He predicted everything. As expected of Maruyama-sama.

Full Interview

——Based on the author's notes published on the Web when the original work was released, it's said that the " Holy Kingdom Arc" seemingly wanted to depict a 'what-if' story about what would happen if Ainz died, right?

Maruyama: In works with overpowered main characters, the protagonist basically won't die, right. This time, of course, he didn't actually die, but preparing for a rainy day is also very important. If such a thing really happened, how would Nazarick deal with it? This story was intended to be depicted as a kind of just-in-case training. In short, this is a "setup" to show that Nazarick has even prepared for such a situation. In the story, I think it is very important to show this kind of content beforehand.

——This is to avoid having to give an explanation after the fact, right.

Maruyama: Exactly. The topic is getting slightly off-track, but speaking of "magic" in other-world (isekai) fantasy works, it always gives a very omnipotent impression. If the setting of this kind of work were in the modern world, once a scene that ignores rules like the "Law of Entropy" appeared, it would immediately invite a lot of criticism. But using "magic" in an isekai feels like it can make anything happen. So, there needs to be a prior hint that there is this kind of magic, you know... Of course, this isn't perfect. But that way, readers will forgive it too (laughs). The concept of "Ainz's Death" is the same. By showing that they conduct this training, it indicates that Nazarick becomes stronger through this method. This is what you call a setup.

——Right, this doesn't mean Ainz will definitely die in the future, but rather it's meant to convey that Nazarick has even prepared to prevent this kind of situation, right.

Maruyama: Even though it could actually be resolved with just a few lines saying "this kind of training was conducted," that approach would be too boring. Because of that, in volumes 12 and 13, I chose to combine this content with the Holy Kingdom storyline so it could be depicted in more detail.

——As you said, the Nazarick side's "training" actions were depicted in great detail in the novel, but because the theatrical movie is narrated with Neia as the main point of view, those elements were neglected, huh.

Maruyama: (Laughs). Regarding whether to adapt the content from the novel or not, that was completely left to Director Ito, and I think the result is the best. So I almost never say things like, "Please put this story in." I think the theatrical movie this time is the best solution. If there are fans who feel dissatisfied, that's purely because my writing is too long... Ah, but I still have to say that this is a responsibility shared with the director, huh (laughs).

——Regarding the new characters from the Holy Kingdom, through what kind of process were they created?

Maruyama: Basically, all characters were created to show "how cruel Nazarick is." Although it might be somewhat softened in the movie, what Nazarick does is truly terrifying. I haven't seen the final cut of the movie yet, so I don't know for sure. But if someone hates Nazarick after watching this movie, then that is completely within my expectations; conversely, if someone actually ends up liking Nazarick because of this movie, then that's already out of my control.

——Although visually somewhat softened, the scene where Remedios collects Calca's remains feels depicted in more detail in the movie compared to the original work.

Maruyama: Without a doubt, that's because of Director Ito! This is truly amazing (laughs).

——Regarding the main character in this movie version, it could be said to be Neia. How do you yourself, Maruyama-sensei, view this character?

Maruyama: Neia is a character who, while under pressure from Remedios, received gentle treatment from Ainz. After feeling liked, she was completely brainwashed. She might look as if she was drawn in by Ainz's personal charisma and naturally became fascinated with him, but in reality, Neia was just brainwashed. But thanks to that, in a sense, she herself is actually able to live happily, and I think that's good. Even though her parents were killed by Nazarick, she herself doesn't know about it.

——Objectively speaking, even though she suffered an unfortunate fate, for her personally, she feels she is constantly in a state of happiness, right.

Maruyama: That's right. But, whether it can truly be called happiness, I'm not too sure either. As an author, this is also a difficult question to answer.

——Even though her character has the gaze of a bad person, in her animation visuals, she gives off a cute impression. As a pure character, combined with the voice acting by Miss Yoshino Aoyama, it feels like she will become very popular.

Maruyama: Whether she will be popular or not, I don't know, but it seems there won't be many people who hate her. I personally don't read readers' feedback at all, so I don't know exactly what the reactions are like, but maybe it's like that?

——You don't read readers' feedback regarding the novels?

Maruyama: Because I don't want to feel devastated (laughs). Regarding the movie reviews, I also hope everyone can discuss it enthusiastically, but please do it in a place I can't see (laughs).

——On the other hand, Remedios seems like she will be hated because of her personality issues.

Maruyama: If Remedios were to become popular, that would actually be very terrible (laughs). Of course, the root of all evil that made her like that is Nazarick, but that can't change her essence as a terrible boss. If she ends up gaining even a little popularity, that would truly be beyond my expectations.

——Besides that, this time Shizu (CZ) appears and teams up with Neia, and shows off a lot. Why did you choose Shizu to take on this role?

Maruyama: Among the Pleiades, it seems the only one who can communicate normally with Neia is Yuri Alpha. In the end, I chose Shizu purely out of a vague feeling; it was a really spontaneous decision.

——It feels like this time Shizu shows a lot more emotion than usual, huh.

Maruyama: Correct. Shizu basically isn't devoid of emotion, she just rarely shows it. But the emotions themselves still exist normally.

——Looking at the results, Shizu quite likes Neia, doesn't she.

Maruyama: But, if you say she considers Neia as an equal friend, that feels a bit off. Her position is probably at the level of "more than a pet, but not quite a friend." However, it is true that she has a favorable view of (likes) her.

——What does Shizu like about Neia?

Maruyama: Shizu likes things that are cute or fluffy, as well as interesting things. From this perspective, Neia's distinct gaze, her reactions, and her lively, slightly noisy demeanor are very interesting. I think Shizu ended up liking Neia because of those things.

——After once again making Shizu a focus, did you discover a new side to her?

Maruyama: I don't think so. This doesn't only apply to Shizu, but to all my characters. My characters never act outside of my expectations. Of course, in some small details while writing, I sometimes think, "This guy wouldn't possibly do something this stupid, right," and then slightly tweak the character's behavior, but overall there are no major changes. Every time I hear other authors say "the characters come to life on their own," I feel really envious.

——In the "Holy Kingdom Arc," many demi-human races appear. Were these settings thought of since the initial concept stage? Or were they only thought of during the writing process?

Maruyama: On that matter, the answer is the latter. Initially, when I started writing "OVERLORD," I had already created an outline and general setting for each volume, including up to the final volume. At that time, the details were only as far as "The Abelion Hills is a place where many demi-human races live." Many details were continuously fleshed out during the actual writing process. But this time, upon seeing the new demi-human character designs by K-SUWABE-sensei for this movie, I was truly shocked. The designs are much more intimidating than I imagined, it's really amazing and makes me highly admire him.

My own imagination is limited. By incorporating ideas from a third party, the work can become extra cool. This made me profoundly realize that. In the text, I usually describe in detail the clothes or combat gear a character wears. Now I feel that, in the future, it might be better if I purposely don't explain them in detail and leave it all to so-bin-sensei instead (laughs).

——Sensei, you've always stated that the OVERLORD novel "will end in two more volumes," which means Volume 18 will be the end. Has that plan remained unchanged until now?

Maruyama: That is the story outline that has existed since the beginning, so even now it hasn't changed.

——For a work this grand, will it really end with just 2 volumes left?

Maruyama: Of course, it will end with a closing style of "Our battle has just begun!" (laughs).

——Roughly when will Volume 17 be published?

Maruyama: Actually, I want to publish Volumes 17 and 18 at the same time, so it's hard to say for sure when it will come out (laughs). But personally, I feel doing it that way is better, so my current plan is still the same.

——While waiting for the new volume, there are also mixed feelings of not wanting the series to end, but I'm still very much looking forward to it.

Maruyama: I hope to finish it while I'm still alive (laughs). I'm sorry I can't give better news. Although I feel very guilty towards the fans who keep waiting, this truly can't be helped. To be honest, I really want to finish this work properly.

——By the way, are there any plans you want to do after "OVERLORD" ends?

Maruyama: I think my writing work has been enough, so next I want to shift to being on the enjoying side (reading/watching). In other words, "retiring." Though initially, I had planned to retire sooner... How did it turn out like this, I wonder (laughs).

——I heard "OVERLORD" is a work born because Sensei felt dissatisfied with the light novels existing at that time. As an author, do you feel you have written what you wanted to convey?

Maruyama: Not really. Rather than that, I am hoping more to finish this work according to the initial plan. From the very beginning in the outline, a total concept of 18 volumes was decided, so as long as I can reach that goal, no matter what the final ending is, I personally will feel satisfied.

——I see. So, finishing what was decided from the start according to plan is your biggest motivation right now.

Maruyama: Exactly! Carrying out the initial intention, just that.

——And amidst all this, you also wrote an exclusive bonus novel for the theatergoers. The upper and lower parts each have about 100 pages, the length is truly surprising.

Maruyama: To be honest, this kind of thing doesn't really need to be written up to 200 pages (laughs). There is no rule on how many pages it should be, so I figured even if it were just 10 pages, everyone would surely be understanding. But unlike television shows that can be watched anytime, theatrical movies require the audience to come directly to the theater, plus movie ticket prices nowadays aren't cheap. So, I wanted to give as big a return as possible to the people who came to watch, which is why I worked hard to write that much.

——Sensei, in the afterwords and other places, you often mention that you "should have summarized the story more concisely," did you intentionally write it a bit long this time?

Maruyama: Just for this one. I purposely wrote it a bit long. When I first finished writing it, the original draft was 150 pages. But if divided into two into upper and lower parts, the balance felt a bit off, so I added some plot lines and increased it to 200 pages. By the way, whether I write 10 pages or 200 pages, the manuscript payment I receive seems to be exactly the same. Come to think of it from that perspective, I worked quite hard, didn't I? (Laughs). If everyone feels the story is interesting, I will be very happy.

——When this interview was conducted, the movie hadn't been released, and Sensei also hadn't seen the final cut of the movie. Are there plans to watch it in theaters?

Maruyama: Of course. I only checked the script and storyboards. Once animation, directing, and sound effects are added, the movie will definitely become something completely different, so I plan to go with a fresh mindset so I can enjoy it fully.

——As the original author, is there a part you look forward to the most?

Maruyama: I'm looking forward to everything. As the original creator, I'm very curious to see how a story that is pages and pages long can be condensed into a two-and-a-half-hour movie. It's not hard to imagine how hard Director Ito worked for it. Personally, I want to enjoy the movie while absorbing the agony (the production process). I think all of you reading this interview have probably watched the movie at least once, so I recommend that you try reading the original work and then go watch the movie again. That will probably be a very enjoyable experience.

Time: September 13, 2024

Source: Theatrical Movie Pamphlet

Mandarin Text Translator: 最硬的骨头 (The Hardest Bone)

Source

Source

Does anyone have an English version?

Artist: Lesk Serg

https://x.com/i/status/2088207598566699382

1. A DARK PAST THAT SHAPED HIS PERSONALITY

From the very beginning, Satoru's life was never easy. He was born into the lower class, where a proper education was a luxury; therefore, his mother could only afford to give him an elementary school education, a common standard for the poor in his era.

His greatest emotional wound occurred in his childhood. His mother, who worked relentlessly to support them, died of exhaustion from overworking. The tragedy took place right in the kitchen as she pushed herself to cook Satoru's favorite dish. As for receiving a father's affection, he admitted to never having experienced such a thing in his entire life.

The tragedy of this loss forged Satoru into an individual who was both independent and apathetic toward his surroundings. He grew up as someone accustomed to swallowing his loneliness by himself, enduring a monotonous life consumed by a daily work routine just to survive in a harsh, dystopian world.

Consequently, the humanity within him gradually eroded. Even seeing orphaned children starving, dying, or lying dead in the streets no longer triggered any pity; instead, it had shifted into a normal sight commonly witnessed by him and the wider public every single day.

2. A SILENT AND LONELY DAILY LIFE

Every time Satoru returned home from work, he was greeted by the loud creak of his apartment door. He intentionally left the bent metal hinges unfixed. Repairing them meant spending money, and to him, the noise served a dual purpose: as a welcoming greeting that somehow made him feel accompanied, and as a cheap anti-theft alarm.

For Satoru, spending money to prevent a robbery in a place that had absolutely no valuables was utterly pointless. In that apartment, Satoru stripped off his mandatory protection from the toxic air of the outside world. He removed his air-filtering mask and dust goggles, then wiped his sticky body with just a wet towel to save on the cost of a steam bath.

Satoru wasn't actually that poor; he had savings he had accumulated since childhood, but he chose to live extremely frugally so he could use that money for the one and only thing that brought him true happiness.

In his empty kitchen, devoid of any cooking utensils, there was no warm meal waiting. His 220-yen dinner consisted merely of meat-flavored liquid jelly from a tube and a few multivitamin pills. He convinced himself that chasing after highly expensive fresh, processed food was a waste of time because, in the end, it would all just turn into feces.

3. HIS ONLY SOURCE OF HAPPINESS

In the middle of the nearly furniture-less room sat his only treasure and the fortress defending his sanity: an expensive, state-of-the-art chair produced by the world's Eight Great Megacorporations. On his desk lay a framed photo of a happy family holding a baby; he displayed it solely as proof that the owner of this room was a human who still possessed remnants of emotion. Satoru sat in his expensive chair. The exhaustion of the day made him sigh deeply as he looked at the calendar.

"Ah, it's still a long way off..." he complained, thinking about his next day off, which was still far away. "Ah-, Ah-, Ah-, Ah-"

He let out irregular, frustrated sounds before finally giving a small smile and telling himself, "Ah, whatever, forget about it." Because he knew, very soon, his suffering would be forgotten (even if only temporarily).

After finishing his steak-flavored jelly, the real routine began. Satoru opened a cover on the back of his neck, revealing an implant socket, then plugged a thick cable into it, put on his helmet, and injected additional cerebral nanomachines into his arm.

A sensation of light flowed through his veins as his brain connected to the supercomputer. After briefly skipping past the news about corporate conflicts and cyberware crimes, he muttered enthusiastically, full of excitement and joy at the thought of meeting his friends.

"Well then – let's begin." He then clicked on Yggdrasil.

To him, his friends (in Yggdrasil) were everything, the only family he had in a world that offered no hope to the lower class.

For Suzuki Satoru, the virtual world of Yggdrasil was not just an escape from the grim reality of 2138, but the only place where he could find hope and happiness. On an Earth that was ruined and dominated by corporations, he was just an ordinary worker who lived alone, with no family, and no future.

Inside Yggdrasil, however, Satoru successfully found the warmth of a true family alongside his guildmates. That is why, when he was thrown into the New World as Ainz, he did not miss his old Earth at all. To him, the legacy of his friends' beautiful memories was the only home he had, a place called Nazarick, which was more precious than anything else.

Even in the worst-case scenario, such as after Shalltear's brainwashing incident, he was willing to sacrifice his life or leave it all behind, as long as it could guarantee the safety and happiness of Nazarick.

Unfortunately I don't know the name of the artist who drew this amazing fanart. If you do, please let me know !​

1. THE JOURNEY HOME

Ainz's long work outside Nazarick had finally come to an end. He felt incredibly relieved after handing over the complicated burdens regarding the affairs of the Holy Kingdom and the Abelion Hills to Albedo and Demiurge. Ainz chose to return home using a carriage instead of the [Gate] teleportation magic because he did not want to reveal his magical capabilities to enemies who might be lurking (like the culprit who brainwashed Shalltear), even though the Hanzo escorting them did not detect anything.

Inside the carriage, Ainz sat opposite CZ, who remained completely silent. The silence made Ainz feel restless, reminding him of a similar awkwardness when he shared a carriage with Neia Baraja previously. Unable to endure the silence any longer, Ainz finally broke the ice.

"CZ, how did it feel leaving Nazarick to work on your own? Do you have any questions or suggestions for the future?" Ainz asked.

2. CZ'S VALUABLE LESSON

CZ fell silent to think about it for a moment before finally answering slowly, "... I think ... I could work harder." However, CZ then continued and revealed her difficulties, "... It is hard to think for oneself and then take action ..."

Hearing this, Ainz realized his mistake. All this time, CZ and the other denizens of Nazarick were used to only receiving and executing clear instructions.

Assigning a task outside of Nazarick with vague instructions turned out to be a heavy challenge for CZ. To cover up the fact that Ainz was actually not good at making detailed plans like Demiurge, he made the excuse that it was a way to learn how to adapt.

"...one must formulate plans that emphasize adapting to the situation, and a certain degree of undefined space is also fine," Ainz said. "As I thought, someone who works in the field knows best!"

CZ responded positively, "...Yes. I learned more compared to just following instructions," which made Ainz feel very pleased because CZ understood his intentions.

3. CZ MAKES A NEW FRIEND

Ainz then shifted the conversation to the topic that made him the most curious and happy.

"...Can I assume that you are friends?" he asked.

CZ gave a small nod and answered, "... yes."

That brief answer triggered an explosion of joy in Ainz's heart. For him, the fact that one of Nazarick's subordinates had successfully formed a friendship with an outsider was extraordinary, and he even considered giving free time to other members so they could do the same.

Ainz then asked, "Do you already have plans to meet Neia again?"

When CZ reasoned that the distance was "... too far ...", Ainz enthusiastically offered a vacation and permission to use [Gate] whenever CZ wanted. However, CZ declined it, reasoning, "... That would cause problems."

4. CZ DECLINES A GIFT

Ainz tried to dig deeper, even offering an extraordinary gift as a form of special treatment for CZ's friend. Ainz was willing to resurrect Neia's dead parents, even though resurrection magic cost a very expensive price and actually provided no political benefit whatsoever for Nazarick. Ainz simply wanted to do it for CZ's sake.

However, CZ firmly rejected the offer. "... It is fine ... Special treatment is not good," she said. Ainz agreed, considering that raising the dead could be troublesome and might ruin the successful conquest plan of the Holy Kingdom.

Amidst this conversation, a dark secret was also revealed. Ainz had apparently used the [Control Amnesia] spell to manipulate CZ's memories regarding Nazarick's internal mechanisms. This was done as a precautionary measure; if an enemy managed to capture CZ, those false memories would act as a trap.

5. AN ENDING CLOSED WITH AINZ'S SMILE AND HAPPINESS

As the journey neared its end, a small interaction snapped Ainz out of his daydream. CZ, who had been staring at him intently, suddenly called out to him.

"... Your Majesty."

Ainz was surprised. CZ, who had always called him by his name in the past, now suddenly used a very formal title.

"... What is it, CZ?" Ainz asked, feeling quite disturbed. He then added, "What, what did you say? I feel sad if you call me Your Majesty. Ainz-sama is better. Frankly, you don't even need the -sama. How about Ainz-san?"

CZ answered innocently, "... That is disrespectful. I would be scolded."

Understanding CZ's fear of being reprimanded by the other Floor Guardians, Ainz yielded. "... Oh, I see. Well at the very least, you don't need to call me Your Majesty."

"... Understood," CZ replied obediently.

They then briefly discussed the field test of the Runecraft weaponry Ainz had lent her, which apparently "... did not go well." Even though the experiment failed, Ainz felt it was not a big deal; what mattered to him was that the Holy Kingdom conquest plan had been a success.

The carriage kept moving. Ainz looked at CZ sitting in front of him a girl staring at him with a completely blank and emotionless face. His thoughts drifted back to the beginning of the journey, where he had also shared a carriage with a girl (Neia) who kept staring at him with a fierce glare.

"On the return journey, it is a girl with a blank face. Both are unique in their own ways," Ainz thought to himself.

While thinking about this amusing contrast, Ainz's memories returned to all the events, the lessons learned, and the glimmer of warmth from the friendship he had just witnessed. He could no longer hold back. Beneath his frightening skeletal appearance, a genuine smile blossomed along with a radiant happiness.

1. The Origin of the Utopia Project

After establishing the Sorcerer Kingdom, Ainz was faced with immense responsibilities as a ruler. While walking through the city with one of his maids, Fifth, Ainz realized that the townspeople were still hiding and peeking at his entourage in fear.

To understand the situation from his subordinate's perspective, Ainz asked, "Do you feel this is a country where you can live happily? Tell me the truth and do not hide anything."

For Nazarick NPCs like Fifth, their happiness stemmed purely from the fact that Ainz ruled the country. However, Fifth also expressed her irritation at the humans' lack of respect. She considered humans to be pathetic creatures because they were not created by the Supreme Beings.

In response to this, Ainz emphasized that the NPCs remained the most important to him. However, as a king, he felt he had to show mercy to the people he ruled. From this, the idea of a utopia was born.

"If so, why not turn this place into a utopia? A wonderful world, like a dream as sweet as honey. A world where they will wish to be ruled forever," Ainz said, explaining his vision.

He had actually started the plan to build this utopia on the 6th floor of Nazarick as an experiment.

2. The Vision of World Conquest

For Ainz, this utopia project was entirely in line with his ultimate plan to conquer the world. He did not want his kingdom to be inhabited solely by mankind.

"Since I intend to conquer the world, my subjects will not just be humans. All races in the world must kneel before me," he asserted. Ainz promised that anyone who served the Sorcerer King would attain eternal prosperity.

This plan was not without personal reasons. Ainz harbored a hidden hope that if he succeeded in creating a nation where various races lived together in peace, he could proudly show it to his former guildmates should they ever meet again. He wanted to bring and reproduce the vision of Ainz Ooal Gown's glory to all corners of the world.

Furthermore, Ainz realized one absolute advantage he possessed over the founders of typical mortal nations. A kingdom led by even a human genius could crumble if their descendants were incompetent. However, because he is an immortal and ageless undead entity, this absolutely ideal reign would last forever.

3. The "Candy and Whip" Approach

Ainz acknowledged that the ideal form of government to achieve an eternal paradise is a dictatorship run by a handful of geniuses. This reminded him of Ulbert's words in the past that a dictatorship led with an iron fist would be something extraordinary.

Currently, Demiurge and Albedo were the ones carrying out the world conquest mission using harsh "hard power" methods. Ainz did not reject these iron-fist tactics at all, as they had proven effective in spreading his name and bringing benefits to Nazarick. However, he began to think that someone needed to balance them out.

Ainz wanted the world to know the Sorcerer Kingdom as a utopia. That way, the outside populace would willingly choose to kneel and obey for the sake of that "sweet promise." He likened this concept to the candy and whip strategy.

"If Demiurge and Albedo are the whip, then I will be the candy. Good idea," Ainz thought to himself, solidifying his plan.

In this regard, Ainz applied the gentle method of "soft power." His form of conquest would not rely solely on terror; instead, he would conquer the world through the immense appeal of his remarkable kingdom.

Just as he had done with the Dwarven Kingdom, he used an approach of economic diplomacy and rescue tactics. Meanwhile, in the Holy Kingdom and the Abelion Hills, he succeeded in seizing vast territories, gaining absolute loyalty from the demi-human races oppressed by Jaldabaoth, while simultaneously being worshipped as a hero by the humans.

This story takes place when the members of the Ainz Ooal Gown guild were preparing to conquer the uncharted dungeon, the "Great Tomb of Nazarick." (Overlord Blu-ray 06 Special: Prologue Part 2)

1. STEMMING FROM MOMONGA'S INITIATIVE

Their first steps in the new area were bustling with activity. Everyone seemed busy sorting out their equipment and belongings.

Observing this moment, Momonga realized there was one crucial matter he had to resolve for the sake of the guild's unity. As the guild master, he did not want any suppressed tension to become a ticking time bomb that could destroy the guild in the future.

Therefore, while the others were occupied, Momonga cast the [Message] spell to contact Ulbert privately, asking him to step away from the group for a chat.

"What is it, Momonga-san? Is something wrong?" asked Ulbert, responding to the private call.

Momonga decided to skip the pleasantries and immediately tread into the sensitive territory he had been avoiding. Carefully yet directly, he asked, "No, it's not like that. I don't think I've found any mistakes so far... well, I just wanted to speak with you privately, and to be honest, I've been constantly thinking about this. Ulbert-san, do you really hate Touch-san that much?"

Hearing that question, Ulbert was initially silent. His silence seemed to test Momonga's resolve to dig deeper. However, just as Momonga was about to give up and felt his efforts were in vain, Ulbert finally answered in a soft voice.

"I don't like him. Even though I know it's just pointless jealousy," Ulbert confessed.

2. THE DARK REALITY OF THE WORLD 2138 "DYSTOPIA"

Following that confession, Ulbert's defenses slowly began to lower. He started steering the conversation away from mere in-game issues toward the reality of their lives in the real world.

Ulbert apologized for his attitude, then brought up their social status.

"Momonga-san, I am truly sorry for saying this, but weren't you born a loser like me, Momonga-san? No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to live comfortably."

Momonga responded with a more resigned and relaxed outlook. He admitted that he had never tried too hard from the beginning, feeling that he had already achieved a decent life and accepted his fate. He had an income and didn't mind spending his leftover money to have fun in Yggdrasil.

Ulbert then touched upon their educational backgrounds. "Personally, I only made it through Elementary School. I suppose it's the same for you, am I wrong, Momonga-san?"

Momonga realized that Ulbert's perception of him had changed over time. If Ulbert might have previously looked at Momonga with pity, he now considered him a kindred spirit.

To Ulbert, the social and educational systems in the real world were nothing but tools for exploitation. He expressed his highly cynical view of the fact that elementary education was deliberately made easy solely so the lower class would have just enough intelligence to become subordinates to those born wealthy.

"If they didn't teach you the bare minimum in elementary school, you couldn't even become a subordinate to those born as winners... It's laughable how you end up on one side of this massive divide from birth. You can climb the ranks if you work hard? Don't make me laugh," Ulbert said bitterly.

3. THE TRAGEDY OF LOSING PARENTS

Ulbert's hatred toward the world's injustices was actually rooted in a very dark tragedy from his past. With a tone that hinted at old wounds, he began recounting the tragic fate of his parents to Momonga.

"My parents died a gruesome death. Working in such a dangerous place... they couldn't even find their bones."

Ulbert explained how his parents' lives were entirely worthless in the eyes of the company they worked for. The compensation provided was pathetic. Worse still, the company refused to halt the production process at the scene of the incident because they didn't want to suffer any financial losses.

"Losers like us... they use us and then just throw us away," Ulbert concluded, summarizing the cruel reality of the real world.

4. RECALLING DARK MEMORIES

The tragic story inadvertently triggered dark memories in Momonga's mind. Memories of his own mother came flooding back. With a voice forced out into the silence, Momonga shared his equally heartbreaking story.

"...So that's how it is, huh. That's what happened to your parents, Ulbert-san? My mother worked herself to death," Momonga said.

He recounted how, one morning, he found his mother lying lifeless in the kitchen. His mother, who was already suffering from extreme exhaustion from work, had still forced herself to make Momonga's favorite meal.

"If only she hadn't worried about it and just rested instead... maybe she would still be here today... When I found her, her body was already ice cold... at least, that's how I remember it," Momonga continued, his memory slightly blurred by trauma.

5. THE ROOT OF HATRED TOWARDS TOUCH ME

Hearing Momonga's story, Ulbert immediately realized he had taken their conversation to an overly dark place. He quickly apologized, "...I'm sorry for bringing up such an unpleasant topic."

After Momonga told him not to worry about it, Ulbert finally arrived at the conclusion of all his negative feelings and answered the main reason why he so frequently clashed with Touch Me.

"...Still, I apologize... considering everything, I personally just can't stand the winners. Even though Touch-san isn't entirely at fault..."

Here lay the crux of the matter. Ulbert knew Touch Me had done nothing wrong personally. However, Touch Me represented the "winner" class whose lives were far too perfect (born into a wealthy family, having a decent job, being financially secure, married to his childhood friend, and having a beautiful daughter).

Even in Yggdrasil, Touch Me obtained the title of World Champion and ranked among the Top 3 Strongest Players. To Ulbert, someone who had never tasted suffering like Touch Me had no right to preach about justice.

For Ulbert, whose parents died being exploited by a system that only benefited the "winners," seeing Touch Me unconsciously and constantly awakened his pain, trauma, hatred, anger, resentment, disgust, envy, and jealousy over the injustices that had befallen him.

Momonga, who also felt the bitterness of the real world, fully understood Ulbert's feelings. However, as the guild leader, he tried to draw a line between their real-world suffering and the world of Yggdrasil.

"I understand. But, how should I say this...? What happens out there has nothing to do with what happens in here," Momonga gently persuaded.

He reminded Ulbert that Yggdrasil was a place for them to have fun and momentarily forget their burdens. Momonga wanted Ulbert to focus on the joy of playing with their comrades, rather than dragging the bitterness of the real world into the game.

Momonga's calm and understanding approach finally softened Ulbert. He realized that his ego and past trauma were slowly ruining the atmosphere within the guild.

"Ah—it's just as you say. Ahhh, I'm sorry for causing all this trouble, Momonga-san. I will do my absolute best to hold myself back from now on," Ulbert promised.

This indicated his willingness to suppress his envy and hatred in front of Touch Me for the good of the guild. Those words instantly melted away the tension that had clouded their conversation.

This proves that although Ainz doesn't completely leash Nazarick in the main story, he still keeps them on a nozzle, all things considered.

Ainz is more than capable of stopping the NPCs, but he often chooses not to for several strategic reasons:

• Benefit Orientation: He has no reason to stop them if their actions bring more benefits to the entirety of Nazarick.

• Testing Sentience: He intentionally lets the NPCs act according to their own will to learn just how far their newfound sentience goes.

• Willingness to Break Eggs: He is perfectly willing to sacrifice the natives of the New World if it serves their overall goals, provided it only increases their notoriety to expected levels.

• Ultimately, Ainz's presence makes Nazarick's operations much more tame and seamless compared to a world without him. His frugal and paranoid personality, combined with how his incredible luck continuously works in their favor, prevents Nazarick from engaging in mindless destruction and ensures their success.

1. PAST MEMORIES

Ainz's past, previously as Suzuki Satoru in the dystopian world of the year 2138, is deeply tied to unforgettable memories with his friends inside the game Yggdrasil.

To him, Yggdrasil was not merely a game, but a representation of his entire life and the source of his happiness. His greatest hope at that time was very simple (he only wanted to meet his friends again).

When the moment of server shutdown arrived and everything seemed to end in vain, Ainz instead found himself transported to the New World, proving that the shutdown was not an end, but the beginning of his new journey's chapter.

2. VANISHING FEAR OF BETRAYAL

In this new world, Ainz faced a phenomenon that initially heavily disturbed his mind. The NPCs, previously created as mere lines of data by his friends, now began to show free will in their every movement.

This drastic change triggered a deep sense of insecurity within Ainz, causing him to be constantly gnawed by the worry that they would betray him.

However, as time passed, Ainz began to realize one important thing. Looking back, he felt that his fear in those early phases was nothing more than foolishness. Currently, that phase of doubt has completely vanished; he no longer fears or questions their loyalty at all.

3. SHIFT IN PRIORITIES

After freeing himself from the fear of betrayal, Ainz began to rearrange his new priorities as his hope of finding his friends faded away.

Although searching for his fellow guild members was his driving force in the past, the various spells and sources of information he used yielded no proof of their existence, causing that dream to slowly fade.

However, the fading of that dream gave rise to a new responsibility; he now views the NPCs as "children" left behind by his friends, and as the sole remaining member, Ainz feels obligated to protect them by any means necessary.

4. THE MEANING OF HAPPINESS

The meaning of happiness centered around protection is revealed very clearly in a deep conversation between Ainz and Prince Zanac.

"You ask what my goal is? I am seeking something both difficult and easy to obtain. What I want... is one thing. Happiness."

Hearing this statement, Zanac blinked repeatedly in surprise. Ainz chuckled slightly and stated that pursuing happiness is the ultimate goal, regardless of whether he is undead, human, or otherwise.

Ainz dropped his act and communicated like a close friend. When Zanac asked if Ainz would step over other people's happiness for his goal, Ainz gave his perspective:

Ainz answered without hesitation, "Isn't that obvious? If the happiness of the people I love can be guaranteed, other people do not matter to me at all."

Ainz turned the question back, "If to secure the happiness of your own people you had to cause suffering to another kingdom, would you just forget and surrender the happiness of your own people?"

Zanac responded, "That is extreme logic!" then immediately apologized for being presumptuous, understanding that if he were in Ainz's position, he would surely do the same. Ainz acknowledged and accepted this.

Zanac tried to find a middle ground, questioning whether there were no other methods. Ainz admitted that other methods "might" exist, but if he already had a method guaranteeing his people's happiness, why look for an untested method, or stick with a method that had already been tried and failed?

At this point, Ainz emphasized the basis of their war, "For the happiness of my people, I must sacrifice your people. This is the foundation of this war; do you understand it?"

Zanac ultimately understood. He realized that a ruler's responsibility is to pursue the progress and happiness of their own people. Because the destruction of his kingdom is to guarantee the happiness of the Sorcerer Kingdom, Zanac understood why Ainz could not accept their surrender.

5. THE CONSEQUENCES OF PAST TRAUMA

Ainz's uncompromising attitude is a consequence of his past trauma, where he was willing to sacrifice everything to take even the smallest preventive measure so that no harm would befall his children.

This trauma stems from the tragedy of Shalltear being brainwashed by a mysterious entity, proving that vital information about Nazarick could leak to outsiders and trigger the guild's destruction.

To ensure a similar tragedy never repeats itself while guaranteeing Nazarick remains safe and invincible against other powerful entities, he now prioritizes empowerment in every aspect of his organization, even if it means sacrificing the happiness of others to achieve that goal.

SC: Volume 14 Chapter 3

Besides the countries pictured, there are also other countries such as the Elf Country, Argland Council State, Beastman Country, City-State Alliance, and more. (I'm not including them because they don't have flags yet.)

On condition that all countries still have their own problems and all countries do not fight each other.

• In the grand design of Nazarick's foreign strategy following the establishment of the Sorcerer Kingdom, Demiurge devised a calculated and structured roadmap to subjugate the surrounding territories.

• For Demiurge, the subjugation of the Baharuth Empire was not a standalone operation, but rather part of a strategic sequence closely linked to the handling of the Re-Estize Kingdom.

• The first crucial step in Demiurge's original plan was to determine the order of conquest based on geopolitical psychological effects. He planned to focus aggressive operations against the Re-Estize Kingdom first.

• By making the Re-Estize Kingdom an example of conquest or ruin (through Philip's Faction, which had become their pawn), Nazarick would create immense external pressure on its neighboring nations.

• The Baharuth Empire, led by Emperor Jircniv, was predicted to observe the fate of the Re-Estize Kingdom and realize that open resistance against Nazarick was an irrational course of action.

• This approach was designed so that the Empire would view vassal state status as the only diplomatic option for survival. However, Demiurge also understood that Jircniv was a highly competent, pragmatic ruler with a strong mentality.

• External pressure alone would not be enough to make him voluntarily surrender his country's sovereignty. Therefore, Demiurge designed a second phase focusing on the internal destabilization of the Empire.

• In his conversation with Albedo, Demiurge mentioned that he needed at least a month of preparation at the earliest to incite bloody turmoil or major riots within the Empire's main cities, most likely in the capital of Arwintar.

• This internal destabilization process would exploit existing political rifts within the Empire's societal structure. Although Jircniv had conducted a massive purge of the nobility in the past, there were still dissatisfied factions or remnants of nobles who had lost their privileges.

• Demiurge would most likely use Nazarick's intelligence agents, such as Doppelgängers or Shadow Demons, to infiltrate, provoke inter-factional conflicts, and spread public distrust toward Jircniv's authority.

• As a result of widespread chaos in the centers of major cities, the Imperial government would be forced to exhaust its administrative attention and military resources just to maintain public order.

• Alongside this internal turmoil, the third phase of Demiurge's plan was to gradually sever Jircniv's external diplomatic channels.

• Demiurge was aware that Emperor Jircniv was secretly attempting to form secret alliances with other nations, such as the Slane Theocracy, the Holy Kingdom, the Argland Council State, and the Dragonic Kingdom.

• Instead of immediately thwarting these diplomatic efforts from the start, Demiurge's strategy was to let Jircniv believe he had a chance to build an anti-Nazarick coalition/alliance.

• Once Jircniv had invested time and hope into the alliance, Nazarick would sever or block that external support at the most critical moments, whether through political intimidation or secret conspiracies.

• The combination of domestic civil unrest, foreign diplomatic isolation, and military threats from the direction of the Re-Estize Kingdom was designed to create a complete deadlock for Jircniv.

• Only when the Empire's administrative capacity was paralyzed and the nation's stability threatened to collapse from within would Demiurge offer clemency and assistance through a proposal to become a vassal state.

• Under conditions orchestrated in such a manner, Jircniv would have no choice but to accept the offer to save what remained of his empire.

• Overall, Demiurge's original plan was a conventional subjugation (voluntary submission) relying on psychological warfare, internal sabotage, and political isolation executed over the course of several months.

• This plan was guaranteed to succeed with a high probability, but it carried consequences in the form of high civilian casualties, as well as damage to the Empire's economic stability and infrastructure before it was finally subjugated.

• What of Jircniv's fate, would he be killed? No, Jircniv would remain alive. For Nazarick, killing Jircniv would be a highly wasteful loss of resources. The reasons?

• First, Jircniv had already conducted a "purge" of corrupt nobles in the past and centralized absolute power in himself. Keeping Jircniv alive as a puppet ruler would be far more efficient for managing daily government operations than Nazarick having to handle human bureaucracy from scratch.

• Second, Demiurge wanted Jircniv to realize that every step he took had been predicted, to the point where Jircniv himself would beg on his hands and knees for the Empire to be made a vassal state to stop the bloody turmoil in his country.

• Third, after his psyche was broken and cornered by the internal riots created by Nazarick, Jircniv would become a compliant vassal ruler out of absolute fear.

• This plan was the exact opposite of Ainz's method, which completed the subjugation in just three days without any bloodshed thanks to an unexpected meeting at the Colosseum. That event caused Jircniv to surrender immediately, thinking Ainz was a brilliant strategist capable of reading all of his secret plans.

• Ainz's success in subjugating the Baharuth Empire in three days without a single casualty left Demiurge shivering in admiration. Curious about such brilliant thinking, Demiurge immediately asked his master. Then, Ainz casually replied, "10,000 years."

1. Deliberately Breaking Light Novel Cliches

Maruyama is aware that many light novels utilize tropes where the protagonist is "dragged into trouble" or "jumps into danger to save a suffering heroine (female hero)." In Overlord, he intentionally rejected this formula and designed Nazarick based on the principles of:

• Focusing on pursuing their own group's interests.

• Killing equally without discrimination (regardless of whether they are male or female, and finding dramatic heroines to be a nuisance).

• Actively being the party that triggers incidents and drives the story, rather than reacting to events or being a victim of circumstance.

2. The Primary Reason for Writing Overlord

According to Maruyama, "A work that can truly satisfy you 100% will never exist in this world unless you make it yourself." This was the fundamental reason he started writing Overlord. He even joked that if there is a reader whose tastes align exactly 100% with his, that person likely suffers from a severe case of Chuunibyou syndrome.

3. Encouraging Readers to Become Creators

Maruyama hopes readers will use Overlord as a stepping stone to begin creating their own unique works be it novels, illustrations, or music. He mentioned that once he completes the final two volumes of Overlord, he wants to step down as a storyteller and switch to being a consumer of others' creations.

4. Openness Toward Fanfiction and Haters

He strongly desires to read fanfiction created by Overlord fans but has held back because he doesn't want his main storyline to be unconsciously influenced. Maruyama also explicitly stated that he is perfectly fine with the existence of haters or people who despise his work ("all OK").

5. Proud of being consistent, but a little sad

In the final section, Maruyama shared a rather emotional reflection. He mentioned that many authors often feel that their "characters suddenly start moving on their own, out of control." However, Maruyama confessed that he has never experienced that magical phenomenon. The plot of Overlord moves exactly according to the outline he created 10 years ago, without even a slight deviation. While on one hand, he feels proud that his vision is consistent, on the other hand, he feels sad and believes he has "not evolved" because the story never takes a direction that surprises him.

1. AINZ'S INITIAL GOALS

Initially, Ainz (who was highly paranoid about the unknown) acted based on a mindset of self-preservation and a small hope for nostalgia. He independently formulated four cautious main goals:

• Concealing Nazarick's Existence: Ainz's top priority was ensuring the safety of the Nazarick facility and all its inhabitants. In the worst-case scenario, he was even willing to abandon his headquarters as long as the NPCs whom he considered precious remnants of his old friends survived.

• Making the Name "Ainz Ooal Gown" Famous: This second goal was driven by sentimental hope. Ainz wanted to spread his guild's name across the world, hoping that if any of his old friends were also transported to this world, they would hear the name and reunite. However, he knew the chances of this happening were very low.

• Strengthening Nazarick: Ainz was extremely wary of the existence of World Class Items and potential threats from unknown entities. Following the brainwashing of Shalltear by a mysterious entity, he realized the grave danger lurking in the shadows and chose to tread more carefully. His focus shifted to military and defensive fortification, which included exploiting the resources of new territories such as subjugating the Lizardmen and continuously producing undead armies using the corpses of his victims.

• Creating an Information Network: Although the priority of this goal was eventually lowered following recent events, gathering an effective information network was initially a core part of his fundamental plan to understand the New World.

2. AINZ'S NEW GOALS

Over time, the direction of Nazarick's movements changed drastically without Ainz explicitly realizing it at first.

• World Domination: This goal was essentially born out of Demiurge's misunderstanding. Given his extraordinary intellect, Demiurge interpreted Ainz's past remarks as a grand blueprint for global conquest. When Demiurge announced in front of all the Guardians that "world domination" was their master's true objective, Ainz was shocked and confused. However, Ainz ultimately accepted it, deciding the plan wasn't bad after all. He realized that world domination was the fastest and most effective method to echo his guild's name across the globe, which perfectly aligned with his primary mission of finding his old comrades.

• Founding a Nation: As a tactical step to achieve world domination, Demiurge and Albedo suggested that Nazarick stop operating entirely in the shadows. Infiltrating and controlling other kingdoms from behind the scenes (like the Re-Estize Kingdom) was deemed too restrictive. To negotiate on equal footing with other world powers and to bait the mysterious enemy (the one who brainwashed Shalltear) out of hiding, Nazarick had to step onto the public stage. This culminated in the ultimate goal of establishing an officially sovereign state: the Sorcerer Kingdom, ruled directly by Ainz.

3. AINZ'S FINAL DECISION

Through the boundless loyalty of the NPCs and their interpretation of his past words, Ainz has now set his ultimate goal: to step out of the shadows and onto the world stage. He finally embraced the path of world domination and the founding of a nation as the most logical method to protect what is his, while simultaneously finding what he has been searching for all along.

Afterward, Ainz delegated the monumental task of world domination to Albedo and Demiurge, who were far more capable and knowledgeable in that regard. Meanwhile, he continued to personally handle other matters, such as strengthening Nazarick and gathering information.

Does Ainz actually want to rule the world? Yes, he desires it because the goal aligns perfectly with his primary mission of spreading his guild's name to every corner of the world.

If his guildmates were to ever return and criticize him, Ainz already has a counter-argument prepared. He would use the excuse that he was forced to take this route due to the mysterious enemy that brainwashed Shalltear. Ainz thinks this is a brilliant excuse and is fully convinced it would earn his friends' forgiveness.

Context.

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Meanwhile, here is what Ainz has done on his own without Nazarick:

• Wasted over an hour before saving dozens of villagers in Carne Village, saying "it's not my business."

• Killed innocent adventurers who were following him without hesitation, just to keep the information about his "lamprey" a secret.

• Hugging a woman so tightly that her ribs broke.

• Upon seeing Demiurge bring thousands of humans from Operation Gehenna in the Re-Estize Kingdom, instead of freeing them, Ainz ordered Demiurge to kill them.

• Ordered Cocytus to slaughter all the Lizardmen, even though Cocytus clearly objected. This was because Ainz wanted to turn the Lizardmen into an Undead army.

• Used Roberdyck as an experimental subject himself, then sent Imina and Hekkeran to become living nests for his NPCs. All three are still alive to this day.

• Killed a human child who was taken hostage, even though Ainz had the power to save him. He said, "Not my people, I don't care."

• Instead of feeling guilty, Ainz laughed out loud because he broke the record by summoning 5 Baby Goats (Dark Young) and ordered his allies to applaud his achievement.

• Attacked Carne Village with dozens of demihumans, just to test the goblins' strength, the village's defenses, and to observe Lupusregina's performance.

• Scolded Lupusregina for not doing her job properly.

• Scolded Albedo because she kept questioning his reasons for saving Tsuare.

• Reprimanded Albedo for being too restrictive and shifting the blame onto Hilma.

• Rebuked Demiurge for acting disrespectfully and forcing Emperor Jircniv and his entourage to bow down using his voice.

• Intended to forcefully subjugate and enslave the Dwarf Kingdom if there was Prismatic Ore to be found there.

• Caressed and hugged Shalltear over the blood of tens of thousands of Quagoa that they had just slaughtered without an ounce of guilt.

• Without much discussion, immediately killed the Frost Dragon Lord because he wanted to skin it.

• Allowed Neia to die first, so that Ainz could arrive late and heroically to be branded a savior.

• Sent the nobles who beheaded Zanac, along with their families, to Neuronist.

• Experimented on thousands of humans to turn them into an Undead army.

• Asked Jircniv to send criminal prisoners because his stock for experiments was running low.

• Taught Aura and Mare to steal the Elf King's items and treasures.

• Declared war on the Slane Theocracy out of revenge, not caring about the innocent humans living there.

• Created a crater with a Nuclear Blast in the Holy Kingdom, without caring if there were humans trapped in the surrounding area.

• Used Shalltear as a chair as a form of punishment.

• Groped Albedo's "mountains".

• And more...

1. Hekkeran and Imina (Team Foresight) – The Unluckiest

As the leader of Foresight and his lover, Hekkeran and Imina suffered the worst and most long-lasting fate among all the intruders. After their defeat before Ainz, they were not killed.

Ainz handed their lives over to Gashokukochuuou, a monstrous entity known as the Parasite King. They were kept alive, but their motor functions were paralyzed so they could be used as living nests and incubators for the parasite family.

They were left alive and forced to continuously feel other organisms eating and breeding inside their bodies, turning this into an endless torture where death became a luxury they could not achieve.

2. Gringham and the Members of Heavy Masher – A Gruesome Death

The Heavy Masher group split up and was slowly picked off by Nazarick's security system. Gringham, the leader, along with one of his comrades from the Thief class, accidentally teleported directly into Kyouhukou's room on the 2nd Floor.

The room is a nest for millions of flesh-eating cockroaches. Gringham and his comrade were swarmed and eaten alive from the outside in. Their suffering was incredibly intense physically, as their organs were gnawed on while they were still breathing.

Several other Heavy Masher members met a similar fate. One of them was sent to Neuronist Painkill's facility to be used as a subject for sound experiments, where he was brutally tortured until his screams of agony were utilized as an instrument of suffering.

3. Roberdyck (Team Foresight) – Mental Destruction

As the religious cleric of Team Foresight who prioritized magic and faith, Roberdyck was not tortured physically. Instead, he was made a subject of memory manipulation experiments by Ainz to test the power of holy magic and investigate the existence of God/Gods in the New World.

Ainz wanted to know if a cleric would still be able to use holy and healing magic if their memories of the god they worshipped were altered or erased. Roberdyck's memories and personality were rewritten repeatedly without end.

Ultimately, the foundation of his mind was completely shattered, turning him into an empty shell without consciousness until he could no longer recognize his own identity.

4. Parpatra and Team Dragon Hunt – A Normal Death

Parpatra was a veteran Worker and the highly cautious leader of Dragon Hunt. He chose not to enter Nazarick and remained at the surface camp to observe the situation.

Unfortunately, this did not save them. They were intercepted by the Pleiades maids and Nazarick's Old Guarders (an undead army). All members of Dragon Hunt were slaughtered in the battle.

Objectively, dying on the battlefield is a normal/standard risk for a Worker. This reasonably natural death spared them from torture, placing their fate far better than that of the Heavy Masher or Foresight groups.

5. Erya (Team Tenmu) – A Quick and Humiliating Death

Erya Uzruth was an incredibly arrogant swordsman who felt superior as a human and often tortured his Elf slaves. While exploring Nazarick, he encountered Hamsuke, who was practicing her Martial Arts.

Erya confidently believed he could kill Hamsuke, but in one swift swing of her blade, Hamsuke severed both of his arms. In a state of shock and helplessness, Erya was quickly executed by Hamsuke.

Although his death was humiliating given his arrogance, a direct execution without a prolonged torture process was a fairly good fate inside Nazarick.

6. Arche (Team Foresight) – A Painless Death

Arche entered Nazarick solely to free her younger sisters from the clutches of their debt-ridden parents. Ainz acknowledged the dedication and sibling bond shown by her comrades who tried to save her.

As a form of 'mercy', Ainz ordered Shalltear Bloodfallen to hunt and execute Arche painlessly. Shalltear complied; she allowed Arche to be overcome by fear until she fainted as an initial form of punishment, before finally taking her life while she was unconscious.

Afterward, Arche's body was dismantled to be utilized by Nazarick (her skin for Demiurge's parchment, some undead took her limbs, a Silk Hat Demon took her head, her vocal cords were taken by Entoma, and the rest became food). Arche became the only Worker member to die instantly, freed from a slow and agonizing death process.

7. The Three Elf Slaves (Team Tenmu) – The Luckiest

The most fortunate fate fell upon the three female Elves brought by Erya Uzruth. Ainz recognized through reports that they were in Nazarick not out of greed, but purely because they were forced into it due to their status as slaves.

Because they bore no ill will toward Nazarick, they were the only group allowed to live. After their master was killed, they were allowed to kick Erya's corpse to vent the suffering they had endured all this time.

Afterward, they were sent to the 6th Floor of Nazarick to live and care for the Dark Elf twins, Aura and Mare. They transitioned from a life full of torment in the outside world to becoming residents in a safe, peaceful environment where all their needs were met. In fact, because they became too comfortable living with the high/elite standards in Nazarick, they had no desire to return to their homeland.