Third person's P.O.V:
The teleportation light faded.
For a brief moment there was only silence.
Then the world returned.
Ainz Ooal Gown stood in the center of the vast marble courtyard of Avalon.
The capital of Nazarick spread out around them in quiet grandeur. Towering white spires rose into the sky like polished spears, their surfaces etched with faint magical runes that shimmered under the afternoon sun. Delicate bridges of crystal and stone connected sections of the palace complex overhead, while banners bearing the crest of Nazarick fluttered softly in the wind.
The courtyard itself was enormous.
White marble tiles stretched in perfect symmetry, their polished surface reflecting the sky above. Decorative fountains shaped like coiled dragons sent streams of water into the air, and rows of sculpted trees lined the outer paths with careful precision.
The teleportation circle dimmed beneath Ainz's feet.
Albion appeared beside him a half step behind, landing silently like a shadow clad in armour.
Behind them stood the group of rescued humans. For a moment none of them moved, the transition had been too sudden.
One moment they had been trapped beneath a shattered warehouse in a burning city. The next they stood in a place that looked like something from a storybook.
The old man slowly lifted his head. The boy blinked repeatedly. The child clung tighter to the woman holding him. And Nanami Kuribayashi stared. Her eyes moved slowly across the courtyard.
The marble. The fountains. The towering palace walls that seemed to glow faintly in the sunlight.
This was not just a castle. It was a city built around a palace. And everything about it was immaculate. Too perfect. Too deliberate.
"…Where… are we?" the boy whispered weakly.
No one answered him.
Before anyone could gather their thoughts, movement erupted across the courtyard. Angel summons descended from above, wings cutting through the air as they landed in disciplined formation. At the same time, two groups of soldiers rushed forward from the nearby gate.
One group was composed of tall elves with pale hair and sharp features. The other were humanoids with long rabbit ears rising from their helmets. Both groups wore ornate silver armour that gleamed brilliantly under the sun. Their equipment was immaculate, every plate polished, every edge sharp.
They stopped several meters from Ainz, then they dropped to one knee in perfect unison.
"Welcome back, my lord.", The words echoed across the courtyard.
The rescued humans froze. Nanami's eyes widened slightly. The soldiers weren't speaking casually. They were addressing Ainz like a king, or something higher.
Ainz paused. For a brief second he simply looked at them. Then his gaze shifted toward two figures standing at the front of the formation.
An elf stepped forward first. His armor was slightly more elaborate than the others, and his posture was perfectly straight. Beside him stood a bunny warrior whose long ears rose proudly above his helmet.
Ainz recognized them immediately.
"Ludon," he said calmly. The elf straightened slightly.
"My lord."
"And Kurisha." The bunny warrior lifted her head proudly.
"My lord."
Ainz tilted his skull slightly as if examining them. "How have you both been?"
The question caused several nearby soldiers to blink in surprise.
"Have you been taking proper breaks?" Ainz continued. "I recall instructing the guard rotation to avoid excessive duty hours."
Ludon looked momentarily caught off guard. "My lord… we are functioning perfectly well."
Kurisha nodded vigorously beside him. "Serving as your guard is the greatest honor of our lives."
The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable.
Ainz gave a small nod. "Even so," he said evenly, "fatigue reduces efficiency. Ensure your unit rotations remain balanced."
Both guards bowed their heads again.
"As you command, my lord."
Outwardly, the moment appeared like a considerate ruler checking on his soldiers. Internally, Ainz was thinking something else entirely.
'I only know their names because of the trouble they caused.' Months earlier the two of them had nearly started a bureaucratic war within Nazarick's management department. Both Ludon and Kurisha had insisted—quite aggressively—that they should be assigned as Ainz's personal guards. Not temporarily, permanently.
Apparently both of them were considered the strongest warriors among their respective groups after their tribal chiefs. Which might have been impressive under normal circumstances.
The problem was their devotion bordered on fanaticism. The management department had complained endlessly about their petitions. Even Tyuule had mentioned it once or twice in passing.
Still…
Ainz glanced briefly at the two soldiers kneeling before him. 'At least their enthusiasm had translated into discipline'.
Before the moment could continue, hurried footsteps echoed from the palace entrance.
A figure rushed across the courtyard.
Tyuule slowed as she approached, composing herself before stopping a few steps from Ainz.
Then she bowed deeply. "Welcome back, my lord." Her voice was calm, though there was clear confusion behind it.
"You returned far sooner than expected."
She lifted her head slightly. "Was there some complication with the diplomatic meeting?"
Ainz gave a small nod. "It appears we must postpone the truce proposal with the Empire."
Tyuule blinked.
"…Postpone?"
"The Imperial Capital was attacked."
The words fell flatly.
"Attacked?" Tyuule repeated in disbelief. Her expression hardened slightly. "By whom?"
She folded her arms slowly, thinking.
"No faction besides us possesses the power necessary to strike the Empire's capital directly. And even fewer would have a reason to do so." Her gaze sharpened slightly.
After a few seconds of quiet contemplation a possibility surfaced. "…Were the attackers the same ones the Empire fought at Alnus Hill?" she asked carefully. "The people from beyond the Gate?"
At the mention of the Gate, Ainz's gaze sharpened faintly. The reminder was timely.
"No," he said slowly, "But we will need to discuss the matter of the Gate and the arrivals from beyond it at another time."
Tyuule's ears twitched slightly.
"But the ones who attacked the capital were not them."
Silence followed.
Ainz looked directly into her eyes. "It was an old enemy." The words carried quiet weight. "The same kind that attacked the northwestern plains a year ago."
For a moment Tyuule didn't move. Then the color drained from her face as her eyes trembled. She took an involuntary step backward.
Cold sweat appeared along her neck as the memory resurfaced. The creature, The devastation, The slaughter. That day had left a scar across the entire region, even now the memory made her stomach tighten.
Ainz noticed immediately.
He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. The gesture was simple, but steady.
"Do not worry," he said calmly. "I have already eliminated it."
Tyuule looked up quickly.
"And even if another appeared…" Ainz continued evenly, "do you believe I would struggle to deal with it?" There was quiet confidence in his tone.
Not arrogance, just certainty.
Tyuule exhaled slowly. Her shoulders relaxed slightly as the tension faded. Then she smiled faintly.
"Of course not," she said. "There was never any doubt."
Ainz nodded once. Then he gestured behind him.
The rescued humans were still standing awkwardly near the teleportation circle, unsure where to look.
"They are prisoners taken by the Empire from beyond the Gate," Ainz explained. "Although I have already healed their injuries, I want the medical staff to examine them for illness."
Tyuule followed his gaze. She studied the group briefly. Their clothing, Their exhausted posture, The way they stayed close together.
Understanding dawned quickly.
"I see."
"Provide them with food," Ainz continued. "And proper lodging." He paused briefly. "Let them experience the generosity of Nazarick."
Tyuule bowed. "At once, my lord."
She turned and signaled to several nearby attendants. Servants immediately approached to escort the refugees toward the interior sections of the palace.
Ainz walked forward slowly. The humans instinctively stiffened when he approached. He stopped directly in front of Nanami.
"Miss Kuribayashi," he said calmly.
She looked up at him nervously.
"Yes…?"
"Please follow the guards," Ainz instructed. "They will provide food, medical treatment, and bathing facilities." He paused slightly. "Once you have rested, I will request a conversation with you."
Nanami hesitated. Then she nodded quietly.
"…Understood."
She turned toward the others. "Come on," she said gently. "It looks like we're safe here."
The old man rose slowly. The others followed, still glancing nervously at the strange palace around them. Under the guidance of Nazarick's attendants, they began moving toward the palace gates. Nanami looked back once before disappearing inside.
Ainz watched them leave. Then he exhaled quietly.
"One matter settled." His red gaze shifted toward Albion. "…One more to handle."
Albion stepped forward slightly, silent as always.
Ainz gestured faintly. "Well," he said calmly. "Let us finish what we started."
The teleportation spell activated again as light enveloped the two figures.
And in the next moment, they vanished from Avalon's courtyard—returning once more to the heart of the Empire.
Piña's P.O.V:
I just stared dumbfounded at the spot where the angelic being and his silent, imposing guard had stood not too long ago.
One moment they were there. The next, they had vanished in a flash of light.
I blinked slowly. For several seconds she simply stared at the empty air, as if expecting them to reappear immediately. They didn't.
Behind me, the knights of the Rose Order shifted uneasily. "My princess…?" one of them asked cautiously.
Another knight glanced at the empty street. "…He disappeared."
I finally lowered my gaze slightly. "Yes," she said quietly. "He did."
The knights exchanged uneasy glances. "What should we do?" one of them asked.
Another knight frowned. "Did something happen? Was he attacked?"
A third spoke more quietly. "…Or did he leave?"
The last question lingered in the air.
I heard it, but I didn't answer. Instead, I slowly looked around me.
The capital burned. Collapsed buildings lined the once-grand streets. Flames crawled across shattered rooftops while thick smoke drifted into the sky. The proud stone roads of the capital were cracked and buried beneath fallen walls and splintered beams.
The smell of ash filled the air. So did the sound of suffering.
But even though the angelic being had vanished… The creations he summoned remained.
Golden-winged angels moved through the ruined streets. They spread out in every direction. Some descended onto burning rooftops, releasing waves of radiant magic that smothered the flames. Others lifted collapsed stone and broken wood from crushed buildings. Many moved among the wounded.
Helping, healing, saving.
A girl no older than seven lay on the dirt-covered road not far away. She whimpered weakly.
"Mama… it hurts…"
A deep gash cut along the side of her face as blood streaked down her cheek and soaked into the dust beneath her.
Her mother knelt beside her, hands shaking as she tried to wipe away the blood. "Stay with me," the woman whispered desperately. "Please stay awake…"
The girl cried softly. "I don't want to die…"
One of the golden angels descended beside them.
The mother gasped and instinctively pulled the girl closer. "Stay back!"
Her voice trembled with fear.
The angel stopped a few steps away. It didn't move aggressively. It simply stood there.
Watching.
Then it slowly knelt beside the injured child, as golden light gathered in its palm.
The mother froze. "What are you doing…?"
The angel gently placed its glowing hand above the girl's wound, while radiant light flowed across the child's face.
The torn skin began closing and the bleeding stopped.
The girl blinked. Her crying faded.
"…Mama?"
She touched her cheek slowly. "It doesn't hurt anymore."
The mother stared. "…You're healed…"
Her voice broke as tears filled her eyes as she looked up at the now departing angel. "Thank you… thank you…"
Not far away, a man shouted desperately.
"Help!"
He pushed against a collapsed section of roof with shaking arms. "My family is under here!"
The broken beams barely moved. "Someone please help!"
Two angels approached silently. They grasped the massive wooden structure. Then, without effort, they lifted it aside.
The man stared in shock.
Beneath the collapsed roof, a woman and two young children lay trapped. One of the children began crying immediately.
"Papa!"
The man rushed forward, pulling them into his arms. "You're alright… you're alright…"
One of the angels knelt beside the injured woman as golden light spread from its hand.
The bruising faded and her shallow breathing steadied.
The man bowed his head repeatedly. "Thank you… thank you…"
Elsewhere, a wounded soldier leaned against a broken wall, clutching his bleeding shoulder. "…I can't move," he groaned.
Another soldier tried to support him. "Hold on."
An angel landed beside them.
The soldiers tensed instinctively. But the angel simply raised its hand.
Light flowed outward. The wounded soldier gasped as the pain vanished.
"…It's gone."
He flexed his arm slowly.
"I… I'm healed…"
Across the ruined street, a woman sat against a pile of rubble, rocking a crying baby in her arms. "It's alright… it's alright…"
But blood continued to seep through her fingers from a deep wound in her stomach. Her breathing was growing weaker.
An angel approached.
The woman looked up fearfully.
"Please…"
Her voice trembled. "Don't hurt my baby…"
The angel stepped closer and raised its arm. slowly light enveloped the wound.
The torn flesh slowly sealed itself. The woman gasped as the pain vanished.
"…I can breathe again…"
The baby's cries slowly quieted.
All across the capital, similar scenes unfolded.
People cried, others prayed and some simply stared in disbelief.
And salvation had come, not from the Empire, not from the legions.
But from golden-winged beings descending from the sky.
At first the citizens had been terrified. Some screamed when the angels approached. Others begged them not to come closer.
But the angels moved gently. Patiently.
They lifted those buried beneath rubble. They healed the injured. They carried the weak to safety.
Slowly…
Trust replaced fear. Those who had already been healed began guiding the angels toward others.
"Over here!" a soldier shouted. "There are wounded civilians inside this building!"
Another man waved frantically. "My brother can't walk! Please!"
The angel knelt beside the injured man. Light filled the air once again.
I watched everything silently.
A strange calm settled over me. Even though Ainz Ooal Gown had vanished… His creations remained. And they were saving the people of the Saderan Empire.
"My princess…"
One of the Rose Order knights stepped beside me.
"You should rest."
Another knight nodded. "The Imperial Guard is setting up shelters further down the road."
"You've been standing here since he left."
I shook my head slowly. "I cannot leave."
"But Princess—"
"I must remain here." My voice was quiet but firm. "If Lord Ainz returns and I am not here…" I let the sentence trail off.
The knights looked at each other uneasily. "What if he does not return?" one of them asked carefully.
I answered immediately. "He will." There was no hesitation in my voice.
The knights fell silent. So they waited. Minutes passed.
Smoke drifted across the ruined streets. The angels continued their work tirelessly.
The cries of the wounded slowly faded as more people were healed.
Then—
The air shifted.
Several knights suddenly stiffened. "My princess!"
Magic gathered before them as a bright light burst into existence.
Two figures stepped from the glow.
Ainz Ooal Gown. And beside hum his silent, imposing guard.
"Apologies… Princess," Ainz said calmly. "An important matter arose that required my attention. I had to leave so suddenly."
He inclined his head slightly. "I hope you did not have to wait too long."
The tension gripping my chest finally disappeared.
Relief washed over me. "T-there's no need to apologize," I said quickly. "I'm grateful Your Majesty is keeping his word and aiding us in this disaster."
Ainz hummed softly as he looked around the ruined capital. "Hmmm…" His gaze followed the angels moving through the city. "Once a word is given, I try to keep it." He observed the angels lifting rubble and healing the wounded. "They appear to be carrying out their duties accordingly." Then he turned his attention back to her.
"Shall we continue from where we left off?"
I nodded quickly.
"Yes… please follow me."