These words as if a bomb had exploded in their face caused the archbishops to scream out in surprise.
"What did you say?!"
"That thing must never be used!"
"May the gods have mercy on you for uttering such a phrase!"
Even the captain of the Windflower Scripture who would never display rude behavior in front of the archbishops could not help but make a face with his jaw dropped unable to find the words.
"Archbishop, let us be abundantly clear about something. That item was left to us for the purpose of starting off with clean sheet. Unless the end of the world is nigh we cannot under any circumstance justify using that relic."
The archbishop of death sighed deeply while making wry smile and nodded in understanding.
"Ahem, anyways apart from the last suggestion it is safe to say that we need to recall all active members of the Scriptures and focus on formulating a strategy against the Sorcerer king. For now there's no need to move our trump card. First have the 'Thousand Miles Astrologer' focus on divination to determine the level of power this Sorcerer King possesses. In the meantime we need to obtain more info on both [Dark Hero] Momon and the subordinates of the Magic Caster."
All archbishops nodded at the words of the archbishops of Wind. They understood what this meant for the Theocracy and what their new purpose was.
"Understand very well that the Theocracy's new priority is the destruction of AINZ OOAL GOWN!"
Chapter 1. Preparing the hunt
Part 1
The Great Tomb of Nazarick, inside the office of the last of the Supreme Beings, Ainz Ooal Gown. The Supreme Overlord is working on his next plan to topple the world.
What a drag! How did it end up like this?!
Ainz looked disheartened at the mountain of paperwork laid out in front of him. After the subjugation of E-Rantel his normal workload had doubled. On top of checking through all the reports of his subordinates in Nazarick he had to work out all the details of managing the city as the new enforcer, while posing as the adventurer Momon.
Even though as an undead he no longer felt fatigue or need for sleep or food, he still was under mental stress from constantly having to file mountains paperwork day after day.
Ainz mimicked the motion of sighing as he gathered what little motivation he had left to pick up where he had left of his work.
Next to him stood a platinum blond-haired beauty with a chest quite disproportionate to the rest of her body. She had a petite figure and beautiful crimson eyes that matched her black and strawberry red dress. This was the guardian of the first three floors of the Tomb of Nazarick, Shalltear Bloodfallen a true vampire. She appeared to be all smiles as she carefully watched her master work and was ready to be of service to her master in any way she could… in any way.
Ainz could guess why she was in such a great mood today. Normally Albedo would be the one helping him complete his administrative affairs which at this point were starting to fit the description Kafkaesque quite nicely. But Albedo and Pandora's actor had finally begun their secret mission to search for other members of the guild throughout the continent, starting with a few key points that Ainz had marked as POI's.
Haah, it feels kind of strange not having Albedo around who has a higher intelligence and is more of a help with these matters than Shalltear but at the very least Shalltear won't suddenly decide to jump me. In this regard I prefer Shalltear who has a more reserved personality.
"Ainz-sama please feel free to take a break from your work, I'm sure that those lower life forms won't mind you placing your own needs before theirs."
Shalltear must have guessed Ainz his current thoughts.
"No Shalltear, I have to finish these reports today otherwise tomorrow the people of E-Rantel might get upset with Momon for not doing his job properly which will lead to them being dissatisfied with the rule of Nazarick. We have conquered those humans and imposed our rule. We must make sure not to treat them badly afterwards."
"As expected of my Lord! To place those lesser forms' needs before yours, truly compassionate!"
Shalltear brought her hands together as if to start praying and she was starting to tear up from the heartfelt statement of Ainz.
Ainz shrugged his shoulders. He simply didn't want to deal with the troublesome task of suppressing the inhabitants of E-Rantel through brute force.
*Knock* *Knock*
Ainz's thoughts were interrupted from the sound of soft knocking on the door. He responded in a calm manner.
"Enter."
A beautiful blonde girl wearing a maid outfit opened the door. It was one of the 41 homunculus maids that cleaned and managed maintenance of Nazarick's 9th and 10th floor. She bowed deeply to great Ainz and then delivered her message.
"Ainz-sama, please forgive my interruption of your work but Demiurge-sama requests an audience with you."
Was he supposed to report today?
Ainz thought deeply for a second. Demiurge was supposed to manage Nazarick's temporary embassy with the Empire on top of all his other duties. What could be so important that he wanted to report now? Ainz decided that it was better not to wonder and just ask him directly.
"Very well send him in."
The maid bowed deeply and responded to her master's order.
"As you wish, Ainz-sama."
Moments later a man entered the room wearing a tight suit, round glasses and had neatly combed black hair. The thing that stood out however was his scaly tail and pointy ears. The floor guardian of the 7th floor Demiurge. He kneeled down before Ainz.
"Speak"
Demiurge raised his head and began speaking to Ainz.
"Forgive my intrusion Ainz-sama. Thank you for receiving me so suddenly. Oh, and I see that Shalltear is here as well, that's excellent."
Ainz frowned his non-existent eyebrows and responded.
"No need to apologize, you wouldn't ask for a meeting without a good reason, Demiurge. But why is Shalltear being here convenient might I ask?"
"Yes!"
Demiurge got up and resumed his orderly straight up posture before he began speaking again.
"Ainz sama I come to deliver a report of the highest priority which I believe cannot be delivered simply by message or messenger."
This statement made the crimson lights in the sockets of Ainz's skull shine brighter than usual. For the calculating Demiurge to value the contents of a report so much that he came personally made Ainz feel uneasy.
"Very well then Demiurge! Then tell me what you have found out."
"Yes Ainz-sama, I believe that I have finally discovered the hiding place of the vermin that used a World Item to brainwash Shalltear and make her rebel against us."
"What? Ah forgive me Ainz-sama."
Shalltear could not help but shout out her surprise after which she immediately covered her mouth with her hands and apologized.
Anger and surprise boiled up in Ainz at this moment. When Ainz thought back of how he had to personally kill Shalltear who was a creation of one of his former guild mates and close friend Peroroncino who he considered like a younger brother, it brought him close to where his passive skill had to forcibly calm him down. However it was still surprising that Demiurge was able to find the group that even Ainz was unable to track down after numerous attempts to lure them out.
"Hooh, so they've come out of hiding then?"
"No, Ainz-sama I was merely able to narrow down their possible hiding places thanks to the empire's intelligence network and spies."
At this point demiurge raised his finger like a teacher about to educate his students
My findings come down to these two points. First the people who brainwashed Shalltear do not appear to be from YGGDRASIL like us. Second, I am fairly certain that the culprits are hiding in the Slane Theocracy.