XElenea
patreon
SO : 11 The Response
🕑 Added 2024-09-06 02:11:06 +0000 UTCThe game Yggdrasill is set against the backdrop of the World Tree from Norse mythology.
The Great Tomb of Nazarick, once located in Helheim, the realm of the dead, was initially a hidden dungeon within the game. Through the collective efforts of the members of Ainz Ooal Gown, it was conquered and transformed into their guild base.
The tomb is comprised of ten distinct levels, including the Tomb, the Underground Lake, the Glacier, the Jungle, the Magma, the Wasteland, the Royal Suite, and the Throne Room.
Apart from the first to third floors, guarded by Shalltear Bloodfallen, and the ninth and tenth floors, which are inaccessible to anyone except specific NPCs, each floor has its own Floor Guardian.
As Saigou stepped into the sixth floor of the tomb, the floor guardians were all kneeling.
Meanwhile, Momonga stood in the VIP section of the arena, seemingly filled with majesty, overlooking the array of monsters below.
Of course, this so-called majesty of Momonga was likely just how these NPCs, who had gained souls and life, perceived him.
To Saigou, who knew Momonga very well, it was clear that Momonga was actually at a loss and was awkwardly standing there.
His "majesty" was nothing but awkwardness.
"Zarathustra, you're here!"
Seeing Saigou arrive, Momonga seemed to find his backbone and finally let out a sigh of relief, dispelling the awkward atmosphere.
"Yes, how are things, Momonga?"
Saigou's devilish eyes glanced over the numerous floor guardians kneeling on the ground.
Noticing Saigou's gaze, the guardians lowered their bodies even further, trying to convey their utmost humility.
"I had Sebas go outside the tomb for a preliminary investigation earlier. Now, Sebas will report back to us."
Momonga attempted to mimic the authoritative tone Saigou used earlier when commanding Albedo.
At the same time, a somewhat flustered voice from Momonga resonated in Saigou's mind.
Although the game had undergone some changes, with many functions disappearing, the "private messaging" feature was still available, which was a relief for Momonga.
"Zarathustra, as per your instructions, I tested the loyalty of these NPCs, and so far, their loyalty seems intact."
"... However, as you mentioned, there's always the possibility that other members, when creating NPCs, might have embedded certain 'traitorous' traits and settings."
"You know it as well as I do—those guys would definitely do something like that!"
Momonga felt an overwhelming headache. Yggdrasill used to be just a game where everyone enjoyed messing around without serious consequences.
But now that the game had become reality, those playful settings could potentially turn into significant problems.
"The guild weapon used to allow us to view and modify NPC settings, but since the incident, this feature has vanished."
"... On the bright side, we can still use our in-game magic and items. And with you still being the strongest in the world, it's reassuring."
Momonga, using his years of being single to develop quick typing skills, rapidly typed out his thoughts in a private message.
Although Saigou wanted to tell him about the game's voice chat function, it seemed Momonga was too accustomed to typing.
Momonga now deeply regretted not thoroughly understanding each NPC in the guild beforehand.
In the past, NPCs were merely programmed settings, and guild members never paid much attention to them.
Had it not been for the gathering of all floor guardians this time, Momonga wouldn't even have been able to recognize them all, let alone pronounce their names correctly.
Saigou gave a subtle nod.
He was a detail-oriented and cautious person.
To rise from the bottom in a cyberpunk, class-rigid society to the top, apart from his natural talents, Saigou's greatest strength was his caution.
He had only watched the first season of Overlord and knew nothing about what happened after that.
From what he gathered from the first season, it seemed like a show all about flaunting one's superiority.
However, when everything in the show turns into reality, Saigou could not afford to be careless.
Logically speaking, this world of swords and magic must have entities comparable to, or even stronger than, Ainz Ooal Gown.
A critical question remains: why did the Great Tomb of Nazarick come to this world? Without solving this mystery, one could never let their guard down.
Basic reasoning would suggest that the reason for the crossover likely exists within this world of swords and magic, rather than the cyberpunk world they left behind.
Moreover, at the time of the transition, the ranking of Ainz Ooal Gown had already slipped past the top twenty.
There's a chance that the guilds ranked ahead of Ainz Ooal Gown might have crossed over as well.
The members of those guilds aren't the real concern; it's the World-Class Items that pose a potential problem.
That's the first point.
The second point is that the world Saigou first appeared in was Little Garden, a place filled with celestial beings and divine entities.
Given Saigou's current strength, which barely qualifies him as one of the Six Great Demons, there are many in that world who are just as strong, if not stronger. While it might be an exaggeration to say they are everywhere, they are certainly not in short supply.
If this world were to suddenly bring forth an unbeatable monster and he were to be taken down due to his lack of caution, it would be utterly humiliating.
Therefore, Saigou didn't find Momonga's seemingly over-cautious behavior ridiculous; in fact, he greatly appreciated it.
From an omniscient perspective, Momonga's actions might seem a bit foolish.
But in reality, people like Momonga are often the ones who survive the longest!
Not only should he not undermine Momonga's cautious behavior, but he should also support it.
He should even set a hypothetical goal for himself: assume there are monsters in this world!
The Colosseum on the sixth floor had once hosted a grand battle in the game, and there are forty-two VIP seats in total.
Saigou was currently seated in his designated VIP seat, listening to Sebas Tian's report while lost in his thoughts.
"Lord Zarathustra, Lord Momonga, I just led the Pleiades to conduct a reconnaissance around the Great Tomb of Nazarick."
"… According to our findings, the tomb is no longer located in Helheim, one of the Nine Worlds, but has instead appeared on a plain."
"This plain doesn't exist on any of our maps, so clearly, as the two of you suspected, the tomb has encountered an unknown event."
"… On the plain, we've discovered a human village. How should we proceed? I await your instructions, my lords!"
Dressed in a butler's uniform, the handsome elderly man with white hair and beard knelt on the ground, one hand placed on his chest, speaking in a calm and solemn tone.
He was the butler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, named Sebas Tian, a standard butler name, created by Touch Me.
Just like his creator, Touch Me, he was a protector of the weak and a staunch advocate of justice.
In the Great Tomb of Nazarick, where the average morality score is negative, his score stands out in the positives, and he belongs to the most virtuous faction, making him a unique figure amidst a mire of corruption.
If anyone in the tomb were most likely to be a traitor, Saigou believed this old man would be at the top of the list.
However, knowing Touch Me's personality, Saigou was certain he wouldn't have added any malicious quirks when creating his NPCs.
Loyalty, being a part of the justice Touch Me upheld, likely means that even if everyone else were to betray them, Sebas Tian would remain steadfast.
Upon hearing Sebas Tian's request for orders, both Momonga and the floor guardians instinctively looked towards Saigou.
In the past, whenever the guild had any activities, Saigou was always the one truly in command.
The guardians, who retained memories of the past, naturally prioritized his orders.
As for Momonga, in real life, he was just an ordinary employee who had never held a leadership position and didn't understand the art of leadership.
If not for his skills continuously enabling him to remain calm, he would have probably already betrayed his nervousness.
"Sebas Tian…"
Issuing commands was already second nature to Saigou, and he slowly spoke, calling out the butler's name.
"At your service, Lord Zarathustra!"
Sebas Tian immediately lowered his head, waiting for the supreme being's instructions.
"You…"
Saigou was about to say something but paused. The dark flames under his hood flickered slightly, and a wave of joy surged within him.
He suddenly sensed a response from the darkness that had nurtured him—a reply to an invitation he had previously sent out!
