Chapter 18: Failure

To obey, to abide by, to be ordered; all things a servant must do. When servant doesn't do them, it is a failure. A failure is unacceptable, perhaps more so to the servant, it means to misplace the trust of their master. A failure is therefore the worst possible outcome, just like in many other relationships. For a servant who serves their gods, a failure is worse than death.

A weak skeleton that was birthed in such an insignificant tomb, praying to its lord. A slave that served their master. A devotee to their god.

Failure is to become useless, even if for a moment, it is to become useless. A useless servant is no servant.

Atlas was birthed from the tomb, becoming a skeleton warrior. A warrior that knew little of his gods. Atlas would remain nameless until he became strong, bringing honour to his tomb. But what was the tomb without its gods? Atlas became thankful to his gods for the brothers he had and the tomb that he protected. Soon his thankfulness became zealous devotion, a deep connection. The skeleton became spiritual in his own way, almost like a cultist to their demon lord. But this devotion was not undeserved, for Atlas had suffered no mind control or manipulation, he just wanted to serve the ones that had given him so much.

The skeleton was thankful, so who could say he was a slave. He was never forced, he always wanted to do what was best for his tomb. He was never enslaved, he was nurtured. The skeleton was never controlled, he only wanted to return kindness for devotion. Loyalty meant honour, a skeleton's honour was only second to their gods.

Atlas sacrificed his sanctity of body, to serve his god. He never regretted it, but found it incredibly difficult. He hated the experience, but carried through to serve his master. But this was nothing, loyalty was to die for one's master, or so he thought.

True loyalty is to live for one's master.

But even so, Atlas would come to realise that he is but nothing. He was not directly created by a Supreme One, yet disrespected their creations. This was blasphemy, so what was he? A heretic? No.

He loved his gods, but sometimes a servant can make a mistake. But a mistake is failure, failure is worse than death.

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Present:

"I will execute this trash."

Atlas dashed forth to his opponent to slam directly into a table, destroying it in an instant. He turned to Narberal to see his opponent holding a dagger to her throat.

"I can't cast magic!" She yelled.

"SHUT UP GIRL!" The man shouted.

The man turned back to Atlas.

"Don't take a step forward, otherwise this one dies."

"The mission comes first, I will do whatever it takes to complete the mission." Atlas responded.

"My creator, Nishikienrai, would be shamed by my performance, I am sorry." Narberal spoke.

"Nishi...ki...en...rai?"

Atlas trembled to his knees as he heard the name. Was Narberal Gamma perhaps created by a Supreme Being? Atlas had disrespected her and had been rude in her presence, when she was in fact a gift from the gods. Did Atlas just disrespect a deity?

"No... no... NO!!!" Atlas shouted.

Narberal looked at him in a confused expression, ignorant to what was going on in the skeleton's mind.

"Letting her die is to betray the gods." Atlas spoke in a completely dark stone cold voice.

He turned towards his opponent yet again.

"To permit heresy, is to betray the Supreme Beings." He spoke.

"To let a creation of the Supreme Beings die, is to spit in the faces of my gods."

"To let you live is blasthemy."

Narberal started to understand what Atlas was thinking after he had said this, but was slightly dissatisfied that he only placed value on her for being a creation of the Supreme Beings.

"Do you not view me as a person?" She asked.

"You are forever higher than me, I will sacrifice myself if necessary." He spoke.

"What if I wasn't made by a Supreme Being?"

"Then he would already be dead." Atlas responded.

"Ainz-sama can revive you, but you are a near Supreme existence, letting you die would be blasphemy." Atlas spoke.

"This is my duty, my resolve."

"HAHAHAHAH!!! SKELETON WILL YOU NOT SHUT UP??! I CAN KILL HER IF I SO-"

SLASH SLASH SLASH

"Executioner art: At All Costs."

Atlas fell to the ground, lifeless. Having failed his primary mission, he killed the target, but was unsuccessful in infiltrating the enemy organisation. He had failed, but protected a treasure. But this was still failure, his death was filled with regrets. A Supreme Being wouldn't revive an insignificant servant such as him, it was best to end his story with a service, no matter how small it was.

"Fool..." Narberal spoke as she dropped to the floor in shock.

"Such devotion..." She looked to the static skeleton, and a small tear of respect came out of here right eye.

————

One Day later:

The deep abyss opened, and Atlas witnessed himself in a room full of unfamiliar faces. He was able to spot Ainz and the Pleiades in the small crowd.

"Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, What happened to me?" He asked.

"..." [What do I say?] [if I tell him I revived him, than he will just throw his life away again like last time!][I need an excuse!]

"I did not revive you, even if you had died, my magic can't bring you back since you still lack power." Ainz spoke.

"Narberal Gamma saved you from the brink of death by using all of here MP to keep you stable. You may thank her." Ainz said.

Narberal was shocked by what Ainz had said, but did not say a word.

"Why would she save someone as insolent as I? I deserve death." Atlas said as he knelt down.

"Nonsense! You have served Nazarick well! It was my fault for not asking for information regarding the target's magic items. I forgive you." Ainz announced.

"But I disrespected a creation of the Supreme Ones!"

"You have learnt from this mistake, do not do it again." Ainz said.

"I do not deserve such mercy! How can I ever repay this grace!??!" Atlas shouted.

"Live."

"Nazarick needs warriors as devoted as you." [Seriously? I wish these types weren't so self-sacrificing. He literally only lasted 2 days!]

"But I do not deserve to come out of here unpunished." Atlas spoke.

Ainz drew a ring out of thin air, the ring had a stone on it. The stone was half red and half black, being a jewel that wouldn't appear in nature.

"Then wear this." Ainz spoke as he tossed the ring to Atlas.

"Whenever you are outside in public, you must wear this ring on your left index finger. It is enchanted with the false life spell. Should you take it off, the spell will be dispelled." Ainz spoke.

"This will be your punishment until further notice."

"By the way, do not worry about the false life I already used on you. It was dispelled when the 'body' was 'killed'."

Atlas bowed down to Ainz and the surrounding figures began to speak to Ainz regarding other issues.

"May I ask, Why did you deceive that lesser servant, Ainz-sama?" Narberal asked.

"He is much to reckless, if he knows I am willing to revive him, he will just die again." Ainz spoke.

"Acknowledged, Ainz-sama."