This was because most undead were immune to cold, but weak to fire. Because of that, no matter how cold the temperature got, the undead would not be affected, and since they ignored all metabolism-related status effects, they could function perfectly well in high-temperature areas, although they would take extra damage from fire-elemental attacks.
By the way, Death Knights were completely immune to cold, yet not weak to fire.
The only thing slowing his footsteps was the snow.
Wearing full plate armor would slow him down, and it caused his entire leg to sink deeply into the snow. If he was not undead, he would have succumbed to fatigue long ago.
After some time, the Death Knight finally found the large snow globe where Cocytus lived.
Six crystalline icicles rose from the ground around the snow globe.
The Death Knight continued advancing, and suddenly Cocytus’ body appeared at the snow globe’s entrance.
Their eyes met.
“A. Guest…? Were. You. The. One. Who. Activated. The. Gate? I. Received. A. Report. That. An. Undead. Creature. Of. Nazarick. Was. Passing. Through. But. You. Do. Not. Look. Familiar.”
Once the Death Knight said he was summoned by Ainz, Cocytus’ insectile face took on a look of surprise. No, the clacking of his huge lower mandibles was a sign of shock. That was probably a more accurate answer.
“Ohhhh! I. I. Have. Not. Shown. The. Proper. Respect. To. Think. You. Were. Ainz-sama’s. Messenger!”
The Death Knight motioned to stop Cocytus from kneeling, and told him about the events from Shalltear’s room.
However, it would be difficult to let the other party understand that he was an inferior, so he decided to start by having them address each other as equals first.
“I see. So. You. Were. At. Shalltear’s. Place. As. Well… I. Understand. Then. Let. Us. Proceed.”
Was it because of his nature as a warrior? Or because he was a man? Either way, he seemed to accept it much faster than Shalltear.
“This is. Not. A. Place. To. Entertain. Guests. Especially. Ainz-sama’s. Messenger. If. You. Don’t Mind. Would. You. Like. To. Come. Into. My. Home?”
The Death Knight’s body was unaffected by fatigue, so standing here would have been fine. However, he had no reason to refuse the offer. Also, like Cocytus said, the respect he was showing was not simply because of his master. Refusing the invitation would reflect badly on both of them.
He followed Cocytus into the big snow globe.
The walls, ceiling and furniture seemed to be made out of ice. This was probably an artistic decision. Aside from that, it wasn’t much different from a regular home.
However, it was big. It was big enough that Cocytus could swing his swords without a problem anywhere in the interior. It was probably designed with indoor fighting in mind.
They came to what looked like a conference room.
The Death Knight refused the offer of beverages. They had already been prepared for him on Shalltear’s side, but he felt bad about making people prepare them specially for him.
“Forgive. Me. For. Rushing. You. But. Can. You. Let. Me. Hear. The. Questions? “
Cocytus spoke from his place opposite the Death Knight at the table.
“Ainz-sama. Did Not. Use ‘Message’. But. Sent. An. Undead. Messenger. This. Must be. Very. Important. What is. The matter?”
The Death Knight understood that his master wanted him to open with “Sorry, this isn’t important”, but he also understood that to the Guardians, everything concerning Ainz-sama was an important matter. Still, he knew that that was not what his master wanted.
“What. Do you. Mean. By ‘Isn’t. Important.’ Ainz-sama. Is. The. One. Who. Gathered. The. Supreme Beings. Who. Made. This. Land. And. Everything. On. It. What. Could. Be. More. Important. Than. His. Words? There. Must. Be. A. Limit. To. Modesty. Even. For. You.”
Cocytus’ words resonated strongly with the Death Knight, and he nodded deeply in agreement.
The two of them exchanged glances again. Their eyes met for a moment — a vanishingly short time— but that was enough. The communication they exchanged through their souls did not need such crude things as words.
The two rose from their seats, and reflexively extended their hands, shaking them rightly.
As warriors who believed strongly in loyalty, honesty and earnest service, they saw kindred spirits in each other.
“—Pleased. To. Meet. You.”
The Death Knight roared softly in agreement.
Reluctantly, each unwilling to be the first one to release their grip, the two sat back down.
“Then. We. Should. Move on. To. The. Main. Topic. What. Did. Ainz-sama. Say?”
The Death Knight asked Cocytus about his interpersonal relationships; about the people he was closest to and least close to.
Cocytus blinked — an impressive feat considering he had compound eyes.
“Closest. To. And. Least. Close. To… A. Difficult. Question.”
Cocytus folded two of his four arms.
“By. Close. Do you. Mean. The. Ones. I am. Friendliest. With? Or. Something. Else.”
The Death Knight indicated that it was the former. As Cocytus fell into thought, he roared.
“If. I knew. Ainz-sama’s. True. Intentions. I. Could. Give. A. Better. Answer. If. You. Mean. The. Floor Guardians. I am. On. Good. Terms. With. That. Would be. Demiurge. If. That. Includes. All. The. Guardians. That. Would. Also. Include. Kyouhukou. And. I. Also. Maintain. Ties. With. Grant. And. Gashokukochuuo.”
The Death Knight nodded in understanding, and waited for the next answer.
Cocytus thought for a while, and then shook his head.
“When. I think. About. It. There is. Nobody. Among. The. Creations. Of. The. Supreme Beings. Whom I. Do not. Get along. With. However. For. The. Most. Part I. Only. Speak. With them. And. I. Have not. Met them. Face. To. Face. Like. I. Have. With. The. Area. Guardians. With. Ainz-sama’s. Permission. I would. Like to. Make. Time. To. Visit them. And. Deepen. Our. Friendship.”
The Death Knight promised that he would pass that message along. Considering their earlier encounter, there was a high chance he would meet his master outside, as he left the snow globe. He might be able to fulfil his promise to Cocytus sooner than expected.
“Also. Although. This. Is not. Related. To the. Topic. I. Would. Like. To. Request. A. Chance. To. Spar. With. Sebas. And. Albedo. Live. Combat. Practice — Especially. With. Strong. Fighters — Will. Surely. Be. A. Boon. To. Ainz-sama.”
This sounded just like a suggestion one would expect of an artist dedicated to perfecting his craft. The Death Knight could understand where Cocytus was coming from and would relay his wishes to his master.
Next, the Death Knight asked his question. “What do you want… besides Ainz-sama.”
Cocytus seemed to grin at the addition.
“…I. See. Someone. Asked. For. That. It. Must. Have been. Albedo. Or. Shalltear.”
In order to protect Shalltear’s reputation, the deathknight held his peace.
“Although. I Do not. Know. Which. Of. Them. Said. It. If. That. Sort. Of. Answer. Is. Allowed. Then. I. Shall. Respond. In. Kind. I. Want. An. Heir. For. Ainz-sama.”
Cocytus raised a hand to halt the Death Knight, indicating he wished to continue.
“I. Know. This. Is. A. Disrespectful. Request. Of. Ainz-sama. However. I. Feel. We. Need. An. Heir. For. The. Continued. Ruling. Of. Nazarick. Without. An. Heir. I. Cannot. Feel. Secure. For. The. Future. As. Long. As. It. Is. An. Order. We. Guardians. Will. Obey. Even. If. The. Giver. Is. A. Successor. From. The. Outside. However. Without. The. Bloodline. Of. Our. Lord. We. Will. Clash. Emotionally. And. Ideologically. But. If. Ainz-sama. Has. An. Heir. We. Guardians. Will. Gladly. Serve. Him.”
The Death Knight could not say anything to Cocytus, who was standing with his chest puffed up. This was a feeling that he, who was created to obey his maker, could not understand.