{Carne Village, two days later…}

The once small town of Carne had developed drastically in the last few years. With the emergence of the new Goblin army, thanks to Mayor Enri’s leadership abilities, Carne had grown into a sizeable city, surrounded by a tall stone wall, with many of its older structures replaced by more sophisticated homes and buildings.

While the Goblins had offered to build an elegant manor for the Bareares, but they had instead asked for a simpler house in the middle of the city. Nfirea had also asked for an expansive lab, similar to their old shop in E-Rantel, and he and his grandmother Lizzie began teaching a host of budding new alchemists from the area.

Lupusregina Beta, the Pleiades maid assigned to Carne, was always somewhere to be found, engaging in embarrassingly flirtatious talk with someone, usually Enri or Nfirea, or trying to put them in inappropriate situations.

It was almost sundown. Lupu was relaxing against the wall of the Bareare residence, waiting to eavesdrop on the couple’s intimate moments, which happened every night and would go on for quite some time. They were obviously doing so for the enjoyment, as no children had been produced yet.

Ah, it’s been a day-ish. I should prank ‘em again. I guess pain isn’t the only way to make people suffer. I don’t think our poor potion boy ever recovered from me tripping him yesterday. Absolutely hilarious! I think I can’t not laugh at him mashing his face into her boobs instead of kissing her like some fairy-tale prince! Enri was so embarrassed! Potion boy tried to act all genteel and embarrassed too, but one look at his trousers told a very different story, heeheehee! Maybe he’s into boobs! I should find a way to trick him into spanking her next, and see what happens.

Hm? [Message]?

“[Lupusregina Beta].”

“[Ainz-sama! Lupusregina Beta here, ready and willing]!”

“[Ah, good. Trouble is on the way from the Theocracy, again. Just a mile away to the south].”

“[Oooh, Ainz-sama! I will protect this village with my life]!”

“[I hope that won’t be necessary. Narberal and I will join you, in our adventurer disguises. Keep them safe, and form the back line in case any of the enemy decides to try and get behind us].”

“[I understand, Ainz-sama].”

“[Good. Are you in a place to easily get the four of them together? Also have the Redcaps accompany them as well, just for extra security].”

“[Yes, Ainz-sama. I’m keeping watch at their house. They’re all inside].”

“[Good. Remember. Don’t fight if you don’t have to. End Message].”

Sorry, lover-birds, needta cut your sexy times short.

{A few miles away, to the south…}

A dark shadow passed behind a stone, entering through a magic barrier, within whose bounds the Black Scripture gathered. Blazing Star and Strongest Human were back in action, and Certain Death, clad in ornate armor, carried her cross-shaped scythe with her. The shadow materialized. The Captain spoke.

“Heaven and Earth. Report.”

“Clueless. They haven’t any idea we’re here. We have them!”

“Good. Astrologer?”

“Heaven and Earth is right. They seem to be engaged in routine guard duty. No mustered troops in the streets or the like.”

“Excellent. Good work, Heaven and Earth. Astrologer. Veil Breaker, that scry-warding spell was invaluable. But we’re only just starting. Our goal is to do as much damage as possible to them, and then withdraw. Veil Breaker, can you encompass the whole city with a spell like this?”

“Yes, Captain, I can use [Widen Magic] to do so.”

“Good. Here’s the plan. Veil Breaker and Divine Chain will work together to sequester Carne. Divine Chant, use [Lesser Absorption], [Fly], [Regenerate], and [Haste]. Certain Death, Strongest Human, Blazing Star, and I will form the attack group. One-Man Army’s weaker summons, Thousand-Leagues Astrologer, and Heaven and Earth will be the recon group, ensuring no reinforcements from anywhere move without our knowing. Gloom Herald, Divine Chant, Myriad Barriers, One-Man Army himself, and Time Turbulence will form the support group, moving behind the main attack. Watch for teleporting foes, like Nabe. When Momon or Nabe appear, the attack group will converge on their locations, and attack all at once, with the support group to the rear. Momon is our priority target. There is no way he can fight all of us off at the same time. Time Turbulence, prepare to use your most potent chronurgy spells. If the undead or any of his monsters appear, we will retreat and Veil Breaker, Divine Chain, Certain Death, Gloom Herald, Myriad Barriers, and I will form the rear guard. Any questions?”

“Seems kinda boring… But this Momon still seems promising. I wonder if he’ll make me go all out. That would be so fun!” exclaimed Certain Death, beaming brightly.

“I sure as hell hope not,” muttered Myriad Barriers.

“I agree with Cedran. If Momon can force you to use your full strength, then we have a serious problem on our hands.”

“Well, this is a historic day! For the first time ever, Myriad Barriers and Gloom Herald agree on something!”

“Will you shut up, Veil Breaker? Nobody asked for your snark,” barked Myriad Barriers.

“Stop it, all of you. You’re acting like children,” said Quintia.

“I agree, Quintia-san. We have a mission to do.”

“Cap’n, just to be clear, what do we do with those who don’t fight? The geezers or the ankle-biters or-“

“That town is full of enemies. Every single person in that town is a dangerous enemy. Do you understand?”

“Y-Yes, Cap’n.”

{The Bareare residence, Carne Village…}

“Lupu-saaaaan! Of all the times you had to pick it had to be now?!” screamed Enri, her face pink with embarrassment. She held a blanket to cover herself. Nfirea, blushing madly as well, used the other part of the blanket for a similar purpose. Lupusregina had flung open their window, and she leaned in causally.

“Sorry to spoil your personal time, Enny-chan, Enfi-chan, but couldya grab Liz-chan and Nemu-chan and meet me just outside here? We have some… unwanted visitors…” Lupusregina darkened on that last word. “Momon-san will take care of them, and Ainz-sama will have you spend the night in Nazarick. No need to get dressed if you don’t feel like it.” She sounded just as cheery as before, smiling happily as she left. Enri and Nfirea looked at each other, quizzically.

In a few minutes, the family was gathered outside, the couple dressed. Lupusregina stood there, flanked by thirteen Redcaps who eyed her with heavy suspicion. But she smiled brightly at them. The light of the full moon shone down, casting the small city in a silver glow contrasted by shadows.

“I said before, boys, Ainz Ooal Gown-sama Himself has guaranteed their safety, and I’m just a messenger for Him, so stop fighting me on this! If you don’t trust me, fine, but at least trust Ainz-sama!”

“You said something about visitors here?” asked Lizzie before the Goblins could respond.

“I did, Liz-chan! And don’t worry, Momon-san will be along shortly to deal with them!”

“I thought Momon-san was up aways north? Wasn’t there a big announcement in E-Rantel about it?” asked Nfirea. Lupusregina shrugged.

“I heard he was in the Theocracy, so who knows? Besides, we can get our people to places real fast, so it doesn’t matter where they go.”

A [Gate] opened, and through it passed the black knight Momon and the spellcaster Nabe.

“Lupusregina-san, we’ll take over here,” said Nabe. The two adamantite adventurers headed off towards the main gate, as the portal closed behind them.

“Enny-chan, Enfi-chan… just cuz you’re out here doesn’t mean you have to stop your happy times.”

“Lupu-san?! What-no!” said Enri, highly embarrassed. Lupusregina laughed at the couple’s minor distress at her suggestion.

“I’m kidding, Enny-chan!” She turned her eyes to poor fatigued Nfirea, who was currently rubbing his eyes.

“Hey, Potion Boy! Is that a potion in your pocket or are you happy to see me? Heeheehaha!”

{The streets of Carne…}

Momon and Nabe walked down the street.

“[Fly].

[Magic Caster’s Blessing].

[Maximize Magic - Reinforce Armor].

[See Through].

[Sensor Boost].

[Indomitability].

[Mantle of Chaos].

[Penetrate Up].

[Maximize Magic - Greater Magic Seal].

[Triplet Maximize Boosted Magic – Electrosphere]. Any further combat spells I should cast, Ainz-sama?”

“No, Nabe. That should suffice, especially with your Mana Siphon not yet used. I don’t expect you to use all your mana here anyway. Now, strategy-wise, take the back line. I don’t want you getting too mixed up with the martial classes.”

“I understand, Ainz-sama. I assume we will be fighting the Black Scripture?” asked Nabe.

“Probably. They seem the best the Theocracy has to offer.”

“I apologize that there is no further information I have to offer about their strength in combat, Ainz-sama. Pandora’s Actor-sama would have more information, but he is still missing. Despite my unacceptable ignorance, I will give my all to protect You, Ainz-sama. If I do not lose my life here, then I will take it afterwards for my inability to properly serve you.”

Momon, stopped, turned to face Nabe, reached with his hand, placing it tenderly on her shoulder. She looked at it anxiously, half-fearing Albedo’s reaction should she find out, half-craving her envy at the same time.

“No, Narberal. You shall live. I command it. I will personally help you to develop and improve in every respect if you truly feel inadequate. If there is anything I can do to help you, I will do it. I promise to you and all of Nazarick, that if you wish to improve, I will help you.”

“Nazarick needs servants who are competent and loyal to you, Ainz-sama. I have proven that I am neither. When I journeyed with Pandora’s Actor-sama, I questioned Your motives and Your plans, two things I could not even begin to fathom. I had no right to question anything You have planned. I have betrayed all of Nazarick, Ainz-sama, by word and by thought. I’m worse than Shalltear, Ainz-sama. I betrayed Nazarick of my own free will…”

Momon put his other hand on Nabe’s other shoulder. She looked up; her beautiful face darkened with a shadow of shame. “Narberal Gamma. No. You’ve done nothing wrong by asking questions. I think there is no better service to Nazarick than the desire for knowledge and understanding. That is why we hold back before the enemy now. To gather information about their true strength. Now one thing you need to improve on is telling the difference between fact and fiction. That nonsense I mentioned about the ‘Sieve?’ Ha! I made that up on the spot. You see, Pandora’s Actor was never with you when you asked that question.”

Nabe processed the new information, before shutting her eyes and looking down again.

“Not only did I question You and Your plans, but I did so in Your presence. Ainz-sama. I have wronged You even more than I initially thought. There are humans here more useful to you than I. I do not deserve to even exist in Your-“

“Narberal. Stop it. I already told you. You haven’t done anything wrong. Listen to me. If you take your life, do you know what that would mean? There would be an emptiness in Nazarick, and that void would hurt me more than a thousand failures and questions. Again, you will live. I want you to live.”

Nabe’s voice cracked. “A-Ainz-sama… Ainz-s-sama…” The tears flowed openly. “Why? Why do you love me so much when I fail You again and again?” she whispered. “I can’t measure up to anything useful to You, and yet You would have me guard You in battle. My sisters envy me for being under Your direct supervision. More so, You commanded me to retreat and leave You in the Theocracy alone! Why?”

“‘No greater love hath man than this, than to lay down his life for his friends.’ That was an old proverb me and my comrades used often. I think my friends are gone for good. But I have you and everyone in Nazarick, and you are all more to me than friends. You are my Children. What wouldn’t I do to keep you safe and happy? I told the Floor Guardians this, and so I tell you. I can destroy and rebuild the Great Tomb of Nazarick, but I could never replace any of you if you were permanently destroyed. If I lost even one of you, that would be a dark day in Nazarick. For then I would have lost the last trace of one of my friends. I cherish each and every one of you, including you, Narberal Gamma, and I will allow nothing to put any of you in danger. I forbid you to take your life if you deem yourself a failure. Instead, remember everything I just said to you because every word of it was true.”

Nabe said nothing. The moon hid away behind gathering clouds, and a gentle breeze picked up. Pit. Pat. Pit Pat. Pitpatpitpatpitpat. The rain fell from the sky, softly. Nabe’s silent tears, also falling, mingled with the water droplets that hit the ground. Momon pulled Nabe close to embrace her as she wept for joy.