A Crimson Sovereign's Casual Tour
The Great Tomb of Nazarick was a fortress of unrivaled power. A labyrinth of magical marvels, filled with unimaginable dangers to outsiders.
To most.
But to Ainz Ooal Gown—or as the world now whispered, Rein—it was… home.
He had faced angels, political plots, and worse—Neuronist's chair—but today, Ainz had decided on something far more daunting:
Checking in on the Guardians. Personally.
First Floor – The Amphibious Garden of Sebas Tian
Ainz stepped into a serene indoor forest. Trees arched overhead, streams glimmered with mana, and the air was refreshingly damp.
Sebas Tian stood by a koi pond, hands folded behind his back, posture straight as ever.
"Lord Ainz," he bowed. "I was just feeding the fish."
Ainz glanced at the pond.
The koi looked... unusually disciplined.
"Do they bow?" he asked.
Sebas nodded. "Only at mealtimes."
Of course they do.
They shared a quiet moment. It was oddly peaceful.
"Thank you, Sebas," Ainz said, then added more softly, "You maintain this floor well."
Sebas looked genuinely pleased. "I live to serve, my lord."
Second Floor – Amphitheater of Aura & Mare
It was chaos.
Magical beasts galloped freely. Wyverns nested above. And in the middle of it all, Aura was riding a two-headed tiger while shouting battle commands to a line of oversized squirrels.
Mare, meanwhile, was planting flowers.
"Ah! Lord Ainz!" Aura hopped down, grinning. "We made a new training course! Want to try it?"
A bear wearing armor saluted behind her.
Ainz shook his head quickly. "Another time."
Mare bowed shyly. "W-we're keeping the floor balanced… s-so the predators don't eat each other too fast…"
That's… disturbingly responsible.
He patted Mare's head. The boy nearly fainted.
"Carry on," Ainz said.
Aura beamed. "Yes, Rein-sama!"
Ainz winced slightly at the name.
It's catching on. Damn it.
Third Floor – Coldsteel Cathedral of Cocytus
It was freezing. The temperature dropped with every step. Icicles clung to the black stone like claws.
Cocytus stood in the center of a frozen arena, meditating… or maybe dozing.
"Lord Ainz," he said without opening his eyes. "You honor… this floor."
"Everything functioning well?" Ainz asked, trying not to shiver.
"Yes. Armory expanded. Traps upgraded. Enemy simulations… crushed."
Ainz nodded. "Excellent. I'll… just move on before I become an ice sculpture."
As he turned, Cocytus added, "Your new form… majestic."
"…Thank you."
That was sincere. I think. Kinda makes me feel bad for skipping his ice spa plan last year.
Fifth Floor – Grand Library of Shalltear
A red fog clung low to the floor, scented faintly of roses and iron. Gothic lanterns hovered overhead. In the distance, an organ played a slow, haunting tune—probably unsupervised again.
Shalltear Bloodfallen stepped out from behind a velvet curtain, cradling a heavy leather-bound tome with gold trim.
"Lord Ainz~" she cooed, eyes sparkling. "I was just reading this delightful volume on noble bloodlines from an extinct vampire court."
Ainz glanced at the title: "Vessels of Crimson: Ancestral Lineage of Pure-Blood Sovereigns."
Of course it had a dramatic name.
"Fascinating," he replied neutrally.
"I thought…" she stepped closer, "since your new form is so… refined, perhaps you too possess a noble bloodline. A forgotten ancestry? A sealed destiny~?"
She flipped the book open to an illustration—tall, pale figures with flowing hair, thrones of bone, and capes so long they required footmen to carry.
"Just look at them! Regal. Peerless. Much like you, Ainz-sama."
He raised an eyebrow.
"I don't believe I have any ancient bloodline. Unless you count severe sleep deprivation from raid nights."
She blinked. "Raid… nights?"
"Never mind."
Telling her I used to pull all-nighters farming scrolls with HeroHero probably ruins the whole vampire prince mystique.
Still, Shalltear looked enraptured.
"If not by birth… perhaps by fate," she murmured. "Some sovereigns transcend lineage."
"…Or buy skins off a cash shop."
"What was that?"
"Nothing."
Focus. Don't accidentally tell her I got this look for twelve thousand yen.
"An intriguing theory, Shalltear," he said instead. "Do keep reading. Perhaps there's a prophecy somewhere that flatters me even more."
She gasped. "You do believe it, then!"
"I believe," Ainz said smoothly, turning to go, "that I should leave before that organ starts playing itself again."
She looked almost giddy.
Seventh Floor – Infernal Laboratory of Demiurge
Walls glowed with enchantments. Spells danced through tubes. Caged monsters muttered in multiple languages.
Demiurge greeted him in a tailored suit, hands folded.
"Ainz-sama. Your arrival is most fortuitous. I've prepared seventeen theories since this morning."
"Only seventeen?"
"I was holding back."
Why am I not surprised.
Demiurge walked him past an array of maps, notes, and what looked suspiciously like a framed drawing of "Rein the World-Binder."
"Everything is proceeding exactly as predicted," he said with a smile that was somehow terrifying.
Ainz gave a short nod. "You're doing… great."
And I will not ask what that twitching sack is. No sir.
Eighth Floor – Silent Sanctum of Victim
He entered quietly.
Victim floated gently in the air, surrounded by a circle of glowing runes. Peaceful. Still.
"…Rest well, guardian," Ainz whispered.
There was no reply. But the calm was comforting in its own way.
Ninth Floor – Throne Room Foyer
Finally, he returned to the place most familiar. The polished floors. The glowing torches. The giant mirror he still occasionally admired himself in, against better judgment.
He sat.
Albedo entered moments later.
"Did you enjoy your walk, Ainz-sama?"
He paused.
It wasn't bad.
"Yes," he said. "They're all well."
She smiled, hands folded over her chest. "Because they serve a perfect ruler."
Or because they haven't realized I made up the name 'Rein' because I panicked.
He allowed himself a small smile.
"Indeed."
**********************
After a full tour of Nazarick's guardians, Ainz returned to his private quarters with a rare sense of curiosity—and an idea he probably should've ignored.
Okay... I'm not technically human. Or undead. Or anything with a metabolism. But this new form has muscles. I think. Maybe?
He stood before his mirror again, flexing his arm slowly.
There was indeed some tension. The skin looked firm. Defined, even. Absurdly symmetrical, like a marble statue sculpted by someone with too much free time.
What if I can actually build muscle in this body?
Ainz glanced left. Then right.
No one was watching.
Time for science.
He dropped into a squat. Then another. Then a third. His coat billowed dramatically each time.
"ONE. TWO. THREE—gah, why am I counting like a shonen protagonist?"
Five minutes later, he was doing push-ups on the floor.
Still feels easy. No soreness. But... I don't seem to get tired either.
He stood up, panting purely out of habit.
No sweat. No strain. Just vibes.
Next, he tried a deadlift. Unfortunately, there was nothing to lift. So he teleported to a Nazarick training hall and grabbed a barbell designed for Cocytus-sized weight.
"Alright. If this doesn't give me feedback, nothing will."
He lifted it in one clean jerk. Held it. Waited.
Still nothing.
I'm strong. But static. No muscle burn. Not even a twitch.
He squinted at his reflection.
So I can look fit, but I'm not going to build any gains?
Ainz crossed his arms.
"Fine," he muttered. "Looks like I'm a decorative powerhouse. An aesthetically locked boss fight."
Later, he summoned Solution.
"Observe my physique," he said.
She blinked, nodded slowly. "...Perfectly proportioned, my lord. Unchanging. Like a divine sculpture."
So it's true. I'm a cursed anime figure with no growth stat.
"Thank you. You're dismissed."
She bowed and left.
Ainz sat down again.
Well, guess I won't be doing push-up montages. But at least I look cool doing nothing.
He flexed once more in the mirror.
Still. Damn. I do look good.