Chapter 114

Demiurge arrived alone at Ainz' room, he put his hand over his heart and gave a half bow with his crystalline eyes downcast. "Lord Ainz, it is my greatest joy and privilege to accompany a Supreme Being, most of all your esteemed self who chose to stay with us till the end, on this important mission."

Ainz extended his arm and curved his hand up away from the floor in a 'stop' gesture. "Please, Demiurge, you are the son of Ulbert, one of my dearest friends. While alone in my company you can relax and speak your mind without so much formality." His pose 'Gesture of the generous monarch' seemed to work as Demiurge's tail lashed behind his back, reminding Ainz of a joyful puppy.

"My Lord is generous… I will strive to be more informal from now on." Demiurge said without straightening up from his half bow.

'Another notch in my heart's ledger for the Draconic Queen's inadvertent lessons.' Ainz reflected, even if Demiurge hadn't yet quite grasped the concept, the intent was there and it was well received.

"There is nothing left to be done, are you prepared for the journey?" Ainz asked, and Demiurge straightened up, and folding his hands behind his back he answered immediately.

"Nothing, my Lord. Albedo is briefed on all of my projects and has visited the dark elf settlements, as well as those of the humans, and the criminal elements have been culled accordingly, while your reign is being viewed favorably for the drop in crime and the lower taxes. She is aware of your plan for the adventurers and will see to their ordering as soon as possible. She… did ask me to relay how much she misses you, however." He cleared his throat, coughing briefly into his hand as he uncomfortably relayed his comrade's sentiment.

"Ah, yes, then let's go." Ainz said with haste and cast [Gate]. They then stepped through it immediately and were gone.

Zenberu was waiting at the gate of the common village when Ainz arrived with Demiurge, he carried a pack on his back and he had with him a large walking stick. As soon as Ainz appeared, the Lizardman lowered his face to the dirt. "God of Life and Victory, your servant is ready!"

Demiurge, standing behind Ainz, nodded with approval.

"You can't serve me well from down there, Zenberu, rise. Rise and lead us, you have made your farewells, yes?" Ainz asked, and the large lizardman nodded.

"I have, and I am well rested, I am afraid I am still too weak to fight properly, but I can walk at least. The way is a little foggy, but as we head over familiar ground I'm sure that will change." Zenberu replied with confidence.

"Then we go." Ainz said, and Zenberu asked.

"Will my Lord permit the rest of the village to rise?" Zenberu asked, "Forgive my question but… the fish, you understand."

Ainz looked over his shoulder, the rest of the village was down on their faces in the dirt, and he had not noticed.

He recovered as quickly as he could, "Rise… and serve your King as well." He said as nobly as he could and gave a dramatic wave over their heads.

They rose to their feet, and when Zenberu began to lead them away from the village, the village sent cheers toward their retreating backs.

The adulation of the villagers gave Ainz a warm feeling in his heart.

The great trees and the long trail between them, the morning sun on the horizon, the dew visible on leaves and grasses. The fresh air, so clean that even the idea of needing a mask for it would have been absurd to the people of this world. His body was strong, powerful, easily keeping pace with the lizardman guide, total ease was his.

This was the part that Ainz had come to love.

Mile led to mile, way led on to way, every path they passed by sparked his curiosity. 'What lies that way? What about that way?' And yet even while he wondered, he knew there was no chance of answering it in the manner he wanted to.

Ainz recalled something Bellriver had once said about all his decisions, 'And both that morning equally lay. In leaves no step had trodden black. Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how the way leads on to the way, I doubted if I should ever come back.'

Each path not taken was a missed chance to explore, and each chance lost, a pang he struggled to ignore. His obligation drove him forward after Zenberu, relieved at least that the way ahead was an unknown that could still excite him beyond measure, and did.

For tranquil hour after tranquil hour they trod, with Ainz wearing beneath his glove a ring of sustenance to eliminate his need for sleep, rest, food, or drink to better mimic the undead being which Demiurge seemed to still believe him to be.

But this was not the case for Zenberu, and though he delayed them as little as possible with his needs, by eating and drinking as they walked, and taking the minimum time to relieve himself, sleep still was a requirement.

"My Lord, we should consider making camp soon…" He stopped when Ainz shook his head.

"There is no need for that." Ainz replied, he nearly said, "I will use magic," and summoned a fortress, but as he considered the present company of Demiurge, he thought better of it.

"We will be staying in Nazarick tonight, my home. You will be my guest." Ainz offered, and Zenberu looked at him, open mouthed.

"If that is my Lord's will…" He said, and when Ainz summoned the [Gate], he followed through after his King and the Guardian, yet not without a hesitant look around him at the more familiar world.

'The realm of a God… will I ever see this world again? Even if I do, will it ever look the same?' He asked himself for only a moment before vanishing through the whorling void of impossible magic before his eyes.