Nico woke up feeling utterly refreshed. He stretched with a satisfied smile. "That was the most comfortable sleep I've had in my entire life," he said, standing up and making the bed himself.
When he opened the door, the three Dimitrescu sisters were waiting for him, all wearing bright smiles. Nico stared at them in confusion.
"Why are you all here?" he asked, still yawning. The girls looked at him as if he'd lost his mind.
"You told us yesterday that you had a surprise for us!" Daniela reminded him. Nico paled instantly.
'I forgot about that,' he thought, turning around briefly as he frantically tried to invent a suitable surprise for the three.
"My surprise? Uhh... my surprise is that you all get a single request from me that I can never decline!" Nico announced. He was supposed to meet with the business-minded people today... He'd just have to postpone it again.
"All of us get a single request that you can't decline?" Cassandra repeated in both shock and joy, clearly already formulating ideas.
"How long does the request last?" Bela asked, studying him intently, searching for any hidden catch.
"No expiration date. You can use that one request anytime, anywhere," Nico affirmed, fully committing to the promise since he'd already started down this path.
"Okay!" Bela replied happily. The girls walked away, huddling in the corner and whispering among themselves. Nico yawned once more and retreated to his room to brush his teeth and prepare for the day.
After completing his morning routine—brushing his teeth, activating the Molds, taking a quick shower, and dressing for work—Nico emerged to find the three sisters still waiting.
"Why are you all still here? I'm busy," he said, eyeing them with irritation.
"We've put it to a vote! Our first request is that you take us where Daniela went yesterday!" Cassandra announced proudly. Nico scratched the back of his head.
"So... that will be all three requests?" he asked, noting that they were all coming along, the word first in her statement completely passing over his head.
"No! That was just Cassandra's wish! She wished that you would take all three of us to the place Daniela visited yesterday!" Bela corrected with a whine, trying to make him understand that they had outsmarted him.
"I... Bu-... Alright, fine. You win this time," Nico grumbled, finally comprehending his oversight. He instructed the girls to get ready, and they left giggling with excitement about the upcoming trip.
Nico walked outside, noticing that the farm was now enclosed by tall stone walls. He proceeded to the Bakers' House and entered.
"Creator! Why don't you help yourself to some breakfast?" Marguerite greeted, gesturing to a table laden with morning fare—scrambled eggs, fresh fruit, nuts, tea, and coffee.
'It truly is nice having a farm that can provide your daily necessities,' Nico thought appreciatively, selecting an apple from the table.
"I'll just have this, Marguerite, thank you," he said with a grateful bow. "Anyway, I came here to personally thank you for all your hard work, especially for the new comfy bed in my room." He looked around at everyone present with a genuine smile.
"It was nothing. We must serve our Creator," Jack replied, offering that fatherly smile that almost brought Nico to tears.
"Well, I have a trip planned with the girls," Nico mentioned just as the three sisters burst through the door unceremoniously.
"All of you get out now!" Nico commanded angrily. Their disrespect for others was intolerable. Bela began to protest, but Nico quickly silenced her.
"No! Bela! Lucas isn't here right now!" he shouted, ushering the girls outside. He cleared his throat, thanked the Bakers once more, and apologized before departing.
"I am very disappointed with how you acted, girls. Those are your family, and you burst through the door as if they don't even matter!" Nico scolded again. He pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.
'Just how many times do I have to scold these girls?' he wondered, shaking his head as the three looked at him fearfully.
"That was the last straw, you three. You need to show respect to others just as you do to me! These aren't people to look down upon. We are a family! You should think of them as aunts and uncles!" Nico explained. They were more connected than they realized, as the Mold and Cadou were derived from the Megamycete.
"We're sorry, Creator. We were just excited about the trip. We haven't had the chance to go out anymore, even though we're already immune to cold weather," Bela apologized, once again the voice of reason among her sisters.
"Just... don't do it again!" Nico warned as he sprouted wings and took flight. The girls nodded contritely and followed him toward the Tomb of Nazarick.
"Ainz, are you currently in Nazarick?" Nico inquired through voice chat. It would be awkward to face the suspicious glares of the Tomb's residents without Ainz to diffuse the situation.
"It's confusing having to switch between Voice Chat, regular speech, and the Hive Mind," Nico muttered. If he didn't master this balancing act soon, he might accidentally disclose sensitive information about his subjects or Ainz.
"Are we there yet?!" Cassandra called out, soaring through the air playfully with her sisters.
"Don't you dare start that kind of shenanigan, Cassandra," Nico warned, immediately shutting down the dreaded are-we-there-yet routine that plagued every journey.
"I am here, Nico. Though I'm already leaving for E-Rantel—the guildmaster needs to speak with me regarding Shalltear," Ainz replied. As they drew closer, Nico spotted Ainz outside the tomb.
The two acknowledged each other with a small wave. Nico descended, reminding the girls to mind their behavior. What stood before them now was no ordinary skeleton.
"So, you're using Shalltear as a way to elevate your standing as an adventurer... smart," Nico remarked as he landed, offering Ainz a small salute. He was surprised by his gesture... that was strange.
"Yes. Is there something you want?" Ainz inquired, detecting an ulterior motive in Nico's words.
"Since I'm already helping you with this problem, I should benefit as well. We'll join the meeting and propose that we accompany you in defeating Shalltear," Nico suggested. Though he'd abandoned adventuring, such an advantageous opportunity was too good to pass up.
"The guildmaster won't allow it. You've never advanced beyond Bronze rank. The guildmaster will certainly forbid your participation in this mission," Ainz countered. Yet Nico's determination remained unshaken.
"Don't be like that, Ainz. Please put in a good word for me. Surely someone of your status could persuade the guildmaster to let us tag along," Nico pressed. After all, in situations like these, influence was everything.
"I'll try. But I fail to see how you could assist in defeating Shalltear," Ainz said. He wouldn't permit Nico to confront her alone, fearing he might destroy her. For now, Ainz couldn't discern Nico's true intentions.
"You'll know soon enough," Nico smiled cryptically, already clear on how he would prove useful. The circumstances were aligned perfectly—Ainz would have no choice but to accept his help.
"Very well, then. Let's go," Ainz agreed, donning his armor. He studied Nico curiously, noting his lack of identity-concealing attire or equipment.
"We're back to adventuring, girls!" Nico exclaimed as he transformed into his adventurer outfit, prompting excited cheers from the sisters. They were presentable enough; they only needed to adjust their skin color, as their natural pallor was too inhuman to pass as normal.
Ainz and Nico were now in the meeting room with other Mythril adventurers: Moknach, Bellote, and Igvarge. They had gathered to discuss the vampire lurking near E-Rantel and strategies to eliminate it. The guildmaster introduced himself as Ainsach.
"I appreciate all of you busy Mythril adventurers gathering here on such short notice," Ainsach began gratefully before directing an intimidating glare at Nico.
"I didn't expect Momon to bring a Bronze-ranked adventurer," he continued, still glaring while offering Nico a condescending smile.
Nico returned the smile, though inwardly seething. The discriminatory look Ainsach gave him was infuriating. He lowered his gaze, avoiding further attention as he listened silently.
"Let's skip the idle chatter and address the problem at hand," Ainsach stated, shifting his focus from Nico to the "capable" adventurers present.
Last night, in a forest near E-Rantel, seven Iron-class adventurers had encountered what they believed to be a vampire. Five had perished.
"The survivor described the monster's unforgettable blonde hair and large mouth," Ainsach reported, causing Nico to chuckle involuntarily, drawing everyone's attention.
'Why did I laugh? I'm not a child anymore to laugh at such things!' Nico berated himself.
"Do you think this is a joke?" Ainsach growled, slamming his fist on the table. Nico smiled tightly, struggling to contain his anger. The guildmaster was testing his patience.
Ainz observed Nico, noticing his hand morphing into a spike beneath the table. He placed a cautionary hand on Nico's shoulder, signaling him to restrain himself.
"I apologize, Ainzach. My colleague here is somewhat ill; though it may not be apparent, he's quite a capable adventurer," Ainz explained, inventing an excuse.
"Colleague? I thought you'd picked up some street rat as live bait," Igvarge sneered, laughing at his jest. The others stared at him, unamused.
"Please don't refer to my colleague in such terms. He's quite powerful... possibly even my equal," Ainz stated, though the compliment carried a subtle qualification.
"Powerful? Where? He looks more like a trained dog to..." Igvarge continued derisively.
In a flash of movement, Nico leapt at Igvarge, wrapping a hand around his throat. The others attempted to intervene, but Nico's strength overwhelmed them.
'Now I have to act deranged as an adventurer, or my cover will be blown. Thanks, Ainz!' Nico thought irritably. He'd wanted to portray himself as a refined assassin, not a volatile brute who thrived on conflict.
"Look what you've done. You've angered Nico," Ainz remarked calmly. Ainsach rose, determined to end the violence and resume planning.
"Alright. Knock it off, Nico. Let him go," Ainsach approached, gripping Nico's wrist and pulling—only to find his efforts completely ineffective.
"Let it go, Nico! You're compromising our cover," Ainz warned through voice chat, observing Nico's hand beginning to transform, poised to impale Igvarge's neck.
Nico released his grip reluctantly, returning to his seat while fixing Igvarge with a menacing stare. The Mythril adventurer gazed back in terror.
"Next time, why don't you scout your target before engaging?" Nico hissed. With the confrontation resolved, the discussion resumed, though Ainsach now regarded Nico with newfound respect.
"As I was saying, vampires can transform their victims into servants by drinking their blood. It would be disastrous if such a creature infiltrated E-Rantel," Ainsach continued, trying to ignore the unease he'd felt when Nico overpowered him.
"Could this be connected to the communal cemetery incident?" a Mythril adventurer inquired. Nico glanced at Ainz in confusion.
"Oh, the case Mr. Momon resolved just last night!" Moknach clarified, his admiration evident as he recounted the impressive achievement.
"I'm so jealous that he attained Mythril rank with such minimal effort," Igvarge muttered, pretending Nico's assault hadn't affected him and attempting to rejoin the conversation.
"Hey, don't say such things!" Bellote admonished, earning a dismissive scoff from Igvarge.
"Based on items recovered from the cemetery culprits, we've determined that Zuranon orchestrated the attack," Ainsach explained. Since Ainz had thwarted their plans, he needed to understand who he'd opposed.
"Zuranon. Isn't that the shadowy organization that harnesses undead power?" Bellote pondered, eyes gleaming with interest. Nico turned to him, brow furrowed in confusion.
'A secret society utilizing the undead? Isn't that essentially us?' Nico wondered.
He exchanged glances with Ainz, suspecting they shared the same thought. Nico shook his head slightly, signaling to Ainz that he had no involvement with this group.
"Then, is the vampire connected after all?" Bellote continued. Vampires were undead, after all—his reasoning wasn't flawed.
"It may be a diversion. However, our information is insufficient to fully assess the situation," Moknach reasoned, trying to piece everything together.
"Well, we can't gauge the creature's power based solely on Iron-class testimonies," Igvarge stated arrogantly, implying that Iron-class adventurers were easily dispatched.
"A cave is located near the vampire sighting. We'll dispatch a reconnaissance team there first," Ainsach decided, outlining what seemed the most prudent strategy.
Ainz could wait no longer. He needed to handle this personally. If Zuranon were blamed for Shalltear's actions, more capable forces might be sent—forces that could truly destroy her.
"The vampire has no connection to Zuranon," Ainz declared, intent on keeping the vampire case under his exclusive control.
"Do you possess some knowledge we don't?" Ainsach asked. Any additional information was valuable in such circumstances.
"That vampire's name is Honyopnyot," Ainz stated, fabricating a name to demonstrate familiarity with the creature.
"Huh?" Ainsach responded as awkward silence enveloped the room. Nico had to use his Mold abilities to seal his mouth shut to prevent laughter.
"It's Honyopnyoko!" Ainz corrected himself, attempting to recover. The adjustment seemed effective—the three Mythril adventurers gasped in apparent recognition.
"The name Honyo... How do you know this vampire's identity?" Ainsach asked, struggling with the pronunciation and rephrasing his question.
"I've been hunting her for some time. She's responsible for my colleague Nico's unstable condition," Ainz elaborated, noting Nico's barely suppressed amusement at the contrived name. He deliberately involved Nico in the narrative.
"Don't drag me into this!" Nico protested through voice chat. Ainz merely laughed off his objection.
"We have history with her. She's formidable. My team will conduct the reconnaissance. If she's present, I will eliminate her," Ainz declared, eliciting shocked expressions from the Mythril adventurers while Nico grinned knowingly.
"What are you suggesting?!" Igvarge exclaimed in disbelief. If this Honyo vampire were truly as powerful as implied, a Mythril-ranked adventurer would struggle to defeat it alone.
"Are you certain you can?" Ainsach questioned, similarly wary of the vampire's alleged strength.
"I possess a trump card: a magic sealing crystal containing eighth-tier magic," Ainz revealed. While modest compared to his magical capabilities, the artifact visibly impressed the human adventurers.
"Eighth tier?! That's purely mythological!" Ainsach exclaimed incredulously.
"How absurd. He must be lying!" Igvarge scoffed, attempting to discredit Ainz's claim.
"I don't object to having it appraised, but I doubt we have the luxury of time," Ainz replied, concealing the item once more.
"What about compensation?" Ainsach inquired, recognizing Ainz's serious intent to confront the vampire independently.
"We can negotiate that later. At minimum, I want a guarantee of Orichalcum rank," Ainz stipulated, preferring to avoid additional quests due to his responsibilities at Nazarick.
"Orichalcum?!" Igvarge repeated in astonishment, the other Mythril adventurers equally stunned.
"It's tiresome to continuously prove my capabilities," Ainz explained.
"What about him? Will this promotion extend to him as well?" Igvarge demanded, gesturing toward Nico, who sat absently toying with his dagger.
"Haven't I demonstrated my worth sufficiently?" Nico retorted, fixing Igvarge with an unsettling gaze and twisted smile. Igvarge immediately fell silent, aware that he would likely be Nico's chosen subject for any further demonstrations.
"I understand," Ainsach acknowledged, accepting Ainz's terms. Upon witnessing the guildmaster's acquiescence, Igvarge jumped to his feet, determined not to let this opportunity slip away.
"My team will participate as well!" Igvarge declared. This represented an effortless path to Orichalcum rank. But Ainz swiftly rejected him.
"I don't need anyone who will impede me," Ainz stated flatly. Nico smiled in satisfaction. He relished seeing arrogant individuals who couldn't substantiate their claims being humiliated.
"What?! How can I entrust this to a novice adventurer like you? For all we know, this vampire might not even be particularly powerful!" Igvarge protested furiously, watching his chance at Orichalcum rank vanish.
"Novice or not, Igvarge, you must admit we outclass you," Nico laughed mockingly.
"Enough, Igvarge!" Moknach commanded. As Mythril-class adventurers, such behavior was beneath them.
"Your conduct throughout this meeting has been entirely inappropriate!" Bellote added, equally disgusted by the man's behavior, including his mockery of someone with apparent mental instability.
"I don't object to your participation. However, if you join us... You will die," Ainz warned, his left eye glowing crimson.
Despite the clear warning, Igvarge had insisted on joining the mission. Now all his companions were dead, and his demise was imminent.
"You can't be serious! Damn it all!" Igvarge shouted in rage, bound to a tree by enchanted vines.
Ainz had brought Albedo, Mare—a dark elf with a deceptively feminine appearance—Nabe, and the oversized hamster, while the three Dimitrescu sisters feasted on the remains of Igvarge's party.
"Damn you! Release me! I'll kill you!" Igvarge continued struggling against his bonds. The dark elf watched sorrowfully.
"I'm going to kill you. I warned you, but you disregarded my warning. This is the consequence of your choice. Accept your fate," Ainz pronounced as Mare approached and crushed the man's skull with a single blow from his staff.
"Impressive! Your guardians are ruthless! I wouldn't have thought this little one capable of harming anyone," Nico remarked, grasping the dark elf's face and examining him closely.
"Would you consider letting me have this one? I need fresh specimens for my viral research, and elf blood might yield interesting results," Nico requested, pulling the youngster closer while looking expectantly at Ainz.
"How dare you treat a guardian of Nazarick with such disrespect, you ungrateful wretch!" Albedo snarled, advancing toward Nico until Ainz intervened.
"Wait, Albedo!" Ainz interjected with a chuckle. "He's merely jesting." As he spoke, Nico burst into laughter, relaxing his grip on the dark elf, who appeared both relieved and amused.
"You catch on too quickly; it diminishes the fun," Nico complained, seizing this rare opportunity to be lighthearted and playful—a stark contrast to the dignified persona he maintained before his subjects.
▲▼▲▼▲