Nazarick, Great Tomb — 10th Floor, Throne Hall.

Ainz sat upon his throne, steeped in deep contemplation.

Where… did it all go wrong?

He could not understand.

Everything should have been going smoothly. At least, that is what he believed.

The attack on the Kingdom. The slaying of Dragon's Dream's guildmaster, Monkyspanner, and the acquisition of his items.

The seizure of treasure from the royal vaults.

The gradual occupation of Dragon's Dream's bases and guild personnel across various nations—all of it paving the foundation for Ainz Ooal Gown's eventual domination of this new world.

Up to that point, the plan was progressing flawlessly. Every Floor Guardian had dutifully carried out their role, and Nazarick's influence was spreading steadily across the land.

Ainz had been pleased with their achievements. He rewarded each Guardian, assigned new roles, and delegated follow-up tasks: Albedo to complete the Kingdom's cleanup, Demiurge to manage Dragon's Dream's territories.

Ainz himself had intended to handle such matters personally—but the workload was far beyond what a humble former salaryman could manage. He accepted defeat and stepped back.

With administrative burdens off his shoulders, Ainz turned his attention to his next goal: a leisurely "survey journey" under the guise of expanding influence. The Empire? The Holy Kingdom? The Dragon Kingdom, perhaps? He imagined which border to extend Nazarick's shadow toward next.

And yet—without warning—everything collapsed.

Where did I misstep?

Each decision, when isolated, was sound. Yet the final outcome was an irreversible disaster.

A Guardian—a Level 100 NPC, Demiurge—was dead.

And not just slain. It was a death even the Guild's revival system could not undo.

The inability to revive him was reminiscent of Shalltear's incident, but this time, the situation was even worse. They did not know where he died, how he died, or why—only that it was final.

Another World Item…?

Had the same hidden enemy from the Shalltear incident resurfaced?

If their previous attempt had failed, perhaps this time they prepared thoroughly, laying a perfect trap for Demiurge.

If so—what method? What World Item?

Even Demiurge had been carrying the World Item. Yet someone had annihilated a World-Item-equipped, Level-100 NPC without giving him time to flee, report, or even resist—and had sealed revival on top of it.

Such an entity existed in this world. That alone was terrifying.

But all of that agony and speculation shattered because of one tiny object.

Clink.

Something rolled in Ainz's skeletal palm—a small, golden ring. Unremarkable in shape, bearing no obvious magic. Ordinary at a glance. Yet the single inscription engraved upon it transformed it into the most alarming item Ainz had touched since arriving in this world.

"…The Zodiac."

As Ainz whispered the name, crimson light flared violently within his empty eye sockets.

Mind Suppression — Forced Calm.

The glow steadied.

Then flared again.

Then steadied again.

Again.

And again…

Only after repeated suppressions did he manage to control himself.

"…So you were here. All along."

The Guild: The Zodiac.

World Rank #1 at their peak. A super-guild that never once fell out of the top ranks. The largest alliance guild in Yggdrasil's history—formed by twelve guilds, united as one. Ruling an entire server as its own dominion, commanding a population comparable to a nation, and possessing overwhelming military force.

Ainz knew them well.

He had to. They were a threat even in the old world. Their PvP strength, their numbers, their resources—if Nazarick was a fortress carved from pride and insanity, then The Zodiac were an empire carved from pure force.

He should have realized earlier, back when Monkyspanner fell.

Those gauntlets. Those relic-like items. That Sun-Wukong-themed kit could not have belonged to a mere casual faction. And the hidden skills… the signs were there.

But he was intoxicated by nostalgia—and let it pass.

And now, the bill had come due.

The enemy was a super-guild of thousands. A guild that—even at its weakest—would still be an overwhelming force.

"This is… bad."

Ainz Ooal Gown versus The Zodiac.

Not even comparable.

Nazarick at full strength barely defeated 1,500 invaders once—and even that was only because they walked into traps, inside Nazarick, on Ainz's home field. If The Zodiac had attacked back then with full force? Nazarick would have been erased from the server.

And now, in this world?

Ainz was alone. No guildmates. Only NPCs.

"What do I do…?"

His skull tilted downward in despair.

Ainz's intelligence stat was maxed—but the mind inside belonged to Suzuki Satoru, a normal office worker. There was no brilliant masterplan in his head. Only rising dread.

He needed advice.

He needed someone reliable.

So Ainz rose from the throne and made a decision.

He would summon his most loyal advisor.

"The problem," Ainz thought bleakly, "is that the advisor I must rely on… is also the one I least want to speak to."

"OOOH! Ainz-sama! For what grand purpose has this humble servant been summoned today~!?"

"I told you… to stop talking like that."

"How could this lowly one ever refrain from showing the utmost reverence and awe toward Ainz-sama!? I beg you, allow me to continue expressing my boundless devotion!"

Ainz wanted to scream.

This was exactly why he hated calling this one.

Of course, Albedo was another option. She was right beside him earlier. But Albedo was already drowning in responsibility. With Demiurge lost, every task he once handled had been dumped on her shoulders—managing surface operations, cleaning up their exposed plots, retrieving assets, and reorganizing Nazarick's positions. She was doing the work of an entire administrative corps by herself. To drag her here for emotional support on top of that? Even Ainz felt guilty just imagining it.

And yet, when he merely hinted that he wished to consult her, Albedo immediately relocated her office beside the Throne Hall, prepared to assist him in real time while continuing her workload. Ainz felt genuinely ashamed. How could she be so competent, so loyal, and so incredibly devoted?

Which is why—unfortunately—he chose the other advisor.

And now he regretted it.

If Albedo and Pandora's Actor had both been present, Ainz's sanity would have shattered for real. Even now, without Albedo there to buffer the chaos, Ainz felt as if his skull might crack apart. Only the Undead's emotional suppression was keeping him functional.

He inhaled out of habit he no longer physically possessed.

"…Very well. Pandora's Actor, I wish to ask for your advice."

"At your command, Ainz-sama!"

"No. Listen carefully. I want you to answer not as the ruler of Nazarick would be addressed, but as if I were simply another member of Nazarick. Understood?"

"Yes, Ainz-sa— ah— Yes. Understood."

At least he obeyed quickly. That much, Ainz could trust.

"Pandora's Actor. You are aware of how grave Nazarick's situation has become, yes?"

"Indeed!"

"And—drop the 'Ainz-sama' every three words. As I said. Anyway… in your view, how should we interpret our current crisis?"

It was a vague question.

But it was also the only question that mattered.

Ainz openly admitted that he had no answer. Demiurge was gone. A world-class enemy had revealed itself. The enemy was overwhelming in scale. Every step Nazarick took risked catastrophe. If there was ever a moment when Ainz needed counsel—this was it.

Pandora's Actor bowed deeply. His glossy, yellow helmeted head gleamed beneath the Throne Hall light as he raised it again and spoke with unwavering seriousness.

"Then, as Pandora's Actor—setting aside your divinity and authority—I humbly offer my counsel."

"…Proceed."

Ainz felt the tension rise. His nonexistent throat tightened. Demiurge was gone, but Pandora's Actor possessed a comparable intellect. Surely, Ainz thought, surely he will offer some logical, strategic path forward.

And then—

Pandora's Actor delivered his judgment.

"From the very beginning," he said flatly, "everything has been wrong."

Ainz froze.

"…What?"

Pandora's Actor continued, expression unreadable.

"From the moment Nazarick arrived in this world, every step we have taken—every decision—was flawed from the start, Ainz-sa— ahem. Ainz."

****************

A/N: By the way, I just started another book called Overlord: Kaiser! You can read 20 advance chapters ahead on Pàtreon, and I've already posted Chapter 1 here. I hope you'll like it — honestly, I think it's even better than this one.