Chapter 4: Ainz's Confusion

"Ainz-sama!"

Demiurge turned back again, which gave Ainz quite a headache.

After all, right now, there was a wild Shalltear sitting under his butt!

He had just managed to send away Aura and Mare. Cocytus was on guard duty during the battle, so Ainz had been looking for an excuse to get up from Shalltear. But now, Demiurge had returned.

"Demiurge, is there something else?" Ainz asked in a dignified manner, trying to stay composed.

"Yes, Ainz-sama! I, Demiurge, am deeply grateful for Ainz-sama's kindness!" Demiurge immediately knelt down and spoke words that made no sense to Ainz.

"Demiurge, I accept your gratitude. Continue serving Nazarick with loyalty." Ainz was utterly confused.

What did I do this time? Why is Demiurge suddenly expressing gratitude out of nowhere?

"I will, with all my heart, dedicate myself fully to Nazarick!" Demiurge bowed his head solemnly.

Uh… this is getting stranger. Demiurge, can you explain?

Ainz was completely puzzled but could only keep his thoughts to himself. He decided to probe further.

"Then… Demiurge, how is the progress?" Ainz tried to fish for information, hoping to get something out of Demiurge.

"At first, there wasn't much progress. The creatures I cultivated were no different from the ones Ainz-sama summoned. In some aspects, they were even inferior to Ainz-sama's summons," Demiurge said with some regret.

"Is that so…" Ainz said aloud, but internally, he was confused.

Cultivating creatures? Demiurge never mentioned that before. And I didn't help him with anything either, did I?

"As expected of Ainz-sama! You realized my intentions and guided me with this method. I truly admire you, Ainz-sama!" Demiurge continued speaking words that only confused Ainz further.

What? How did I guide Demiurge?

The more I ask, the more confused I get!

Although he now understood that it had something to do with Demiurge's creature cultivation, Ainz himself had done absolutely nothing to make Demiurge feel grateful.

Ainz was completely bewildered but maintained his dignified expression.

"As expected of Ainz… sama…" Shalltear, who was being used as a chair, gasped.

Shut up, you pervert! Ainz complained internally.

"Hmm… Demiurge, though the Guardians were not created by me, you are all like my children. As a parent, of course, I must take an interest in your endeavors." Ainz blurted out nonsense, not knowing how else to extract information from Demiurge.

"Ah! I understand!! I will be sure to cherish the skeletal warrior Ainz-sama has created—one that possesses intelligence and self-awareness!"

Father!!

When Demiurge heard Ainz say those words, he suddenly had a revelation! His eyes gleamed with light.

"Good! Then proceed with it!" Ainz waved his hand in an authoritative manner.

I'm even more confused now.

An intelligent and self-aware skeletal warrior?

When did I create such a thing? What am I, some kind of bone-breeding machine? Ridiculous!

Ever since I came to this world, I haven't been able to use the game's system commands at all. How could I possibly create an undead with intelligence and self-awareness?

Thinking back, the only skeletal warriors I summoned recently were for appearance's sake earlier.

Did something happen to one of them?

I need to check!

I don't remember doing anything that would create an undead with intelligence. The skeletal warriors I summoned were just level-20 mobs—barely even good enough as tanks in the game.

Although I haven't tested their combat capabilities in this world, the skeletal warriors I summoned before were all like Death Knights—mindless puppets that just obyed orders.

How did one gain intelligence and self-awareness?

I need to find out!

After a short while, Demiurge returned, wearing a smiling expression.

Though, to be fair, Demiurge's face always looked like it was smiling. Ellie was confused.

Why was she left here?

I was created by Ainz! You can't just abandon me like this!

Ellie screamed internally, but she dared not move.

The two Death Knights were still staring at her.

If I make a move, they might just tear me apart on the spot.

When Demiurge returned, he still had the same smiling face as before.

Then, he summoned his personal guards—the Wrathful Demons—and had them take Ellie away!

No!!

I still want to see Ainz!!

Don't take me away!!

Though Ellie shouted in her heart, she still couldn't speak, and thus, her thoughts never reached anyone.

Ellie was then transported via portal to an unknown place.

To be honest, Ellie couldn't accept it.

Neither mentally nor physically.

The floors and ceiling were made of what looked like pulsating flesh.

Was this really necessary? Did it have to be this creepy?

Is this the set of Saya no Uta?

Now the question was, why did the Wrathful Demons bring her here?

Uh… were they going to execute me?

That… shouldn't be the case, right?

If they wanted to execute me, those two Death Knights could've done it with a single slap.

There was no need for the Wrathful Demons to personally escort me here.

And to such a horrifying place…

Wait…

Were they sending me to Demiurge's "Happy farm"?

Nooo!! Anything but that!! I don't want to become a two-legged sheep!!

Wait… I'm a skeleton… I wouldn't even qualify as a two-legged sheep, right??

This is so weird.

As Ellie was still trying to figure things out, she was suddenly stuffed into a dark, closed container.

Eww!! This is disgusting!!

This isn't a container—this feels like the inside of some monster's stomach!

Even though she had no sense of touch or light, Ellie could still feel the constant movement of whatever was enclosing her.

Eww!! What the hell is this!!

Even though she had no pain receptors, after a while, Ellie realized—

Her legs were gone.

To be precise, they had been melted away.

So that's how it is.

This is… a terrible way to die!

Damn you, Being X! This is too cruel!!

You didn't give me any overpowered skills or cheats, and you turned me into a skeleton—but I never even complained!

But now, you want me to die like this? That's just too much!!

I haven't even had the chance to enjoy life, act cool, or become a main character!

Dying like this is the worst!!

And this time, my body won't even leave behind any remains…

As Ellie lamented her fate, more and more of her body melted away.

At least… I'm glad I don't have pain receptors.

And at least I can't see myself melting…

Alright, this is it.

Goodbye, Ellie-chan…

I lasted two more chapters, but in the end, I still had to die.

It's inevitable—fate cannot be defied.

See you in the next life!