Ainz Ooal Gown: Noble Knight

Shalltear Bloodfallen is extremely powerful. Among the Guardians alone, only Gauguin is comparable. To ensure victory, it is indeed necessary to send the members chosen by Albedo.

What do you think?

"No, there's no rush to draw conclusions. Let's find out the reason for Shalltear's betrayal first."

"Lord Ainz is indeed benevolent. But whatever the reason, daring to oppose the Supreme Being should not be tolerated."

“That’s not it, Albedo. It’s not that I’m soft-hearted towards Shalltear, I just don’t understand why she would betray me.”

If this could happen to others, then we must find a way to deal with it.

If dissatisfaction arises due to issues with treatment, other NPCs may share the same sentiments, so we must plan ahead. If innate supernatural abilities or other powers are forcibly controlled, we must also figure out the patterns and find ways to defend against them.

Assuming, however improbable, that Shalltear is indeed being forcibly controlled, then we must find a way to save her.

As a leader, it is unqualified to stand idly by when subordinates are in trouble and then adopt a superior attitude.

The ruler's duty is to protect his subjects.

"So, where is Shalltear now? Do you have any information about her?"

"I'm very sorry, it hasn't been confirmed yet. Considering the possibility that she might attack Nazarick, her direct subordinates have been imprisoned, and servants have been dispatched to the underground level to strengthen defenses."

“Is that so…then let’s go to your sister’s place first. The most urgent thing is to find out where Shalltear is.”

Chapter 52 Anzdiization

The fifth level of Nazarick is an extremely cold region designed with the concept of a glacier in mind.

Those blue and white icebergs, seemingly radiating a faint light from within, stood like tombstones on the boundless white earth. Thick clouds shrouded the sky, and falling snowflakes danced in the cold wind carrying icy moisture.

Ainz's robes fluttered in the biting wind. He glanced at Albedo beside him and asked, "Aren't you cold? You can put on your armor if you need to. We still have some time."

Any ice-based attacks are completely ineffective against Ainz; he doesn't feel cold at all.

But Albedo was different. Although this chill shouldn't have been a problem if she were fully equipped, she was only wearing a white dress. Ainz had asked her before teleporting, but he still felt that she might just be putting on a brave face.

Albedo smiled gently at him: "Thank you for your concern. It's alright, this chill is nothing."

Ainz nodded. "I see."

This area was originally designed to inflict ice damage and slow effects, but it is currently disabled because activating it requires gold.

Is this good fortune brought about by the decision made back then, or does Albedo herself possess magical items or special skills that can resist ice damage?

Ainz is not omniscient about the weapon configurations of NPCs; only a handful of people, such as Pandora Actor, are confident that they have a complete understanding of them.

Ainz looked at the magnificent two-story building in front of him. In this snowy landscape, only this building exuded an unusual atmosphere.

It resembled a building straight out of a fairy tale, yet its surface was covered with a thick layer of ice, exuding a cold and unsettling atmosphere. This building was called the Frozen Prison, where all those who opposed Nazarick were imprisoned.

"Let's go."

Ainz finished speaking succinctly and pushed open the icy door. The door opened easily, as if welcoming a visitor.

The moment the door opened, a chill even more biting than outside rushed out. Albedo shivered from the gust. Seeing this, Ainz took out a deep red cloak from his storage space, the hem embroidered with patterns mimicking flames.

"Put this on, Albedo. It doesn't have much magical effect, but it's more than enough to keep you warm."

"You have bestowed upon me such a precious gift! I am extremely grateful! I will treasure it for the rest of my life."

Ainz had no intention of seeing her off, but seeing Albedo's smiling face, he didn't say anything more and turned his gaze to the doorway.

"It feels so warm, just like being hugged by Lord Ainz... Hehehe."

"...Really? That's great."

'How could I possibly keep warm by holding you in these fleshless arms of mine?' But Ainz, of course, wouldn't say it aloud. He chased Albedo, who was wriggling and wrapping herself tightly in her cloak, out of his sight and slowly started walking away.

"What are you doing? Time is running out. This is a special situation."

"Yes, yes!"

"...Albedo, we're almost at your sister's room. Are you ready?"

Albedo, who had been beaming with joy, instantly turned serious. "Yes, sir. I'll retrieve the doll right away."

"Okay, give it to me."

Albedo reached out towards the wall, and a white, transparent arm emerged from the wall, placing a doll in her hand. It was a doll the size of a baby.

Ainz took it and examined it closely: "It's disgusting." The shape was exaggerated and distorted, as if the Cupid doll had been completely deformed, especially the big, round eyes, which were particularly unsettling.

Ainz frowned and looked towards the end of the passage, where a huge mural centered on the door depicted a mother and baby. Due to its age, the paint had peeled off, and it had become a pitiful sight.

Ainz pushed open the door.

The cries of babies could be heard, dozens or even hundreds of cries merging together. Yet, no baby could be seen in the room.

In the center of the empty room sat a cradle, which was being gently rocked by a woman dressed in black mourning clothes.

"It's about time to begin, isn't it?"

"That should be the case, please keep an eye out."

As if signaled by their conversation, the woman's movements suddenly froze. She slowly reached into the cradle and took out the baby doll inside.

"No, no, no."

She threw the doll away with all her might, and it crashed into the wall and shattered into pieces.

"My child, my child, my child!"

The woman let out a bloodcurdling scream. Signaling this, the cries from the floor and walls suddenly intensified, and a translucent, infant-like mass of flesh slid out—a rotting flesh infant, a monster of about level twenty.

"The Jade Record actually has so many monsters here... How much did it cost?"

As Ainz was marveling at this, the woman produced a large pair of scissors from somewhere and held them in her hand. Beneath her disheveled hair, her sharp eyes glared at Ainz and the others.

"You, you, you, you stole, you stole, you stole my child, my child, my child!"

"...It really is your sister. She looks just like you."

"Huh? Is that so?"

The woman seemed to interpret their conversation as a malicious provocation, charging forward with murderous intent. She closed the distance in a few steps, wielding a large pair of scissors and viciously stabbing at Ainz.

“Your child is here.”

Ainz handed the doll to her. The woman froze instantly, put away her scissors, and carefully took the doll.

"Goodness gracious!"

She held the child with loving tenderness, as if she would never let go.

Then, the baby was placed back in the cradle, and the long hair covering the face was brushed aside, revealing a face without skin and with exposed muscles. The teeth, without lips, were like pearls, and the eyeballs, without eyelids, shone brightly. Each was beautiful on its own, but together they felt eerie.

"Lord Momonga, and my lovely little sister, how have you been?"

“Long time no see, Nicole. You seem to be doing well too, I’m so glad.”

Ainz was able to handle the situation so calmly because he had already witnessed this scene in the game. He fondly recalled the time when his guildmates called him to see a new character, and everyone screamed in terror, joining forces to attack Nicoled.

"Sister, it's been a long time."

Nicolae is Albedo's older sister, and was also created by the player Emerald Book.

"So, Lord Momonga, what is it?"

"Ah, I'm sorry. You weren't in the throne room then, so you didn't know I'd changed my name. Now I'm called Ainz Ooal Gown. Just call me Ainz."

Nicole took a deep breath and slowly raised her head: "Yes, Lord Ainz."

"Nigride, I've come to ask for your help. Could you lend me a hand?"

"My abilities? Are they biological or non-biological?"

"...Let's just call it a biological entity...it should be a biological entity, right? To put it bluntly, the target is Shalltear Bradfren."

“Floor Guardian? ...Excuse me. Since it is Lord Ainz’s order, I will act immediately.”

Although her tone was questioning, Nicole immediately agreed.

"Please, sister."

Albedo playfully gave a thumbs-up.

Nicoled began casting several spells, a wide variety of them, many of which Ainz had just seen Narberal use the previous night.

As a magic caster, Nicoled holds the highest rank in Nazarick, with her class specializing in intelligence gathering. Ainz came for this very purpose.

However, Nicoleid's abilities seem to have stopped working.

Nicoled was unable to locate Shalltear.

Within the Holy Land of the Theocracy, Icarus' Feather emitted a faint glow.

This is a powerful artifact that Rune left for Sirsha during the YGGDRASIL era, similar to a "breakup fee".

Yet, in doing so, he indirectly protected Rune in this world.

"I'm sorry, Lord Ainz, I'm incompetent."

Nicole's voice came from that lipless mouth, filled with genuine remorse and self-reproach. She lowered her head, her disheveled hair falling down to obscure her muscular face.

Ainz stood still, without saying a word.

Silence spread through the frozen prison room, like some kind of viscous liquid, irresistibly seeping into every corner.

The rotting flesh children had retreated back into the walls and floor at some point, and the baby's cries had ceased.

The room was so quiet that you could hear the faint creaking of the cradle rocking gently, and the occasional whimper of the doll in Nicole's hands.

Ainz stood there, the dark red light in his eye sockets flickering uncertainly.

Undetectable.

They couldn't even find Shalltear's location.

what does this mean?

This means he couldn't even complete the first step of intelligence gathering. He didn't know where Shalltear was, who was with her, or what her condition was.

I know nothing.

The unknown is always more frightening than the known.