Part 4: Return

Right on time (which was to say, exactly to the second) there was a knock on the doors to Ainz's chambers.

"Enter."

As he had that morning, Sebas entered the room with a maid at his side. Or perhaps it'd be more accurate to say as he had yesterday morning. Ainz perception of time had been skewed ever since coming to the New World. Down here especially in this windowless underground tomb hours could pass by without notice and apparently they had, Ainz not realizing night had long since fallen outside and a new day had technically begun.

"I'm here to relieve Tuare of her duties." Sebas addressed his master when he finally arrived at his desk; Foire waiting patiently behind him.

"I see. It's already that time then." Ainz commented, turning to Tuare off to his side. "Very well then. Tuare, you are dismissed. You may return to your quarters."

"Thank you, Lord Ainz." Tuare bowed to him, much less stutter in her voice than when he'd first left her here, Sebas couldn't help but notice.

Tuare and Foire walked in almost perfect sync with each other as they traded places, Tuare going to Sebas' side while the Homunculus Maid went to Ainz's; it being her turn as his aide for the day.

Tuare smiled warmly at the butler upon being able to stand next to him again, and though Sebas was happy to see her too, he had a duty to remain professional and kept his same stoic expression, his attention focused on his master.

"She did very well serving me today. You should be proud of how well you've trained her, Sebas." Ainz praised him. "Please, give my similar gratitude to Yuri Alpha and Pestonya. I know that allowing a human into the tomb was a transition for many, but I am quite proud of how well you all have met and even surpassed my expectations."

"Your words honor us, my lord." Sebas bowed to him, Tuare following his lead and doing the same. "As you command, so shall it be done."

Ainz nodded with a satisfied grunt. "That is all. You may go now."

Once they had given the Supreme One the proper farewells, Sebas and Tuare were back on their way to her room. Give how unfamiliar she was with this section of the 9th floor, Sebas believed it'd be better if he guided her back personally rather than sending her off on her own, as getting lost around here could lead to fair worse damage than just to her reputation.

As the two walked along, they passed through the now empty stretch of hallway where there'd been such a crowd so many hours ago.

"What on earth is the purpose in such a random gathering?"

The new voice came as a surprise to everyone and even popped Albedo out of her boiling state as they all turned to look to its source, the red suit standing up immediately against the white of the hallway, with his metal-plated tail swinging gently behind him as he walked.

"Lord Demiurge!" All the maids, including Narberal and CZ, bowed to his arrival.

"Ah, Demiurge." All traces of the Albedo from just seconds ago were completely gone, vanished so thoroughly it would almost lead all present to think they were insane to think the beautiful woman before them had ever shown such monstrous features. She addressed her follow Guardian professionally and without fault. "We were not expecting you back so soon."

"The foundation for the future Sorcerer Kingdom is coming along at a very brisk pace, very much due to all the undead Lord Ainz generously provided. I merely came in person to speak with you, Albedo, as to the next steps you've been discussing with him." Demiurge explained himself. "Now please, do tell why a group such as this is in the middle of the 9th floor?"

Sebas felt it would be best if he explained the situation. "It would seem the other maids were feeling a bit…anxious and overprotective. You see, Lord Ainz made a request to have Tuare as his maid for the day and is in fact serving him now."

Demiurge seemed confused for a moment at what he was being told, leading the Homunculus Maids to feel he might be on their side in this. But then a look of understanding passed over his features and the red devil gave a smile.

"I see. So he's already moving into preparations for that part of the plan." Demiurge remarked knowingly, pushing his glasses up his nose so elegantly with just a single finger. "Truly the Supreme One's work ethic is nothing short of astounding."

"Plan?" The maids asked, even Demiurge's fellow Guardians seeming a bit lost to his meaning.

"How you all truly not realized it yet, even after all this time?" He asked them, just a touch prideful in his intelligence over theirs in this matter. "Lord Ainz never does anything randomly. Every action he takes is with a far grander goal in mind than the obvious and immediate. Momon himself should be proof enough of that.

"Think about it;" He said. "What did we just accomplish? We brought the city of E-Rantel under our flag and are transforming it into Lord Ainz's glorious Sorcerer Kingdom. A grand accomplishment to be sure…if we were just another human kingdom. But we are not. We've seen time and again that our strength far surpasses those of this world and Ainz revealed such a fact to all its residents at the battle between the kingdom and the empire with just his single spell. He could have sent us Guardians out any time he wanted to claim E-Rantel and more. Yet he didn't. Why do you suppose that is?"

When still no one said anything or seemed to get it, Demiurge just shook his head in a tsk-tsk fashion.

"Think of it this way; diamonds are of the most valuable jewels but they are not the only type to be collected. Be it hardness, shine, or color, there's reason to collect those of all type. If this world is a box of jewels, why should the Supreme One settle for just one type? Is he not more than worthy of everything the box holds? Humans could be considered the lowest-class of jewel but it matters not. They still belong to Lord Ainz by right and we'd hardly be presenting him anything of worth if he just ordered us to lay waste to everything before us. Anyone can rule over a pile of rubble, but that certainly wouldn't be fitting of one of his status."

"I apologize, but I still don't see how Tuare fits into all of this." Sebas said.

"When is a procured good more likely to be in good condition: when it is taken by force or when it is given freely?" Demiurge answered the butler's question with another question. "In the former there's a risk of the item being damaged in the scuffle, while in the latter it's openly acknowledged the item is better off in the receiver's hands. Lord Ainz could easily subjugate the humans by force but to do so would likely exterminate what little value to him they possess. But were they to see the joys and wonders that come from serving the Supreme One, the humans would give up their freedom by choice."

Of all those in the group, Demiurge was unsurprised to see that it was Albedo whom finally grasped his meaning first. "I see. The girl's presence is much like why Lord Ainz created Momon. Momon keeps the humans' peace of mind, believing he's what protects them from outright slaughter, and Tuare is to give the impression that there is indeed a place for humans in Lord Ainz's reign, giving them hope for their future."

"Precisely. With the girl personally serving Lord Ainz as we speak, I suspect he is grooming her for a head maid position within the Sorcerer Kingdom once it's far enough along."

The Homunculus Maids immediately raised their heads in alarm. "But-!"

"That isn't to say Lord Ainz will be using humans as replacements for any of his regular maids." Demiurge quickly interrupted before they could go any further. "It's just a simple fact that the goal is to give Lord Ainz the entire world. A hundred maids, even those created by the Supreme Beings, would be hard-pressed to keep a million mansions sufficiently clean and managed. Lord Ainz is merely looking ahead to the future, as he always has."

"Do you believe Lord Ainz has been planning this since the moment he met Tuare?" Sebas asked.

"There can be no doubt. To think I actually embarrassed myself so greatly by recommending she be merely put to work on my farm, while he had such a plan already laid out." Demiurge's words sang genuine praise to his master, but for a moment there was a clear bit of disgust with himself mixed in. "It truly shows Lord Ainz's generosity that he did not scold me on the spot for my ignorance. He even afforded me a chance to save face, insisting that he was only sparing the girl because of a debt he felt he owed another human."

"Wow…Lord Ainz is amazing." Mare said, a deep blush of admiration across his face. He could have long since left but as the conversation veered more towards their master he felt the greater and greater need to just stay and listen.

Albedo's arms hugged her body as she swooned. "Yes…he truly is." She sighed lovingly, a similar but much more mature blush coming across her features as she thought of her one true love and his endless brilliance.

The more Sebas thought about it, the more Demiurge's words made sense. In so many ways, Tuare was indeed an ideal pawn for Lord Ainz in this manipulation. Tuare had suffered endlessly at the hands of other humans before eventually finding safety and solace among monsters. There would not be a single negative thing she would have to say about the Supreme One or Nazarick. Every positive she'd give would be complete truth and any criticisms would be so overshadowed by her memories of the past that they'd be almost non-existent. Eventually, people would have to face the reality that there was a human far happier living under the rule of the Sorcerer King than she'd been before him and eventually they'd have to acknowledge why that was.

If what Demiurge said was true, that Lord Ainz was planning on using Tuare in such a way, as basically propaganda…

…Then he would do everything in his power to see to it his master's vision is fulfilled. That Tuare was ready for whatever he needed.

Lord Ainz had never punished him for risking his and Solution's mission by saving Tuare. He'd even rewarded Sebas for his efforts by sparing her life and giving him the money for clothes and other daily necessities for her. Still…he'd never managed to shake the feeling that he betrayed his master and it was a shame Sebas constantly carried around with him.

But now…to hear that his actions were actually of use to Lord Ainz…and even better, that Tuare herself was going to prove of use to him…it was like a huge weight had been lifted off Sebas' chest. It was the greatest desire of all those created by the Supreme Beings to serve them. It was their purpose and the one thing above all else that made them feel most complete. That Tuare was getting to share in that honor, Sebas couldn't be prouder.

They were getting close to Tuare's room. It was within sight of where they were now.

"Tuare," Sebas spoke, immediately getting her to turn her head to him as they walked. "If I might ask, how was your first day serving Lord Ainz directly?"

Tuare took a small moment to think about her answer. "…If I'm being honest…he was kind of scary. Just the pressure he gave off his body…if felt like all he'd have to do is just point at me and I'd be wiped off the planet."

"I see. An understandable feeling. Lord Ainz is indeed a being of unfathomable power." Sebas said, his voice non-judgmental. Only a fool would ever dare to take the Supreme One lightly.

"But…" Tuare spoke up again, much to Sebas' surprise. "He was also incredibly kind." She said with such a warm smile, the kind Sebas had only ever seen her give to him.

Seeing that, the very edges of the butler's lips couldn't but form a just barely noticeable smile of the same type. "That he is. Of all the Supreme Beings who could have stayed behind, we are reminded every day how lucky we are that it was Lord Ainz."

They'd finally arrived at Tuare's door. Sebas had other duties he needed to attend to, so he did not offer to spend the night to help her sleep, instead merely wishing her a good rest.

However, before he would have left, Sebas noticed Tuare just watching him dreamily from the doorway, a bit lost in thought.

"Tuare? Is something the matter?"

Tuare snapped back to reality, realizing she'd been staring without meaning to. "Oh! S-sorry! No, no. It's nothing, Lord Sebas." She shook her head, her cheeks slightly tinted pink. Sebas eyed her with a bit of puzzlement but she didn't mind.

Lord Ainz had asked Tuare not to speak too openly about all he'd shared with her regarding Nazarick. He did not wish to give the appearance of favoritism and beyond that, the subject of the other Supreme Beings was likely still a sore spot for many of the tomb's residents. Regardless of what any individual's reaction may be, it was best not to tempt such things and Tuare couldn't help but agree. Even as she watched Sebas leave, no matter how much she wanted to talk with him about it all, she did not wish to bring up anything that might offend him. Or worse, make him remember any sadness he carried.

As she entered into her room, Tuare thought of everything she'd been told, and she realized for the first time in a very long time she had something she was looking forward to.

She was looking forward to the day she found out Lord Ainz's real name. Because when that day comes, it'd mean that he found at least one of the other Supreme Beings.

And with that came the small chance that the one found was that knight in the glorious white armor. The one whom had created the man she loved. Even now, as she smiled and her hands hugged her handkerchief over her heart, she couldn't help but picture his bearded face as the one underneath that helmet.

With everything he'd been planning to do for the day long since completed, Ainz stood up from his desk, ready to retire to his room. As he did, Foire turned his way to follow him in.

Internally, Ainz gave a sigh. "And just like that, I'm right back to where I started."

Still, despite his groans, Ainz did not feel as stressed out as he had a few days ago. He did not feel as much like a caged animal, despite the fact the cage was clearly still there.

As he wondered why that was, he couldn't help but remember when he'd first become his in-game avatar. Specifically, when he'd gone to the 6th floor's amphitheater to test his abilities and make certain he still would be able to defend himself with magic if need be.

His emotions were on a suppressor, so that obviously was the main reason he had not been freaking out beyond rational thought despite the insane, impossible situation he'd found himself in. But he remembered when he'd been talking to Aura and Mare, almost bragging about the stats of the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown, what it was capable of and everything he and the rest of the guild had done to create it. For just that brief moment, Ainz had forgotten his fears and just became lost again in those good times.

"I think I've heard that reminiscing is a good way to relax the mind. Just remembering nice, happy times in your life. Like playing an old video game you've already beaten several times over." Ainz thought to himself as he walked to his room, the door being just a few feet away from where he'd been sitting. "All the NPCs already know everything about my old friends. At least…everything they can understand about them. I suppose Tuare was just my excuse to talk about them all again."

Walking into his room, the bed was perfectly made, as always, though that part was less a product of Tuare's great efforts and more simply the fact Ainz rarely had reason to lie down in it. He'd certainly like to right now, for no other reason than that he found the strange, still unidentifiable scent that often coated the sheets surprisingly soothing. But with Foire right behind him, it probably wouldn't look very dignified for the ruler of Nazarick to bury his head in his pillow and start sniffing deeply.

"I should maybe try something like that again sometime. I could easily just use the excuse that it's to help Tuare better understand Nazarick. None of the NPCs would really question that. But we'll shelve that idea for another day. I'll be living primarily in the Sorcerer Kingdom soon, so it's doubtful Tuare and I will even be seeing a lot of each other anyway. Not unless Sebas wants to take her on another shopping date there."

Ainz giggled to himself like a little boy over that last thought, thinking that in that case, he might actually follow them in secret like he'd considered doing last time. He gave himself a mental smack for being such a dork.

Epilogue:

"CZ, is something wrong?" Narberal turned to her sister of the Pleiades, noticing that she seemed to be quieter than usual.

"…I didn't get any lines."

Author's notes: Like I said, not a very long or deep story. Just something I thought might be enjoyable to throw out there, especially since I don't think there are many stories out there with Ainz and Tuare interacting.

I am really grateful for how supportive everyone was of this story. It really means a lot to hear that people like what you wrote. I was genuinely surprised how popular this story was, but I suppose that goes to show how popular Overlord is.

Funny enough, Overlord was one of those shows I hesitated to get into because I thought I wouldn't like it. I think I just heard about the premise and thought it was just going to be a comedy harem anime. My favorite thing is when I think I'll dislike a show and I end up absolutely loving it. It happened with One Punch Man, Steven Universe, and My Hero Academia. As soon as I finished the Overlord anime I just went scouring the internet for more Overlord, just anything Overlord! That's how I found out about Ple Ple Pleiades, Overlord: The Undead Oh!, the various short stories, and most importantly, the Light Novels. I went out and bought the first nine volumes and thankfully found a place online where I could read translated versions of the others.