Overlord Manga Chapter 78

This is the seventy-eighth chapter of the Overlord Manga.

Summary
Ainz Ooal Gown who has been reading a book from under the covers of his bed notices that morning has come. He also notes that Foire, the Homunculus Maid who has been assigned to attended him, has not moved from her position since he went to bed. Despite it being a show of her loyalty, Ainz feels its a pain as he consciously feels her staring at him.

But regardless its one of the pains of being a leader. When Ainz arises from bed, Foire informs the Sorcerer King that her post resumed by a new maid for the day. Ainz gives her a line that Foire should have a good rest, causing the maid to blush and thank him for his kindness and the ring he lent her to allow her to stand by his side without rest. When she says that she will continually faithfully devotes herself to him and leaves the bedchamber, Ainz wonders to himself what would she say if he said he wanted to live like an equal?

One of the things Ainz notices when conversing with the NPCs, is that he mentally superimposes his former friends over them. This makes him feel a sense of longing towards those days in the guild and wondering if he could go back to that sort of life. Ainz wants not a master and servant relationship with the NPCs but cannot afford to disappoint them as it is part of their expecation for his role to stand above them in Nazarick. Hence his reading material in his bed. Not wanting anyone to find out, the undead quickly puts the books away back into his Item Box.

The door of his bedchambers opens, and Ainz greets Fith, the maid on duty to serve him for the day. While studying her appearance and the standard maid uniform, Ainz recalls that one of his comrades once said that maid cloths are the best invention of mankind. Fith asks if there is anything wrong to which AInz responds that he was merely entranced by her, causing her to be flustered. He then gets up from the bed and has her follow him.

In Ainz's office, the undead now having substituted his bed robes for a new gown, is seen feeding a Lip Bug named Nurunuru in a vivarium. Taking are of the insect brightens his mood before he glumly takes a seat at the desk to do the day's tasks, mentally complaining it pains him when he has to work due to his bitter memories in the past.

Fith announces that Albedo and the elder liches have arrived to see him. Ainz permits the group entry. They exchange morning greetings with Ainz adding how nice the weather is. At the mention of this Albedo offers to change the weather to suit Ainz's preferences, but he declined. Regardless Albedo says that if Ainz desires anything he should let her know. The only problem with that is Ainz's undead state leaves him with nothing he desires but thanks the Overseer Guardian anyway.

Albedo comments on Ainz's selection of clothes causing AInz to ask if it is too flashy. To the contrary Albedo finds Ainz's new appearance making him glow brighter. Ainz thanks her, and also passes praise to Fith who choregraphed his current wardrobe. This earns Albedo a bit of envy who then quickly offers Ainz some documents that she brought with the liches for him to review.

A stack of books and binders are put in front of Ainz, though despite flipping through and skimming the pages, Ainz can't make heads or tail of the content of the documents. Even so he approves it with his stamp, feigning understanding. Then he goes on to ask about the passing of laws for their nation. Albedo reports that they have a draft but adds that if they push forward the law too harshly it could cause widespread discontent thus are at an impasse. She even consulted with Demiurge but its evident that the laws of the Re-Estize Kingdom do not grant enough authority to Ainz's rulership. Hence she thinks it would be better to simply just retain the first edict of the Kingdom's law and compulsorily enforce it.

Since Ainz has no confidence in laws, and just about everything, he allows Albedo to do as she sees fit. Albedo thinks that Ainz is being too modest of not understanding the law, but even when Ainz tries admitting this, the Overseer misunderstands and takes it that from Ainz's perspective that her master's lack of it is due to never having been bound by earthy laws before.

A look of surprise comes across Albedo's face, causing Ainz to ask if she is alright, but finds out that Albedo was merely finding it striking of how "cute" he looked, though her sudden change in demeanor elicits worry from the watching Eight-Edge Assassins hanging above the office. Albedo quickly apologizes, stating how embarrassed she is on showing such a face. Seeing that it was nothing, the Eight-Edge Assassins stay on standby, while Ainz proceeds to begin the proposal screening with Albedo.

The proposals are a stack of papers containing suggestions collected from the NPCs in Nazarick which he and Albedo reviewed to see which ones could be incorporated into their organization. The first proposal he reads is one for the establishment to educate children. From this Ainz sees the benefit of cultivating talented individuals in strengthening Nazarick, and even if it does not work the indidivuals could still still help to develop technologies for them. Albedo deems the framework of the proposal to be good and deduces that it was Yuri Alpha who made the suggestion. However in her honest opinion she believes the proposal to be foolish to aid humans who she saw as pigs and that there was no point in letting them be given a choice to live differently.

Though her words are harsh and while Ainz agrees somewhat, he believes that giving their human subjects an education would allow them to serve as a cog in society as it always should. While there is a possibility that Nazarick's technology could be leaked to the outside world, it should be fine they run a regular orphanage and limit the knowledge they teach the children to only those close to them. If they can find talented individuals it opens possibilities. On this ALbedo begins to understand and adds that this will also allow the widows who lost their husbands in the previous war and struggling finacially to act as staff at the orphanage thus demonstrating his goodwill. Ainz comments that if they act after the widows approach "Momon" and inform him of their plight, then the issue will be that the hero's reputation will be boosted, and not Ainz's.

The next proposal Ainz reads is a suggestion of creating uniforms to strengthen solidarity in Nazarick. Albedo is furious at the idea, finding such a suggestion inferior and demands to know who wrote it. Ainz is the culprit but to hide the fact that he was the originator claims that the sheet he orignally wrote the name of the suggestor is lost. This is not satisfactory to ALbedo as she wants to launch an investigation to find the culprit, but is swiftly forbidden by Ainz as he states that he would not blame anyone for giving out their opinions. He then asks Albedo to forget the suggestion entirely which she complies.

Their review is interrupted when Fith annouces that Aura and Mare have come for a visit. The twins warmly greet Ainz Ooal Gown, before Aura opens her arms out which Ainz reads that she wants to be picked up. Soon enough both dark elves are on his lap to Albedo's shock who drools in envy. When she makes indications she would like to sit on his lap, she is politely told off by Ainz as she is an adult while Aura and Mare are children. Hearing that leaves the woman depressed, causing Ainz to turn to the charges on his lap to ask what is new about the fortess in the Great Forest of Tob.

The elves are initially hesitant to speak as they don't want to be seen as a bother, but Ainz persuades them that there is no trouble. Seeing that he got sidetracked, Ainz asks Albedo what new topic she wants to start, but only gets a childish plea to be allowed a turn on his lap. Mare willingly gives up his spot for Albedo. Ainz is still clueless as to why Albedo is making such a immature attitude, but relents anyway.

To her joy, Albedo attempts to get the same experience as Aura by having Aizn lift her in the air, but is refused and told to just sit on hip knee. On his lap, the undead notices how soft Albedo is, not only that she smells a distinct perfume on her that seems familiar. At the comment of her perfume, Albedo invites Ainz to smell her. Ainz soon finds himself having to attend a pouting Aura who is greatly displeased by the attention that Albedo was receiving and is reminded that the look is similar to what Bukubukuchagama would have given him for being a pervert.

He then tried to have both the women get off his lap so that he could resume his work, but receives a protest from Albedo wanting to prolong her stay arguing her time on his lap is shorter than Aura's. In a counterargument Aura points out the Overseer Guardian has already been hogging Ainz to herself in the meetings. Undeterred Albedo claims that was for work which proves Aura's point in that she came to see him personally.

As Aura and Albedo glare at one another, Ainz caught between them finally realizes that the two are being possessive of him. Ainz seeing them as children draw his thoughts to Aura as he hopes to educate for her mental development and possibly find other dark elves for her to interact with.

Ainz decides to put his foot down and orders Albedo to get off his lap as it already has been three minutes. Albedo complies to her disappointment and Aura soon follows. Noticing Ainz's work she asks what he is doing, causing him to explain the purpose of his reviewing of suggestions to improve Nazarick. He then invites the two dark elves to offer any suggestions for Nazarick. To that end Aura has an idea, in that boys should dress like girls and girls should dress like boys.

To Ainz's embarrassment he recognizes that Aura's suggestion was Bukubukuchagama inspired. Albedo recognizes it as well, but unlike him considers accepting the proposal idea as it was from a Supreme Being and since it is from the word of a creator it is deemed to be most correct. The Overlord knows that this was just Bukubukuchagama opinion and turns his focus on declining the request in a polite way.

He does so by explaining that if the entire country were to dress the same as Aura and Mare then it would lead to them losing what makes them special by their creator. The dark elves buy the reason to his relief Ainz, and as he tries to avert his eyes, Albedo mistakes him for looking at the documents that is in front of him. To maintain the charade he confirms that he is which causes Albedo to laud him for his intellect. The ruse is kept but Albedo brings him a problem that she needs him to consult on.

It appears that the resources in the city are dwindling and soon will vanish in the future. E-Rantel which was originally a trade city acted as a warehouse for many goods, but since Ainz assumed control, merchants rarely come to E-Rantel. To Aura a solution would be to take the needed supplies from the Empire or Kingdom, but Mare stops her as Ainz had ordered them not to use force on their neighbors.

Aura is optimistic as she and the others believe that Ainz has a brilliant plan to solve this. To Ainz's shame he has no plan, and instead confidently gives it to Albedo to solve to avoid revealing his shortcomings. Albedo responds by accepting the task stating that Demiurge's seeds will soon be ready to harvest. The statement is meaningless to Ainz but he keeps his confusion about Demiurge's plans to himself.

The Overlord gets another shock when Albedo requests permission to visit the Royal Capital. Initally against her leaving Nazarick, he relents when Albedo persuades him that she will return to his side and will leave Pandora's Actor to be entrusted with the management of Nazarick and E-Rantel while she is away. At the mention of Pandora' Actor being similar to his parent, Ainz gets a little ruffled. The topic is changed on who will portray Momon when Pandora's Actor is away. Albedo has that part covered and has arranged to have Momon accept a request and be away from the city.

Mare wonders if that is alright, as he is concerned on whether or not the citizens of the city will behave themselves with their hero gone. The Overseer Guardian is confident no problems will arise because Momon is so deeply trusted by the people, all they have to do is have Momon order the people to obey the Sorcerer Kingdom's rule.

To Aura she points out the irony of how much the humans trust Momon rather than Ainz Ooal Gown. Albedo is no discouraged as this is all part of the plan to control the city through peace and that in time they will remove Momon's influence and instill loyalty to Ainz. That being said Ainz declares to make preparations to hand authority to Pandora's Actor to allow Albedo to reap the "harvest" before resuming their review of the suggestions from Nazarick.

Much later, AInz having finished with his paperwork and now alone with Fith decides to head to meet with Pandora's Actor. Outside, Ainz is followed by Fith and Cocytus's escorts. Before heading to the Treasurer's lodgings, Ainz makes a detour to the stables where Hamsuke has taken residence. There he finds the hamster asleep. This disappoints Ainz as Hamsuke has failed to even notice them despite being so close. At first he wonders if the hamster was dozing off due to be hard at work, but is even more annoyed when he learns from Fith that isn't the case, causing him to question the hamster's validity as "Wise King of the Forest".

The hamster is roused by Ainz, who upon seeing her master greets him warmly. Ainz quietly reminds her to address him as Ainz in public but since no one is present he permits it. When he sees the Death Knight that is in the stable with Hamsuke, she explains that they are friends that train together, causing Ainz to recall he used it for a certain purpose.

Upon asking about Pandora's Actor's whereabouts, the giant hamster answers that she has trouble keeping track of his body double as Pandora's Actor often takes alternative means of travel. Understanding this, Ainz notes Hamsuke that should be able to wear armor now and suggests that since she has nothing to do she put it on and train. Hamsuke complies to this suggestion and even tries to get her Death Knight friend excited.

In the guest room, Ainz sits next to Pandora's Actor who is practically leaning into his face making him visibly uncomfortable. Still he starts a conversation on Momon's status in E-Rantel and any other problems. On the last thing, he gets a response from Pandora's Actor proclaiming how he suffered greatly of being unable to touch and organize magic items for so long since his assignment in E-Rantel. This leaves Ainz utterly stunned and asks if he really made the NPC this way. To which Pandora's Actor passionately affirms as that this fetish was gifted to him by Ainz.

Before things get too out of line, Ainz agrees to arrange Shalltear Bloodfallen to lend her Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown to the Treasurer so that he could return to the Treasury so that he can work on his old guildmates equipment. At the same time he tries to encourage Pandora's Actor to cease with the exaggerated actions.

Since the relationship between them is of creator and created, Ainz voices he is glad the NPC is working hard for him. When he likens this as a son should exceed his father, it causes Pandora's Actor to tremble with joy at being recognized as a son to Ainz Ooal Gown.

In a technical sense this comparison is right, although Ainz is not visibly thrilled on the idea but is proud of Pandora's Actor's growth. But his words still evoke emotions to both Pandora's Actor and even Fith who tears at the statement. Pandora's Actor humbly thanks his "father" and swears to show him what he wishes to see.

Ainz adds that this conversation should be kept between the two of them, as any special treatment would cause friction with the other NPCs. Hence to avoid showing favoritism, Ainz apologizes that his creation will be low on his priorities.

Pandora's Actor does not take offense to this and willingly allows his creator to sacrifice him as he sees fit. Ainz also instructs Fith to keep quiet of what she just seen and is about to turn to leave, when Pandora's Actor asks his father to stay a bit longer to answer a question. His question being how Ainz intends to rule the Sorcerer Kingdom?

The question gives Ainz pause and at first thinks to just leave it to Albedo and Demiurge to solve. Yet he finds himself unable to evade the question as Pandora's Actor relays the humans fears of what kind of policy that Ainz will take, afraid that it will either be a policy of expansion and they will be forced to fight on the battlefield.

Ainz Ooal Gown himself does not know where his rulership is leading him, but provides an answer to his son that all will be made clear after he finishes drafting it and discussing it with the other Guardians of Nazarick.

After Ainz leaves the guest house, he uses [Message] to contact Shalltear. He then informs Fith that he will be going into town. Fith immediately suggests calling for a carriage. However Ainz only requires to call forth some summons to escort him. Whilst he prepares his magic, he asks the maid to retrieve Nurunuru.

Alone, Ainz begins to take several items from his Item Box: a cross, a japamala, and a crown of thorns. Once equipped Ainz then activates the Super-Tier Magic [Pantheon]. As he does this Ainz's mind ponders on Pandora's Actor's question of where he intends to lead their country. Though he honestly only cares if those in Nazarick are happy and wonders what his old comrades would say.

Fith returns with the lip bug in hand which he attached to the nape of his neck just as the Cherubim Gatekeepers are summoned, He gives the order to the angels to not only protect him but also Fith who will be accompanying him. The extension of protection flatters Fith as she feels unworthy, however Ainz underlines that though she is just a maid she is still a creation of his friends and thus precious to him.

The two then tour the city of E-Rantel. Ainz observes a troop of Death Knights, which have been tasked to guarding the city. In addition Ainz notes to himself that the undead have been assigned to build new villages to act as labor and security making them the perfect workforce. One of his aims for the use of the Death Knights is to build the number of villages back yo within s year and to establish them as self-sufficient. The harvests from these villages in turn would be the sources of produce which Ainz intends to collect and become a source of funding for Nazarick. His plan to create more villages had emptied out the slum districts in his city as the inhabitants were sent out to the new settlements.

The exodus of the homeless in the city is one of the factors for why the streets of E-Rantel are empty. But also due to the fear the people have towards Ainz Ooal Gown. Still it leaves Ainz with the question of what he wants to do with this new country. He considers another option of slaughtering the humans to produce experience points and be stored within Avarice and Generosity and hand all responsibility to the undead and relieving the living of their duties.

Lost on what to do, Ainz asks his companion Fith on what she thinks about their nation. Although bewildered at the question, the maid states that she is happy because the country is ruled by Ainz. While the answer was to be expected from an NPC, Fith also adds that she is disappointed in that no one in the city has paid proper homage to their new king. Other humans are around near Ainz, but after seeing him and his entourage they all scatter, avert their eyes or just go weak on their legs at their presence.

The next question Ainz asks Fith is if she thinks of humans are boring, to which the homunculus answers that they are not created by the Supreme Being and thus are pitiful beings. For this reply, Ainz responds that while all the NPCs, including Fith are important to him, but should follow his example in showing a little mercy to the people the Sorcerer King rules over.

This inspires him to create his nation into a utopia. A place where the people would be wished to be ruled eternally. Since Ainz intends to conquer the world, he plans to not just rule over humans but all other races. Already having seen the results from Project Utopia on the 6th Floor, Ainz now aims to put into practical application in the New World. Not only will his rulership offer eternal prosperity, bring harmony to the various races but he would take Ainz Ooal Gown's vision to the world.

Major Events

 * Ainz Ooal Gown is attending maid, Foire, is replaced by Fith in the new shift at the manor in E-Rantel.
 * The Lip Bug is Ainz's new pet.
 * Ainz and Albedo begin reviewing suggestions from the NPCs in the Great Tomb of Nazarick for the Sorcerer Kingdom.
 * Aura Bella Fiora and Mare Bello Fiore visit Ainz during work and sit on his lap, evoking jealousy from Albedo, who then persuades Ainz to allow her to do the same.
 * Ainz and Fith then visit Hamsuke at the stables and later Pandora's Actor, who Ainz recognizes the doppelgänger as his "son", though swears the Treasurer to keep this to himself.
 * At the query of Pandora's Actor, Ainz begins to wonder what path he will choose to rule his newly founded country.
 * Ainz then decides to forge his nation into a utopia that would bring all races to kneel before him in eternal prosperity.

In Order of Appearance

 * Ainz Ooal Gown
 * Foire
 * Ulbert Alain Odle (Flashback)
 * Tabula Smaragdina (Flashback)
 * Touch Me (Flashback)
 * Peroroncino (Flashback)
 * Bukubukuchagama (Flashback)
 * Cocytus (Flashback)
 * Shalltear Bloodfallen (Flashback)
 * Aura Bella Fiora
 * Mare Bello Fiore
 * Albedo
 * Demiurge (Flashback)
 * Pandora's Actor
 * Hamsuke
 * Zaryusu Shasha (Cameo)
 * Crusch Lulu (Cameo)
 * Enri Emmot (Cameo)
 * Nfirea Bareare (Cameo)

New Characters

 * Fith
 * Nurunuru

Spells/Skills:

 * Message
 * Pantheon

Known Locations

 * Sorcerer Kingdom
 * E-Rantel
 * Great Tomb of Nazarick (Flashback)

Chapter Notes

 * This chapter first appears in Monthly Comp Ace July 2023 Issue.
 * The July issue of Comp Ace published on May 25 was later announced to be the final chapter of the first part of Hugin Miyama and Satoshi Ōshio's Overlord manga.
 * Ainz's query to Aura and Mare on the Elven Slaves is omitted, as well as his question to Hamsuke regarding the Three Monsters of the Great Forest of Tob.