Overlord: The Undead Oh! Chapter 55

Let's Go To Shichi-Go-San (七五三詣に行こう) is the fifty-fifth chapter of the Overlord: The Undead Oh! series.

Summary
Ainz Ooal Gown is getting tired from reading all the reports on his desk. Though he is now an undead Ainz feels the mental fatigue getting to him. In the past working as as salaryman, he dealt with tiredness and eyestrain by pushing acupoints and close his eyelids which now has become useless in his current state. Plus there isn't any medicine he could take to relieve his eyes given that recovery potions would damage him. Pondering what he could do to rest his eyes, the Overlord comes up with an idea.

Aura Bella Fiora who is snacking on an apple on the 6th Floor receives a [Message] from Ainz requesting to meet up at the Amphitheater. The dark elf at the ready asks what the task is and is confused when Ainz tells her that he is going to rest his eyes. In his mind Ainz hopes that a stroll with Aura through the green wilderness of the 6th Floor will ease the pressure on his eyes. At the Amphitheater, Aura arrives to greet her master, though is annoyed that her brother Mare Bello Fiore did not respond as quickly to the summons. Mare comes but Ainz is incredulous to find that the dark elf boy is wearing a hakama.

Aura explains the circumstances that led to this. Through Ainz's mercy three elves were allowed to stay in Nazarick and since then have been trying to encourage the twins to change into different clothes. The hakama that Mare is wearing is one such outfits they made him try. The female dark elf admonishes Mare for letting the maids make him wear such clothes. Ainz though compliments the hakama, finding it looks good on Mare and even calmed his eyestrain. The compliment causes Aura to reconsider the uselessness of the wearing a hakama and goes to change her clothes as well.

While waiting for Aura to return, Ainz asks Mare what Aura will change into, and he is told that it is mostly likely the other dress in the Shichigosan Set. That in mind Ainz brainstorms on what kind of kimono Aura will wear, will it be blue like Mare's or red or green. It turns out to be none of those colors as Aura reappears in a black kimono.

Included in the set were several items prepared by Bukubukuchagama. After Ainz admires the set, Mare asks what is "Shichigosan"? For which the undead explains that it is an event to pray to the gods for the healthy growth of children. And that the event takes place when the children are at the ages of 7, 5 or 3 years old hence the name "Shichigosan". Among the items in the Shichigosan Set, Aura shows Ainz the lucky charm she found with the words "I hope you can live safely until you are 1000 years gold." Ainz confirms that this is a longevity prayer for the event.

This is all information that Ainz read about in books, as his family was not very rich and could not afford to conduct a "Shichigosan" though heard that the event was commonly practice in Japan long ago. That in mind he offers the dark elves the chance to experience which they happily agree to. However there is some concern on whether they can partake as both twins are around 76 years old. Aura finds a loophole by stating that they are technically 75.3 years old and each digits satisfies the numerical requirements for the "Shichigosan".

For the "Shichigosan", Ainz believes that it should not be a big event and requires the participants to go on a pilgrimage to a place where they can pray to their god. If that is the case Mare wonders if one is a faith-based magic caster then an altar will not be necessary like Shalltear Bloodfallen or Lupusregina Beta with the latter worshipping Cainabel.

Aura wonders if she should then pray to an evil god for good health, though Ainz reminds the twins that he and his guild had defeated Cainabel in the past. In any case the twins think that paying worship to any sort of god that is not on the level of the Supreme Beings is not worth it. This gives Ainz an idea and takes them to the Yamaiko Shrine dedicated to the Gacha God who controls luck. The group are at a loss of how to proceed, but find convenient instructions explaining how to use the chōzuya. This involves holding a cassotte with the right hand and pouring water on the left hand to clean it and then repeat process by holding with the left hand. Next would be to hold the cassotte with the hind hand and pour water into the left hand to rinse the mouth before rinsing the hand with the water from the cassotte. Then lastly tilt the cassotte vertically and pour water on the handle to clean it. According to Ainz the whole process to mean to symbolize abandoning all desire as it was believed that doing so would improve gacha results.

Another sign is found informing them that the center temple is the path to the god and to avoid it by walking around to show courtesy to the deity. Additionally it is out of practicality as it helps visitors to avoid the water cannon attack that shoots from the path. In the past Peroroncino had ignored the warning and the gimmick shot him out of the shrine's boundaries. There is a coin box dedicate to the Gacha God to fulfill the offering, Ainz gives the elves ten gold YGGDRASIL coins to put in. The twins are then directed to pull the rope to ring the bell. Upon doing the task the altar at the shrine begins to glow which Ainz explains is a rare confirmation from he shrine. The feature is part of the shrine for pilgrims to try their luck to see if they can get a good lottery from the altar. The altar shines ten characters that Ainz identifies as the Omikuji and it reads as 3 "Great Blessings", 3 "Small Blessings", 3 "Small Curses", and 2 "Rare Blessings" which the Overlord indicates to be decent. The best blessing though is "Great Blessing" and the worse being "Great Villain". Apparently the ratio for this gacha game is under the lowest setting which caused a conflict in the past between Tabula Smaragdina and Ulbert Alain Odle over the settings.

The twins proceed with the "Shichigosan" by bowing twice before the altar and clapping twice before finally praying for good fortune. In her prayer, Aura prays to mature physically to put Shalltear in envy. After they make one final bow, Ainz congratulates then asking them to wait for him so he may pray before they eat Chitose Ame. As Ainz prays before the shrine, he recalls of how the twins did not live so safety, as in the past an army of 1500 players had stormed the dungeon killing them. Hopefully this time round the twins can live more peaceful lives. At that point Ainz realizes that there are still YGGDRASIL gold coins in the coin box and decides to check the amount only for the Komainu to awaken and declare him a thief. The initial shock passes Ainz who realizes it to be one of Luci★Fer's golem creations. The twins seeing the golem come alive wonder if this is a sign that a messenger of the shrine has come to hear their prayers.

Character Appearance

 * Aura Bella Fiora
 * Mare Bello Fiore
 * Ainz Ooal Gown
 * Bukubukuchagama (Cameo)
 * Elven Slaves (Cameo)
 * Nishikienrai (Cameo)
 * Warrior Takemikazuchi (Cameo)
 * Yuri Alpha (Cameo)
 * Peroroncino (Cameo)
 * Tabula Smaragdina (Cameo)
 * Ulbert Alain Odle (Cameo)

Locations

 * Great Tomb of Nazarick
 * Amphitheater
 * Yamaiko Shrine

Chapter Notes

 * This chapter first appears in the Monthly Comp Ace March 2022 Issue.