Tears of Nazarick

The blotted out sun dankly illuminated the ashen hills she walked upon. A lady with silken skin, mirroring the hue of a pure white melting candle. She hid her presence well, although even if one could see her, they should know better to avoid her by presence alone.

"Hum, it seems I forget myself. Such dreary conditions they hide the crypt in."

"[Lead of Yatagarasu]" The spell escapes her cold lips like a declaration of love whispered into moonless sky. She observed with fond eyes as her magic circles coalesced into the birthing of a creature of the night. The three-legged crow Yatagarasu was once again born into the world, tenderly landing in his mistress' shoulder.

"Yatagarasu, would you be a dear and lead me to the heart of Corpus? They hid the entry again."

She knew full well even the Night Liches were getting paranoid, but how couldn't them? With such a presence as the Sorcerer King emerging in the northern continent, they could waste no effort at keeping their guard up.

'Hahh, how I wish you would have showed the world such another overwhelming spell, couldn't you just rule the living with that power alone?'

She ushered in a worshiping moan. She could not have seen it with her own eyes, but the Massacre of the Katze Plains could be felt in every inch of her undead body. Such pleasure awakening a warmth deep beneath her she hadn't felt in centuries.

'It shouldn't be too long now. Luring in that foolish dwarf with the promises of undead flames that could melt even the hardest of metals. I'm sure that when The Wyrm meets him, his fury will be roused to command us to invade that continent.'

'Then, what will you do? Will you cast another wonderful spell for me? Ah, I can only pray for that!'

She let her lower body stop trembling before venturing deeper into the tombs. She had only need to stir up the group further to act within her wishes.

Seeing his visit to the twins and his training with Cocytus was done with, Ainz pondered on where he should travel to next.

'I don't really want to visit the Frozen Prison right now, but the 4th floor really only has Gargantua in it, and it's not like he's the most talkative of the bunch. Maybe it's finally time to visit the Graveyard.'

Destination in mind, Ainz looked to one particular ring adorning his bony fingers.

'Ainz Ooal Gown.'

Those three words mean so much. His guild, his new name, and now his new family.

He would not let it all go to waste.

The overlord thus warped to the catacombs, beginning his crusade from the top of the third floor.

'Shalltear is responsible for the defense of the Graveyard. She has stopped a lot of the weaker player invasions before that massive one came along. I never did ask the Floor Guardians who participated what they thought of it before, but remembering them that they "failed" once is probably not a good idea.'

Ainz felt oddly at home in the subterranean terrains on the third floor. Perhaps for the abundance of death and the negative energy reeking from within it, his undead nature felt very at ease.

'Hehe, maybe that's why this world fears undead so much. Shalltear must feel very happy to be stationed here.'

Having the Valkyrie's name cross his mind, Ainz suddenly felt a pang of guilt. He stopped his idle reanimation and accelerated his pace through the catacombs, noting some of the more elite undead bowing to him as he passed by. He took the steps down the second floor, passing by the overlord general that served as the Area Guardian to the third floor.

'We never did end up finding another overlord in this world, but I wouldn't be a fool to say I was the only one. That girl could use [The Goal of All Life is Death] with her Talent, so the undead "Great God" was most likely one, and there could still be powerful undead groups out there we haven't met.'

Such thoughts and worries about the future inhabited Ainz's head more than he was willing to admit, so he tried casting them aside as he continued his way through the graveyard. Letting the Black Capsule behind, he could already see his target destination standing behind the derelict rope bridge. One could hear the groans of the thousand undead that laid below it, hungering for victims to consume.

'Ugh, I'm not making that embarrassing mistake with the Death Knights again.'

After casting a silent [Fly] to cross the chasm, Ainz was finally in front of Shalltear's residence, the Adipocere Chambers. Frilly veils of white swayed from the ceilings, paired with the perfumes that would debuff those without the protection, it invited an air of eroticism to this section of the floor.

Pushing a bony hand through the curtains, Ainz Ooal Gown walked into the chambers, to the surprise of it's inhabitants.

"Gasp!"

"The supreme one!"

It was some of Shalltear's Vampire Brides that had greeted him. The servants were quick to bow and began getting up from their suggestive posts, quick to dust off and prepare a place for the Lord, if he desired.

"Oh gracious master of Nazarick, I'm afraid to inform you that our mistress has yet to return to her quarters."

'Eh! Too close!' Ainz had only ever been presented with this class of vampires during his visit to the Dwarven Kingdom, where Shalltear brought them along to serve as maids. Looking back now, she never let them get this close to him, for some reason.

"I-I see. She must have been busy since the meeting in the throne room. Is she set to return any soon?"

"I can't be too sure, my lord. But if she follows her usual schedule, she should come to experience us in a few minutes from now." The bride that spoke to him wore a golden tiara with five red jewels adorning the front. It banded behind her head, dividing the flowing waist-length hair back from the section that curved forwards to cover her bosom.

'Shalltear must have designated her to fulfill a specific role here. She really takes after Peroroncino when it comes to detail...For libido purposes, at least.'

"Very well. I shall await here for her return, then."

"As you wish, Overlord."

The head vampire maid clapped her hands in succession, leading three of the other brides to quickly arrange a table and chair for him to sit in. While their movements weren't as refined as the Pleiades or even the homunculus maids, they were clearly more sultry looking. Their silken dresses with no apparent underwear didn't leave too much for the imagination as they moved around, bending over and pressing against one another to dust-off hard to reach places.

'It's like I'm visiting the message parlors Peroroncino would always go on about!' He remembered his friend talking about his discoveries in the most recent H-Game he had played, talking extensively about "Soap lands" and "Nuru Massages", among other things.

After that ordeal of organization, though, things calmed down with the vampire brides. Ainz would occasionally hear one of them whispering something to the other, to gasps of disbelief and faces covered in blushing. Meanwhile, some of them seemed eager or almost afraid of what was to come for them.

'Seeing the room like this now, it's actually not so bad.'

This room was everything Shalltear was meant to represent. The pink tapestries, the frilly crimson veils that decorated the walls, all the closets filled with erotic literature and toys, her own costumes… All the girlish yet garish decorations were left behind by her creator, Peroroncino-Sama.

'You really left her spoiled, didn't you, Peroroncino?' The Overlord chuckled, to the silent enthusiasm of some of the maids. In this rumination of his for one of his friends, one of his best comrades, Ainz could feel truly happy for one second. 'She really is your pride and joy. If only she knew she was the biggest gift of all from you…'

His thoughts were interrupted once again as a [Gate] could be heard from behind the frilly curtains, a tired Shalltear Bloodfallen finally walking in.

"My vampire brides, today has been stressful enough, I expect at least three of you to join me in my- Eh?"

Her undead heart stopped. She was met with the visage of the highest of undead beings, the Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown himself, leader of the great Tomb of Nazarick. And he's sitting on a pink tea chair in her living room.

He was truly unpredictable!

"L-L-Lord Ainz-Sama!!" The Valkyrie knelt as fast as she could, almost hitting her head to the floor with great force.

"You may lift your head, Shalltear." The Overlord spoke with grace and kindness unbound, befitting of the last of the supreme beings. "It was I that came uninvited, after all."

Shalltear did as instructed, lifting herself with utmost grace, but still retorting.

"Don't say that, Ainz-sama! You are the supreme ruler of the tomb after all." She smiled, placing one hand over her chest while holding her skirt with the other. "Every place, and everyone is yours to command. We can only be happy to see you in our quarters~"

Finishing herself with an Arinsu, she took more steps towards her lord.

Ainz had a kingly chuckle to himself at Shalltear's attitude, to her great pleasure. "If that's what all of you think, then I must resign myself to agree with it."

Her face was centimeters away from his skull right now, seeing as she was standing while he still sat in the tea chair. Seeing her so close, his eyes inadvertently turned to the exit, where one of the Vampire Brides followed prepared to open the curtains for him.

Before she was thrown against and down the derelict bridge, that is.

"So, Ainz-Sama, what can this Shalltear Bloodfallen do for you?" Her eyes were surprisingly eager, with a hint of anxiety to prove herself to her lord. "Y-You can stay here a bit longer, I don't want to keep you busy if you have important matters to attend to, but I'm sure me and my brides can-"

"Hehe."

It was not the response she was expecting. She was just being cordial out of her own flirtatiousness for Lord Ainz like all times before, she didn't expect he'd actually…

"I accept. I hope you will treat me well, Shalltear."

'Eh?!'

Shalltear's face went red. She didn't think he'd ever actually accept it! All the other maids suddenly had their eyes widened too, some holding their hands to their mouths to avoid gasping out loud.

"Lady Shalltear-sama! Should we prepare your room according to fantasy number seven or number nine? Or perhaps sixty-three would work best-"

"Shut it! Just bring me a chair and make some tea for us!"

She couldn't believe it, being alone in her quarters with Lord Ainz! Besides the maids almost ruining it, it was so perfect!

Soon enough, there was a fancy royal chair for Shalltear so she and Ainz could sit as equals. Ainz was glad Shalltear's loyalty didn't stop her from sitting casually with him like it did with so many other guardians.

"So, how is the dragon transportation system going?"

"It's going very well, Lord Ainz! Coordinating those creatures without a [Charm] spell was troublesome at first, but soon enough this Shalltear Bloodfallen will have them completely under her heel!"

"Umu. I'm happy to hear you've been enjoying it. It would be good to get that system running independently one day, but I'd hate it if you felt your talents were being wasted doing something you didn't like."

"A-Ainz sama thinks I'm talented!" Her face had a big smile for a second. "I mean, of course! Flying around on delivery can be boring, but the off-times we could drop Soul Eaters to attack those villages were fun!"

Ainz recalled the strategy Shalltear herself deployed. Some Soul-Eaters had gotten stuck when they broke through the roof, but the damage they did was undeniable.

'There's not much the weak can do against aerial attacks, it was the same with Fluder telling me about his strategy of using [Fly] to bombard the Kingdom's troops with spells. Just with a troop of undead being raised to boot!'

"Lady Shalltear, Overlord-sama, here are your drinks."

Another of the vampire brides had come to serve them, this one wore large earrings and had short, floaty hair in a bob that parted at the middle.

The drinks were delivered in ornamentally crafted obsidian teacups, with a dusting of powdered adamantite adorning a crimson line along the outer rims.

'Seeing how long the maid took to get them, Shalltear must keep these locked away for special opportunities. Or maybe it's just the drink that took long to make?'

The drink itself had a dark spinel look to it, with even the steam flowing from the hot tea appearing as if was a crimson aura, almost like a lite version of the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown.

Looking back up, Ainz realized Shalltear has been staring him expectantly, not even touching her own teacup.

'Ah! She's making a pouting face, does she want me to drink this? It'll just spill over!'

"This tea looks delicious, Shalltear. I'd love to be able to taste it." The Overlord coolly carried the cup next to his face, letting the steam stir closer to his eye-sockets, making the flames within burn brightly. "It smells terrific, too."

He thought that would be enough to satiate her, but even through the steam, he could barely see that she was pouting even harder!

"Umu. I see. I won't make light of your offering, Shalltear!" 'If an employee or a coworker makes you a cup of coffee without any strings attached, it's only cordial to drink it in front of them!'

Shalltear was surprised to see Ainz reach into his inventory, pulling out… A handkerchief?

'I should at least try to not make a mess in her tea table.'

Ainz finally held the tea cup close to his mouth, bringing the handkerchief under it with his other hand.

With no particular expectation, he turned the teacup over and let it spill inside his skull.

Like he thought, it went right through him. At least it landed neatly in the handkerchief. 'I'd be embarrassed if I spilled it all over myself.'

"As I said, Shalltear, I'd love to be able to properly taste it, unfortunately I am not able to-"

Suddenly, he felt his hand being gripped by hers. She held it like one would pick up a kitten by their scruff, sternly, but still with the uttermost care in the world.

Before he could even question her, she lifted his handkerchief-ready hand and pressed it into his face, rubbing it against his teeth and jaw.

'Eh?'

'Ehhhh?!'

A rush of emotions surged through Ainz at the unconventional situation before quickly being inhibited. Not only was Shalltear doing something that would be extremely inappropriate in any other setting, he also…

His eye-sockets burned brighter than before.

'I can taste this? Or rather, like this?'

He soon realized Shalltear had already let his hand go, and he was the one "tasting" the handkerchief on his own for some time.

"Well, Lord Ainz, how would you say it tasted?"

He faked a small cough before setting the handkerchief down. "Well. Umu. It tasted very pleasing, actually, I'm impressed, Shalltear."

'It had a pretty strong feeling to it. Sweet like honey, but with a metallic aftertaste to it. More importantly though, how the hell did she figure out I could taste stuff?!'

Shalltear's expression had gone from pouty to a smile that was about to blow up from cheeriness.

"Haha, Ainz-Sama! This Shalltear Bloodfallen has once again proven how invaluable she is to have around~!" The True Vampire held her arms up in celebration, before suddenly returning to her usual state and regally taking a sip of her own tea.

"Oh, right. You must be wondering how we made this tea. I had the Vampire Brides look into Ashurbanipal while I cross-referenced Peroroncino-sama's own account of aphrodisiac herbs! And then for ingredients we cut up-"

"Actually Shalltear, I was more curious on how you knew I would be able to, well, taste the tea."

The Vampire looked confused for a second, thinking hard before figuring out the answer Ainz most likely wanted.

"Oh? That was easy! I just experimented with the Area Guardian from my floor! Well, it was mostly the Vampire Brides since I've been so busy otherwise, but we eventually discovered he could savor drinks if he willingly brought them close to his skull." Shalltear explained it like a child trying to tell their parents of a new scientific experiment they learned in school.

"It probably doesn't feel the same as tasting with one's tongue, but hopefully it was enough for you, Ainz-Sama!" She said with a sparkle of hopeful admiration in her eyes.

Ainz thought about it for a minute. Shouldn't he have realized something like this earlier?

'Then again, I can see, I can hear, and I can even smell better than when I was a human! I feel I should have discovered this earlier, but did I really let something near my skull? I have my resistances on most of the time, even on the battlefield blood barely comes close to me. And don't they say taste is mostly dependent on smell, too? Aghhh! This is too confusing!'

"Ahem. Well, I have to commend you for this...discovery, Shalltear! You're probably the only one in Nazarick that would have thought to try this out."

'I should hope she doesn't tell Demiurge about this, he'll probably start a line of experiments every day with the librarian overlords to try and learn more about me!'

Shalltear, on the other hand, was ecstatic at the compliment.

"Your praise is too much, Lord Ainz! To think you would compare me with the greatest minds of Nazarick, Ah~~" She was almost melting at her seat, holding her hands to her face. 'The mercy of our lord is too much! The others may think I'm stupid, but Lord Ainz just told me I could do something no one else could!'

Some time passed since then. The Overlord and the True Vampire talked a lot, about life on the Tomb, the new beings that have taken residence in Nazarick, even Shalltear's own incident and the Slane Theocracy.

"So that half-elf is from the country that, ahem, brainwashed me?"

"Yes, Shalltear." It was hard to tell which of the two were more uneasy on the subject. While Shalltear was apprehensive about once turning her blade against her Lord, Ainz was furious at the people that made him kill one of his own. "But she was not in the party of the people who confronted you with the World Item, neither was she involved in the incident in any way."

Shalltear wasn't sure about what her lord was getting at. "So...Should we feel hostile to her or not...arinsu?"

Ainz sighed. "Well, I was hoping you would have stronger feelings on it, but it seems we're lost on that too." The undead silently lowered the used handkerchief to the now empty teacup.

"I barely had the time to interrogate her, actually. She is too strong to be ignored, but from what little I could see from her memories, she doesn't seem too particularly loyal to the Theocracy either."

"Ah! So maybe we can turn her against her own people?"

A light sparked in the Overlord's eyes. It was a simple plan, fitting of Shalltear, but one he would keep in mind nonetheless.

"It's too early to say, but if her strength should be put against anybody, we'll make sure it's towards the enemy."

Shalltear could agree with that at least. 'Whatever plan Lord Ainz chooses is sure to be the right one, so I only need to follow whatever he does through!'

The two were done with their tea now, and seemingly done with discussion topics too.

After Shalltear called one of the brides to clean after them, the two started getting up.

'Sasuga...Even if this day ended now, I spent a lot of time alone with Ainz-Sama, I couldn't be happier!'

"Well Shalltear, I believe we're done here. You've treated me excellently well, you have my thanks for it."

These words from her lord stung a bit, knowing this wonderful evening would soon come to an end, but it would be wrong of her to ask for more of her lord's precious time.

"This Shalltear Bloodfallen is happy to provide this hospitality to you any time, Ainz-Sama!'

"Umu. There's one more thing I should do for you too, Shalltear."

Last time he did something like this, it only led to more pain in his heart when he learned of the plotting behind his back.

But Shalltear was different. He could understand her, he knew her better than he knows almost all other guardians.

"What is it, Lord Ai-"

He was close. Too close! She could fully cover herself in the sleeves of his robes now if she wanted, but instead she decided to look straight into his skeletal face.

"Thank you for your time, Shalltear."

Before the Valkyrie could even respond, the Overlord held her chin up and pressed his teeth against her forehead.

'!'

The Vampire Brides all gasped at the heartwarming sight. Some of them were almost at the verge of tears, while others wanted to clap but knew better than to ruin the moment.

Shalltear herself was still shocked, her eyes widened in total surprise.

…

Ainz straightened himself back, he had to lower himself a lot this time due to their different sizes.

Finally, Shalltear spoke.

"A-Ainz-Saaamaaaaaa?!?!"

"Shalltear, that was jus-"

She hit him with a surprise attack too, hovering above and throwing her arms behind his head, pulling herself in for a kiss where his lips should be.

'You should be able to taste this too, right, Ainz-Sama?' She ran her lips on his pale-white bones, carnally exploring the insides of his skull with her tongue.

Around the pair, the Vampire Brides quickly scattered like they had been caught in an invasion, running inside Shalltear's private room desperate to get it looking meticulous.

Shalltear suddenly regained some of her gentleness, unwrapping her arms from Ainz and letting herself slowly flutter down to the floor. She looked towards his face with a smile, unknowing if she would face disapproval or not.

The Overlord stared blankly at her. As soon as this day started, all Ainz wanted was to forget it. To get his mind off from the things that were eating at his heart…But all he experienced getting down here, if he wanted to make these feelings worth it...

Suddenly, it was Ainz that had a firm grip of Shalltear's hand. It sent a chill down to her very core, but a loving warmth would soon replace it.

"Well, Shalltear, aren't you going to take me to your room?"