The Deal

{Sorry for the delay, I am sick. However, since there were no chapters for a while I will give you the last two. Enjoy and don't forget to comment if you want.}

Chapter 11: The Deal

Ainz assembled the floor guardians in the throne room to inform them about the decision he made to give his belongings to Demiurge. The guardians weren't pleased by this. Their lord, their god, decided to give up his things? They surely misheard something.

"Ainz-sama, you want to pledge loyalty to Demiurge and give him Nazarick?" asked Albedo.

"Yes, Albedo. Unfortunately, Demiurge has more strength than I do. You see, he easily took down Touch Me and HeroHero." informed the undead, which gained some surprised gasps from the guardians.

"Why don't we simply join forces with him and kill the humans?" asked Albedo, once again.

"Well, it is simple, really. Demiurge told me–" Ainz proceeded to tell the story of his memories.

*Flashback Start*

"Then, what if we were to decide to hunt the humans as well?" asked Ainz.

"I will hunt down the guardians, I want them to submit as well as you!" Demiurge responded.

"I understand." Ainz said, before leaving the scene.

*Flashback End*

"–that is why it is useless." finished the undead. After a few moments, Ainz asked "Why do you hate humans, Albedo?"

"I suppose that I could inform you, Ainz-sama–" started the succubus before remembering old memories.

*Flashback Start*

It was a beautiful day, the sun was shining, and the birds were singing. Albedo was playing in a river enjoying herself close to her mother. While she was playing in the water, her mother was preparing a little picnic for them to enjoy. When the mother finished the preparations, she called her daughter to eat.

"Albedo, it's time to eat!" informed the mother.

"Coming!" responded the little girl while exiting the water.

She dried her hair with a towel and sat beside her mom. The succubus was enjoying the sandwich made by her mom while humming a little song. The song had a great meaning to the girl. It was the one that her mother sang every night to help her sleep. Without it, she had nightmares. The mother was listening to the song with her eyes closed, remembering the past and the present. At some point in their enjoyment, a question popped into the little succubus' head.

"Mom, why don't I have a father?" Albedo asked.

The mom was taken aback, never had she believed that her child would ask such a question, not this soon at least. She wasn't sure what to tell her, but since she didn't wish to lie to her only child, she told the truth.

"Albedo, you see, your father–" the mother was cut off by something.

This something was the impaled sword in her abdomen. Someone had just stabbed her, in front of her daughter no less. The said child, who watched the whole ordeal, had wide eyes filled with fear and tears.

With the last breath she had, Albedo's mother informed, "Ru… n… Albedo… Run…"

After this, her head was cut off by the aggressor who had a big grin on his face.

"That's what you get, demon." yelled the murderer before adding, "We, humans, are the one that should rule the world."

As the little girl she was, she did what her mother told her to. She ran. She ran, ran, ran and ran until she was exhausted. Even then, she continued advancing until she reached a secluded place. She stayed in that place, hoping that her mother would come soon. However, after a few months the mother was nowhere to be seen.

Albedo was alone, she was short on food and was cold. She managed to survive this long because she got some berries from nearby bushes, but there were no more. Just when she was about to lose hope, a humanoid deformed squid found her. At first, she was frightened, she was scared that this was one of the attackers and that it came for her. However, when it introduced itself as Tabula Smaragdina and informed the girl that he wanted to help her, she gave in and accepted the proposal.

After that day, Albedo grew up with the brain eater as well as two of her new siblings: Nigredo and Rubedo. Everything was fine after that. Tabula Smaragdina joined Ainz Ooal Gown, and they moved to the tomb.

*Flashback End*

"–and you know the rest." finished the succubus.

A few of the guardians were shocked to know that. They didn't know that Albedo wasn't actually Tabula Smaragdina's daughter. Ainz as well was a bit shocked by the news. However, he was expecting something like that, but he wasn't sure if it was a new backstory that came to exist after they arrived in this place or if this is how she was programmed. In any case, now is not the time to think about the past. They needed to deal with the 'Demiurge' issue.

"I see. I understand now, Albedo." informed the undead which made some guardians nod their heads.

*Time Skip, Meeting with Demiurge*

The group consisting of Ainz, Albedo and a few undead, approached Crane Village. In the village was waiting the almighty Devil, Demiurge. He waited there for a day to let Ainz finish his trivial objectives or whatever. In the end, they came ready to give up everything they had.

"Satoru, I see you have come." said the Devil.

"Yes, I am here today as you requested, Demiurge." responded the undead.

"Do you have what I asked for?" asked Demiurge.

"Yes, it's right–" Ainz was about to complete his sentence, but Albedo interrupted by attacking the demon.

The succubus tried to stab Demiurge from the back. However, this was futile. Demiurge turned around, took the guardian's hand and flipped it. This caused the weapon she was using to turn around and stabbed her in the abdomen. After a few moments, she fell on the ground and started to cry a little. She was going to die, and this without having to tell her feelings to Ainz. Yes she was a little pushy. She used every opportunity to make him uncomfortable and made some advances. However, she never actually said that she liked him. Nevertheless, it is too late now. It's not like she was going to have a second chance, was she. Maybe she still had time before dying?

"Ainz… sama…" Albedo whispered to the already crouched skeleton.

"What is it, Albedo? I am listening." asked the undead.

Even though it didn't sound like it, he was worried. He was in love with her after all. Since the beginning, when this was still a game, he found that she was attractive. However, he couldn't really allow himself to think such things, she was a game character after all. But, since they arrived here, he reviewed his beliefs. Perhaps he could have a chance? Well, he wasn't sure, she was in love with him, this much was obvious. The only problem is, he didn't know if this was the programmed love he made just before the game changed or if it was how she really felt.

"Ainz-sama… I-I… love you…" she said with hopeful eyes filled with love.

"Oh… Albedo… You know, I always loved you as well." informed the undead.

This new information made Albedo light up. She was dying though, and nothing could stop that. Yes, Ainz did have a reanimation staff, however, since it was Demiurge's doing, he was convinced that it wouldn't be of use. With that, Albedo passed in Ainz's arms.

"How charming. I always knew that this would have happened." stated Demiurge before adding, "However, your staff of resurrection won't work… that is quite the deception, isn't it? I could welcome her back to the world of living, but that is only if you give me what I demanded."

This statement confirmed Ainz's doubt, his staff couldn't help in this case. However, there was a chance. Now he had a good reason to do what Demiurge asked from him. Thus, he deposed Albedo's dead body on the ground and walked toward the Devil. He put the papers on the table as well as the staff of Ainz Ooal Gown.

"The only thing left to do is for you to sing these papers." informed Ainz.

"Very well then." said Demiurge before signing the papers.

"Now it is your turn." said the undead.

"Yes, it is." confirmed the Devil.

Demiurge turned to look at Albedo's dead body. He picked it up and put it on the table. Then he used some unknown magic and brought Albedo back to the living. However, she was somewhat different. She was not a succubus anymore. She was… a… skeleton? Furthermore, she looked exactly like before but devoid of skin, flesh, and muscles. Her eyes were still yellow, and her facial features resembled Ainz's. When the ex-overlord looked at the now revived Albedo, he was wide-eyed. She was a skeleton! This meant that they could both have… well… no more words are needed to get the idea.

"Ainz-sama?" asked the ex-succubus.

"What is it, Albedo-hime?" asked the skeleton.

#Hime? Does that mean…# Albedo thought before blushing.

Seeing the look on her face, Ainz knew what she was thinking about, he somewhat smiled and said, "Albedo, let's go home."

The two lovebirds headed towards Nazarick, which, even if now owned by Demiurge, is still their home. Meanwhile, Demiurge freed the village and joined his wife for a tiring night at their new property: The Sorcerer Kingdom.

Next time: Epilogue

Approximately 1605 words.