Ainz had no real confidence in his aesthetic sensibilities, so he had the twins help him decorate the tree. At one point, Aura paused.
“Uncle Ain, footsteps headed our way. Six pairs are coming. They don’t seem to be trying to hide their approach. From the weight, likely children.”
Ah. Ainz stopped working and turned toward the door. He hadn’t imagined they’d show up today but was grateful for it. The boy he’d first given candy to popped his head in the door.
Most people would think it rude to just poke your head into someone else’s home, but in this village, that was normal.
“Hey there. You here to invite Aura and Mare out to play?”
“Uh, um, yes. We are,” the boy stammered, gaping at the room.
“I see, I see.” Ainz grinned. “I was waiting for you. Kids, go on out and play.”
“Huh? Uh, um, b-but, Uncle Ain, we’re not done unpacking…?”
“No problem, Mare. I’ll handle the rest. Let me take care of things here! Although I’m not sure I have an eye for these things, so if you see anything worth fixing later, I’ll do as you say! Ha-ha-ha!”
Ainz let out a laugh, and the twins looked surprised.
Certainly, he was not ordinarily prone to hearty laugher. He realized how strange it might seem. Perhaps his behavior was a bit awkward, but if they asked about it, he could claim it was all part of the act.
“Well, if you say so…gotcha! We’ll be right out. Mare, come on.”
“O-okay…”
The twins left, and Ainz practically beamed.
I’ll have to give those kids more candy to thank them for this! No, wait… What would Aura and Mare think if they knew these kids only invited them because they wanted candy? That might be devastating.
He didn’t think either twin was really that sensitive, though.
Then again, I’m not Teapot. I don’t know everything about them. So I should assume there’s a chance it would hurt their feelings and act accordingly. No need to risk it. If the shock of it blows their chances at making friends, how would I ever face Teapot again? Also, I’m curious how they’ll play…
Ainz smiled, remembering the past.
Satoru Suzuki’s best years. Forty people—plus one more—gathered in the game called Yggdrasil.
His comrades who had gathered there all led very different lives.
Some lived inside the megacorp arcologies. Others hailed from the far-inferior domed cities. People like Satoru Suzuki scraped by in the harsh environment beyond. And then there were those enduring worse conditions.
They were all total strangers with nothing in common—until the game brought them together.
“Games tear down barriers. They bring us together. Games alone make that possible. No matter how distant your origins, you can become friends. As I…as we did.”
Guardians were overwhelmingly powerful. By comparison, these dark elf children were terribly fragile. Away from this village, they were worlds apart. Even so—
“Friendship is a wonderful thing. I’d love for them to discover that.”
His eyes were not on the twins.
But he could see them in his mind’s eye.
If they played together and still found no common ground, so be it.
That had happened to Ainz, as well. He’d lost count of how many players he’d encountered within Yggdrasil. There had been so many. But only forty-one of them had become his friends.
Friendships were not made with everyone you met.
He need simply create opportunities for them to find someone they deemed worthy. As long as they learned that making friends was a good thing, then this whole exercise was a success.
Ainz glanced down at his right ring finger—currently bare—and a slight smile crossed his lips.
I wondered this before, but perhaps I should take steps to help Demiurge, Albedo, and Shalltear find friends, too? …………We’ll see.
There was little merit in overthinking it now. Even that momentary question had made his spirits sink.
Still, why is no one coming to visit me? From what I overheard using Perfect Unknowable, they should be readying a welcome banquet. When are they planning to tell me about that? Or is it supposed to be a surprise?
He had plans of his own, so an abrupt invitation wouldn’t be very welcome.
For one thing, Ainz couldn’t actually eat. He wasn’t sure what sort of banquet they had in mind, but ordinarily it would involve the village bigwigs and food spread out on the table before him. What would they think if he never took a single bite?
He couldn’t imagine that going over well.
If they were different races, then he might have some excuse and it would be the host’s responsibility for serving food he couldn’t eat. But Ainz was using an illusion to pass as a dark elf.
Allergies might rule out eating specific foods, but no ordinary excuse would allow you to skip over everything.
Ainz had to strike first and provide an appropriate reason.
Or are they not planning to come today to avoid interrupting my rest? I certainly don’t mind if the banquet itself takes place on a later date. I just don’t want them coming to fetch me once it’s all ready. Should I go to them? Ainz considered this, then shook his head. No, let’s not. In which case…once someone does arrive, I’ll ask them to pass word along.
He remembered what he’d seen while lurking around.
They generally deliver enough food for the morning and evening meals together. Right about now, actually. I’ll have to speak to whomever brings that along. Or was that a service provided to rangers who bring in food, not travelers? I haven’t done any work for them yet, so maybe they won’t bring me anything to eat. No, I doubt that. Aura worked hard enough, and I brought those gifts—I imagine they’d keep us fed at least a week even if we don’t lift a finger.
Ainz fully intended to do his part, of course. He’d told them he was a caster for a reason. Depending on what the situation called for, he was fully prepared to use spells as high as fourth tier. And bring back food in Aura’s stead.
He wasn’t sure how things would play out and wasn’t about to accept charity.
Maybe it’s just early. If they come, they come. If they don’t, I’ll go to them. Then…I’ll ask what I want to know.