Roughly two days had passed since the end of YGGDRASIL, or rather, since our transfer to the unknown New World.
We NPCs have no need for sleep or rest. For these past two days, I had single-mindedly devoted myself to verifying my abilities and organizing the index of the massive YGGDRASIL Comprehensive Information Database constructed within my brain.
Ra and Apep, seemingly to test the sensations of their new bodies, were quietly refining their magic power at their respective posts, save for exchanging a few brief words every now and then.
For two days, no one had visited the 8th Floor's 『Vault of Wisdom』.
With the external network severed, there was no way for me to know the situation outside.
However, I felt no impatience.
Inferring from my knowledge of the anime, on the first day of the transfer, Momonga-san should have gathered the Guardians on the 6th Floor to confirm their loyalty, and subsequently moved to rescue a nearby village, Carne Village, and gather intelligence.
Orders reaching this 8th Floor—Nazarick's ultimate fighting force and its highest-security classified area—would only happen after a baseline of safety had been secured.
From my experience as a former salaryman, I painfully understood the ironclad rule:
"When the boss is on the front lines dealing with a crisis, the correct response for the field staff is to stand by and not make any careless moves."
And then, in the afternoon of Nazarick time on the second day since the transfer.
At last, the distinct magical ripple of a spatial Gate opening spread through the silent space of the vault.
『—Who goes there?』
From the depths of the room, Ra and Apep reacted instantly. Golden wings spread with killing intent, and the pitch-black serpent raised its sickle-like neck.
However, the moment they saw the figure that emerged from within the Gate, the two giant gods instantly withdrew their hostility and sank their massive bodies deep toward the floor.
I, too, lowered my body of black fog until it barely hovered above the floor, and commanded the countless pages revolving around me to retreat behind my back. It was a posture of utmost fealty.
"Good day. Noble ones who bear the defense of the 8th Floor."
Standing there was a peerlessly beautiful woman.
Clad in a pure white dress, pitch-black angelic wings sprouted from around her waist. From her head grew two twisted horns, like those of a goat.
A beauty akin to a goddess, accompanied by an absolute ruler's aura that commanded all who saw her to prostrate themselves.
The Overseer of the Floor Guardians, Albedo.
"Thank you for your hard work, Lady Albedo."
I offered my greetings in a low, echoing voice. It wasn't something forced upon me by the system. It was genuine respect born of my own will.
"To think that you, the Administrator of the Vault of Wisdom, would speak of your own accord...."
Albedo looked around, appraising us with her golden eyes.
There was not a single opening in her gaze. She was an entity programmed by Momonga to stand at the absolute pinnacle of all NPCs in Nazarick.
No matter if I was a Level 100 Elder Aberration, within the organization's hierarchy, she was my absolute superior.
"In the name of our Supreme Master, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, I have come to confirm the status of each floor and deliver a notification."
Albedo declared in a dignified voice.
"By the decree of my Creator, Lord Tabula Smaragdina, and all the Supreme Beings, I, Albedo, have been appointed to the position of 'Overseer of the Floor Guardians'. In light of this unknown situation, all defense mechanisms and beings of Nazarick are to fall under my command, in accordance with the will of our Supreme Master. Are there any objections?"
"Negative. We, the defense mechanisms of the 8th Floor, pledge absolute loyalty to the decisions of our Supreme Master."
When I answered as our representative, Ra and Apep resonated their magic power in deep agreement behind me.
...Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, huh.
I muttered softly in my mind. It seemed Momonga had already changed his name to the name of the guild.
And Albedo, standing right in front of me. Beneath her beautiful, perfect smile, the intense setting Momonga-san had rewritten on a mere whim right before the transfer—She loves Momonga—must be deeply engraved into her.
Knowing her endearingly clumsy and rampaging tendencies from the anime, I almost felt a slight sense of kinship, but naturally, I showed no sign of it.
Because right now, she was a cold, calculating, and highly competent top executive carrying the survival of Nazarick on her shoulders.
"Excellent. Just as expected from those entrusted with Nazarick's innermost depths. ...Tawil Balah."
"Yes."
"Are there any anomalies within your database of 'Omniscience'? Our Supreme Master currently thirsts for information regarding this unknown world. Your knowledge may be needed now more than ever."
At Albedo's expectant inquiry, I answered with a slight pang of apology.
"I apologize for not meeting your expectations, Lady Albedo. The internal data of Nazarick, as well as the database concerning all knowledge, items, and magic that existed within YGGDRASIL, are operating perfectly normally. However—"
"However?"
"Information regarding the current exterior of Nazarick... this New World, does not exist within my database whatsoever. Concerning the outside world, I am a complete 'blank slate'."
Hearing that report, Albedo slightly furrowed her beautiful brows.
"...I see. Even with you, the laws of the outside are unknown. It truly seems to be a world that will not be dealt with easily."
"My apologies. However, Lady Albedo, when you and Lord Ainz bring back fragments of unknown magic or items, or pieces of lore from the outside world, I swear to instantly analyze and categorize them by cross-referencing them against my vast knowledge of YGGDRASIL."
"So you are saying that blank pages need only be newly written upon. ...A splendid mindset. Your Creator, Lord Bellriver, would surely be delighted."
Albedo smiled with satisfaction.
It seemed my proposal—functioning not just as a mere search engine, but as a proactive analyst—had met her criteria for evaluation as an Overseer.
"Currently, Lord Ainz is cautiously investigating the situation outside. This 8th Floor is Nazarick's final line of defense and its greatest trump card. You must absolutely never allow anyone to intrude."
"Understood. The Vault of Wisdom is something we three shall defend to the death."
"I am counting on you. ...Now then, I shall head to Aureole Omega. I must confirm the status of the Pleiades as well."
Albedo elegantly spun around and disappeared into the Gate that had opened once more.
Once her overwhelming presence vanished, silence returned to the space of the vault.
"Slither... What a terrifying woman. Despite her power being lower than ours, what on earth was that unfathomable pressure?"
Apep cursed as he recoiled his body, sounding relieved.
"Hold your tongue, Apep. She is the Overseer in whom our Supreme Master places his absolute trust."
Ra chided him, though he himself was slightly trembling his golden wings.
"Well, having a highly competent and strict boss is proof that the organization is functioning properly."
I said, lacing my words with relief.
The chain of command was established. That was the most important thing for surviving in an unknown world.
Now that Albedo's patrol was over, it was about time for the others on the 8th Floor to start moving as well.
Just as I predicted, it wasn't long after that when my first bizarre neighbor came to visit this Vault of Wisdom.