Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

Suzuki Satoru understood this principle even before he came to this world from the future. The unknown bosses encountered in YGGDRASIL, and the sudden PvP events without any prior information, were often more terrifying than any known challenge.

And now, Shalltear's betrayal is such an unknown.

No, he wasn't even sure if it was "betrayal".

Countless possibilities flashed through Ainz's mind.

Let's assume Shalltear is under mind control.

But she is completely immortal and should be completely immune to mental attacks.

If some force in this world could truly break through this immunity, what would that mean? It would mean that all the guardians of Nazarick, including himself, could face the same risk.

If Shalltear betrayed out of her own free will.

That makes the problem even more serious. What is causing her dissatisfaction? Her treatment? Her status? Or... has there been a crack in her faith in the "Supreme Being"? If it's the latter, will this dissatisfaction spread to other NPCs?

Each possibility points to a different way of coping.

He didn't even have the most basic information.

Unable to determine.

Unable to make a decision.

Unable to move.

Ainz slammed his fist into the wall beside him.

"boom"

A dull thud echoed in the room, and the exposed knuckles on the wall trembled slightly. Not from pain, but from a restlessness welling up from the depths of his soul.

"Lord Ainz!"

Albedo immediately knelt down.

The white dress skirt spread out on the cold ground, her forehead almost touching her knees, her posture humble and devout.

"Please calm down!"

Her voice was filled with genuine panic, and even trembled slightly.

"It is my incompetence that prevented me from keeping track of Shalltear's movements in time, causing Lord Ainz such worry. I assure you."

She raised her head, and something intense burned in her golden vertical pupils.

“I will definitely find Shalltear Bradfordren.”

Her voice was very low, and each word seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth.

"Then, kill her with your own hands."

When she said the word "kill," Albedo's lips curled up slightly, a hint of personal grudge in her expression.

Ainz noticed this keenly.

Shalltear and Albedo's relationship was never exactly harmonious. Ainz was not unaware of the competition between the Guardians, the struggle for Ainz's attention, the undercurrents of rivalry, and the verbal sparring.

Could this be the reason for Shalltear's rebellion?

Just as that anxiety was about to surge up again,

A cool sensation suddenly washed over Ainz's mind.

That was the forced calm of the undead.

Like a bucket of ice water poured over my head, it instantly froze all those surging emotions. Fear, anger, anxiety—all human emotions were suppressed, replaced by an almost mechanical rationality.

The dark red light in Ainz's eye sockets stabilized again.

He slowly withdrew his fist from the wall.

“No need for that, Albedo.”

Ainz's voice returned to calm, as if the punch had never happened.

He turned around and looked at Albedo kneeling on the ground, his golden vertical pupils still retaining a lingering fanaticism.

"Get up."

"Lord Ainz..."

Albedo hesitated for a moment, then slowly stood up, her gaze never leaving Ainz's face.

Ainz began to think.

First, it needs to be clear that the fact that Nicoled couldn't locate Shalltear is itself a piece of information.

If Shalltear's betrayal was not voluntary, but rather she was controlled by some force...

For example, things like "innate superpowers" or "martial arts skills" are unique to this other world.

These otherworldly powers were able to control Shalltear, who should be completely immune to mental attacks.

Therefore, it is reasonable that [innate special abilities] or [martial skills] can block Nicoleid's detection magic.

Ainz suddenly realized a problem,

He sent Shalltear to capture people who could use [martial arts], intending to learn about the [martial arts] of this world through her.

But now, Shalltear is gone.

If Shalltear's rebellion was caused by being hit by a special [martial technique] during her capture...

A faint red light flickered in Ainz's eye sockets.

He suddenly realized that he might have underestimated the world's martial arts from the very beginning.

Not the powers that are out in the open. Clementine's so-called "martial arts" that he claimed to have entered the "Hero's Realm" were nothing special in his eyes.

And those hidden martial arts techniques that are not recorded in any documents.

Perhaps this is the true power of this world.

Even Rune didn't expect that.

After Shalltear's betrayal, Ainz could not find her.

This series of chain reactions will cause Ainz Ooal Gown to become influenced by the martial arts techniques of this world.

Chapter 53 The Merciful Ainz

Ainz Ooal Gown stood on the cold ground of the Frozen Prison, the dark red light in his eye sockets flickering uncertainly.

Nicole had retreated to a corner of the room. Her face, devoid of lips, was expressionless, but her slightly lowered head and hunched shoulders silently spoke of her self-reproach and unease.

Albedo stood beside Ainz, maintaining a humble posture, but her golden vertical pupils were fixed on Ainz's face.

Ainz didn't look at them.

His consciousness was immersed in one deductive labyrinth after another.

If Shalltear betrayed them because of her dissatisfaction with the Great Tomb of Nazarick...

This assumption is like a sharp thorn, embedded deep within Ainz's thinking.

If that's the case, then she must no longer be within the kingdom's borders.

Ainz quickly processed the known information in his mind. Shalltear did not carry any anti-detection devices of legendary rank or higher, and her abilities alone should not be sufficient to deal with Nicoled's intelligence gathering.

Ainz had experimented with Nicoled's detection magic. At least within the kingdom's borders, she could find the target as long as it existed.

But if the distance is too far...

Ainz wasn't sure if her ability would still work, since many things in YGGDRASIL had changed since they came to this other world.

This means that if Shalltear betrayed the kingdom and fled to a distant land, it's possible that Nicoled wouldn't be able to find her.

Just then, a voice rang in his mind.

"Lord Ainz, I apologize for disturbing you."

It's Nabella.

The battle maid who remained in Yelantier spoke with her usual respectful voice, but with a hint of caution.

This abrupt call at this time ignited a nameless fire within Ainz.

"What's wrong, Narberal? Now?"

Ainz almost blurted out, "I'm busy," but stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence.

Because he remembered that he had interrupted Antema's message in the same way last night.

If I had listened patiently back then, perhaps I wouldn't be in such a passive position now.

The NPCs regarded him as the absolute ruler. Therefore, even if their judgment was wrong, they would still prioritize Ainz's words without hesitation. That's why Ainz had to remain calm and act as cautiously as possible to avoid making mistakes.

'For an ordinary person like me, this is truly an unreasonable request...'

Ainz chuckled to himself.

His flawed judgment and his instinctive tendency to regret things afterward were harmless when he was just an ordinary player in YGGDRASIL, but now, as the ruler of Nazarick.

What am I thinking?

Ainz said to himself.

'I am Ainz Ooal Gown. The ruler of Nazarick, the one who takes his name by the honorific title bestowed upon him by all. That's right, I am not Suzuki Satoru. Since I'm going to use this name, I must make the impossible possible.'

The dark red light in his eye sockets stabilized again.

"...No, it's nothing." Ainz calmed his voice. "What's wrong? Did you contact me via [message] because of an emergency?"

"Yes. Actually, it's the Adventurers' Guild that's looking for Lord Ainz."

"If it's about last night, ask them to wait a moment... no, wait. It must be something else, right?"

"Yes! Your Excellency is indeed very perceptive."

After saying that, Naberal suddenly became evasive. Silence lingered for a few seconds in the message connection, as if she were carefully considering her words, or perhaps hesitating about something.

Ainz did not urge him.

He waited.