Mare smmed the butt of his wooden staff into the ground, causing a magic circle to glow from the earth and envelop the surrounding ndmark. The small dirt hill that now surrounded the outer parts of Nazarick in a single was made in the same manner, albeit on a smaller scale.
Antikythera silently observed the earth ebb and flow as it went under the command of their tomb's strongest dryad. He internally debated questioning Lord Momonga about why Mare possessed such a weak spell but decided against it. Clearly, the Supreme Beings foresaw an event like the one they were going through and had thus given the other guardians utility spells that, while useless in times of war, were second to none during a resource crisis.
Truly, Lady Bukubukuchagama was wise beyond compare. How else would she have seen this event coming in advance and given Mare [Earth Manipution] accordingly?
Mare maniputed the earth with extreme precision, guiding it to part and create water channels, basins, and inclines. They served two purposes—the first and main purpose being to hold water and keep the area as a swamp for years, and the second, to disorient future invaders and cause them to slip while moving through the uneven terrain. The second part was further amplified in effectiveness by the knee-deep water that would fill the nd in the near future.
Well, knee-deep for Cocytus and himself, the Automaton mused.
"Mare is good at this, isn't he? Isn't he feeling tired?" Lord Momonga said. Antikythera felt confused at that. Isn't it obvious? It was their purpose to work without compint in the service of the Supreme Ones.
"Mare! Come to us when you are done."
The dark elf flinched and began stammering in fear. Antikythera assumed he must be thinking that he had failed the Supreme One in some manner. Antikythera decided to amend the possible misunderstanding.
"My Lord, Mare is thinking you are going to punish him because he believes you find his work ckluster."
"What?!" Their Lord's voice rose, and Antikythera felt joy upon hearing it. They did not deserve their Lord's mercy and grace.
"Mare! It's fine! You are doing great! I just wanted you to take a break!"
Mare, who looked on the verge of tears, suddenly nodded. He started maniputing the earth again, this time with a smile. Antikythera observed the interaction with a calcuting gaze, wondering just how Mare's meekness could also be detrimental to Nazarick's work. It was great in war and better during ambushes, but in times like these, the dark elf always second-guessing himself would only slow him down.
"Lord Momonga, I think it is only normal for Mare to serve you without compint," Demiurge began to say, prompting the other two to turn to him, with Antikythera nodding in agreement.
"If you wish, then the nd itself will morph to fit your needs. Nazarick ensures it!"
"Umu." Lord Momonga nodded upon hearing Demiurge's fervent speech. "I see."
He said once more, then turned away and gazed at the distant pins, then up at the stars.
"My world never had anything like this," Antikythera worked his mind. Was Lord Momonga referring to the gaxy?
"There was too much pollution. My people infected the world too much for this to be visible."
Antikythera looked at Demiurge, who seemed to be in deep thought.
"Clean air, beautiful pins, and perfect pnt life," Lord Momonga breathed. "I like this pce. Blue Pnet would love this pce too—maybe he's even out there somewhere."
Lord Momonga did not sound like he believed what he was saying, but then hope bloomed in his voice.
"I want my friends to see Nazarick thriving in this world when they see me again. I want everything in this world to improve when they arrive. I want it to be better than the one we came from."
Antikythera nodded. How else would anyone in their position interpret that command? Lord Momonga wanted Nazarick to conquer the world. How else would the world improve? Under the rule of the locals? They'd only destroy it! Antikythera met Demiurge's eyes, and the Archfiend grinned.
"If you wish, Lord Momonga, this world is yours. We will improve upon it with our own designs and work hard to mold it into a world the other Supreme Beings would be proud of," Demiurge replied.
"Then do it," Lord Momonga responded, steel in his voice. "If they are out there, I want my friends to know of our existence."
The Overlord went silent, contempting.
"Yes. I want that. I want them to know we are here."
At this time, Mare came back to them. The dark elf looked exhausted, panting as he made his way up the hill. Lord Momonga stopped his monologue and faced the young guardian.
"Good work, Mare."
A pitcher of water and a cup came from Lord Momonga's inventory, and he presented it to the dark elf, who drank the offered cup without an ounce of shame. Antikythera watched this scene unfold, wishing he was organic. He hated the thought of possessing biological processes, but he still felt jealous that Mare received such a comforting gesture from their Lord.
"You look tired. Here, take this."
Lord Momonga held out his hand and dropped something into Mare's palm. When the guardians saw what it was, their eyes widened.
"I-I can't take something like this—"
"Are you denying a gift from Lord Momonga himself?"
Albedo entered the fray then, and the dark elf stopped muttering denials to bow to Lord Momonga, moments ter starting to say thank you.
When the Guardian Overseer arrived, she looked at Mare's work in deep thought.
"What is this?" She gred at the elf, specifically at the ring in his palm. "It doesn't look good."
"W-well, we still need to fill it up with water, so..." Mare stammered. He looked at Demiurge for help, and the Archfiend gdly offered it.
"The swamp is still unfinished, Albedo," expined Demiurge, "but it won't be long before the local area fits the description of Helheim's swamps."
"Of course. I was merely asking about Mare's cking work," Albedo pointed out.
"Albedo." Lord Momonga called out, "Give Mare some sck. I was the one who called him to stop working and take a break."
"I will take my leave," Demiurge suddenly announced.
"Me as well," Antikythera followed.
They both left the scene, deeming the Overseer more than enough to guard Lord Momonga and watch over Mare's work. When they passed the entrance of the tomb, they both nodded at each other before heading in different directions. They knew why they left—it was because they had work to do and a conquest to pn.
Antikythera entered his factory. He went straight to the control tower to talk to Sakai, who greeted him in the same way she always did.
"There is a change of pns," Antikythera began. "We need to shift from using organic mechanical energy to power the pnt and start looking for nuclear alternatives."
"May I ask why?" Sakai checked her logbook.
"Lord Momonga ordered us to conquer the world. He expined to me that the energy production of the organics is inefficient half an hour before that, however, so I assume he must have been pnning to conquer this world from the start," Antikythera expined. "To do that, we need efficient energy production and a dedicated breeding program for potion materials. We cannot have both with organics manning the power output."
"Lord Momonga is truly wise," Sakai said in reverence.
"Indeed," Antikythera nodded, "and it is up to us to spread that knowledge across the known world—to let his name be known!"
Sakai nodded, her transparent face full of praise.
"I shall get to designing scouting units to find uranium and thallium deposits across the world."
"Good," Antikythera began, but he was interrupted by a [Message] from Albedo telling him to head to the throne room because Lord Momonga had called for all guardians.
He used [Gate] as instructed, then entered the throne room just as the other guardians arrived.
Together, they all watched as Lord Momonga called out the names of the other Supreme Beings while gazing at their banners. Then, he did the impossible.
"From now on, my name shall be Ainz Ooal Gown."
What else was Antikythera supposed to say? The word of the strongest Supreme Being was w. In unison, the guardians acknowledged the command.
"Yes, Lord Ainz."
