13. Warm place

"Come on sis, we'll be late!" Exclaimed the eight years old girl as she dragged her older sister by the arm.

"I'm going, I'm going" Answered Emma, her sigh only half faked.

Her little sister Nora had always been very spirited. While Emma herself preferred to sleep as much as she could and then just stay home stuffing her face with sweets, the younger girl was one prone to action, always moving and never stopping.

"Don't just say that and hurry. We can't be late, mister Gown promised to show me around today!" Continued Nora, trying, and failing, to project indignation as she set her hands on her hips and put on stern face similar to that their mother used to make. Except that her small body made her look ridiculous instead of menacing.

Emma had to force herself to contain the laugher threatening to burst as she hurried to follow her annoyed little sister. Emma knew from experience that listening to her younger sibling while she was angry could be the greatest of hurdles and her laugher would only make it worse.

"Are you making fun of mean? You are so bad!" Little Nora was now pouting, her "angry face", as Emma liked to call it, not fully set in her features.

Emma on the other hand couldn't contain her laughter anymore and under the increasing protest of the younger girl she started guffawing.

It took her a few minutes to get herself under control, the continued protests an outraged Nora not helping, but she finally managed to settle down. Emma was always a happy girl and having a hearty laughter was one of her most well known qualities.

Actually, when was the last time she laughed? Was it before the Toolshed? Or before mom and dad were taken away?

Regardless of all of that, Emma was happy to see her little sister acting like she used to before everything. Nora was still young and could be negatively affected by their experiences. Emma could still remember how subdued and depressed her little sister had been since their parents had been taken away. Thankfully everything had chanced.

It had been but two weeks since they had been rescued and Emma was still trying to make heads or tails of their rescuer. Something both him and his subordinates weren't making easy.

Ainz Ooal Gown was the living -or unliving- image of a super villain. Everything, from the spooky skeleton appearance, to the monstrous subordinates and Dark lord theme pointed at him being capital "E" Evil. On the other hand he had saved Nora, her and everyone else at the camp without asking for much in return. If he was a villain then Emma was ready to go over to the dark side. It wasn't like her country's own "heroes" had done much for her or her family.

But even if the mystery that was Ainz Ooal Gown remained, Emma had already decided to throw in her lot with him. She owned the man who had saved her sister's life at least that much.

Especially is she expected him to continue to protect Nora.

I need to show Ainz- no, Lord Ainz I can be useful. I don't know what he may want from us but I have to prove him I can do that and more. I just want him to keep Nora safe.

The memory of the last time Emma had seen her parents once again resurfaced. The teary goodbye as both of her parents were dragged away by the cruel guards, the pleas of her mother to look after Nora and the words of encouragement from her father even as the butt of the guard's rifle hit him in the head.

I will do it. I will protect Nora no matter what.

"Come on sis, we are almost there" Nora was thankfully unaware of her older sister's thoughts and was thus only focused upon their current task, that of navigating the complex pathways of the place they currently found themselves at.

After Ainz Ooal Gown had taken them away from the Toolshed through a portal of some kind the mutants had been moved to various places, all in the northernmost uninhabited regions of Canada as far as Emma knew, before finally being sent to what could be best described as a newly made bunker.

The complex was big, at least as one the shopping malls she used to frequent during better times. It was fully underground and there was no obvious way outside. There was little in the way of amenities beyond beds, communal bathrooms, which thankfully included showers, and some kind of artificial light source which Emma was sure was not electric.

But she would not complain, nor would any of the other mutants, as it was infinitely better than the Toolshed. There was no cruel overseers nor violent guards and food was plentiful if somewhat bland.

A few of Ainz's subordinates had remained to help them and, if you asked Emma's opinion. to keep them under watch. Most other mutants had avoided them, finding the zombie-looking "Elder Litches" hard to interact with, but Emma wasn't like them. To her they were refreshing, as unlike almost everyone since her being a mutant had become public they didn't judge her nor did they treat her any different. It was for this reason that she had ended up as a kind of unelected spokeswoman for the group.

It was for this reason that both Emma and Nora found themselves walking to a meeting with Lord Ainz himself. In a stroke of luck she had gained all the influence she was hoping for. Of course this left another question.

"Actually, why are you coming, Nora? I don't think you'll find a discussion of this level very entertaining," Said Emma as she looked at her little sister with puzzlement.

"You're saying I'm dumb right? Mom told you not to call me that!"

"Come on Nora, don't be such a crybaby and just answer the question," For all that she loved her, Emma could still find herself easily exasperated by Nora. She was still a child after all.

"Nuh-uh. You are being mean so I won't tell you" Answered Nora as she stuck out her tongue.

But before Emma could make a comeback they reached their destination, the main chamber where supplies and new personnel arrived. But currently there were no big boxes of food and other consumibles ready to be moved to storage, nor were there Litches and skeletons working nonstop. There was nothing but them.

Or so it seemed.

Before Emma could even speak a portal opened in the middle of the room, the area around it painted in yellow lines symbolizing danger.

Emma had already seen such portals before but the obsidian darkness of the physics defying hemisphere, it's jet black colour as if someone had but a piece of the night itself, hung there and once again mesmerized the young girl. Even after so many times seeing it Emma couldn't describe it as anything but magic.

Not a second after the portal formed someone came out. He was an older man, impeccably dressed and sporting a handsome countenance. His every move exuding purpose and determination.

"I… We are very sorry for being late," While technically they had arrived at the same time Emma was unsure if she had committed a faux pas of some kind. For all she knew it was her duty as the summoned party to wait for her hosts with one hour of anticipation.

I can't risk appearing incompetent right now. I need to do this well the first time!

But the butler's, for that's what Emma thought he was now that she looked at him closer, just smiled. A kind smile, not unlike that of her own father.

"It is no problem young miss. I just got here myself and Lord Ainz made it clear this was no hurry," He calmly waved off her worries.

"Even then, I'm very sorry mister…?"

"Sebas, Sebas Tian," Answered the butler, his smile unwavering "and please don't worry about it. If Lord Ainz says it is fine then it is fine."

Emma wasn't dumb enough to continue arguing with the man. Sometimes being overly polite could have nothing but the opposite result. She had learnt that long ago.

"As you say Lord Sebas."

"Only Sebas it's fine," He answered with a different, more understanding, smile "Now, if you will please follow me."

And just like that he stepped through the portal, Emma and Nora quickly following.

---

​

I don't know what to do. God please save me!

Sadly for Emma her please went unheard and unnoticed. For if there was a higher power in this world it was not one prone to helping the young mutant girl.

Ever since they had stepped through the portal her life had been nothing but suffering. But it was not the physical kind of suffering but one of the mind, the same kind of suffering many an elder sibling or parent had to endure.

"Ohhh, this is awesome. Emma look at this," Exclaimed Nora happily as she ran from place to place. Pointing at everything that caught her interest in quick succession and almost giving Emma a heart attack every time.

The portal had taken them to a place Emma had only heard about. The so fabled "Nazarick" the litches had spoken of at every chance. The seat of power of Ainz Ooal Gown and the most magnificent place in the universe. Emma had thought they were exaggerating.

Now she knew better.

Everything, from the beautiful carvings in the walls, to the marble floors and gorgeous lamps lighting the hallway. Everything she could see and probably things she couldn't. It was all the height of what Emma thought as "fine", as if made by angles and maintained by long dead geniuses of the arts. It was obvious everything was a masterpiece of art with a great value to humanity for what it represented. Everything was also incredibly expensive for sure and her primary school age little sister was running around it.

Emma wanted to die where she stood.

"Nora be quiet, you are disrespecting our host!" Exclaimed angrily Emma as she finally got ahold of herself.

"Please don't be angry with our young friend, after all it was I who invited her here," The deep baritone of a voice cut through Emma's half thought scolding as a hot knife through butter. For its owner was unmistakable to her ears.

"Mister Ainz!"

If before she was fearful now she was outright terrified. For it was not every day you see your abby sister run happily, arms fully extended, to embrace an undead abomination, be it their saviour or not.

"Hahaha, are you enjoying your visit so far?" Ainz asked Nora as he ruffled her hair affectionately.

"Yes! It is just as you told me, this place is amazing" Emma could almost see the sparks in her sister's eyes as she spoke.

"Yes, yes it is. That's because me and my friends built it while giving our all," Emma wondered what friends Lord Ainz was talking about but felt it was better not to ask. If he wanted to he would tell them.

"Sebas I can take it from here, please return to your tasks and thank you for fetching them for me, I know you are very busy," Spoke Ainz as he turned from Nora towards Sebas'.

"It is no problem Lord Ainz, I live to serve you," Answered the butler before bowing and leaving, though not before giving Emma one last encouraging smile.

"Now please follow me to my office so we can talk about the subject of our meeting. Nora I will offer you a tour after your sister and I are done with our work, meanwhile you can explore around here, someone will come look after you shortly."

"Lord Ainz I don't know if it's the best-" Tried to argue Emma but she was cut short by her little sister.

"Don't worry sis, Mister Ainz said it was ok. See you later!" And before Emma could do anything Nora ran off.

"If you are worrying about her safety please don't. I promise you on my name she will be kept as safe as possible and no one will dare lift a finger against her while she remains here," His tone was both serious and reassuring. Sadly it wasn't that what Emma worried about.

It's not about her safety! What if she breaks something? But she remained silent and just nodded, opting to be diplomatic with her hopefully very accommodating host.

They walked silently for a short while before Emma gathered enough courage to ask what she had been intending to.

"Lord Ainz if I may ask. When did you become so close with my sister?" Emma hoped she wasn't committing a faux pas or worst, insulting the undead lord. Yet her curiosity sometimes got the best of her.

"Ah, I assume she didn't tell you?" When nodded he continued "Ever since we meet during the unpleasantness of the 'camp' she has been talking with me whenever I visit the compound where you are staying. Your little sister is a brilliant child and her appreciation for Nazarick has been very refreshing to me."

Once again Emma just nodded. Surprised at how her little sister had somehow started a friendship with their boss without Emma ever finding out.

"But what about you? Are the facilities I supplied your people with enough? Do you perhaps require something else? What about the new arrivals?" Asked Ainz and while his tone remained unchanged Emma could feel real interest in his questions.

"Everything's fine and the new arrivals have been adjusting to the life there quickly enough. They are all happy to be away from the camps," Some three days ago a group of another fifty mutants had been teleported alongside that day's cargo. Emma had later learnt that they were rescued from a convoy of trucks moving them from one of the various detention camps to somewhere else. Thankfully all had agreed to abide by the same agreement Emma's fellow inmates had.

"That's good."

And with that the silent resumed. While Emma was just worried about saying something stupid or uncouth she felt that Lord Ainz had just chosen to. Alongside his regal bearing he also had an uncanny ability to only say what was worth saying. His words never wasted and always to the point.

And as the slowly walked through the impressive hallways, their footsteps echoing lightly as they moved under the light of lamps worth more than Emma's entire family line had made, she thought about her new lot in life. She still missed her parents and was not less stressed than before, but she also noticed something else. As she walked alongside the powerful being that was Ainz Ooal Gown, as she basked in his obvious power she realized that for the first time ina long time she wasn't afraid. There were no secret government agencies ready to take her away into the night, no work camps or cruel guards. She was truly safe.

Emma Edmond had long since stopped believing in heroes and villains. The world taking a darker shade of grey every day since she was first taken from her everyday life and forced into state sponsored torture. There was no knight in shining armor or good man in bright spandex ready to vanquish a delusional megalomaniac with a dumb theme trying to rob a bank or declare himself king of the world. The heroes were not there when she needed them and the villains were men in suits who had decided she wasn't worth treating as a human being because of circumstances of her birth. But she had now come to realize something, something that she hadn't before.

Maybe the good men in bright spandex weren't there to save her or her family when she needed them, but the megalomaniac with the dumb theme was.

Maybe they weren't so delusional after all.

AN: May change a little later on, posting now because I don't know whan I'll be able to later but I'm kinda tired.

AN2: I'm sure some of you dear readers may have noticed this chapter shares some similitudes with Enri's visit to Nazarick in canon. I would say that you are right and that was me pushing Emma's expy'ness of Enri but I would be lying.

I did think up Emma and Nora as Enri and Nemu expies respectively, but this chapter was finished before I even realised it was similar to that of canon Overlord. So either my subconscious betrayed me or this is just an incredible coincidence.

Regardless, enjoy