Bittersweet Nazarick

Bittersweet Nazarick (ビタースイーツナザリック) is a game event that occurred in Mass for the Dead. It was released on February 4, 2021 to February 17, 2021.

Background
A huge event item "chocolate" that Momonga had killed for. It is a non-buffed food with low value in Nazarick, but there is a possibility that it is a rare high-class sweet confectionery for humans ...? Aura and Yuri are struggling to make gift chocolates for diplomatic means...!

Incident
In Ashurbanipal on the 10th Floor, the protagonist who has previously moved to E-Rantel, continues to visit the library with his escort Slimeko to consult and review the books in its shelves. At his old workspace, the protagonist is seen consulting with Mare Bello Fiore over an "in love" phrase he found in a book. Their deliberations catch the eye of Momonga who had just finished his meeting with Pandora's Actor over a shipment from E-Rantel. Momonga just wanted to stop by to see the protagonist back in his old haunt. Momonga's interest piques at the book Mare is reading, which is titled as "Aiming for Valentine". Mare initially thinks it to be some sort of archery related book, but after reading grew confused when it talks about chocolate. It turns out to be a Valentine's Day theme piece of literature, though besides Momonga no one in the library recognizes the name. The term is believed to be some sort of magical ceremony, as the book details pictures of angels, chocolates and heart shaped vessels. Since the book Mare has open assumes the reader is aware of the event's significance, Momonga clarifies to his subordinates on what Valentine's Day. In which it is a holiday, when maily for women and men, who want to be intimate or have feelings for each other. Through custom both parties hand each other chocolates.

Momonga is glad Mare selected this book as it is a good introduction for his maturity, additionally all the talk about Valentine's Day causes the Overlord to feel a longing for the festivity. Back in YGGDRASIL, he and Peroroncino would celebrate the event together by making custom chocolate items for the Non-Playable Characters. During the holiday event, everyone could make "chocolate" as a custom item without the need for cooking skills. Though the chocolates were items meant to be given to NPCs and did not possess any buffs. Momonga then recalls that he still possesses a large quantity of leftover chocolate inside his Item Box and takes them to to allow the group to sample a taste of Valentine's Day. Mare instantly recognizes the chocolate to be "Honmei choco" as described in his book. The three then try the sweets and to their taste it is delicious. Momonga is pleased it confirms that the chocolate is indeed edible after such a long storage, laments that other than taste, this chocolate has no other use and is quite probably inferior to the "real chocolate" cooked by Nazarick's pastry chefs.

However a question is brought up by the protagonists on how this kind of chocolate would compare to the kind outside of Nazarick. The protagonist has an idea in that since Valentine's Day was brought up. Since it is an event which involves the act of giving a gift to someone who wants to be intimate it relates to his territory in "diplomacy". In the homunculus's belief he thinks that chocolate would have great appeal towards humans. Momonga catches on that his servant wants to use the confection as a means to open diplomacy with humans. From what is known about the New World, humans use low level magic to produce sugar and yet the method is not very popular and very costly. But with chocolate which is a common low level commodity it can be a high-class confectionery that is rare in this world. Momonga sees the potential use as chocolate as a trade item commercially, and recalls his former life as a salaryman and the use of souvenirs for business partners such as luxury sweets to entice clients. Momonga praises the homunculus for his insight for bringing value to a discarded item. The protagonist admits that most of the thanks should be given to Mare for inspiring him with the idea as the dark elf had selected the book that started this conversation, causing Mare to be bashful by the deed.

At the 6th Floor by a large tree, a tea party is being held by Aura Bella Fiora, Yuri Alpha and Pestonya Shortcake Wanko. All three are enjoying each other company, which relates to their creators who were among the female members of Ainz Ooal Gown and close. Pestonya compliments the tea brewed by Yuri which the other woman offers to provide the recipe. Aura is more concern why Pestonya called a party, which the head maid provides the answer. She signals two general maids, Foire and Cixous, to cart in a tray of chocolate sweets that Pestonya would like Aura to try. The Floor Guardian is more than willing to partake, Yuri is more curious to know why the maids made so many chocolate based dishes. The head maid explains these sweets were made using chocolate without buff effects which were given to them by Momonga who instructed the general maids to make "sweets for gifts to humanity". The project is currently called "Valentine" with the goal of creating a confection for diplomatic purposes with humanity.

The maids were very enthusiastic of the plan and to contribute to help Momonga. Aura seeing that there are a lot of ingredients for "chocolate" makes a non-committal comment stating that she wished to make something for her master. Yuri taking that as an indication to volunteer for the project then offers to help her. The other maids find the idea great, as it would have the two collaborating to make sweets they wish to try. Aura is not sure as she considers herself unfit as she is an amateur at cooking. Pestonya reiterates that the help is welcome as Momonga declared, that he wanted them to make a sweet based on everyone's opinions. And at her request Pestonya, was able to include a tasting party to allow all the finished sweets to be tried. Having Aura included in making confections would be no doubt interesting. Before Aura could object she realizes the time for her shift at the Crack on her floor is approaching and quickly hurries to meet up with her brother to deal with the phenomena leaving behind the maids to look forward to the upcoming taste event.

Aura runs at top speed to reach the Crack in the forest, though she is mentally conflicted on her abilities to make chocolate despite her peers belief that she could. Upon arriving at the Crack she is greeted by her brother Mare who tells her that she is late. Aura apologies as she has her mind on Valentine, causing Mare to he shocked she is aware of the term. Before Aura can tell her brother about the tea party, the Crack glows indicating the Chaos Beasts were due to appear. The two dark elves then concentrate on defeating the Chaos Beasts. Once the monsters are eliminated, Aura continues her conversation with Mare and learns that the idea for Valentine came from Mare, who humbly states that he merely read a book that begot the idea.

Aura seeing that Mare has contributed to Momonga's grand plan, then resolves to push away her insecurities and participate in Valentine as she doesn't want to lose to her brother. Aura thanks him for giving her the confidence and promising to make chocolate for him. Mare now alone wonders if Aura is planning to share chocolate with him if it should be called "family chocolate".

On the 9th Floor the Pleiades gathered in a private room under the command of Yuri. At the table a plate of chocolate is present for sampling. Yuri at the head of the table explains the details for the plan to make a gift for diplomacy using the large amount of "chocolate" from Momonga and wants to hear their opinions and cooperation. The idea is called to be genius of their master, though concerns are brought up if the maids would be able to cook. Yuri assures them the chocolate material is not a pure ingredient and thus regardless with cook skills will not possess any buff effects. Yuri informs them that the plan was extended to the general maids, and she is also participating to help Aura. The Pleiades find Aura wishing to cook to be surprising as she has always been reluctant to be feminine. But her interest makes sense as she want to give chocolate to Momonga. CZ2I28 Delta tasting the chocolate material notes that the quality is different from what is served in Nazarick. Narberal Gamma has no issue as it will be served to humans a lower lifeform to her. The maids scold Narberal on her ignorance of the importance of the chocolate and its use in diplomacy. As for the chocolate itself, it looks unappealing appearance wise and some of the maids suggest using it to decorate food. A more disturbing analogy of chocolate is made by Entoma Vasilissa Zeta who compared it to something she seen in the Black Capsule. Yuri hearing enough opinions from her sisters thanks them for their time. Outside the room Yuri sees that she needs to provide a reference for Aura to make a sweet. Yuri wonders perhaps she if she should check the library for a recipe, but changes her mind, wanting to trust Aura on her judgment for the plan.

At the same time, in the cantina of Nazarick, Foire and Cixous are working with the protagonist and Slimeko in preparing materials for the chocolate baking. The maids thank the two for their help as they acquired the recipe materials from the 10th Floor which is too dangerous for them to enter for the former. The women are eager to the event and look forward to trying the different sweets. They expect to have fun for the festival-like cook off. Their happy thoughts are interrupted with the appearance of Shalltear Bloodfallen. The Floor Guardian having heard rumors of the upcoming Valentine's Day plan asks the protagonist to confirm it validity. Slimeko answers this to be affirmative, but is dismissed by Shalltear who's interest turn towards the two general maids making them uncomfortable when she 'asks' them for their cooperation in the upcoming project. The maids are pulled out of the awkward situation when Albedo arrives into the cantina. Shalltear distracted accuses Albedo fro trying to copy her attempt to use the Valentine plan to her advantage just as Aura is doing by gaining Yuri's assistance in the chocolate making. The two women dramatize the taste party as another contest in their ongoing Queen War, despite when Slimeko and the protagonist try to tell them it's true purpose is for diplomacy. The women regardless see that Aura taking an interest in this chocolate cooking project as an aggressive move by her to gain Momonga's favor and thus a considerable threat to their bids as queen. The two resolve to make sure that they won't lose to their opponents. Once Albedo leaves, Shalltear continues to boast on her upcoming victory for the event, which the protagonist then suggests the vampire let loose by hunting some Chaos Beasts. Slimeko and the protagonist escort Shalltear to the nearest Crack, leaving the maids to muse that the event has gotten much more complicated with the Floor Guardians.

Aftermath
TBA