Change in Heart

Since days, Ainz had left the city of E-Rantel and returned to Nazarick. It wasn't a relief in the slightest; in fact, it was quite the opposite. Once again, he found himself pursued by the NPCs wherever he went.

It wasn't necessarily a cruel predicament, but he longed for the days when it was just him and Narberal, finding comfort in their solitude. But he couldn't abandon his creations, as others had done. He resolved to stay and endure for their sake and preserve his memories.

As a portal opened before the throne, Albedo gracefully bowed as the entity who ruled over her entered the sacred halls. An imposing undead figure emerged, his gaze locking onto her before he gestured for her to rise.

She obeyed, and he reclaimed his seat upon the throne.

"My Lord." She addressed him.

"Albedo." He replied with a simple word. She yearned for a more passionate greeting, but she knew better than to push for further explanation.

"Has everything gone smoothly within the tomb so far?"

"Everything is as it should be, my lord." She assured him in a soft tone, briefly summarizing her work.

"Good. Now that I have returned from my short adventure, I will place someone else to play Momon." He informed her, but she seemed somewhat perplexed. "So let me introduce to you Pandora's Actor." With a wave of his hand, a portal opened to his right, and a figure clad in a yellow military suit entered. Albedo quickly noticed the distinctive mask adorning the being's face, a simple design with only three holes, two for the eyes and one for the mouth. It was unmistakably a Doppelgänger, as even his fingers counted less than five.

Ainz couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment as he observed Albedo's scrutiny of Pandora's Actor.

'Come on, he's not that bad.' He silently berated himself. However, as he thought this, the Doppelgänger executed a fluid, old-fashioned pose.

"Mein Führer! Mein Gebieter!" Pandora's Actor continued, striking various respectful poses that left Ainz overwhelmed by an inexplicable green aura. He thought to intervene, hoping to deter Pandora's Actor from this peculiar display, but it became evident that the Doppelgänger's programming was relentless. In the end, he could only blame himself, for he had included these eccentric motions into the Doppelgänger's programming.

'I take back what I thought. But what will Albedo think of him?' Ainz glanced back at Albedo, her expression an enigma to him.

He cleared his throat and began the introductions. "Albedo this.. this is Pandora's Actor. My.. Only creation."

The Doppelgänger turned towards Albedo, doffing his hat. "A pleasure to meet you, Guardian Overseer Albedo!" Once again, he embarked on a series of extravagant gestures and words that Ainz found increasingly difficult to endure.

"Likewise, Area Guardian of the Treasury." Albedo replied, maintaining a formal tone in response to Pandora's Actor's greetings.

"Good. Now that this has been done, let me tell you how Pandora's Actor is involved. As you know, I have created a persona called Momon, but I cannot always be Momon. Now Pandora's Actor here will replace me for most of the time, playing as Momon the Black. This allows me to even appear at the same place with him when some have gotten suspicious. Do you follow?"

Ainz provided a straightforward explanation, and Albedo nodded when asked.

"Now I understand it. Brilliant, my lord! As good as any plan you make."

"If this has been cleared, you can leave again for the Treasury, Pandora's Actor." Ainz motioned to an open space behind his creation, and another portal materialized. Before entering it, Pandora's Actor executed his distinctive poses once more.

"Then I say goodbye to my creator! And the beautiful Overseer Albedo!" Pose after pose, word after word, until he finally vanished through the portal.

'If something can kill me, then it is this guy hitting this stuff for hours in front of me. I'd rather leave existence than see my failure as an NPC creator than experience this discomfort. What did I think back then?!'

"Now that you met.. my creation. What do you think of him?" Ainz asked, hoping for an honest assessment of her feelings toward his creation. He was eager to learn how the other NPCs perceived and felt about the Area Guardian.

"He is your creation, and such made perfect. He seems genuine and loyal to you. That is all that matters in this tomb." Albedo replied without a hint of sarcasm or deceit. Ainz pushed to detect any lies, but she seemed to speak the truth.

'Please don't think this is perfect!' Ainz urgently pondered how to correct this misperception.

"Albedo, we created all inhabitants of Nazarick to have flaws, as someone who has none is no more interesting than a snail. Thus, you can live like you do now. With no flaws, nothing would be special, not even me." Ainz explained cautiously, and as he uttered the last sentence, Albedo reacted as expected.

"But, my lord! How can you not be perfect? You are the last Supreme Being, the ruler of Nazarick!" Albedo's eyes welled with tears at her master's self-deprecating remarks. Ainz but responded with a genuine chuckle.

"Let me explain it, Albedo. In reality, nothing is perfect, but the pursuit of it certainly is. You can always be better, and I would be a fool to think myself perfect. Wouldn't you like me to be even more powerful, wiser, or stronger?" Ainz's explanation prompted a shift in Albedo's perspective, and she certainly hoped for Ainz to continually grow stronger.

"I would never stop to wish such things for my lord! But I think I understand it now. We all should think to better ourselves and be able to look at our past selves and be able to see that we grew mentally or physically. Thank you for telling me, my lord." Ainz was taken aback by her rapid understanding. Albedo's intelligence was undoubtedly among the most exceptional in the tomb.

"You caught onto it quickly. Then you know what to do from now on." Rising from his throne, Ainz conjured a portal to his right for the final time, turning to Albedo to bid her farewell, at least for the moment.

"I will retire for my office. If you have something urgent that you need to tell me, message me. Until then, make sure anyone in Nazarick shares your thoughts, which I just told you."

"Of course, my lord."

With that settled, the Overlord exited the throne room and entered his office, where cleanliness was taken to a near-molecular level. Everything gleamed with an almost divine purpose to serve him. The immaculate state of the room, however, gave him a sense of unease. He wondered how long the maids must have worked to achieve such perfection but quickly brushed aside the thought.

'Goodness.'

Ainz searched for the staff he had left in the office but found nothing where he expected it, just empty space.

'What?'

He looked around, trying to find any clue where his staff went. But shortly after, he found it to be behind where he appeared.

'There you are. Did I put you here? I could've sworn I left you aside from the office table. Maybe I forgot about it. Nevermind!'

Summoning the staff into his hand, he felt its immense and daunting power the moment it touched his palm. Even before becoming a world item, it had possessed considerable might, but now it was something more. Yet his undead nature stripped away the pleasure seconds later.

'I could look at this staff for ages. To think of the time we spent to create it… It was worth it, and I wouldn't let it be taken away. But wait. Now it's indestructible, and only I can wield it.. Should I use it more openly? I mean, with it, nobody could really hurt me, even when I get surprised. And when I get low HP, I will automatically get teleported to the throne room because of its ability! It's only logical to always have it on my side. So it's decided.'

----------------------------------------------------------------

In a distant land where religion was put on the highest order, six people with the highest authority in their realm stood in a row. Behind them was a window portraying a religious symbol with different colored glass. It was a church, and inside were 7 people.

"You may report your mission, Captain of the Windflower Scripture." Intoned a bearded man, his visage marked by the wisdom of his middle years, his tone commanding respect.

"Everything went well but not flawless. We captured the former Black Scripture member Clementine and eliminated Khajiit of Zurrernorn." The man with the golden locks conveyed, attired in robes befitting a wielder of arcane arts. Throughout, he knelt before the six.

"Yet there is something else you found there? Is that right?" The same man posed a question he already knew the answer to, but sought confirmation from the captain himself.

"You are correct, Your Eminence. They used a boy, somewhat between the ages of 12 and 16, for their ritual. As we know, Clementine had stolen the Crown of Wisdom from the Theocracy, and it was for the purpose of using it on the boy." The captain disclosed, observing expressions of disbelief on some cardinal faces as if they questioned the integrity of his words. "It seems the boy has a talent that allows him to use any magical item, regardless of power."

Doubt lingered momentarily among the cardinals, with some displaying wonder, yet they swiftly regained their composure.

"Is this true, captain?" Inquired another cardinal garbed in red-lined robes, his voice marked by curiosity, tinged with skepticism. Such a talent was exceedingly rare.

"It is the truth. The boy has been inspected multiple times to be sure, and it seems his talent is legitimate. Yet his mind is lost because of the crown. He is but a doll now."

The cardinals appeared impressed by this find. If true, it would undoubtedly enhance the captain's reputation, further increasing his reputation.

"Such a person would be an important figure in our state." The Cardinal of Wind declared.

"Indeed, with his talent, he could be of great use." The Cardinal of Light concurred.

"Of that, we are sure. Then, captain. For your last order today, you may send the boy to the specialists so they can heal his mind but not his memory. Whatever life he once had, it ended when he put on that crown. Everything in order?"

"Yes, Commander." The captain replied, leaving the hall and sealing the door behind him, ready to fulfill his assigned duty. Meanwhile, the cardinals could discuss in private.

"This must be a gift from the gods, Raymond." Remarked Berenice, the Cardinal of Fire, breaking the silence.

"Indeed, it is. And I have something to propose. For the time being, I will be the guardian of the boy, guiding him on his path of servitude to the six great gods. If that is acceptable." Raymond offered a matter of great sensitivity, knowing that every cardinal had ambitions of nurturing the boy and basking in the ensuing glory. Yet Raymond's intentions were genuinely aimed at mentoring the youth.

"If there are no problems with that, then I shall take it as a yes." No cardinal voiced any dissent, recognizing that Raymond had already devised a plan for the boy.

"Then do we all agree that the boy will be put under standard training before he enters one of the scriptures as a disciple?" Raymond's query confirmed what the other cardinals had suspected. He had already prepared for the boy's future. Gradually, hands rose, sealing the resolution. The boy would be trained, come what may.

----------------------------------------------------------------

The sun descended, casting the earth in shadow as it began its journey into the underworld. While not everyone believed that, it offered the most likely explanation for their era. Yet, the sun did not set just once but numerous times until one boy slowly regained consciousness.

Initially, he sensed the return of his muscles, followed by the gradual awakening of his eyes. However, he withheld from opening them immediately. Only later did curiosity get the better of him, prompting him to study his surroundings. The first sight that greeted him was a wooden ceiling. Upon turning his head, he found himself within four walls, devoid of windows. Other individuals shared the room with him, and as he attempted to shift his gaze forward, a woman raised her finger at him. Soon, a group of armored men stood upon him, firmly restraining his movements.

A wave of shock coursed through him as they held him immobilized.

"Don't move too much! It will feel better soon!" The woman assured him as she approached with a sharp needle in hand. She secured his arm and attempted the injection. A slight pain accompanied the prick, but as the liquid coursed through his veins, it removed his anxiety. He gradually calmed down, taking in deep breaths.

"See! Everything's good now!" The woman reassured him with a warm smile. He now had a clear view of her: a fair-haired woman with blue eyes, attired in a uniform. "Oh, I'm Elise, if you wondered! And I'm here to help you get into shape!"

The boy remained perplexed, although the woman had done her best to put him at ease. She signaled for the guards to release him, allowing them to retreat to their positions, no longer intent on intimidating him.

"Where...Where am I?" He asked Elise.

"You are in the compartments of medicine, to be precise. You got mortally wounded, but we could save you somehow!" She replied, attempting to cast the situation in a positive light. However, her words only fueled his growing list of questions.

"But, I don't remember anything until now. Why?" He asked. Yet he should remember something, as he could speak and think. If he would remember nothing, then he should not know how to do these things, he thought.

"That's because you suffered a lethal head injury. Made you lose all of your memories. Tragic, but you are alive, and that's what counts!" Elise explained with an energetic tone, attempting to uplift his spirits.

"Then who am I? Or who was I?" He pressed for answers, but Elise had none to provide.

"Well, we don't know, really, but what we know is that you're gonna have a great life here. I can guarantee you that! You know why, because you have a talent!"

"A talent?" The boy asked, his confusion growing. He understood the concept of a talent but failed to grasp why it was so significant.

"Ah yeah, figures. Everyone possesses a talent from birth. And yours is pretty impressive, I was told. So we couldn't lose you at any point." Elise declared with enthusiasm.

"OK, I see you're still confused. Well, don't worry. We will meet someone who will teach you all you need to know and give you a new name at the church!" Elise suggested.

'A new name.' The boy mused. With no recollection of his old name or his past, he had no choice but to agree.

"What is a church?" He asked her.

"A church is a place where we worship the six great gods. There is the God of Fire, Earth, Wind, Water, Life and Death. It is because of them that humanity, we, have survived so long!" Elise explained.

The boy absorbed her words like a sponge, finding the gods she spoke of fascinating.

"Now, let's get ready. We don't want to keep anyone waiting." Elise said as she walked to a closet at the back of the room, retrieving a set of clothing.

"Here! Put these on before we go." She instructed, offering him the garments. He hesitated briefly, uncertain of how to proceed. Elise soon realized her mistake.

"Ok, wait, I'll put them on for you." She said, prompting him to stand. She carefully removed his old clothes and assisted him in donning the new attire. He now wore simple boots, pants, and a shirt. However, the most intriguing piece of clothing was the brown robe, evidently of high quality.

"This is the robe you received. It shows you're in the guardianship of Earth." She explained, as though she could discern his unspoken questions.

The boy remained confused but determined to find answers with time. With him properly clothed, they exited the room, traversing a labyrinth of corridors until they finally reached the surface. The first thing that caught his attention was the sun, its radiance causing discomfort to his eyes.

"That is the sun. It gives light to the day, and the moon brings light to the night."Elise explained, noting his curious gaze. "And it's not healthy to look directly into it as well."

Taking her advice to heart, he turned his attention to the surroundings. Eager to assist his understanding, Elise began explaining.

"This is a house, a place where people stay in. And this here where we are right now is a road, and this is where we walk." She gestured, pointing at various objects and places, gradually aiding his grasp. "C'mon, let's go to the church now."

Together, they proceeded down the road, surrounded by houses on either side. The boy observed the passersby, paying attention to those who stood out, etching their features into his memory.

As they neared their destination, a towering structure came into view, its height dwarfing the neighboring houses.

"What is that?" He asked.

"That? That is a tower, a very tall building that rages into the skies. It's the Tower of the Six, surrounded by the six churches. You'll see!" Elise replied.

Now, he understood the concepts of towers and churches, a minor but significant step in his journey of discovery.

Approaching the tower, six smaller yet equally imposing buildings appeared on his horizon.

'These must be the six churches.' He deduced, and he was correct. Each church catered to a particular god, with a central area where all the churches connected beneath the tower. It was there that the cardinals presided over ceremonies and other significant events. As he moved to enter the nearest church, a restraining hand halted his progress.

"Nah, sorry. We have to enter the Church of Earth. Come." Elise directed.

He followed her around, bypassing other churches until they reached their destination. Elise swung open the grand gate, and he stepped into the magnificent halls. The architecture left him in awe. Gold and silver mixed perfectly together to create an awe-inspiring scenery.

"I welcome you." A deep, masculine voice resonated, capturing his attention. He focused on the speaker, a man adorned in distinctive attire and an unusual hat. He assumed this man would bestow upon him a name, or so he thought.

"H-Hello." The boy responded, glancing behind him to see the door closing, but Elise was nowhere in sight. She had either remained outside or departed altogether. He then turned his attention back to the man before him.

"Don't be afraid, come." The man urged and the boy complied, approaching him and ascending a flight of stairs that separated them.

"I am the Cardinal of Earth, Raymond Zarg Lauransan. And you are here because you will be under my guardianship and receive a name from the gods, which I will give you. Are you ready?"

What a question. Was he ready? Did he know what ready was? Nothing was sure, but he simply nodded.

"Then come before me." The cardinal instructed.

The boy climbed the remaining steps, arriving in front of the cardinal, albeit at a lower height.

"Now, kneel on one foot. Simply lower yourself so that your left foot rests while the other keeps you up."

The boy followed the instructions as best he could. He observed the cardinal prepare an object containing a peculiar liquid, which he then applied to his finger. Approaching the boy, the cardinal touched his forehead, marking six distinct stripes.

"I bless thy with the water of the gods! May they guide you through pain and pleasure."

"With this blessing, I call upon the gods to gift you a name. And that name shall be… Helin Gaillard Lauransan! A new member of the Theocracy!" The cardinal proclaimed. The boy struggled to remember the name, finding it long and challenging to pronounce, yet he felt a void in him fill once the cardinal gave him a name.

"Now, Helain Gaillard Lauransan, I will guide you so you may not be confused as you are now. You will become a hero, a person who saves others from death, just as you were saved and brought back to life. This is your duty from now on, your duty towards humanity." The boy only looked at the man in awe. Somehow, he felt those words deep in his heart.

But as Ainz looked up, he only saw the beautifully formed sky on the 6th Floor.

'Wait, I wanted to do something just now!' He snapped out of his trance, teleporting to his office. He had long intended to monitor Shalltear's activities but had never found the opportunity. He had been preoccupied with navigating the complexities of the Tomb, relying on constant communication with Demiurge.

'Now, let's see what she's up to.' He retrieved a scroll, conjuring a mirror. However, the mirror remained blank.

'Could it be? But she's an ally? Wait. So anti-dincination attempts on allies still count as an attack? So not even that works. Huh.'

Now his plan was in ruin. But he really wanted to see what she was up to.

'Maybe I can just scry on one of her Vampire Brides?'

He made another attempt, tossing a scroll into the air. This time, a picture emerged, revealing the entrance of a cave.

'So they are inside that cave. That means Shalltear is as well.' He quickly deduced the situation. She was encroaching upon a camp inhabited by martial artists, and he could only hope she restrained herself. 'I won't look what's happening inside, or I'll trigger her anti-divination. Better to watch from out here.'

He kept looking around as a blue-haired man exited from another entrance. The look on his face was of a terrified man that has seen the bringer of death. It could only mean that Shalltear was responsible for this.

Minutes later, still, nothing happened.

Then, a group that appeared to be adventurers arrived on the scene. And just for a quarter of a second, he saw a blur coming towards them. For him, it only meant one thing. He quickly moved his vision towards the skies, where the clouds lay. From there, he could only see dots, but any closer, and he would trigger her anti-divination.

'That was close.' He thought. Then, he identified another group to the far west, situated on a plateau surrounded by trees.

'Who are they?' Questions multiplied in his mind. He worried whether they were aware of Shalltear's presence, although that seemed unlikely. Then, he witnessed it. An approaching red dot. He assumed it was Shalltear, but a yellow light materialized from the opposite side, forming a line before vanishing in a radiant burst.

"What?! No!" He exclaimed. Ainz attempted to zoom in closer, but the mirror shattered as he tried. Shalltear's anti-divination had been activated, confirming her continued existence.

{Lord Ainz?} Surprisingly, a message from Albedo reached his ears.

{What is it?} Ainz asked.

{Shalltear has rebelled against us.} She told him, and it only confirmed his suspicions.

{I know. Call all the guardians to the throne room.} Ainz instructed.

Far away where it had happened, the humans responsible only looked to see the sky shatter for a moment.

"What was that?" One member asked, curious about the weird sound.

"That is not important now! We have to bring Lady Kaire to safety!"