Overlord IV Episode 01

"Ainz Ooal Gown Nation of Leading Darkness" (アインズ・ウール・ゴウ ン魔導国 Ainzu Ūru Goun Madō Kuni) is the first episode of the Overlord IV adaptation. It was first broadcasted on July 5, 2022.

Summary
In Nazarick, Albedo lays in Ainz's bed and reflects on her conflict, loving Momonga while serving Ainz, but resolves to continue serving him. In E-Rantel, Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown reads in bed before noticing the risen sun through the closed curtain window. Ready for a new day, Foire stands and leaves to give her duty shift relief report to Fith, while Ainz exchanges his book for another and ponders telling his minions if he wants to view them as equals. However, he decides to table that notion for another day as his maids exchange shifts. With Fith now attending him, Ainz permits her to dress him and she adorns him in a red cloak with gold adornments with gemstone accents-- much to Ainz's quiet embarrassment.

In his office, he feeds Nurunuru before Fith announces Albedos arrival with a pair of Elder Liches. Welcoming them in, Ainz feigns reading their reports and stamps them as part of his daily administrations. When he attention lingers on a page, Albedo inquires why and Ainz admits that he knows nothing pertaining to social laws, which Albedo rationalizes it as a supreme being not needing to be bound by mortal laws. So Ainz voices a belief in Albedo's abilities, then comments that he found her reaction to his praise cute, leading to Albedo smiling in embarrassment, causing the Eight-Edge Assassins to shiver in fright. Stamping the last document, Ainz proceeds to read submitted suggestions-- among which are his for anonymity. After reading his own ideas, Albedo is disgusted by them and Ainz moves on not wanting to linger on the shame. The next suggestion is clearly Yuri's as it calls for building an orphanage, which Ainz approves as he can foster loyalty in the youths and give work to widows. While Ainz aims to employ Pestonya and Nigredo, Albedo reminds him that they hid infants and children when Ainz ordered deaths to humans captured during the attack in the capital but Ainz keeps to his choice.

Reading another "anonymous" suggestion, Albedo finds it tasteless and wants to kill the person, but Ainz must hastily remind her he promised no repercussions. However, they are surprised by the arrival of Aura and Mare who came to sit in Ainz's lap, must to Albedo's childish jealousy so Mare let's Albedo take his place to sit in Ainz's lap. Once seated, Ainz recognizes her scent but his sniffing Albedo and her wanting Ainz to keep at it grosses out Aura, who calls him a pervert so Ainz has them stand back up. Albedo sees his face in contemplation and asks if he was thinking of the "previous issue" which Ainz pretends to know. So when Mare is confused, Ainz requests Albedo to explain the issue simply enough for the elf twins to grasp-- and for himself also-- while also ordering her off his lap. While merchants scarcely trade in the newly founded Sorcerer Kingdom, finances within the kingdom are struggling and action is needed. However, Demiurge is taking action within the Re-Estize Kingdom, even though Ainz thought he'd be in the Roble Holy Kingdom, and Albedo petitions to go to Re-Estize as well as asking Pandora's Actor manage her duties until her return. Ainz thinks it over and Aura suggests that his subjects be allowed to crossdress, embarrassing Ainz to the point of emotional supression and thinking about Bukubukuchagama.

With matters in his office settled, including talking down Aura's crossdressing idea and Albedo's surprising support, Ainz meets Hamsuke napping with a Death Knight and clarifying that "Ainz" and "Momon" are two separate persons. Asking if Pandora's Actor is present, he is then met in private with his NPC. Ordering an update on his activities as Momon, Pandora's Actor reports no issues but begs return to Nazarick in pathos to tend to the items in his care-- per Ainz's original program for him. Not wanting him to revert to his original programming, Ainz sees Pandora's Actor as his son and asks he surpass his original design, wanting to see his growth. Pandora's Actor starts calling Ainz "father", but Ainz ask he not do so in public to avoid showing favoritism and also swears Fith to secrecy as well. Concluding their meeting, Pandora's Actor asks Ainz how he will lead his Sorcerer Kingdom due to the civilians asking Momon questions of service or fighting. Ainz ponders that question as he overlooks E-Rantel below, Fith struggling to climb the building to be beside him.

A short while later, Ainz walks the city streets escorted by Cherubim Gatekeeper, with Nurunuru hidden under his neck, noting the Undead labor functioning as city security. Seeing the city empty with citizens hiding indoors, Ainz hears Fith's dislike for humans sounding similar to Narberal Gamma's views when he began as Momon. Ainz sees the Adventurer's Guild across the way, entering to find nobody present and scarcely any job postings. The front clerk greets him in trepidation and apologizes for the lack of activity. However, Ainz does not blame her and "heard from Momon" that there is usually more people, so Ainz requests an audience with Pluton Ainzach upstairs. There, Ainz inquires on the Adventurer's Guild being politically autonomous with Pluton Ainzach answering such is a needed policy against political machinations, as Adventurers fight for the safety of the people. If so, Ainz then asks about the elves and half elves, many enslaved by the Empire and Theocracy and also other intelligent races like Lizardmen, Orcs, and Goblins.

With no answer, Ainz asks Pluton Ainzach to be seated to hear him out. Having viewed adventurers as explorers of the unknown, Ainz wishes to annex the guild and make them legitimate explorers with his support. Given their jobs had been monster hunting and mercenary work and his subordinates were stronger than average adventurers, a hard truth for Pluton, Ainz wants adventurers to explore given his military power fails at diplomacy. Pluton notes that such could have been placed as a request, but should international incidents occur then the guild would've needed to maintain autonomy. Pluton asks if Ainz seeks to invade nations explored by his adventurers, with the Sorcerer King elaborating that he has the military but he simply disdains adventurers being seen merely as monster exterminators and wishes to make them genuine adventurers.

Moved by the proposition, Pluton is in agreement to Ainz's endeavor and asks to be the first to join. Shortly after departing the guild, Ainz in epiphany turns to Fith and tells her that he cherishes the NPCs created by his comrades but also seeks fair rule over his subjects. Thus, Ainz aims to make a utopia where all who serve Ainz Ooal Gown no matter their race are treated well and the world will be as sweet as honey, wishing to tell the world. Ainz thinks to himself that, if he is successful, then any of his friends who may yet be trapped in this New World with him may flock to his capital city and see the change he brought in the his guild's name.

Major Events

 * Ainz Ooal Gown addresses the issues of the Sorcerer Kingdom with Albedo.
 * Ainz speaks with Pandora's Actor on their relationship.
 * Ainz Ooal Gown visits the Adventurer's Guild in E-Rantel and speaks to Pluton Ainzach about true adventurers.
 * Ainz decides to make his nation into a utopia.

In Order of Appearance

 * Albedo
 * Foire
 * Ainz Ooal Gown
 * Cixous
 * Lumière
 * Cocytus
 * Increment
 * Yuri Alpha (Mentioned Only)
 * Sebas Tian (Mentioned Only)
 * Pestonya Shortcake Wanko (Mentioned Only)
 * Aura Bella Fiora
 * Mare Bello Fiore
 * Demiurge (Mentioned Only)
 * Bukubukuchagama (Mentioned Only)
 * Hamsuke
 * Pandora's Actor
 * Shalltear Bloodfallen (Mentioned Only)
 * Narberal Gamma (Mentioned Only)
 * Pluton Ainzach

New Characters

 * Fith
 * Nurunuru
 * Nigredo (Mentioned Only)

Known Abilities

 * No abilities were used during this episode.

Known Locations

 * Sorcerer Kingdom
 * E-Rantel

New Locations

 * There are no new locations shown in this episode.

Anime Notes

 * The maid attending to Ainz's bedroom in the novel was Foth but in the episode Foire was attending to him instead.
 * Ainz convincing Aura and Mare regarding their suggestion about boys and girls clothes was skipped.
 * The Super-Tier summoning of the Cherubim Gatekeeper and Ainz finding out from Fith's talk about Albedo forbidding the homunculus maids to clean her room was skipped.
 * Ainz meeting and talking with Moknach inside the E-Rantel Adventurer's Guild was cut.
 * Ainz's decision of making his nation into utopia was after his talks with Pluton Ainzach.

Gallery
Odcinek 1 (sezon 4) Overlord IV Эпизод 1 Odcinek 01 (sezon 4)