“Ah, yes!”

Whether it was because he was nervous, Mare let out a squeaky voice. Ainz smiled, but since there were no muscles on his face, nothing moved. However, it still made the atmosphere seem warmer. As if sensing this, Mare breathed easier. He seemed less tense as well.

“I, uh, brought that, uh, thing.”

Ainz did not go “What are you talking about?” like a boss with a bad personality. Instead, he simply took it from Mare. It was because of the possibility that he could have forgotten what he had ordered.

“Is that so —- No, it’s fine.”

Ainz stopped the maid who was preparing to receive the object from Mare with a wave of his hand.

“Mare, bring it directly to me.”

“Yes!”

Mare straightened his back, approached Ainz and presented a folder to him. Ainz slowly opened the folder.

This… it’s the memo folder.

All three Guardians had taken up Ainz’s offer and circled the “Participating” box.

“Considering the order of names, it would’ve been fine if Cocytus’ subordinate came instead. You worked hard, Mare.”

“No, no. I’m happy to serve! Besides, since Cocytus-san was working, I came here instead. Plus—”

Mare gently caressed the ring on his left ring finger. It was an action filled with care and love.

…Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown. I’m happy that he likes it, but wearing on that finger is a bit... And why is he looking at me with that kind of look…

Ainz felt a sudden chill and glanced over at Albedo. She had her usual beautiful smile on her face.

Ainz looked at her left ring finger. Just like Mare, there was a ring there, like that was the right place for rings to be.

What was it, an ancient Greek story?

He remembered hearing that putting rings on different fingers meant different things from Yamaiko in the past.

There was a vein leading directly to the heart in the left ring finger or something, right? They would also mix medicine with the left ring finger because if there was something poisonous in there, it would affect the heart... does the sous-chef do something like that, too? Ah, I got distracted... They’re still looking at me.

Ainz clasped both his hands on top of the desk.

“What’s wrong, Mare? What are you looking at? Is there something funny on my face?”

Ainz took the greatest of pains to make sure those words did not come out in a mean manner.

“N-no. Nothing like that. I just thought Ainz-sama was cool...”

“I’m... cool?”

Ainz unconsciously stroked his skeletal face.

“Ahhahah... Mare, you’re quite good with flattery.”

“It’s not flattery!”

It was a loud voice that nobody would have thought would have come from Mare.

“I-I apologize. But, I really thought Ainz-sama was cool. Even when you were sitting down, it was a movement truly befitting the Supreme Overlord of Nazarick.”

Ainz looked at the maid in a questioning manner, and the homunculus nodded in agreement as if she understood what Ainz was asking. Albedo vigorously nodded up and down as well, despite not being asked. In fact, her wings flapped up and down too.

“Is that so? I’m glad to hear that.”

After Ainz’s short answer, he stood and walked up to Mare. As he stood in front of the boy who was petrified and wondering if he would be scolded, Ainz instead gently caressed his head. It was a rough, but gentle gesture.

“A-Ainz-sama...”

“Thank you, Mare. Your words always make me happy.”

He did not reveal Suzuki Satoru’s embarrassment.

“I have always felt that I need to thank my comrades.”

“The other Supreme Beings?”

Ainz kneeled to look Mare eye-to-eye.

“That’s right. I’m thankful that they created this Great Tomb of Nazarick and that they created you, Mare and everybody else. All of you — obviously including you, Albedo and Sixth.”

Albedo’s wings spread wide, as if she was about to climax. Also, the maid who was suddenly addressed by name looked as if she did not know what to do. She was usually calm and collected, but this side of her made Ainz laugh heartily.

“All of you are my treasures.”

Ainz lifted up Mare as if letting him ride on the shoulders.

“I don’t even want to hand you over to Bukubukuchagama-san.”

“I am honoured, Ainz-sama.”

Sixth, who thanked Ainz on Mare’s behalf, had tears of joy flowing down her face.

“On behalf of Nazarick, I thank you for remaining here with us, out of all the Supreme Beings. I know that there are many instances where we have displeased you and you have found us lacking. I know it is rude to ask this of the creator, but please allow us to serve you loyally!”

“I will allow this. I said something like this to Albedo and Demiurge in the past — I am the master of the Great Tomb of Nazarick and your liege, Ainz Ooal Gown.”

Ainz was surprised that he was so comfortable saying these things that he had not prepared for. Though in a way, it was not that surprising, because all he had done was vocalize how he truly felt.

Mare hugged Ainz and buried his face in Ainz’s shoulder. A calm voice in Ainz’s mind said that it was a good thing he was not in his usual attire. A warm, wet sensation came from the shoulder of his robes, but Ainz let Mare cry. After the sniffling noise died down a little, he lowered Mare to the ground while softly petting him on the head.

Ainz took out a handkerchief from his pocket to clean Mare’s face. Since he had never done this for someone else before, he ended up being a bit rougher than he expected, but Mare stood still and let Ainz do as he pleased.

“Then, go wash your face, Mare.”

“W-what about Ainz-sama?”

“Hmm. I need to go to E-Rantel now. I have a meeting with the Guild Master. I rejected it so far because it was annoying, but I can’t put it off any more. If not—”

Ainz looked at Albedo, who was standing in silence. It was difficult to tell what expression she was making because her long hair was covering the face. But the fact she was trembling ever so slightly made him afraid. It resembled a volcano brimming with rage right before the eruption.