"Enkvaros, do you remember that name?"
He looked toward Ainz nervously; he hoped this Ainz was the one he met in the game and not the original.
"Enkvaros? You mean Demon King Enkvaros? I thought you already quit the ga—Yggdrasil."
Hearing the surprise and recognition in his voice, he let out a breath of relief; thankfully, he was the one he met, and this would make things easier.
If this Ainz was the original and didn't recognize that name, he was going to claim that he once met him in the game, and he would flatter him by saying that he was famous in Yggdrasil; that should weaken some of the NPC's guard.
"Yes, it's me, Enkvaros. I never thought I would meet you again ever since my death, Momonga."
"Death!? So when you suddenly disappeared, it was because you were dead?"
"Yes, did Ulbert not say anything about it?"
"No, he only said that you were quitting Yggdrasil."
"I see..."
He sighed while thinking sadly about his friend. Based on the fact that Ainz is all alone, it seems Ulbert didn't stay until the end according to his request, when the last time they talked with each other.
"Enkvaros, why did—"
"Wait a second, Lord Ainz. I didn't know who this Enkvaros is, but isn't it possible that this human is lying and just using that name?"
When Ainz was about to say something, Albedo suddenly took a step forward and put out a logical argument while looking at him with suspicion.
"Hmm, you have a point."
Ainz then glanced toward all the monsters in the room and said, "Except for the Floor Guardian, you are all dismissed."
All the creatures then let out all sorts of voices in obedience as they slowly exited the Throne Room, while some of them vanished by using teleportation.
Once the Throne Room, full of monsters, became empty, he let out a breath as he looked toward Ainz with a grin spread on his face.
"So what are you gonna ask Momonga?"
"Your attitude is disrespectful toward Suprem—"
"It's fine, Albedo."
"But Lord Ainz!"
"If he truly is what he says, then he is my friend. I allow him to talk like that."
"...I understand, please forgive my transgression."
"Hmm."
Albedo backed down after a slight nod from Ainz, but she gave him one last glare before her expression turned back into that of a perfect woman with a gentle smile on her face.
Truly a scary woman.
"Now then, Enkvaros, I will ask several questions and you need to answer them to confirm your identity."
"Sure."
"Hmm, what is your race in Yggdrasil?"
"Demon."
"What is your class?"
"Battle Shifter."
"What is your name?"
He stared at Ainz weirdly as he glanced toward the Floor Guardian beside him; he could sense their confusion when Ainz asked that.
"You want me to reveal it here? Can't we talk about it when we are alone?"
For a moment, he thought he heard a cracking sound as he glanced toward Albedo, but her face was still that of a smiling goddess; he must be imagining things.
"No, of course not, just give me the first and second letter of your name."
"If that's the case, then alright, it's Ha."
"Oh!? So it really is you, huh, Enkvaros! I am happy to finally meet you again!"
"Likewise, although you are now much scarier compared to the nice guy I knew in the past."
"Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha— tch, it's being suppressed again. Anyway, I want to hear the details about how you became human and ended up in this world, but for now, I want to discuss things with my subordinate."
"That's fine, I'm also curious about what happened after I died; let's talk later."
"Alright, Albedo, call one of the Pleiades to escort Enkvaros and his maid to the guest room."
"It shall be done, Lord Ainz."
Albedo bowed her head toward Ainz and then put her finger on her temple, likely calling the Pleiades.
Not long after that, he heard the Throne Room gate open as he looked toward his back and saw Yuri Alpha approaching him.
"I'll be the one to escort you to the guest room; please follow me."
"Alright, let go, Ray."
"Mmm."
Ray nodded and immediately got much closer to him, almost touching him. Seeing her pale face, he guessed she was still feeling afraid.
He casually grasped her hand as he pulled her while following Yuri out of the Throne Room, not realizing what face she was making behind him.
"◇"
Seeing the lower life form finally get out of the Throne Room, both Demiurge and Cocytus got down from the raised platform as they kneeled toward their lord.
She looked to the right at Lord Ainz as she opened her mouth to ask a question.
"So, Lord Ainz, who is this Enkvaros? There is no Supreme Being with that name, and it seems you two know each other quite well."
The moment she finished talking, she suddenly felt jealous of that Enkvaros, as she could only call her beloved by that dirty name and couldn't call his true and glorious name openly.
"He is one of the nine, the founding member of Nine Own Goal, the predecessor of Ainz Ooal Gown. If not for his untimely death, he would be one of the Supreme Beings."
Her jealousy increased upon hearing the happy and nostalgic tone in her master.
Should she assassinate that Enkvaros? No, she can't risk it. If Lord Ainz found out about it, she couldn't handle his wrath directed at her, seeing that this Enkvaros was a previous candidate for Supreme Being and seemed quite important to him.
She could only keep her thoughts to herself, and not to mention, it seemed this Enkvaros was losing quite a lot of power and had turned into a lowly human. He shouldn't have any chance to gain authority in the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
"Anyway, I have already confirmed that he is truly Enkvaros, so Albedo, spread the news to all of Nazarick that Enkvaros/Nfirea is under my protection."
"Yes, Lord Ainz."
She bowed her head toward her lord as her smiling face turned into a frown, before she raised her head again and her face returned to normal.
"So how should we treat him, Lord Ainz? Considering that he is a candidate for Supreme Being, should we treat him as one?"
"Hmm, no, just treat him as my most important guest."
"I understand, my lord."
She replied obediently, but inside, her hate for Enkvaros increased after hearing the most important come out of Lord Ainz's mouth.
"But Lord Ainz, we should probably send some minions to monitor him just in case he plans something bad against us."
Lord Ainz turned toward her, and she gulped as she sensed displeasure in his flaming eyes, but she kept looking at him determinedly.
She and Lord Ainz kept staring at each other as she felt hot on her cheeks while fidgeting around, seeing his intense gaze on her, before Lord Ainz let out a tired sigh.
"Haaah... I don't like putting my friend under surveillance, but you are probably just worried about me, so I will allow it. Now then, what kind of minion should I send to him?"
"Lord Ainz, can I give you a suggestion?"
"Hmm? What is it, Demiurge?"
Her brow furrowed as she looked at Demiurge.
Ever since that lowly human revealed his name, she noticed that Demiurge was just observing silently.
Even when that dirty human casually called her beloved true name, the usual Demiurge would be getting angry at the disrespect he showed.
But this time, she didn't get any hint from his body language that he was angry, so she looked at him suspiciously.
"I want to send one of my bodyguards, the Evil Lord Sloth, to monitor him."
"Hmm? Isn't your guard one of the most important NPCs in the 7th floor? Do you have a reason for it?"
"Yes, Lord Ulbert put most of his effort into creating Evil Lord Sloth. Despite her not directly being part of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, her duty is to take care of the hidden grave of Enkvaros in the 7th floor."
"Oh? This is the first time I hear about this. Tell me more about it."
"Yes, apparently the purpose of Lord Ulbert making the grave and the Evil Lord Sloth is for the memory of his best friend, and the gratitude Lord Ulbert feels toward Enkvaros for everything he had done for him."
"I see, so Ulbert did something like that, huh? I don't know why he keeps the secret of Enkvaros's death to himself, but this is confirmation that what Enkvaros, or rather Nfirea, said is true."
She listened to the conversation between Lord Ainz and Demiurge silently, but one detail caught her attention, and that is the Evil Lord Sloth.
If she remembered correctly, she is a level 100 NPC who was appointed as Demiurge's bodyguard, quite different compared to her peers, who are only in the level 80-90 range.
The unique thing about her is that she is not connected to the Great Tomb of Nazarick; she is a kind of golem Luci☆fer made, in which they cannot be resurrected by gold coins once they die.
She furrowed her brow as she thought more about her. She wouldn't doubt the loyalty of a denizen of Nazarick, but in her case, there is the potential for her betrayal as she wasn't connected to the Tomb.
As she mulled it over whether to keep watch on her or not, the conversation between Lord Ainz and Demiurge continued. She put her thoughts for later and listened to them talk with each other.
"Yes, and that's why I want to give her to him, my little sister, to monitor him. It's my way of expressing my gratitude toward him, as apparently, from what I hear from Lord Ulbert, before Enkvaros died, he gave all his wealth to Lord Ulbert and made his life easier. Although I find it hard to believe that Lord Ulbert has any difficulty at all in life."
"I see... so is that what happened? It's no wonder Ulbert and Touch Me have never gotten along ever since Touch Me banished him from the clan. In that case, I must personally give my thanks to him for what he has done to Ulbert. Also, Demiurge, can you call Evil Lord Sloth here? I want to meet her."
"At once, my lord."
Demiurge bowed as he immediately got out of the Throne Room in a hurry to fetch the Evil Lord. In the meantime, she reported everything to her lord about what had happened in the Tomb when he was gone.
After several minutes, Demiurge came back, followed by another person.
When they neared the staircase, both of them kneeled toward her lord.
She felt satisfied seeing the Evil Lord also pay her respect to Lord Ainz; if she hadn't, she was going to label her as a threat to Nazarick.
"Lord Ainz, this is my little sister Shiraori, the Evil Lord Sloth."
"I pay my respects to the Supreme One. What can I do for you?"
Slow and melodious voice comes out of Shiraori's mouth; she can hear laziness in her tone. Although she feels irritated by it, she can't fault her too much as she is the embodiment of laziness.
She observes her appearance closely, as she has never met her in person and is only aware of her existence because she is inside Nazarick.
If she were going to describe her appearance, she could only say that she is white. Everything about her is white, from her skin to her silk hooded robe, and even her long hair that is tied around her body is white. Compared to Albedo, she is more fit to be called the White Demon.
And unlike the childish body of Shalltear, with a washboard for a chest, she has a big chest and childbearing hips.
She frowned as she looked at Shiraori's pretty face with closed eyes. Obviously, she is confident that she is above her in terms of appearance, but just in case, she is going to watch her, as she doesn't want another competitor to get Lord Ainz's love.