A Theory on Godhood: An Overlord Story

Chapter 48: Woes Unbecoming

The Weeping King's pledge of loyalty pleased his sovereign, for he chuckled in response. "But of course. One does not reach this stage without many years of practice and accumulation of power. In due time, you too shall experience the full might of what I have to offer."

"And I will gladly accept your gift, if it's anything like what you were able to give me two hundred years ago!" The undead spellsword said, practically salivating at that old power.

However, his excitement quickly died away when Lord Ainz sighed disappointedly. "To which I hope that it is not a complete repeat of last time. I elevated you from a mere godling to a full fledged divine being. You should have held those pesky mortals in the palm of your hand, and crushed them into dust."

"It was a mistake! A last vestige of my humanity, which I've spent the last one hundred and fifty years purging from my systems! My help in the Silent City! My luring of that poor fool to the Deep Darkness Dragon Lord! Unleashing the Rakatarsh Empire upon the Dwarves! The great betrayal of the Nine Goddesses to the Godhead! I assure you, everything I do, I do so that I might once again show you I am worthy!"

"Is that why you have chosen to appear once more before your Knights? Do you hope to somehow conquer your way back into my favor, old friend?"

The question sounded innocent enough, but nothing was so simple with an intellect like Ainz, honed over centuries of subtle manipulation and unrivaled genius. It was minute moments like these that reminded the Weeping King how he came to be in Lord Ainz's service, and his ultimate goal when convergence came about.

"I wasted your power, my twin King of Ruin," he said, hanging his head in shame. "I allowed my previous human connections with my peers among the heroes to cloud my vision, and to taint the divinity you gave me. When you took away my draconic form, it was well deserved."

"And yet you come to me seeking redemption. You have called upon your own pawns in an act to grab my attention, so that I might take you to Nazarick and give unto you a throne. Some from my kingdom may be less inclined to forgive your failure, or to even allow you in."

"And yet, you have all their love just the same! Cocytus serves as a grand general for your armies, which the Godhead lead as lieutenants! The twins manage every manner of monster and animal under your command, while Demiurge provides you the raw manpower you need! And I cannot forget your... queen, Albedo, rules from your side, as your beloved."

He grit his teeth when he mentioned the fair-skinned NPC of his Lord Ainz, a ball of hate hardening within his chest. Nonetheless, he raised his arms in supplication to get his next point across.

"I know there is more to the Sorcerer Kingdom I have to learn about! To traverse from your time is no easy feat, I know, but I assure you, I will use every last resource at my disposal to conquer a swath of land around where you say Nazarick shall land. I will make the blood flow and the bodies stack in a way that the massacre of Re-Estize looks like child's play!"

Were he still capable of doing so, he would've been panting, winded from his declaration of loyalty and not-too-unsubtle begging. Under normal circumstances, his pride would've never allowed for him to practically grovel as he did, but when it came to his only equal-no, his superior, he could not afford such petty notions like pride.

Lord Ainz watched him silently for a while, stroking his chin in contemplation. The emerald green fire of his eyes narrowed, as if he saw something distasteful. Finally, he seemed to reach a decision, and let his hand fall back to his side.

"There is no need for such decrees. I already have such things decided upon, so says I. You have taken care of Godenth's son from what the others of Corpus have told me, and begun to move your forces against my lesser servants in Zuranon."