Ainz Ooal Gown sighed, caught red-handed after attempting a solo outing to clear his head.
"I was fully armored—didn't even show my face. I think it was the teleportation that gave me away."
Only those who possessed a Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown could move freely within Nazarick without triggering alarms. Currently, only two individuals held such rings, making unauthorized movement nearly impossible to conceal.
"Not necessarily," Siegfried countered calmly. "I used high-level concealment magic when I went to the cafeteria, and a servant still recognized me. It's impossible to move through Nazarick completely unnoticed."
Ainz nodded in understanding, then shifted the topic. "Mare is in charge of masking Nazarick's outer walls, but the perimeter is so vast that the workload is immense. As a reward, I granted him a guild ring."
Siegfried wasn't surprised. There had originally been one hundred Rings of Ainz Ooal Gown—one for each founding member of the guild. With fewer than fifty members present in this world, dozens of rings remained unused. While not common, they weren't exactly rare either. And among all possible rewards, few carried greater symbolic weight for Nazarick's denizens.
"As long as Mare is happy," Siegfried said.
He was happy—but not at first. Ainz recalled how terrified Mare had been upon receiving the ring, convinced he'd done something wrong. It had taken considerable effort to convince the timid dark elf to accept it. Ainz mentally wiped his brow in relief; thankfully, it had worked out.
"But is Mare the only one you plan to reward?" Siegfried asked.
"No. Albedo and Demiurge will likely receive theirs soon as well."
Ainz had initially considered distributing rings to all the Floor Guardians at once. But after witnessing Mare's overwhelming reaction, he decided to proceed more cautiously—one at a time.
"Yes," Siegfried agreed. "For them, a ring once reserved solely for guild members is profoundly meaningful. Distribution should be handled with care."
"Ahem… I think so too," Ainz murmured, glad he hadn't voiced his earlier doubts aloud. Wait—I'm not even in front of the Guardians right now. Why am I so nervous?
Meanwhile, Siegfried picked up a delicate pastry and casually brushed crumbs from the corner of his mouth. His gloved fingers moved with practiced grace, sharp nails hidden beneath fine leather. He lifted his steaming cup of black tea and took a slow sip.
The pastry was sweet but not cloying; the tea rich and aromatic. Siegfried allowed himself a moment of quiet satisfaction.
Ainz watched him with mild exasperation. "Eating so many sweets isn't healthy. You'll get fat."
Even though he had ordered the spread, the sheer number of desserts on the table felt excessive. Not that he could imagine Siegfried ever gaining weight.
Siegfried chuckled. "My current body is immune to overeating—a true blessing for dessert lovers." He lifted his shirt slightly to reveal a flawless eight-pack. "Back in my old life, I had to stick to black coffee just to maintain my physique. No cake, no pastries. I complained about it to you a few times, remember?"
Ainz blinked. "…Ah. So that's why they remembered."
"What a considerate Guild Master," Siegfried teased lightly. "Taking me out… to gather intelligence on the New World."
"I heard Demiurge's surveillance network is complete," Ainz said, shifting back to business. "Everything within a five-kilometer radius of Nazarick is under observation. That's reassuring."
At the mention of security, Ainz's posture stiffened. "But we can't afford complacency. What if the ordinary people here are all level 100? Even Demiurge's network wouldn't protect us then. We must keep Nazarick completely hidden. I've already instructed him to prepare a secondary surveillance system."
Siegfried raised an eyebrow. Ainz's paranoia bordered on the absurd—after all, aside from divine beings, the highest level a pure human could reach was around 40. Still, caution was wise in an unknown world. And Ainz's vigilance, however exaggerated, stemmed from genuine responsibility.
"While scouting," Siegfried continued, "I released a few small dragon familiars. About ten kilometers southwest of Nazarick, I found a forest adjacent to a farming village. Should we investigate?"
"Just an ordinary village?" Ainz asked skeptically.
Given how seriously Siegfried had just warned him about the world's dangers, this suggestion meant he'd already verified its safety.
"Based on observation," Siegfried confirmed, "it's entirely mundane. No signs of magic, no armed warriors—just farmers tending their fields. A quiet, rural settlement."
Ainz was intrigued. He had wanted fresh air, and if the village truly posed no threat, it would be a low-risk opportunity. Yet his caution held him back. Sending a Guardian might be safer—but he refused to endanger his subordinates' lives over mere curiosity.
Siegfried anticipated his hesitation. "We'll have to interact with the locals eventually. Besides, my familiars overheard villagers discussing recent monster activity. They're planning to hire adventurers because they lack the means to defend themselves."
Ainz frowned. "How did you learn that? Familiars only transmit sight, not speech."
"I can read lips," Siegfried replied smoothly, "and I used a skill to decipher their written language."
"…Then it seems reconnaissance is indeed necessary," Ainz conceded after a long pause. A pang of guilt struck him—he'd wanted to escape Nazarick's pressures, not fulfill a ruler's duty. Was this selfishness? Was he being reckless?
He traced idle circles on the table. "Sigh… Siegfried, you know I was just a lowly office worker. Now I'm suddenly expected to rule an entire nation. I feel lost. Overwhelmed."
Siegfried set down his teacup. "Guild Master, you led Ainz Ooal Gown to become the strongest guild in YGGDRASIL. Do you really doubt your ability to lead Nazarick? Remember—the Guardians are utterly loyal. We want to follow your orders. I want to."
"But… what if I make a mistake?"
"No one is infallible. You must trust yourself. And know this—I'll always stand by you. Think of me as family you can rely on."
Ainz let out a dry chuckle. "That's… an odd comparison, Siegfried. I'm not some blushing bride."
Siegfried leaned forward, hands resting on the desk, his bright eyes locked onto Ainz's empty sockets. "Then go ahead."
Ainz felt pinned—like prey before a predator. Though his skull held no nerves, he swore he felt heat radiating from that gaze. His resolve wavered… until he voiced his deepest worry:
"But what about the Guardians…?"
"No problem," Siegfried said, straightening with a knowing smile. "They can be handled."
Inside the office, Albedo and Demiurge knelt in perfect unison.
"Greetings, Lord Ainz! Lord Siegfried!"
Ainz glanced at the young man beside him. "Rise. I'm not here to reprimand you. I have a reward to bestow."
Their eyes flickered—Albedo carefully masking the ecstatic madness bubbling beneath. She recognized Siegfried instantly, despite his human form. So elegant… so captivating… Lord Siegfried!
Siegfried shivered. Strange… This body has full cold resistance. Why do I feel a chill?