"Creator! Your Black Scripture Pawn has returned. He has brought more Knights for manpower and another member of the Black Scripture," Deborah reported.
Nico's lips curled into a smile. Another piece for his collection.
"Where are they now?" he asked with calculated calmness, unconcerned by the Slane Theocracy's meager threat.
"Camped at the outer walls. They appear to be awaiting our attack or surrender."
"Thank you, Deborah." Nico withdrew from the Hive Mind and turned to Ainz. "Something has come up at my base. We need to return immediately."
Ainz shifted his skeletal gaze toward Nico. "What kind of problem? How can we help?" An alliance, after all, required mutual support.
"Black Scripture of the Slane Theocracy. Nothing we can't handle." Nico's wings unfurled from the Mold, stretching wide. "Speaking of Black Scripture, have you encountered any of their ranks? I'm collecting these warriors and want my collection complete." His fists clenched at the thought of missing pieces.
"I fought a powerful woman named Clementine who might be affiliated," Ainz replied.
Nico searched his memories—information extracted from The Strongest Human. "Girls, return home. I'll join you later." The Dimitrescu sisters bowed obediently before departing.
"Yes, Clementine was a former Black Scripture member who defected." Nico's eyes gleamed with purpose. "Where is her body?"
"The Guild acquired it after the incident."
Without hesitation, Nico soared toward E-Rantel, wings slicing through the air.
The streets of E-Rantel offered no immediate leads. Nico needed access to privileged information, and the city guards would have it. He spotted a young guard taking a break in an alleyway and transformed his appearance into that of a homeless child.
"Excuse me, sir? Could I pry your head open and gather information?" Nico asked with false innocence.
The confused guard replied with pity, "Sorry, kid. I'm new and haven't been paid yet."
Realization dawned on the guard's face too late. Nico lunged forward, fangs sinking into his neck while muffling his screams. After dragging the body deeper into the shadows, Nico reverted to his true form and inserted his finger, now transformed into a wormlike appendage, into the guard's ear. It burrowed into the brain, consuming and absorbing information.
Emerging from the alley disguised as the dead guard, Nico sent instructions through the Hive Mind: "Deborah, ensure Alcina and her daughters entertain our Slane Theocracy guests. Protect the Strongest Human and the new Black Scripture member."
"It shall be done, Creator."
"Hey! Your shift started ten minutes ago!" Another guard approached, waving irritably.
Nico feigned embarrassment. "Sorry, I spaced out. Where are we stationed again?"
The guard sighed. "Follow me, rookie."
They proceeded through E-Rantel's inner district, past warehouses filled with supplies, arriving at what appeared to be an extension of the Guild.
"Here. We're guarding the bodies from the Cemetery incident—high-value Zurrernorn members. Stay alert." The guard delivered a stern glare before taking position.
Nine other guards patrolled the perimeter. Nico called the nearest one. "Excuse me? Quick question."
The annoyed guard approached. "What is it?"
"Could this pierce your armor?" Nico transformed his finger into a needle-sharp syringe and plunged it into the man's abdomen before he could respond, injecting Cadou eggs.
The guard staggered backward, hacking violently as the transformation began. His skin rippled and tore as he grew, bones cracking and reforming. The other guards turned in confusion as Nico feigned terror.
"Inside, rookie! We'll handle this!" Another guard shoved Nico through the doorway.
The interior was sparse—stone walls, no windows, two beds holding the bodies, and several lamps. Nico quickly located Clementine's corpse on the second bed. He lifted her with surprising gentleness and stepped outside to find the Lycan, formerly a guard, finishing its feast of the others.
Wings sprouting from his back, Nico launched skyward, his prize secure.
Alcina Dimitrescu and her daughters stood amid a battlefield of carnage when Nico returned. Over five hundred knights of the Slane Theocracy lay dead, scattered across the ground like broken toys.
"Where's our Black Scripture guest?" Nico asked.
Alcina turned, revealing the man struggling in her powerful grip. "Unharmed, as ordered."
"Excellent." Nico dropped Clementine's body before the captive. "Do you know her?"
The man's eyes widened with recognition before hardening into disgust. "That traitor is garbage to the Slane Theocracy. Better dead than alive."
"She's a valuable piece of my collection. Just like you." Nico placed his hand over Clementine's mouth, Mold flowing between her lips like quicksilver. It spread throughout her body, rebuilding damaged tissue, mending broken bones, restoring vital organs.
"Monster! The Slane Theocracy will annihilate your kind!" the man spat, watching in horror.
Clementine's eyes snapped open. She sat up smoothly, as though waking from sleep rather than death. Her teeth, previously broken in battle with Ainz, now gleamed perfect and whole.
"Don't be so dramatic, brother," she said with her signature unsettling grin. "Nico is a merciful leader."
The color drained from her brother's face.
"Your turn now." Nico crafted a serpentine Mold worm and advanced toward the man.
Screams echoed through the kingdom as the worm burrowed into his ear, eating its way to his brain. His thrashing gradually subsided, terror melting into placid acceptance. When Alcina released him, he stood calmly and approached Nico.
"Thank you for reuniting me with my sister, Creator." He knelt in submission.
Alcina watched the display with curiosity. "What plans do you have for your collection, Creator?"
"They remain here as our protectors. The Slane Theocracy would grow suspicious if their heroes returned without soldiers." Nico turned to his new subjects. "You three will guard our kingdom. Your quarters will be built behind this wall."
They entered the fortress, Nico surveying his growing domain with satisfaction. The trading house stood complete, its entrances built to accommodate even Alcina's towering height and the Duke's considerable bulk.
Neil and Pedro approached, bowing deeply. "Creator, we've completed all assigned constructions. What next?"
"A Guild for my collection," Nico commanded, pointing to a location opposite the Trading House.
"At once, Creator."
Nico turned to the Dimitrescu family. "Alcina, thank you for your service. I'll summon you when trade negotiations begin." After ordering Deborah to transform the fallen knights into J'avos, he remembered an unfulfilled promise. "Alcina, may I borrow your daughters?"
She nodded her permission.
"Come, girls. I haven't fulfilled your first wish—exploring the Tomb of Nazarick." His wings extended from his back once more.
The sisters dissolved into swarms of flies, following Nico through the air toward Nazarick. He sent a message ahead to Ainz, announcing their visit.
The Tomb of Nazarick buzzed with heightened security when they arrived. Ainz immediately opened a portal from the entrance directly to the throne room. Nico and the Dimitrescu sisters stepped through.
"Nico, we have a problem," Ainz said gravely.
The sisters gazed around in wonder at the opulent chamber. "Would you mind if they explored while we talk?" Nico asked.
"Of course, but Alpha should accompany them." The guard Ainz mentioned knelt before them, shooting Nico a brief glare before accepting her assignment.
"Behave, girls," Nico cautioned as they departed. He turned to Ainz. "What's happened?"
"I used Shooting Star," Ainz explained, indicating the ring on his finger. "My wish to cure Shalltear's status effects was rejected."
Nico felt a chill spread through his body. "You mean..."
"Yes. This world has World-level items."
Nico's legs nearly buckled beneath him. Most Viruses were immune to World items' effects, but unknown artifacts could still pose grave threats.
"Give me a moment." Nico entered the Hive Mind: "High alert. Continue operations, but monitor any approach to our walls." The urgent command was transmitted instantly to every Subject under his control.
He pulled a remote from his lab coat and activated all his Tyrants, ordering Piers to surface and command them.
"Which Kingdom possesses these items?" Nico asked after exiting the Hive Mind, frantically searching the Black Scripture memories he'd acquired.
"Unknown," Ainz admitted as Albedo appeared, her organization of the Tomb's defenses complete.
"Let's visit the treasury," Ainz suggested, rising to teleport.
"Am I permitted there?" Nico asked hesitantly.
Ainz grasped his shoulder, and the world shifted around them.
The treasury gleamed with gold coins and artifacts. "Still using Yggdrasil currency," Nico observed as they approached a pitch-black wall.
"Glory to Ainz Ooal Gown," Ainz pronounced. Unintelligible characters illuminated the surface before the wall transformed into a sphere and vanished, revealing a corridor lined with weapons.
"Our destination is the mausoleum ahead," Ainz said as they proceeded.
"There's a mausoleum?" Albedo asked, suggesting even Floor Guardians lacked access.
They reached a seated figure who stood at their approach. Nico's eyes widened in recognition. He leapt backward, hands morphing into razor-sharp blades.
"Treachery! Luring me into a trap!" Nico snarled, recognizing the form of Tabula, another Guild member.
"I'll fight you both!" His face cracked as the C-Virus activated, his body smoking as cells multiplied exponentially.
"Enough! Pandora's Actor!" Ainz commanded.
The figure's form rippled and changed, becoming a tall, slender man in military attire. He snapped to attention and saluted with theatrical precision. "My Creator, Lord Momonga!"
Nico's aggressive stance faltered. "Oh God, he's like my past self!"
A memory surfaced—Nico standing before Umbrella recruits, lab coat billowing dramatically: "We are scientists in heart and mind! Our Viruses will make the world kneel before us!" His younger self had laughed maniacally, reveling in the drama.
Now, Nico collapsed to the floor, mouth foaming as the embarrassing memory overwhelmed him. His "dark past"—sworn never to be revealed—is now exposed through this unwelcome mirror.