(Try to guess who the newcomers are.)
This is one truly magnificent place. This whole place could solve Earth's rising population problem, provided they can endure this yellow wallpaper and the mostly damp carpet floor. With some focused renovations and determined terraforming, this place is livable.
That is, if this whole place doesn't fall apart. The rumbles have been appearing more frequently now. They're not violent, they're just eerily persistent. Not a day goes by without several rumbles.
I continued my leisurely march; it was satisfying to hear the rhythmic clacking of my heels against the solid floor now. No more of that damned carpet squish sound. The further you go, the emptier and more pristine the place becomes.
I feel like a pioneer, exploring places where no man or woman has ever gone before. As for the exploration, a fork path was in front of me. To the left, a single narrow dark corridor; to the right, a wide path opened up, bathed in light.
I could feel some pressure coming off the left path.
The left path leads to another ripple, probably leading to that pool room again or maybe something else entirely. The right was probably safer.
I was in no hurry to find out which. I'd rather stay here for now. I grabbed a chair and sat down, gazing at the single flickering fluorescent light above.
The walls rumbled again, sheening with light green light. This place is either adapting to or fluctuating with the massively increased population.
Either way, it's unstable.
That well-spoken devil, besides that skeleton sorcerer, has reached the same conclusion. That a long-term occupation is indeed possible, but warrants further structural research.
The spatial rumblings, as they've called them, intensified after their arrival. However, even with the gnawing instability, they're rather adamant about staying here.
This was a new territory for Nazarick, the name of their kingdom, how arrogant. I don't hate imperialism, another form of domination; I hate it when I am not the one doing it. Well, I can't oppose them anyway, I don't even know where to start hurting them.
That sycophant devil on his shoulder was always executing the grand master plans. Ainz Ooal Gown, what a terrifying genius — a high-fantasy evil magic casting creature straight out of a fantasy novel.
The name Sorcerer King is well matched, although wouldn't it make sense for him to be a wizard? I questioned while petting a rat that was napping on my lap. I ran out of tea; I should look for more when I am able.
Anyway, I realized how terrifying some things are if they became real. Those comic books that Denji reads, if even one character became real, they'd be quite the powerhouse.
I should look for a Fiction Devil when I get back, though I can hardly imagine some people being genuinely terrified of a piece of fantasy fiction.
Speaking of Nazarick, they're currently in turmoil. Apparently, three of their forward scouts are incapacitated by mysteriously powerful humans.
I think I know which humans they're referring to. Their approach of [Cooperate or be Detained] is not sensible. If I met one of their scouts, I wouldn't cooperate.
Why would I? Now aware of what their definition of peaceful cooperation is.
It reminded me of an old yet nonexistent quote: "The Germans entered this war under the rather childish delusion that they were going to bomb everybody else, and nobody was going to bomb themback."
Yeah, that fits them right well. They're prepared for conquest but not quite for the occupation. Well, that's their problem. I am merely here to watch everything unfold. It can be quite the theater to see how Nazarick deals with those two powerhouses.
Not only that, there are apparently two other problematic headaches from the extremely distant east, here in these 'backrooms'.
A naked bald human holding a round glowing object and destroying everything in its path while arguing with another humanoid being made out of the night starry skies or cosmos, emitting powerful, harmful energy. Those two apparently made a hole in one of the hardened walls and jumped straight into the void while still arguing.
Although it's only a problem when you treat it like one, the people who ended up here didn't wish to come here; they were whisked away from their respective realities.
They're lost, afraid, angry, and desperate. Maybe even all at once. I don't think they'll take it kindly when they're hopelessly lost and suddenly an army of undead monsters appears out of nowhere, demanding their surrender or forced cooperation.
If they're a bunch of unarmed civilians, they'll most likely cooperate. However, most of the people who ended up here are not, in any shape or form, considered normal.
Anyways, I see Nazarick's logic. When you're the strongest fish in the pond, why ask for permission to grow bigger? You take whatever you want and dictate whatever reality you will, ignoring hypocrisy or self-righteousness.
So long as your honor and prosperity soars, anything is permissible. The rat in my lap jittered; I was too rough with the petting. Well then, time to move on. I stood up and continued on my way, dragging my right hand against the slick walls while humming a tune.
"I choose right."
Apart from the headaches. Nazarick is currently in another state of minor crisis since some of their more 'powerful' spells aren't properly working in this dimension or plane of existence.
I can attest to that since half of my contracts are defunct. I look at both of my hands, already healed from that fight with Mahoraga. They quivered slightly, but not from fear, mainly from the lack of control.
The longer I stay here, the longer this place will shape me to its will. The walls rumbled again, causing me to almost tumble. I grabbed onto a door to keep myself upright. Again, I don't think this place is collapsing; it's just changing.
They can't do the Message spell because once you enter through that ripple portal, it's effectively another dimension. They have to rely on flying creatures as couriers to pass communications around for dimensional reports.
I envy their resources and workforce. They're so very efficient; if I had half of their forces, things would've always been going my way from the start.
Also, I think there's more to Ainz than being a supposedly powerful patriarchal sorcerer figure. I can't quite place it.
Not only that. I think I am being followed.