The Alliance
The Tomb of Nazarick unfolded before Nico's eyes like a master artist's finest creation. Each floor burst with such exquisite detail that it felt almost alive—gardens where flowers danced with impossible colors, halls where shadows themselves seemed to bow in reverence. Yet in his heart, nothing could ever surpass what the World Item had manifested from the Umbrella Corporation team's blueprints—their collective dream given form and substance.
"Any chance you'll get me out of these cuffs?" Nico asked, jangling the metal restraints with a theatrical lift of his hands. The metallic clink echoed through the corridor. The girls had insisted on this charade despite knowing full well he could snap the bindings like twigs. He played along, amused by their pretense of security.
The maid with glasses whirled around, her eyes flashing daggers behind crystal lenses.
"Okay, fine. Safety and all that crap," Nico sighed dramatically, dropping his hands with a clatter and fixing the maids with a look of exaggerated boredom that masked his analytical gaze.
Ainz's NPCs possessed a cunning that bordered on frightening. Not a single slip of the tongue, not one morsel of valuable intelligence accidentally revealed despite knowing the immense power that coursed through his veins. They communicated in the most subtle ways—a flicker of an eyelash, a twitch of a finger, the briefest tensing of shoulders—orchestrating a silent symphony of secrets kept.
"So these are your rooms... I'm kind of jealous," Nico remarked, his eyes lingering on the ornate doors guarding each NPC's private sanctuary. He could almost feel the plush embrace of those sumptuous king-sized beds through the walls, a cruel contrast to the rickety, spine-tormenting bunks he'd been suffering on.
"Uhh, Deborah. If any of you are skilled in making beds... kindly make me a soft mattress and pillows," Nico requested through the vibrant network of the Hive Mind, his mental voice tinged with hopeful anticipation. Finally, something to look forward to besides aching joints and restless nights.
"We'll try, Creator," Deborah's voice echoed back, warm but uncertain, as she mentally surveyed their collective skills for anyone with needle and thread expertise.
"Thank you, Deborah." Gratitude bloomed genuinely in Nico's thoughts—not for some grand display of power or loyalty, but for this small comfort they were willing to craft just for him.
Nico withdrew from the humming energy of the Hive Mind as the massive doors of the Throne Room loomed ahead. The heavy panels swung open with an ominous groan, revealing Ainz hunched forward on his majestic throne, anxiety radiating from his skeletal form despite his inability to sweat. The succubus—Albedo—glided forward with inhuman grace and sank to one knee, her movement fluid as silk on water. The other maids cascaded into matching positions like falling dominoes, trying to drag Nico down with them, but he stood firm as a mountain against their pressure.
Ainz raised a bony hand, the gems in his rings catching the light like trapped stars. The gesture halted the formalities instantly. The succubus floated to his side while the maids reluctantly scattered to the edges of the room, their displeasure a palpable cloud in the air. Nico flashed a defiant grin and flexed his wrists, shattering the cuffs with a satisfying crack that echoed through the chamber.
"Nico? Isn't it too early for your attack... and alone at that?" Ainz's voice resonated with a teasing lilt that belied the tension crackling between them, seeing his rival standing boldly before the throne without a single guard at his back.
"No, not for an attack. I came here to solidify our alliance," Nico declared, the words feeling like glass in his throat as his pride screamed in protest. His eyes locked onto Ainz's empty sockets, and he forced his lips into a disarming smile.
"Alliance? I'm afraid we've never discussed such matters. I only recall you postponing our inevitable war, as you mentioned," Ainz countered. Though his fleshless face showed nothing, the intensity of his unseen gaze bored into Nico like a physical force.
"What? Don't pay any attention to that," Nico laughed with deliberate lightness, waving away the words like troublesome insects. "You see, I've been thinking. If you are here, it means there are other formidable beings out there." He noticed the maids bristling at his choice of words, their glares sharp enough to cut diamond.
"So, what do you propose? I'm sure the mighty Umbrella Corporation is too afraid of a fight," Ainz's voice dripped with mockery, intended to sting Nico's pride. The barb glanced off as Nico merely shrugged, the gesture deliberately casual.
"Well... yes and no," he answered with unexpected candor, his gaze drifting to the intricate patterns on the floor tiles. "I'd fight all necessary battles, but I'd prefer to fight them alone. I don't want to risk my children in combat." His voice dropped to a register heavy with emotion, the weight of responsibility crushing as a mountain.
These children—these precious creations—embodied the dreams, sweat, and blood of every Umbrella Corporation member. If they were wiped out in conflict, the void left would be bottomless, with nothing to remember their creators by except an aching absence.
"I'm sure you understand that our friends' creations aren't just disposable pawns; they're treasures to protect," Nico asserted, conviction blazing in his eyes.
"Honestly, if my children were willing to be locked up and protected forever, I'd gladly do it," he added with a flash of gallows humor. A rumbling chuckle escaped Ainz before disappearing like smoke caught in a sudden draft—his emotional suppression kicking in.
"I understand your perspective, so I will consider your wishes," Ainz replied, his affected aristocratic tone grating on Nico's nerves. Still, Nico recognized the necessity of the charade before the watchful NPCs, their devotion as palpable as the air they breathed.
"I want to form an alliance. It doesn't have to be a full agreement if you prefer. However, if we ever encounter someone as powerful or even more powerful than us, I would like to have you by my side in battle," Nico proposed, determination hardening his voice. He would move mountains, bargain with devils, do whatever necessary to ensure his children's safety in this strange new world.
"I accept," Ainz declared, the simple words exploding like thunder in the hushed room. The maids gasped in unison, the sound like startled birds taking flight. "However, as you mentioned, a full alliance can be refused. We will enter a partial alliance, helping each other with our issues but without exchanging information, as betrayal may still lurk in your mind." The girls exhaled in collective relief as Nico's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"That's fine with me. If you don't need me now, I'll take my leave," Nico said, pivoting on his heel with military precision. Before he could take a step, Ainz's commanding voice froze him in place.
"If it wouldn't be a bother, it seems we already have a problem on our hands," Ainz announced, the words heavy with implied urgency. Nico spun back, eyebrows arched in silent question.
"One of my Floor Guardians is under a mind control spell," Ainz revealed, the admission hanging in the air like poisonous smoke. "It's Shalltear Bloodfallen, a vampire." The disclosure of her name—a valuable intelligence asset—spoke volumes about Ainz's desperation or his calculated risk.
"But she's undead, right? From what I remember, she has immunity to mind control," Nico countered, memories crystallizing from his days poring over the Yggdrasil wiki, hunting any advantage.
"Yes, we're also considering the possibility that she has revolted," Ainz admitted, a flash of desolation in his voice before it vanished beneath the surface of his emotional suppression.
"Well, there are new forms of magic in this world. Are you sure Shalltear hasn't been influenced by them?" Nico suggested, empathy coloring his tone. The mere thought of one of his own children turning against him, their minds twisted by outside forces, sent ice through his veins.
"Albedo?" Ainz turned to the succubus, who still fixed Nico with a glare that could wither flowers.
"I do not know," Albedo answered crisply, her melodious voice clipped with tension. "However, it does not change the fact that she has revolted."
Nico felt the weight of watching eyes and glanced back to find the two maids studying his every movement with predatory focus. Discomfort prickled along his spine. He cleared his throat with deliberate loudness, capturing Ainz and Albedo's attention before awkwardly gesturing toward his unwanted audience. Ainz inclined his skull in understanding.
"Leave us for now, Yuri, Lupusregina," Ainz commanded, his tone allowing no argument. The maids lingered just long enough to exchange one final, charged look with Nico, who responded with a mischievous, taunting grin before they swept from the room with barely suppressed reluctance.
"Continue, Albedo," Ainz prompted, returning to their interrupted discourse.
"I propose we send a hunting party after her immediately," Albedo declared with fierce determination. "I will lead our forces, with Cocytus and Mare as vice-commanders."
"Given Shalltear's strength, this much is necessary," she added, her thorough analysis of her rival's capabilities evident in her confident strategy.
"No, I feel we're being too hasty," Ainz countered, his caution a counterweight to Albedo's aggressive certainty. "We must explore all avenues before committing to action."
"If you don't want to send your children, I can face your Floor Guardian instead," Nico offered boldly. "This would prove beyond doubt that I harbor no treachery."
"No, I don't trust you to handle my NPC right now, Nico," Ainz declined bluntly. Nico sensed Ainz's invisible smirk, as if he'd anticipated the offer as a ploy. "First, we need to confirm her reasons for revolting."
Nico opened his mouth to respond when a familiar voice shattered the tense atmosphere. His heart plummeted as he spun around to see Daniela charging toward him like a missile locked on target.
"What are you doing here?!" Nico demanded through the Hive Mind, his mental voice thundering with bewilderment. How had she not only discovered his location but breached all of Nazarick's formidable defenses?
"I was tasked by my mother to deliver items to Lucas for making Vârcolacs, since Bela would likely stay with him. I saw you fly away, so I delivered the items first and then followed you," Daniela explained with infuriating casualness, triggering another mental facepalm from Nico.
"It seems our ally is gathering reinforcements! We must end them here now, before they call more!" Albedo's accusation sliced through the air as she summoned her weapon with a flash of magical energy, its edge gleaming with deadly promise.
"Forgive me, Ainz. Please don't misinterpret this. It's just... my daughter here is overly protective!" Nico forced the words through a clenched-teeth smile as his fingers dug into Daniela's shoulder with enough pressure to make her wince.
"If you don't mind, my daughter Daniela will be staying with us for now, as it's too dangerous to send her back home alone," Nico added smoothly, yanking Daniela into a one-armed hug that was more restraint than affection before she could trigger an international incident.
"Stay quiet, don't touch anything, and don't you dare start a fight," Nico commanded through the Hive Mind, his mental voice crackling with barely contained fury. Daniela's slight nod was the only acknowledgment of his order.
Ainz cleared his nonexistent throat with an audible rumble. "As I was saying, if she betrayed us because she's dissatisfied with me or our treatment of her, I can understand." His voice carried a note of genuine concern for his creation's happiness.
"Who betrayed whom?" Daniela chirped with the innocent curiosity of a child stumbling into adult conversation. Nico's smile was strained as he answered.
"Ainz's floor guardian, Shalltear Bloodfallen, is a vampire," he explained, watching in horror as Daniela's eyes ignited with excitement. Before he could react, she dissolved into a swarm of buzzing flies, slipping through his grasp like water and darting straight for Ainz.
Albedo was in mid-rant about executing anyone who dared find fault with Ainz's treatment when both she and her master were startled by Daniela's sudden materialization at Ainz's side.
"You have a vampire? Can I see her? I never thought there would be more of us!" Daniela's question bubbled with childlike enthusiasm, drawing a deep sigh from Nico. Ainz stared at her, his curiosity practically radiating from his skeletal frame.
"Is she a vampire? Nico?" Ainz inquired, prompting an awkward, strained laugh from him. Though not a true vampire by definition, he'd incorporated that flavorful twist into her character design for dramatic effect.
"Well... she is. Do you remember Alcina? Daniela is her daughter," Nico explained, watching as Ainz's reaction manifested in a grunt that vibrated with an emotion quickly suppressed—an emotion that nearly triggered Nico's own laughter.
"Ah, yes! The vampire with the curves!" Ainz exclaimed, his voice colored with vivid recollection of Alcina's statuesque proportions. Their guild had nearly suffered a catastrophic defeat when Ainz became too captivated by her appearance to focus on combat.
"Please don't speak of her like that when Daniela is present," Nico warned, noting the dangerous glint in Daniela's narrowed eyes as she glared at Ainz, who hastily backpedaled with an apology. Glancing back, Nico caught Albedo's expression morphing into undisguised jealousy.
"Who is that vampire? I demand you tell me immediately!" Albedo's voice cracked like a whip as she jabbed an accusing finger at Nico, her instincts alerting her to another potential rival for Ainz's affections.
"She is not your concern, trust me," Nico assured her, his tone deliberately light. "She needs hemoglobin, not calcium," he quipped, referencing Alcina's blood disease that necessitated her unusual diet.
The tension in the room ebbed and flowed like a tide as Nico once again secured his hold on Daniela, determined to prevent any further impulsive actions that might shatter their nascent alliance like fine crystal.
"Calm down, Albedo," Ainz instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument. He turned to Nico, ruby pinpoints of light shifting in his eye sockets. "Your race is immune to these kinds of things, right?" The question betrayed his search for protection methods for his vulnerable children.
"Yes, indeed we are," Nico confirmed with undisguised pride, absolute confidence in their inherent resistance to such manipulations.
The Hive Mind was simply too dispersed, too interconnected for any single spell or artifact to dominate. Yet the truly terrifying possibility lurked like a shadow—if something ever managed to breach those defenses, every connected member would fall like dominoes.
"Your race? Aren't you the same as us?" Albedo's question hung in the air as she studied them both with renewed intensity. Nico's laughter echoed off the high ceiling as he transformed his hand into a gleaming, wickedly sharp blade with a thought.
"We may not be human, but we're definitely not heteromorphic. We're a secret race, unknown to humans and others, and we prefer to keep it that way by blending in," Nico elaborated, channeling the Mold's power to reshape his entire body into a perfect mirror of a male incubus.
He quickly clamped his hands over Daniela's eyes, shielding her from his transformed appearance. Albedo's fascination was palpable as she took in every detail, while Nico detected Ainz's internal amusement at Albedo's barely concealed reaction to witnessing the male counterpart of her own species.
"But we'll discuss what we are later," Nico concluded, his body flowing like liquid back to its original form before he removed his hands from Daniela's sight.
"I'd like to know if that immunity to brainwashing could be passed to the Floor Guardians?" Ainz inquired, his concern for Solution, Sebas, and others who might face similar threats evident in his voice.
"We can... but that would strip them of their magic," Nico revealed, watching as Ainz predictably rejected the suggestion. Without their magical abilities, they would be as vulnerable as newborns to countless dangers—including the Umbrella Corporation's formidable arsenal.
"As I was saying, the personalities of your NPCs were crafted by my old comrades. All of your good and bad qualities were shaped by their hearts. I love you all because of that," Ainz declared with unexpected tenderness, his words clearly intended to ensure Albedo wouldn't harbor resentment toward Shalltear despite her apparent betrayal.
"I love you all equally," Nico echoed through the Hive Mind, his sentiment rippling outward not merely to Daniela but to every connected member of his extended family.
Daniela's face illuminated with joy as she threw her arms around him in a fierce embrace. Nico gently stroked her hair, hoping that all who heard his declaration felt the warmth of their Creator's boundless affection.
Ainz continued elaborating his theories regarding Shalltear's behavior, but Albedo seemed entranced by a single word, repeating it with increasing fervor: "Love." Nico fought the urge to groan aloud, recognizing a similar intensity of attachment among his own children, especially the three sisters with their sometimes suffocating devotion.
"Love! Love! Love! Love!" Albedo's chant escalated in volume, her eyes fixed on Ainz with such blazing adoration and desire that the air itself seemed to heat around her. Sensing the impending situation, Nico swiftly covered Daniela's eyes again.
"Hey, Albedo. Everyone! I said that about everyone!" Ainz clarified desperately, his voice rising in pitch as Albedo's emotional state intensified visibly.
"B-But you love me as well! Isn't that right?" Albedo pressed, closing the distance between them with predatory intent, hanging on his next words as if they were oxygen.
"U-Uh, w-well, that's true," Ainz stammered, clearly anticipating—and dreading—the inevitable reaction to his admission.
Albedo whirled away with such speed her hair fanned out behind her, a high-pitched squeal of pure ecstasy erupting from her lips at Ainz's confirmation—though his paternal intent was clearly lost in her romantic interpretation. Nico watched the spectacle unfold with barely suppressed amusement, maintaining his protective barrier over Daniela's innocent eyes.
"N-No... l-like I said..." Ainz's attempt at clarification drowned beneath Albedo's rapturous exclamations.
"Lord Ainz! Me... Me...!" Albedo continued, basking in the radiant glow of what she perceived as Ainz's declaration of romantic devotion.
Ainz caught Nico's eye with a subtle gesture. "It seems Albedo will be spouting nonsense for a while... so, if you want, both of you can stay in the guest rooms." His offer carried a note of resigned embarrassment.
"Sorry, but I have some pressing matters to attend to at home," Nico declined politely, finally removing his hands from Daniela's eyes as the situation appeared to stabilize.
"Well then... I'll just contact you when we actually have a plan," Ainz proposed, opening his friend's tab with a gesture and sending Nico a request with a shimmer of magical energy.
Nico's eyebrows shot up in surprise—he'd completely forgotten that Yggdrasil's interface functions remained operational in this world. He quickly accessed his own friends tab and accepted Ainz's request with a tap.
"See ya!" Nico called, as Ainz conjured a swirling portal outside the Tomb with casual ease. A flash of envy sparked in Nico at Ainz's convenient teleportation abilities compared to his reliance on the more mundane elevator system.
Once outside in the cool night air, Nico's grip on Daniela's shoulders tightened like iron bands. She shrank into herself, recognizing the storm brewing behind his controlled expression.
"Are you mad?" she asked, her voice small and uncertain, clearly uncomfortable under the weight of his penetrating gaze.
"Yes, I'm both angry and proud," Nico admitted, his voice a complex mixture of emotions. "I'm angry that you risked your life and endangered the entire Virus race by putting yourself out there. But I'm also proud that you would take that risk just to watch over me." His arms enfolded her in a sudden, fierce embrace that made Daniela squeal with surprised joy.
"Don't celebrate yet. You still have to deal with your mother," Nico warned, his words instantly dousing her enthusiasm like ice water.
"But... I risked my life just for you, right?" Daniela pouted, her expression clouding at the prospect of another marathon lecture on responsibility and proper protocol.
"No buts. Even though I'm extremely proud, what you did was irrational and might've endangered us all," Nico insisted firmly, magnificent wings erupting from his back in a spray of energy before unfurling to their full impressive span. He launched skyward with powerful strokes, Daniela trailing behind with her lower lip still protruding in stubborn protest.
As their base materialized on the horizon, Nico noted with satisfaction that the outermost defensive wall stood complete, an imposing barrier of strength and security. The fortress, nestled among protective mountain ranges, offered only one point of access—the heavily fortified main gate standing like a sentinel at the front.
"Now, Daniela. I want you to know I'm still proud of what you did, but please don't act solely on your feelings. I'll let it slide just this once," Nico conceded, his tone softening as he decided on leniency.
After all, Daniela had accomplished the remarkable feat of flying from Umbrella Corporation to Ainz Ooal Gown, navigating all the treacherous floors, likely evading countless vigilant guards and deadly obstacles... exhaustion must be claiming her now.
"Now, go back to the Twelfth floor and get some well-deserved rest. I have a surprise for you tomorrow," Nico promised, his voice brightening with genuine warmth. Daniela's eyes lit up like stars as she darted away toward her quarters with renewed energy.
"Creator, the walls are finished, and the blueprints for the trading house are complete. Shall we begin construction?" Neil reported crisply through the Hive Mind, his assigned task of building the trading post evidently progressing well.
"Sure. And tell Pedro to build a wall in the middle. I'd like my workers to have their own living spaces," Nico added thoughtfully, determined to ensure his tireless J'avos would have proper facilities for rest, given their unceasing labor.
"Very well, Creator," Neil acknowledged before withdrawing from the Hive Mind to begin work immediately, despite the late hour, painting the sky in midnight hues.
"I need to speak with Alcina and Duke. They're the most knowledgeable about trade," Nico mused aloud, mentally sketching plans for the business's inevitable success.
"Well... we have other brilliant business minds. Ricardo Irving, a black market dealer. Excella Gionne, a businesswoman. Javier Hidalgo, cartel owner," Nico enumerated, his expression darkening into a frown.
"Not exactly moral businesspeople. But at least they're professionals in their fields," he admitted reluctantly, skepticism clouding his thoughts about employing former drug dealers and bio-weapon merchants to manage legitimate trade—the risk of them establishing their shadow organizations loomed large.
"Well... I'm tired. Let's address this tomorrow," Nico decided with finality, his footsteps echoing down the corridor as he entered his room in the scientists' barracks. He stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widening at the sight before him—his despised rickety bunk bed had vanished, replaced by a magnificent king-sized bed with a plush mattress and pillows that seemed to beckon with promises of heavenly comfort.
"I'm sleeping well tonight!" Nico exclaimed, his face splitting into a wide grin as he launched himself into a joyful leap that ended with him face-down in the incredibly soft mattress crafted from sheep wool harvested at their farm.
"I'll visit Deborah and the others tomorrow to personally thank them for this wonderful gift," he murmured contentedly, wrapping his arms around the cloud-soft pillow before surrendering instantly to the sweet embrace of deep, restful sleep.
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