A gigantic, perfectly circular table carved of gleaming black stone and white marble sat at the center of the Round Table Room within the 9th floor of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick.
The guild's insignia of Ainz Ooal Gown was embedded within the middle of the round table, a symbol representing the unity, friendship, and kinship of its guild members. It is surrounded by 41 luxurious chairs, each one positioned around the table in a circular pattern.
The room and the table itself was most likely inspired by the ancient Arthurian Lore of the Knights of the Round Table, where King Arthur and his trusted knights of the round table gathered to plan and discuss.
Momonga sat on the chair where the top of the guild's insignia was pointing at. Behind him was the empty case, a depression carved into the marbled walls of the room, where the guild weapon, which was currently held by Momonga in his hand, once rested as the guild's symbol and that of the member's unity and hard work.
Two chairs to his left was Lelouch, his six pairs of jet-black feathered wings now absent. He sat with his legs and arms crossed, leaning back onto the comfortable, soft crimson red cushion of the chair.
While three chairs to his right was Yuuji, his white-gold and crimson-black wings now similarly absent. And directly to his right was Aika, who had moved her chair until she was right by his side and pressed her breasts against the arm she was hugging.
Aside from the few final minutes of the game, they've never truly experienced Yggdrasil while it was still a game. All they had was the memories of them playing in the game, given by the group chat as part of their supporting items for their mission.
And they knew that such actions would be prohibited as part of Yggdrasil's rule that forbade sexual actions.
But here she was, taunting Yuuji by flaunting the softness of her boobs, which had amazingly grown even bigger and softer while still maintaining its youthful perkiness and shape.
It was most likely due to the level 100 character she had received from the group chat, which changed her appearance slightly, just like him.
Thanks to the "memories" and "background" given to him, he was extremely familiar with her character build. But now, Yuuji did not have the mental capacity to even think about such a thing, as his mind was full of his beloved girlfriend who he had not seen since forever.
He missed her so much… Much more than even Aika missing him, because he had gone to Lelouch's world for a mission, which took him several months.
She was even more beautiful than how he remembered, and even more beautiful than when he saw her through their video calls.
Her presence and charm had also skyrocketed. If she was a charming young girl before, then she would be a bewitching seductress now; something that should be expected given her races and classes.
Still, although her actions made him extremely hard to the point that it hurts, Yuuji didn't push her away. Instead, he held her hand tightly and kissed her head with affection, eliciting a beautiful, melodic giggle from her luscious red lips.
"Everyone. Before anything else, I'd like to thank you for your participation in this mission, and also welcome you to my... home."
Momonga lowered her head slightly in gratitude as he spoke those words to his closest friends and trusted comrades, before continuing with a trace of nostalgia and affection lacing the last few words he uttered.
"Momonga, you know there's no need for that. We're all members of the group chat. Of course we'll help each other, mission or not."
"Yes. In fact, it is a boon for us to participate in this mission. Simply the fact that we have gained such great powers is more than enough reason for us to be grateful towards you instead for choosing us."
"That's right~! Thank you for inviting us to your world, Momonga-san~! Thanks to this, I don't have to worry about the villains in my world!"
"Everyone... Thank you."
Yuuji, Lelouch, and Aika's words reverberated deeply in him as waves of gratefulness and happiness filled his heart.
While it was true that they also gained a lot by participating in the mission, he was still grateful for them, for their presence here showed that they would help him, support him, and stay with him, no matter the dangers that might befall upon them.
It had been... quite a while since he had such friends with him.
Of course, he had also experienced it during his mission in Lelouch's world. But now that he was in his own world... In Nazarick, the place where he found his first friends and watched them leave... It truly reminded him that he did still have friends in the Group Chat members who would stick through thick and thin with him.
The skeletal Overlord leaned back on his chair and let out a deep sigh out of habit, despite not having the need or the capability to breathe in this skeletal form.
He was simply... relieved and happy. It felt like a big weight that had been weighing down on his heart caused by his guildmates leaving had finally been lifted up by the presence of his new good friends.
"Then, if I may go straight into the main topic... I would like to ask about the "backgrounds" and "memories" you've gained by coming here."
Although the world and everything within it would adjust to the "adjustments" done by the Group Chat to accommodate the extra existences of the participants for the mission, those who were a part of the group chat would not be influenced by this "adjustments".
Moreover, since Satoru wasn't, technically, a participant of the mission, he would not receive the rewards for completing the mission or the supporting items granted by the group chat for their missions, including the "memories" and "backgrounds".
This was the same case for Tatsuya and Lelouch during the mission that happened in their world. And this was why it was extremely imperative for the participating members to tell them about their "memories" and "backgrounds" to make sure they would be on the same page as each other.
"Alright."
Yuuji then began telling him the "memories" and "backgrounds" he had received from the group chat.
They stretched for quite a few years, since he and Aika started playing the game together. They were a couple, just like they were in reality, and their relationship was well known by everyone within the guild.
Lelouch's story was similar, in which he had been playing for quite a few years before joining Ainz Ooal Gown.
And there was one more thing in common between them. Yuuji, Aika, and Lelouch did not take the place of Satoru's friends.
They all still existed and still joined Ainz Ooal Gown, as Satoru remembered. It was only when they left did Yuuji, Aika, and Lelouch come to fill their spot as one of the 41 members of Ainz Ooal Gown.
"I see..."
Momonga nodded. A trace of nostalgia and sadness lacing the words he uttered in a whisper upon hearing those names he hadn't heard of in so long.
Relief also filled his heart, knowing they were still a part of Ainz Ooal Gown, no matter how short their time was here.
And upon hearing more of their stories, happiness also began to emerge.
They seemed to be having a lot of fun adventures, perhaps even more fun than before, given their numbers hadn't decreased by three people.
It was a good thing... A very good thing indeed.
Though now, he felt a bit envious. He wished he would have "remembered" those times as well.
But alas, Momonga did not dwell on it for too long, since Yuuji, Aika, and Lelouch were now still here with him, ready to create a brand new adventure with him, together.
"Thank you…"
Those words of gratitude… Even Momonga himself didn't know who he was saying it to.
Was it to Yuuji, Aika, and Lelouch who did not take his dear friends' place? Or was it to the Multiverse Group Chat that made it so?
He didn't even know what he was thanking them for… For not taking their place? For becoming his friends? For supporting him in his toughest times? Or for everything…?
He did not know. But… He felt the urge to tell them how grateful he was for this… reality. To be with friends once more… And to have something he could live for once more.
The three kept their silence as the crimson red point within the darkness of Momonga's orbital bone vanished while he closed his "eyes". A soft smile gracing their faces.
A few moments later, they appeared once again, and Momonga sat up from leaning position.
"Forgive me… I was reminiscing a bit. Now, shall we start the interesting part and talk about what kind of "special" character builds you've all gained? Although I could use my geass to see them, I… would prefer not to use it on any members of our chat group and our friends. So, could you tell me instead?"
The crimson points within Momonga's orbital bone shone brightly, brighter than ever, as excitement and curiosity filled his voice.
He was a hardcore gamer… A hardcore gamer who dedicated decades of his life in a game like Yggdrasil. He was someone who relished in "exploration" and "discovery". And now, there were three people before him with classes and races he might not have any knowledge of yet!
How exciting would that be?!
Despite his skeletal face, Yuuji could see the obvious excitement radiating from his very being. And Lelouch did not disappoint him as he started the discussion with his own "character build".
"I received a level 100 Fallen Seraph Divination Wizard with a class called "True Prophet"."
"R-Really?! A Fallen Seraph!?"
A flash of green light radiated from Momonga due to his over excitement upon hearing Lelouch's words as Yuuji and Aika simply looked at them curiously.
The Fallen Seraph class was an extremely rare and powerful race which could only be attained upon completing a series of extremely difficult chain quests which would require immense amounts of time, resources, and skill. And in the end, there were rumors that the player would need to defeat a level 90 fallen seraph boss and 6 level 80 fallen cherubim angel guards with a party of less than five as its final requirement.
But upon attaining this special class, the player would attain a tremendous boost in magical attack and defense stats, increased mana, immunity to holy spells, and access to holy magic while still having negative karma, allowing them to cast spells that require negative karma.
And these incredible traits might not be all, since information on the class was not publicly shared for several reasons.
First, not many even knew about this extremely rare job class since the way to trigger this mission chain in of itself was also very obscure. And those who knew how to trigger it would not easily tell others.
In the entire history of Yggdrasil, the number of players that had this class could be easily counted with one hand, and they were all extremely powerful players.
"Yes. It does grant me quite the nice stat boost and a myriad of passive effects. It also grants me the super-tier spell [Apocryphal] which lets me summon several Fallen Cherubim Guards."
Momonga's eyes light up once again. He didn't expect the class to grant him a super-tier spell!
Judging by the name and effect, the spell seemed to be similar to the super-tier spell [Pantheon], which summons 6 level 80 Cherubim Gatekeepers. And if the spell allowed Lelouch to summon the fallen version of those level 80 monsters, then that would explain the summoned creatures rumored to be present around Fallen Seraph players.
"That is amazing! I've only heard of the Fallen Seraph race from rumors, but they're an extremely powerful race! Congratulations!"
"Thank you. Though, I'm more interested in my "True Prophet" class."
"True Prophet… I've never heard of it."
With one hand on his arm chair and the other holding his bony chin while the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown floated to his side, Momonga fell into deep thought, digging deep into his memories to try and find anything related to a rare class with that name.
But, he could not remember anything.
"What does it do?"
"It's a special class which enhances all my divination spells. All my divination spells will be irresistible to anyone without divine-ranked items specialized in anti-divination, or a world item.
I can also cast the tenth-tier spell [Foresight] at will to myself, and several other passive skills."
"Wha-?!"
Momonga sat stunned, dropping his bony jaws and leaving his mouth agape.
What an amazing job class?!
Divine-ranked items that specialized in anti-divination were extremely rare, and no one except for those who were extremely paranoid would have them. After all, divination spells could normally be easily thwarted by magical barriers or by lower-ranked items. And even without them, divination spells were, more often than not, unreliable if the caster didn't specialize deeply into mostly the non-combat class, or could be resisted easily by high level players.
Even in Yggdrasil, rarely any players would have such counter-measures in place, since their guild buildings would already have anti-divination barriers permanently active and have some specialized Top or Legacy class items, Relic-class at most, to protect against divination.
Having a world item at hand would be even rarer, given the danger of holding one in hand at all times. One wrong step, and they would lose a world item to another player.
Given such situations, with such a class, Lelouch could virtually know everything about everyone in Yggdrasil if he so wishes.
He would be the greatest informant in the entire game, as no one would be able to hide from his eyes.
Moreover, even if it was only to himself, to be able to cast such a powerful spell like [Foresight] at will was unheard of!
This spell could drastically increase a player's survivability tremendously for 8 hours by giving them an immense increase in evasion, accuracy, speed, and resistance, and be impervious to critical damage caused by surprise attacks.
That meant, 8 hours of someone being extremely difficult to even touch. So for him to be able to cast such a spell to himself at will, without limit…
"I can't believe it… What a broken class…!"
Near omniscient in addition to having virtually permanent [Foresight]... If this was still Yggdrasil, then there'd be doubt that Lelouch would be one of the greatest players in the entire game.
Lelouch smiled softly.
"I'm satisfied with this. It'll be helpful in gathering information from all around the world. Perhaps, I can work together with Albedo and Demiurge with the planning."
"I'll leave it in your care!"
Momonga did not hesitate to leave such matters to Lelouch. After all, Lelouch was a master strategist with a mind that couldn't even be compared to him. In addition to his abilities, Momonga had no doubt that Lelouch would be able to come up with a much better plan than he ever could, and work well with the two geniuses of Nazarick.
After speaking with Lelouch, Momonga then turned to his right towards Yuuji and Aika. And there, he saw Aika with a beautiful, wide smile that somehow made him uneasy…
'Wait… if Lelouch's "special" level 100 character is broken, then could theirs also be…'
"Hehe~ Now it's my turn to tell you about how awesome my build is~!"
Her eyes narrowed with a glint within them as her luscious red lips curled into a seductive grin.
"And how suuuuuuper sexy it is too~"
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AN: I hope you guys enjoy this chapter~! Please comment your thoughts~! I would love to hear what you think about it~!!!!
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