer King, what bullshit Ainz Ooal Gown—just rats hiding in the gutter!"
"How dare you insult Lord Momonga!"
A wave of bone-chilling cold rolled over Nigun like a winter storm. He shivered uncontrollably as Cocytus strode forward, ice-blue carapace gleaming, massive halberd resting casually on one shoulder.
Another monster!
Nigun stared at the insectoid warrior clad in frost-forged armor and instinctively scooted backward—until his back hit something solid and scaled.
"Trash. What did you just say?"
Ah..? Nigun turned stiffly. Behind him loomed a three-meter-tall dragon-man covered in gleaming obsidian scales, crimson eyes burning with restrained fury.
He was practically leaning against Herox's leg.
"Lord Momonga," Demiurge said smoothly as he entered from a side passage, tail flicking behind his pinstripe suit, "he insulted Ainz Ooal Gown—and by extension, insulted you. I suggest handing him over to the Count of Terror for… thorough questioning."
Momonga remained motionless on the throne, studying Nigun like an interesting specimen. "Wait. He still has value."
"After Helant returns, we will decide how to deal with this wretch who dared insult the guild."
"Demiurge, is everything ready?"
"Reverse surveillance is proceeding smoothly. We are only waiting for Albedo to return," Demiurge replied with perfect composure.
He raised a gloved hand.
"Crystal Screen."
A towering crystal mirror—one man tall and two wide—materialized in the air before the throne. Its surface rippled like water, then cleared to display the cratered plain from moments earlier.
Corpses of royal soldiers and Sunlight Scripture members lay scattered amid the smoking ruin. One figure slowly rose from the debris, strikingly conspicuous in scorched white robes.
Yes! Nigun's heart leapt. He sneered up at Momonga. "Hmph! Once Lord Helant delivers the intelligence to the Theocracy, you gutter rat won't be jumping around much longer!"
"The Theocracy possesses world-class items left behind by the Six Great Gods! Once they bring those divine treasures out, any so-called Sorcerer King or Demon God will die!"
"Insult Lord Momonga again, and I promise you a world of pain which will not stop even if you beg for death! It is the supreme being's interest in you that protects you. Shut your mouth," Demiurge said coldly. A flicker of mental magic washed over Nigun, sealing his lips.
Nigun's eyes widened in outrage.
Momonga? Wait—his name is Ainz Ooal Gown, isn't it?
Did I mishear?
As if to confirm the confusion, three petite figures entered the hall from a side door.
"Good day-aring, Lord Momonga~"
"Hello, Lord Momonga!"
Shalltear Bloodfallen, Aura Bella Fiora, and Mare Bello Fiore bowed gracefully in unison.
Nigun's eyes bulged. Something felt terribly, horribly wrong.
He calls himself Momonga… so why does he use the name Ainz Ooal Gown outside?
Is he deceiving Helant?
Mentally silenced, Nigun could only glare his accusation.
Treacherous undead!
At that moment, another portal swirled open.
"Lord Helant, do not rush off. Let me wipe the blood from your lips," Albedo's voice came first, soft and insistent.
Helant stepped through, still in his battle-worn white robes, scorch marks and dried blood staining the fabric. Albedo followed close behind, handkerchief already in hand.
"Helant, you're back," Momonga greeted simply.
"Momonga, that was vicious," Helant said with a wry chuckle. "I suspect you have a bit of a personal grudge."
Back before Momonga's stats were fully adjusted to this world, that barrage of lightning could have shaved off a third of Helant's HP in one go.
"H-Helant!????"
"You… you're with him!" The massive mental shock snapped Nigun out of the forced silence. His chest heaved as he struggled to process the betrayal.
Helant looked down at the collapsed Nigun and chuckled softly. "That's right. We are together."
"You put on a show just for me?" Nigun propped himself up weakly, voice hoarse. He couldn't comprehend why two such powerful beings would stage such an elaborate performance.
Wait—if Helant is also with the Sorcerer King… who will deliver the news to the Theocracy?
They will be kept completely in the dark!
"A show for you? No, no. You are not worth that much effort," Helant said lightly, signaling Demiurge. "Begin."
"Keke~" Demiurge manipulated the crystal screen with a flick of his wrist. The image flickered and refocused.
A lone figure appeared in the frame.
Nigun crawled forward on his knees, staring at the girl in the mirror.
She wore simple robes and round glasses, her expression intellectual yet visibly terrified. Star Gazing a Thousand Miles hurried through a dimly lit corridor, clearly rushing to report to the High Priest of the Water Illumination Codex—the Slane Theocracy's premier intelligence arm.
Helant smiled. "Actually, you do not need to worry about the Theocracy missing the news. This entire performance was staged for them."
"F-for the Theocracy?!" Nigun stared at Helant in naked horror.
Helant offered no reply. The screen's audio crackled to life.
"Your Excellency, when Captain Nigun carried out the mission, he encountered the self-proclaimed Sorcerer King, Ainz Ooal Gown. Even the Radiant Archangel was no match. We estimate his power surpasses that of a Demon God. The Sunlight Scripture was annihilated, Captain Nigun was captured, and his fate is unknown. The Warrior Captain Gazef Stronoff is presumed alive.
"The Sorcerer King appears to have an equal opponent—the Holy Domain God Lord. During this observation, someone claiming to be the Human Emissary of the Holy Domain God Lord appeared, named Helant, capable of seventh-tier magic. Visually estimated to be stronger than ordinary god-kin, second only to Zesshi Zetsumei."
After hearing the report, the High Priest tapped his fingers thoughtfully on the arm of his chair, drew a deep breath, and said,
"Very well. I will arrange for someone to contact this Helant. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
The image froze on the High Priest's contemplative expression.
Helant smiled down at Nigun. "See? No need to worry about them missing the intelligence. Momonga and I were always putting on this show for them."
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