Despite the loyalty shown by the other NPCs in the show, the possibility of hidden codes or unforeseen flavor-text among them lingered, a potential source of future complications. With time being a constraint on the looming threat of a revolt, what I intended to do next will be crucial preparation for such a scenario.
[23:58:14]
There's only less than 2 minutes left.
I raised the guild weapon in my left hand, directing it towards Pandora's Actor. As I did so, a holographic window appeared, showing his flavor-text. I don't have the leisure to modify his existing background information so I just added new lines of text...
..."Finally, it's done"
After saving the changes I've made, I closed Pandora's Actor's settings. Retrieving another Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown from my inventory, I equipped him with it before teleporting back to the throne room.
...
--Throne Room--
Looking at the flags that hung on the wall, a chuckle left out my mandibles. The thought of having a nigh infinite life span gives me goosebumps. The meaning I could give to my life in that span of time will be immeasurable. A truly perfect life I might say -- as colorful as unending it is.
Closing my non-existent eyes, I waited for the clock to hit 24:00:00. As I did so, I began to formulate my future course of action.
...
[00:00:03]
As I unveiled my non-existent eyes, the clock had surpassed the designated moment, yet I remained seated upon the throne, not reclined on a couch. The surroundings appeared almost unchanged, except for the conspicuous absence of several familiar figures that had lingered within my sight moments ago.
Albedo, Sebas, and the pleiades were nowhere to be found. Mere seconds had slipped by since I shut my eyes, but there's not even a single trace of their disappearance. Akin to the swift deletion of digital data within a computer, erased as swiftly as it's created.
Touching the side of my skull with the tip of my right index finger, I needed assurance about what had transpired. Casting the [Message] spell, I attempted to connect with any Players or NPCs created by the guild members, yet every attempt yielded no connection.
I haven't done this before, casting magic just by expressing my intent. However, it's like magic itself became an extension of my body. I can cast any spell that I'm allowed to use in the game easily and efficiently without the use of a keyboard or console, like I have done it countless of times.
I can feel an overwhelming power inside of me. If I was to compare my original body to my current one, I was like a weak and fragile little insect against a fully equipped pests control exterminator.
"Is this the gift I've sought?" I murmured to myself.
Injected with a potent drug, I endured excruciating pain beyond any I could have imagined. To an outside observer, it might have appeared a mere matter of minutes, yet for me, it felt forever. A time frame saturated with powerlessness, weakness, and insignificance.
Yet, the power now coursing through me might just be the equalizer I had yearned for. Aamon, unwittingly, became the catalyst for this transformation.
Finding the answer in another world, or universe for that matter, was beyond my wildest expectations.
One last attempt -- I invoked the [Message] spell, reaching out to the sole individual I had yet to contact. Almost immediately, the connection was established, and a voice resonated from the other end. "Momonga-sama, my one and only creator, What can I help you with?"
Observing that Pandora's Actor remained the sole Max level NPC, I registered the fact with a sense of satisfaction. "Good," I acknowledged, swiftly continuing, "Now then, elevate the treasury's security to the highest level."
"Understood... Anyway, can I ask-"
Before he could finish, I cut him off. "Leave your questions for later. After finishing your task, come to the throne room. I will need to discuss something with you in person."
...
Before me is the genuflected Pandora's Actor. He lifted his head and spoke. "Hi there, Momonga-sama. I, the Area Guardian of the treasury, have come here as per your order."
"Pandora's Actor. Have you noticed anything unusual within the treasury?" I inquired, asserting a tone of authority.
His initially light-hearted demeanor shifted to a more serious tone. "I was just about to address that matter. Yes, something unusual has occurred. I've lost contact with all the Golems in 'The Mausoleum' and the Mercenary NPCs discreetly stationed at the treasury's entrance. They vanished without a trace, an action that would have alerted me had they left their posts. Furthermore, the Golem of Lemegetons, all 67 of them, situated nearby, are absent as well."
"Even the Avatars I crafted to safeguard 'The Mausoleum' have disappeared. What about the guild members' personal equipment they were equipped with?"
"You needn't worry. I've checked all our equipment, and not a single piece is missing."
"You needn't worry. I've checked all our equipment, and not a single piece is missing."
"I see. Now that the Avatars, Lemegetons, and the Guardians are gone..."
Upon hearing the disappearance of the Guardians, Pandora's Actor visibly flinched.
"It seems I'll need to deploy one of the 'Twenty' we possess," I continued, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Ensuring he grasped the gravity of the decision, Pandora's Actor echoed my words. "One of the 'Twenty'?"
"Indeed. The disappearance of our forces leaves Nazarick, the repository of the other World Items, exposed and vulnerable. It must be protected at all costs, even if it means sacrificing one of our most precious possessions."
"If that's the case, then allow me to accompany you to the treasury."
"Very well" I stood up from the throne and activated the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown to teleport to the entrance of the treasury with Pandora's Actor in tow.
The treasury itself is located in a different dimension, separated from the floors of Nazarick, so the only way to get there is by using the ring.
--Deeper Region of Treasury--
Beyond the receiving room of the treasury is another vast and black room. This room is literally black, devoid of any light. Even as an undead being with a passive [Dark Vision], I couldn't even make out anything. Sound from our footsteps and smell of the air, there are none. My heightened senses that should have picked up even the slightest of those two are useless.
This is the most heavily guarded place in Nazarick in terms of magic installed by none other than the Magic Caster of the guild, Tabula Smaragdina as well as countless magic items that are only below World Items and Guild Weapons.
One of the defense mechanisms of this place is the inhibition senses of anyone who enters it. To the point that you will not be able to tell if you're actually moving or not. The only way to navigate around is through the Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown.
In the game, the ring was supposed to provide a mini map -- marking the location of the items in the side of your vision -- but in this new world, I could see different colors with different shapes in my line of sight which indicates the items. There are a total of 11 World Items possessed by the guild and 9 of them are here.
Walking towards the item I was looking for, I tried to touch it but there's something that seemed to repel my hand. Every item here is contained inside a force field. Each has their own password which is related to their power. Unless you state it, you will not be able to read the information of the item or as much as lift it from its place.
"Freeze, embody the stoic resilience of a stone; transcend, and become the ethereal essence of ashes."
The force that's repelling my hand was removed. I took the item, still can't see its appearance and only the color of the mana flowing within it because of the ring, before teleporting to the entrance of the treasury full of mountains of gold.
…