A faint scent of cherry blossoms drifted through the air as a young girl stepped out of the pitch-black Gate, moving forward at an unhurried pace.
She wore a white-and-red shrine maiden outfit, a gentle smile resting on her lips.
Her name was Aureole Omega, the youngest member of the Pleiades and the Guardian of the [Cherry Blossom Sanctuary] on the Eighth Floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
She was an Area Guardian specially optimized for commander-type classes.
Commanding multiple servants above Level 85, she was responsible for guarding the Guild Weapon and monitoring the Gates within Nazarick.
(On the Eighth Floor, Sephis is the Floor Guardian, while Aureole is the Area Guardian.)
Compared to the other battle maids, Aureole kept a very low profile. Yet in terms of strength, she was the strongest among them. At Level 100, she could stand shoulder to shoulder with a Floor Guardian.
Though human by race, she possessed agelessness and true immortality.
Behind her, Pandora's Actor struck exaggerated poses, while the seemingly harmless Victim followed quietly along.
The three stepped out of the Gate together, approached Naohara and the other two with reverence, and knelt in respect.
"My apologies, my lords. It took some time to dismantle the various traps."
Aureole spoke softly and respectfully.
Unlike the other Guardians, Aureole had a gentle nature. As long as it did not harm Nazarick's interests, she would not hesitate to help those in need.
One of the few truly kind individuals in Nazarick, she was, much like her attire suggested, a benevolent shrine maiden who dispelled calamity and eased suffering.
"It's fine. Thank you for your hard work, Aureole."
Naohara waved his hand, unconcerned with such a minor delay.
Unlike the other Guardians, Aureole could not freely leave her domain and was generally confined to the Cherry Blossom Sanctuary.
Back when this was merely a game, that had not mattered. But after transmigrating to the New World, when NPCs gained their own thoughts, she was undoubtedly the one who had sacrificed the most within Nazarick.
"Thank you for your understanding, my lords."
Aureole's voice was soft as she respectfully extended the staff she held in her arms.
The golden staff resembled the Caduceus of Hermes, its surface entwined with seven pure golden serpents. Each snake held a gem of a different color in its open jaws.
The handle appeared to be made of a crystal-like material, radiating a blue-white glow and exuding a solemn, majestic beauty.
Guild Weapon: [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown]
Forged through the combined efforts of forty-two members of Nazarick, this Guild Weapon had reached the pinnacle of divine-class items, and in certain respects could even rival a World-Class Item.
"Seeing this brings back memories… Those were truly joyful days."
Momonga accepted the staff, and blurred fragments from the depths of his memory gradually became clear.
Touch Me, Ulbert, Bukubukuchagama, Peroroncino…
Familiar yet distant companions flashed through his mind.
"Naohara, I'll leave the rest to you."
After a brief moment of nostalgia, Momonga handed the staff to Naohara. It was not appropriate for him to take the next step himself.
At that time, Sephis and the other Guardians who had been guiding the Dragon Veins hurried back one after another.
When the three had arrived earlier, they had already sent out Message notifications.
Sephis, Aura, Mare, Demiurge, Aureole, Pandora's Actor, Victim…
There was also the White Dragon Lord, whose strength had surged and whose level had reached 68.
The Ancient Flame Dragon, who had undergone a baptism of dragon blood and grown dragon wings, had reached Level 54.
And even the chubby dragon wearing small glasses, favored by Momonga, had, thanks to Momonga's special support, reached Level 42.
The group surrounded the Brightness Dragon Lord and the Heavenly Dragon Lord, who had been watching from the sidelines.
To their utter bewilderment, more than a dozen World-Class Items were taken out before them.
These World-Class Items had been entrusted to the Guardians by Naohara and the other two, intended as protection during external missions.
"Um… my king, may I ask what this is about?"
One moment they had been chatting calmly. The next, they were facing armed confrontation.
Not to mention this group of Level 100 NPCs, some of them had even brazenly produced over a dozen World-Class Items.
And judging by the situation, there were clearly more in reserve. At the very least, Naohara and the other two Players certainly carried World-Class Items themselves.
The two True Dragon Lords had to admit it.
They were genuinely frightened.
"Relax. It's just a precaution."
Naohara shook his head and gave them a reassuring smile.
Then he took out the [Dragon Destruction Sword] and drove it into the ground.
A strange, oppressive heaviness spread through the air. The Brightness Dragon Lord and the Heavenly Dragon Lord both felt their hearts sink, and they could not help swallowing.
What was with the dragon-shaped phantom coiling around the blade, and those faint, mournful cries that came and went?
"Brightness Dragon Lord. Heavenly Dragon Lord."
Just as the two True Dragon Lords were growing increasingly uneasy, Naohara suddenly dropped his usual demeanor and barked their names with a stern face.
"Yes! ×2"
The Brightness Dragon Lord answered at once, then slapped the Heavenly Dragon Lord beside him to make sure he straightened up.
"Since you want to join the Great Tomb of Nazarick, prove it to us."
"Do not resist. Offer a fragment of your Dragon Soul."
Naohara raised the [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown] and set it against the Heavenly Dragon Lord's head.
Strictly speaking, as a Guild Weapon, the [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown] could only be used by the Guildmaster, Momonga, so Naohara should not have been able to wield it.
But there were exceptions.
Talent.
Earlier, Herohero had devoured a human named Nfirea, and the three of them had obtained his Talent.
They could use any weapon or item without restriction.
As Naohara activated the staff's power, a tiny magic circle appeared. The Heavenly Dragon Lord felt a peculiar magic force invade his mind, trying to tear at his Dragon Soul.
Instinctively, he was about to unleash Wild Magic and crush that force.
But he glanced around, saw the Brightness Dragon Lord shaking his head, and finally let out a long sigh.
In the end, he gave up resisting.
Fine. Whatever happens, happens. The Heavenly Dragon Lord decided to stop caring.
Next came the Brightness Dragon Lord, and the process went smoothly from start to finish.
With both True Dragon Lords cooperating, the [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown] successfully obtained two fragments of Dragon Soul.
"Sorry, Heavenly. Brightness. This is a necessary step."
Seeing that nothing went wrong, Naohara smiled and stepped forward, giving each of them an easy, friendly pat on the shoulder.
The heavy tension in the air melted away, and the Guardians began putting away their weapons.
Demiurge, wearing a faint smile, walked up and began speaking with the two True Dragon Lords.
Pandora's Actor, Sephis, and the others also relaxed their guard.
To earn Nazarick's complete trust, True Dragon Lords had to leave a trace of Dragon Soul within the Guild Weapon, the [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown], as proof of loyalty.
This requirement applied only to True Dragon Lords. For someone at the level of the White Dragon Lord, signing a contract was enough.
Only when the other party reached the True Dragon Lord tier, with the strength to defy a contract, would the three of them resort to the Guild Weapon.
The mood on the scene immediately brightened.
Only the White Dragon Lord and the Ancient Flame Dragon felt a little disappointed. They had been hoping to "try a different flavor."
"Looks like we're fine."
Herohero lowered his slime arm, and the magic circle in his hand vanished in an instant.
Just to be safe, they had even brought their trump card, Victim, all the way from the Eighth Floor. It seemed they would not need it after all.
"If they did not resist, then the earlier information was true. Still, what a hassle."
Momonga scratched the top of his head, frowning as he complained.
Even so, he was secretly relieved. At least for now, everything was moving in a good direction.
Then he saw Pandora's Actor in front of the Brightness Dragon Lord, acting like a complete clown, and his mood immediately soured.
That unfilial brat!