"Really, it's unbearable."
Meromero's gloomy voice, laden with an incredible sense of reality, flew towards Momonga as if to inflict a follow-up strike.
His complaint in regards to work in the real world accelerated further.
Stories about impudent subordinates, plans that were completely altered overnight, criticism from his superior for failing to meet his quota, days pulling all-nighters due to shitloads of work, abnormal weight increase from his ruined biorhythm, the growing number of drugs with each passing day.
Eventually, the conversation turned one-sided as Meromero's gripe burst out like a broken dam.
There are a lot of people who avoid talking about reality in the virtual world. The feeling of not wanting to drag the real world into the virtual world was understandable.
However, the two people here did not think that way.
The guild — a team formed, organized and operated by an assembly of players — that they belonged to, Ainz Ooal Gown, had two rules for joining.
First, you have to be a member of society. Secondly, you had to be of a heteromorphic race.
Due to the nature of the guild, there were many cases where complaints about work in real life became the topic, and this was accepted by the guild members. It could be said the conversation these two were having was an everyday scene in Ainz Ooal Gown.
After a good amount of time had passed, the words of grievance from Meromero's mouth came to a halt.
"… I'm sorry for my endless complaining. I don't get much chance to vent on the other side."
Meromero wiggled what appeared to be its head as if to bow. In response to this, Momonga quickly replied.
"It's okay, Meromero-sama. I was the one who asked you to come, even though you were exhausted.
Compared to earlier, a faint laughter with a bit more vigor was heard from Meromero.
"Thank you very much, Momonga-sama. I'm glad that I logged in and got to meet up."
"I'm glad to hear you say that."
"… But I'm afraid it's about time for me to …"
Meromero's tentacle moved in the air as if it was touching something. He was operating his console.
"Ah, you're right. It's gotten very late."
"I'm sorry, Momonga-sama."
Momonga sighed softly to conceal the emotions that had risen inside him.
"I see. That's a shame. … Honestly, fun times fly by so fast."
"I really want to be with you until the end, but I'm exhausted."
"You must be worn out. Please, do log out and get some rest."
"I'm really sorry. … Momon- no, Guildmaster, what will you do?"
"I'm planning to stay online until I'm disconnected when the service ends. There's still time… who knows, another person might show up."
"Is that so. … Frankly, I didn't expect this place to still exist."
At this sort of moment, it was truly a good thing that there was no ability to show facial expressions. Because if there was, one would have seen his grimace in a single glance. Momonga closed his mouth shut to suppress the sudden surge of emotions, since they would be revealed in his voice.
He had desperately maintained the guild because they had created it together, so it was only natural for him to be overwhelmed with indescribable sentiments when such words were spoken by one of his comrades. But those sentiments were dispelled by what Meromero said next.