MTLNOVEL Chapter 206: Ainz Ooal Gown
"Please follow me."
When the three stepped out of the room, they were greeted by a beautiful maid with an intelligent look in her eyes. She wore glasses and a blue collar around her neck, and her hair was tied into a low bun at the back of her head.
She gave them a polite bow before casting a quick, secret glance at Shido. Then, she swiftly looked away and began leading them down the corridor.
"…."
Shido noticed her glance but didn't say anything, nor was he particularly surprised. He could tell she was also entranced by his charm. Unlike the Floor Guardians, who possessed high levels and great magic resistance, the Pleiades battle maids had lower levels, and naturally, lower stats. It was only natural that his presence would affect them more easily.
"What's wrong, Shido?" Aura asked, noticing that Shido had stopped in his tracks. She turned back to look at him, tilting her head slightly.
"Nothing. Let's go."
Shido shook his head and began walking again, falling into step beside Aura. Seeing that there was nothing wrong, Aura smiled and continued following behind Demiurge and the maid.
Name: Yuri Alpha
Level: 51
Age: 24 (Based on appearance)
Height: 174 cm
Measurements (B/W/H): 88/59/86
Class: Battle Maid
STR: C
VIT: C++
AGI: C+++
INT: B
CHA: A
LUK: B
Threat Level: C+
Affiliation: Great Tomb of Nazarick
As they walked, Shido secretly activated his scan ability on the maid, briefly checking her stats. After a quick glance, he closed the display, though in his mind, he couldn't help but think how beautiful the maids in this place were, it made him almost jealous of Ainz.
While they continued down the corridor, Aura began chatting with Shido, introducing various areas of Nazarick to him with bright enthusiasm. Demiurge, walking ahead of them, didn't stop Aura from speaking; after all, the information she was sharing wasn't considered a secret. During this time, Demiurge had fully regained his composure, his steps steady as he followed Yuri Alpha toward the throne room.
He still couldn't believe it. He, the strategist of Nazarick, the one who was supposed to remain cool-headed at all times, had lost control of his emotions and argued with someone. Demiurge shook his head, realizing he must have been under too much stress lately, causing him to lash out at Shido.
With a sigh, Demiurge decided he would request permission from Ainz to take a short break later to relax for a bit.
...
After a few minutes of walking along the dark, oppressive hallways of Nazarick, they finally arrived in front of a massive door leading to the throne room.
"Please enter. The Supreme One and the Floor Guardians are waiting for you."
With a small, graceful gesture, Yuri Alpha stepped forward and effortlessly pulled open the massive doors, gesturing for them to enter.
Aura and Demiurge entered the throne room normally, with Shido following a step behind, his eyes sweeping over the expanse before him.
He glanced around, unable to stop himself from quietly marveling at how majestic the throne room was. Though much of what he saw were undead in gleaming, golden full-body armor with dazzling red capes, each holding a lustrous spear as they stood tall in neat lines along the sides, the grandeur was undeniable.
Name: Nazarick Master Guarders
Level: 45
STR: C++
VIT: C++
AGI: C
INT: D++
Yet beyond them, Shido could also sense many other presences lurking, beings hidden from the naked eye. He chose to ignore them, knowing instinctively that they didn't show hostility and none of them also posed a real threat to him.
Once he had finished observing the surroundings, Shido finally turned his gaze forward. Lined along the sides were the Pleiades battle maids, standing in flawless formation, with Yuri Alpha joining them quietly after guiding them into the room.
However, in front of him stood a being that exuded the very essence of death.
Ainz Ooal Gown.
Dark, shadowy aura flowed around his skeletal body, oppressive yet dignified. For a moment, the two simply stared at each other, an silent thought crossing both of their minds.
On either side of Ainz, the Floor Guardians and Sebas stood like vigilant bodyguards, each observing Shido intently. Their thoughts varied as they tried to gauge this mysterious man brought into Nazarick.
Yet if there was one thing they all silently agreed upon, it was because.
Shido was handsome.
Even though many of them were not human, they could still understand the standards of beauty, and Shido was someone who stood at the pinnacle of that standard.
Shalltear couldn't hide the blush that spread across her face as she clasped her hands together, unable to completely mask her expression.
"Cough!"
Yet, a single cough from Albedo was enough to snap Shalltear out of her daze, reminding her of where she was. Flustered, she quickly adjusted herself, standing straighter under Ainz's gaze.
Casting a sidelong glance at Shalltear, Albedo rolled her eyes. 'This shameless vampire bitch.' Still, when Albedo's gaze drifted back to Shido, she couldn't help but understand, even if she didn't want to admit it.
'…So handsome.'
She lightly bit her lower lip as that thought echoed in her mind.
Albedo subconsciously thought this inside her mind, but she quickly snapped herself out of it, scolding herself for thinking about another man when her beloved was right beside her.
'How could you think like that, Albedo?! Your heart belongs only to Ainz-sama! You can't be swayed by a nobody!'
Taking a deep breath, Albedo calmed her racing thoughts, though a faint blush still lingered on her cheeks. She glanced toward Ainz, relieved to see he hadn't noticed her brief lapse in composure.
Her golden eyes then returned to Shido. This time, despite a hint of lingering awkwardness, Albedo now observed him through the lens of her duty, as the Overseer of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, weighing and assessing this unknown man who stood before her.
On the other hand, Cocytus and Sebas did not share the same feelings as Shalltear and Albedo. Instead, they regarded the man before them as a potential strong opponent, silently assessing Shido's presence and composure with sharp, evaluating gazes.
Only Mare seemed unaware of the tension, his innocent eyes blinking as he looked at Shido with quiet curiosity, not fully understanding what was going on.
…
"Ainz-sama, please forgive our late arrival. I have brought him as requested."
Demiurge and Aura dropped to one knee, bowing their heads respectfully before the Supreme Being who sat above them.
"Don't worry about it. Thank you for bringing him here, Demiurge, Aura."
"Yes."
The two responded in unison before moving to take their respective positions beside the other Floor Guardians, leaving Shido standing alone at the center of the vast throne room.
As he stood there, Shido noticed Aura glance back at him. She opened her mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
Yet even without hearing her voice, Shido could easily read the words from the way her lips moved:
You'll be fine.
A small smile appeared on Shido's face. He found himself thinking that, for some reason, this little dark elf was really quite cute.
Still, the room suddenly grew tense as the pressure from Ainz and the surrounding Floor Guardians descended, creating a heavy, menacing atmosphere that seemed to press against the air itself.
"Thank you for coming, unknown one."
Ainz's deep, echoing voice reverberated through the throne room as the dark aura around his skeletal body pulsed.
"I am the master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown."