73 72

Archer was in an unusual state of mind.

Well to be honest he's been in an unusual mood from the moment he was summoned. He was not summoned in the most ordinary of conditions, life on earth was annihilated in a cataclysmic fire, then was supposed to fight in these Singularities and so on...

But more specifically, at the moment, Archer was in an even more unusual mood, looking at... His Master.

Ainz Ooal Gown.

An Undead... It was not Archer's most frequent opponent, but Archer did have some knowledge regarding the monsters created by black magic based on the bodies and souls of the dead. It may not be enough to call himself a full-fledged undead expert, but it was enough to roughly understand what the undead are like.

But while observing Ainz, Archer felt his practical knowledge, fostered and collected over many years and uncountable battles, was threatened to crumble into useless dust.

Ainz exceeded all the undead seen before by Archer so much that even trying to compare them seemed ridiculous to Archer. Where an ordinary undead would either have decaying flesh or even bare bones, there was only a snow-white body that Archer, for all his cunning and observation, could not find a single proof that the body could ever belong to a person. Rather, it seemed as if Ainz had been created as a perfect undead from the very beginning. Instead of an unpleasant aura that would be created by the corpse animated by dark magic, Ainz's figure radiated a primordial force, more suitable for a king - or, if someone wants to make an even more bombastic comparison - to a God. And, of course, instead of the primitive thirst for blood and hate for life that a brainless undead exuded, Ainz instead...

"What a pity," Ainz shook his head, "I really wanted to try your cooking..."

Yes, this also contrasted strongly with Archer's knowledge of the undead.

Of course, Archer knew that Ainz's real body was not human at all - and, unlike the other Servants, he took special care to find out what Ainz really looked like.

However, the description that he managed to get from asking the others - "a terrifyingly strong undead" - completely did not convey the whole picture of what he actually saw. Of course, theoretically, Archer could get more information from, for example, Cainabel, but...

To ask her? Archer was not crazy enough to do such a suicidal thing.

"Ahem," Ainz cleared his throat a little, after which he looked at Archer and, having carefully examined him, bowed his head a little, "Is... Is everything all right?"

Archer was ready to fight to the death against Ainz. But the fact that Ainz will ask him questions that, apparently, concerned his well-being, he was definitely not ready.

Archer, as a Servant, had certain advantages over ordinary people. And as one of the incarnations of the Counter-Force, he also had certain advantages even over other Servants. One of these advantages was, for example, his instinct.

Although there are many Servants who could determine that Ainz was not a simple Servant, Archer's instinct was comparable in this aspect with the mind of Da Vinci herself. However, if Da Vinci could find out everything thanks to her intelligence and abilities and to find it from a scientific point of view, then Archer's knowledge was more instinctive. In other words things such as: is that the enemy, how strong is the enemy, how great is his influence on the world around him, and how bad is the situation in which Archer found himself in.

The answer to the last three questions were very simple - "very". Ainz is very strong, his influence is very great and the situation is very bad. It was all the more strange for Archer that the answer "is the enemy standing in front of me?" - his instincts answered him with a resounding "no."

Judging by all the obvious indicators, Archer should be in a fight with Ainz right now, having received the strength of a Counter Guardian for the sake of saving the world and all of mankind. Instead…

"It's all right ..." Archer communicated with the creature that he, in any other situation would consider the cause of the death of mankind and the creation of the Singularities.

"Hmm…" - Ainz coughed once more, - "Good."

An uncomfortable silence fell in the kitchen.

Up to this point, Archer had never met Ainz face to face, at least when they were alone. The closest interaction Archer had with him, was most likely when Ainz used a healing potion on him in the Orleans Singularity and maybe a couple of phrases when it happened. After this, any interaction between Archer and Ainz was almost nonexistent.

"Anyhow…" - Ainz nodded again, - "Nothing unusual happened in Chaldea when I was away? Any problems?"

Archer exhaled.

What was the point of such a question?

From where Archer stood, Ainz looked to him like some kind of incomprehensible terrifying enemy magician, who for some reason, and perhaps only by a miracle, did not provoke a response from the Counter-Force. But Ainz's behavior did not fit into this neat image so much that it was physically difficult for Archer to combine these two pictures in his head.

So, Ainz... What did Archer actually know about him?

Apparently, taking into consideration everything that is happening, just about nothing.

"Nothing special, there were no problems that needed your attention," Archer answered in a terse tone.

"Oh, ahem, I see..." Ainz nodded once more, "Good."

The conversation was halted yet again. Archer exhaled deeply at the uncomfortable atmosphere.

Was he destined to constantly get into these strange situations? Once he was actually summoned into the past and met with himself. He was also once summoned into a virtual reality with the help of an ancient computer and an insane AI. But even so, the situation in which he was in right now, probably would win the prize among all the oddities of his life.

As a Counter Guardian, he has already become somewhat accustomed to the fact that he often appears at a time when humanity is about to be destroyed. Of course, to be summoned at a time when humanity was already destroyed was unusual, but given his nature as a Servant, it was not so surprising. But to be summoned by an ancient necromancer god, who was used to hunting other gods and destroying worlds after dinner, was definitely the strangest thing that had happened to him now.

And even so, the strangest part was not that Archer was summoned by the ancient conqueror to direct him to destroy humanity, but... The fact that this was not so?

Honestly, from the very summoning Archer went through less fighting than anyone in the, if you can call this clusterfuck as such, ordinary Holy Grail War. That is, a couple of battles with hostile Servants, a couple bouts of planning, one ambush, all of these in a couple of weeks. After that, he... was given a vacation?

Well what he counts as vacation anyway, probably, it was worth saying that nobody in Chaldea used him to fight, did not give him any arduous or impossible tasks, did not use him in any dark rituals and did not even sacrifice him for some byzantine reason. That is, Archer... was free to do what he wants?

No direct directive from Alaya, being summoned by an enemy of the world, who is actually not an enemy, a quiet life in Chaldea, during the apocalypse along with a dozen other Servants...

It was definitely the strangest circumstances for a summoning for Archer.

"Ha, as I thought," Ainz shook his head, after which he took a step forward.

Archer stiffened, expecting that now everything would be decided and Ainz would attack him, or at least something that would decide his future actions would happen. But instead...

"Haaaaa," Ainz exhaled, then sat down in an empty seat, then looked at Archer. "Can you please close the door and sit down?"

Archer tensed, but nevertheless fulfilled what was said to him and sat across from Ainz, expecting some kind of unexpected actions from the Undead. And indeed something unexpected did happen. Just not those that Archer himself expected, as much as one could expect an unexpected action.

"Archer, tell me... Is that not your real name?" Ainz looked at Archer, "Could you tell me then... Your real name?"

Archer froze.

Such a question was so unexpected to Archer that he started thinking about the possible reasons for Ainz to ask. Find out his actual name to possibly acquire information about his abilities? But it was unnecessary for Ainz to ask him as he could just look at all the information about him using his ability or even just by asking Jeanne, wasn't that so?

"Um, no, if some kind of story is connected with this, then I don't want to be intrusive," Ainz hastened to assuage Archer's bewilderment, confusing the Servant even more, "Just, hmm... I've never been too good at communicating with people, and the Servants…"

With people... Did he mean with actual people? Representatives of the human species?

Archer could believe it, but it created a hundred more questions in Archer's head. If Ainz did not get along with people up to this point, then what had changed?

"In truth, I'm not very good at speaking at all," Ainz nodded. "But anyway... I would like to know more about you."

What for?

Archer's mind started spinning in his head, trying to come up with at least one coherent reason why someone like Ainz needed to talk to someone like Archer.

"Well, that is, isn't it certainly better to work in a team when you know who you are working with?" Ainz sounded cold, but the essence of his reason delivered with his calm and even majestic tone was so incongruous that Archer's mind finally broke down.

"Ah, yes, of course," Archer nodded. "Should I make some tea?"

"Hm, of course." Ainz nodded.

Archer got up from the chair, after which he took a couple of mechanical steps to the teapot with unbending legs. Of course, he won't be able to arrange a traditional Japanese tea party, but even so, it was best to discuss issues with a cup of tea in their hands, wouldn't it?

"What do you want?" Archer turned to Ainz.

"Oh, thank you, but I don't need anything with this body," Ainz nodded, then pointed to his skeletal figure, which did not even have a hint of flesh.

Yes, of course, if Ainz would drink tea right now, then most likely the drink will simply spill out of the gaps in his body... Ha ha...

Archer wanted to squeeze his head in frustration. Yes, it didn't make sense at all! Nothing around him made sense!

If you are a terrible god of darkness on the cusp of becoming the destroyer of the world, then behave accordingly!

Archer continued to stand still until the kettle informed him with a whistle that the water was ready, after which, quite routinely, he steeped some tea leaves and returned to his place opposite Ainz.

Ainz just looked at Archer, and then nodded. "I would not want to get into anything sensitive, but, of course, if we were to work together in the future..."

Archer slowly raised his cup of tea, taking a sip.

So, Ainz is asking Archer about his life...

What should Archer answer him with? What answer could he give? How will Ainz react to any information that he reveals? And how will he use this information?

Archer continued to look at Ainz with a glassy look while taking another sip.

Tell him about his past? About becoming a Counter Guardian? About the fight against creatures that Archer himself, for the sake of convenience, would call as "something like Ainz"? What about his plans for the future? About his wish to the Grail?

Archer drained the mug of tea to the bottom, after which he looked at Ainz seriously.

"I love to cook," Archer replied in finality, like a final argument. Depending on how Ainz reacts to this sentence, Archer could determine what motivated Ainz interest in him. Maybe his Combat skills, or perhaps even some personal information for future emotional blackmail, or...

"Oh yes, I already heard about it!" Ainz nodded. "Amazing. Honestly, your image as someone with your personality, a no nonsense kind of person, was completely unsuitable for cooking…"

Or nothing…

Archer raised his cup of tea, took a sip, then another...

"Hmmm, it seems that you have run out of tea," Ainz said in a calm voice.

"I know," Archer only replied distractedly, after which he continued to drink the non-existent tea.

"Ahem... Okay," Ainz easily agreed with Archer's words, "Although, in fact, I'm a little envious. All the people in Chaldea say that you are an excellent cook, and unfortunately I can't try your cooking... Honestly, I am quite vexed that my past body was destroyed…"

Ah, to hell with it!

"Is it hard to live as an undead?" Archer asked Ainz a question that had been bothering for a while. Ainz wants to just talk, okay, then who is Archer to be against a little conversation with his Master?

"Hmm…" - Ainz thought for a second, - "In some ways. Honestly, I definitely can't say that there aren't some things that bothers me. Of course, it bothers me that the many pleasures of life can't be enjoyed by my undead body like food and even… khhm"

At that moment Ainz was suddenly silent, but Archer could guess Ainz's thought.

Yes, to be without your own... Manhood as a man, that definitely did not sound like the most pleasant state of existence.

"But on the other hand, being undead brings a lot of advantages," Ainz nodded. "There is no need to be afraid of aging, no need to worry about starvation or dying by exposure, not to mention that many additional abilities open up. Your magic would also get stronger, moreover…"

Archer nodded, and then asked another question, "In that case... Do you regret having turned yourself into undead?"

Ainz thought for a second, "Actually... it's not that I turned myself into an undead... Rather, it was just... An accident, I suppose."

Archer exhaled. He would like to know what kind of accident would make Ainz into such a creature which he was now.

"Regarding regrets," Ainz shook his head. "I don't know. On the one hand, when I first appeared in the world as an undead I met... Many obstacles."

Ainz wondered for a second whether or not he should reveal this detail of his past or not, but in the end he decided to at least say something, - "People... And, I mean humanity as a race, they always reacted badly to someone like me."

There were three races in Yggdrasil that a player can choose to play in. Humans, demihumans and heteromorphs, although, for a better understanding between the dichotomy, it is better to say that the races were divided into humans and almost humans, like elves or gnomes. And non-humans like orcs or lizards, and lastly the "monsters".

And, speaking in a theoretical sense, the "monsters" should have been the main choice among the players. Thanks to Yggdrasil leveling system, with levelling up requiring picking various classes, the various types of classes gave players various advantages depending on how rare and powerful the class itself was. In this levelling system being a heteromorph would make specialized racial classes available to the player.

In other words if a regular class would for example give two attribute points for levelling it, then a rare class would give three, and a unique one, four. In this case, various racial levels would give six or even more, not to mention opening additional ways for levelling the classes up, unique abilities and many other advantages. Although this was not entirely correct it was suitable for explaining the mechanics of why using a heteromorph avatar should be a non-question.

However, heteromorphic races were an extremely unpopular choice in Yggdrasil. The thing is that their potential power in the future was extremely spoiled by their debilitating weakness at the start. There were various disadvantage being a heteromorph that the other races doesn't have, for example; when killing heteromorphic races, PK players were not debuffed nor were they penalized in any way; there were not a lot of teachers or NPCs that gives information for heteromorphic races; and many quests most of the players considered the most profitable in the game were not available to the heteromorphs.

These reasons gave rise to a lot of discrimination towards heteromorphic players, and many human players considered players playing as heteromorphic races as noobs, idiots, or just lovers of very strange things. This was especially damaging due to the fact that the developers of Yggdrasil did not give the heteromorphic races any beautiful forms and, thanks to the complete immersion, the first reaction of many people to seeing a player in the form of a shapeless mass of mucus or even a abomination created from many mouths and pieces of flesh was quite negative to say the least.

There were many more reasons, but in the end it all came down to the fact that the general attitude towards players of the heteromorphic races from other players was most often very cruel - and the constant PK and multiple ridicule in voice chat were a daily occurance. Once Ainz himself, as Momonga then, was constantly exposed to this discrimination and was already planning to quit the game when Touch Me saved him.

"But in the end, I do not regret it at all," Ainz nevertheless finished the thought. "Because of my state as an undead, I was able to meet my real friends."

Ainz exhaled and nodded.

"Is that so" Archer nodded.

"Archer," Ainz suddenly thought, "Tell me... Do you have any friends?"

Another of Ainz's unexpected questions knocked Archer out of his mind. "What?"

"Friends," Ainz looked up. "People that are dear to you? Someone for whom you would go through hell for?"

Archer blinked at the question.

Friends, hmm...

"Probably..." Archer thought, "No."

Of course in his life there were many people that are significant to him. His father, that gave him his ideals of a hero. His school friends, then later his colleagues, allies... But in the end, these people would simply pass him by. A friend today is only an acquaintance tomorrow, a week later a random face in the crowd, and a month later an enemy on the other side of the field. Archer learned this the hard way.

Probably, many years ago, when he was still a young and naive fool, a boy dreaming of becoming a hero of justice. He did indeed have those for whom he was ready to sacrifice everything for, but he would do such a thing because of his naive ideals not because they were dear to him. But after going through what Archer went through, people would change. His old personality was now blurred, and instead he became cynical and bitter.

If you want to become a hero then be prepared for the fact that you will be alone. It is impossible to save everyone, and in the end there will always be a victim. Even saving hundreds of people from one killer, there is always one person you cannot save - the killer himself. In the end, you must learn not to wish for good at all and accept that your heroic ideal is unattainable.

Ainz was silent for a second, after which... - "I'm sorry."

"Why?" Archer glanced at Ainz

"Because only by having people dear to you that your strength has any meaning," Ainz slowly raised his hand to his chin, rubbing it. "Why do you need strength if you have already defeated everyone? Why do you need wealth if there is no one to show it off to? Why do we do anything if they do not affect anything?"

Ainz grinned. "What is the point of your cooking if no one appreciates it in the end?"

Ainz looked up. "In my life there were those whom I even now would call my friends, even my family. They gave me the meaning for my life and only walking next to them did I understand why I actually live. And if you don't have such people…"

Ainz nodded slowly. "I'm really sorry."

Archer... Was not sure about Ainz's reaction, or even his own, to these words.

Of course, they sounded like the words of the stupid youth that once dreamed of saving everyone, but at the same time... There was a big difference.

Once Shirou Emiya, a boy and a fool with a crazy dream wished for one thing only. Save everyone at all costs, even sacrificing himself, he dreamed of saving everyone.

The world proved to this boy that he was wrong and never will be right. Then the boy broke down - and so Archer was born. Cynical and rude, he denied the boy's ideals with his all, realizing that he could never save everyone.

Ainz... He wasn't that boy. Where there was youthful ardor - now there was a cold calculation. Where there were passionate speeches - there was a steel confidence. Where was the naive dream - there was a pragmatic calculation.

Ainz did not believe that he could save everyone. Honestly, he did not even bother to try.

And yet he still believed in something. Something much more real than the salvation of all and universal happiness. In friends, family... In people.

It would not be strange to suppose, after Ainz's revealed some bits of his past, that he had suffered a lot from the people around him, and perhaps this could even be the reason why Ainz would have been a destroyer of life, carrying great strength and power while bearing hatred for humanity.

But Ainz was not, he was not a monster and was not a destroyer. Instead, Ainz was...

Who exactly was he? This, Archer could not determine.

'Interesting…' - Archer thought for a second - 'What would that boy say to these words?'

Shirou Emiya, the hero of justice, would surely find something that he could object to Ainz with. Talk with him about the nature of justice and about his dream. Perhaps Shirou Emiya would not be able to take Ainz's position in the end.

But... Could Archer have done this?

Of course, things don't work out that simply. A one heart-to-heart talk is not enough to completely change a person's mind - not to mention a Servant who is much more stubborn in their mindsets. But…

'If life would have gone differently…' - Archer looked at Ainz - 'Could I think the same way he does?'

Perhaps the ideals that Emiya Shirou held were not viable from the very beginning. There's no way to make everyone happy. But if Emiya Shirou had abandoned his childhood dream... But if the boy did that wouldn't he break herself? If he didn't fight hundreds of battles he would not have gained the armor of cynicism and cold professionalism... Could he have understood Ainz then? Would he become the same?

Maybe. If life were a little kinder to him. If his dreams had not brought him to the brink of collapse. If all this had happened, would Emiya Shirou not have become Archer in the end? And to become, maybe not a hero of justice, but at least a worthy person?

Archer thought about it.

"Ahem," Ainz coughed into a fist, then slowly rose from his seat, "Anyway, I'll probably go..."

"Emiya," Archer said unexpectedly.

Ainz stopped and looked at Archer, waiting for clarification.

"My name is Emiya," Archer shook his head. "But it's better to call me Archer."

Ainz thought for a second, then nodded. "Good... Archer then."

After that, Ainz took a step outside the kitchen, leaving Archer - Shirou Emiya, a boy who could not become a hero - but could not abandon his ideals - alone.

Name: Archer Emiya

Race: Human

Title: Nameless Archer

Occupation: Servant of Ainz Ooal Gown

Residence: Chaldea, main kitchen in the residential wing

Karma: +150 (Neutral Good ~ Good)

Race level: -

Class Level: Archer (10)

Swordsman (10)

Sword Master (5)

Mage ~ Self-taught (1)

Counter Guardian (1)

Total: 27 Class Levels = 27 General Levels

HP: 40

Mana: 60

Physical Attack: 20

Physical Defense: 0

Agility: 40

Magic Attack: 0

Magic Defense: 20

Resistance: 10

Special Abilities: 0 (?)

Ability: Unlimited Blade Works

Level: 10 ~ 95 (Scaled)

The ability to create a specific field around the caster allowing the user to create a copy of any previously seen melee weapons inside this field. The very possibility of creating a suitable weapon that exploits the weaknesses of the enemy to battle with any enemy is already strong enough, but this ability is especially effective due to the ability of the user to, at any time, change the weapon they are using. Even using several weapons suitable for any battle is not an impossibility. Also any defence to a specific type of weapon damage is easily bypassed by instantly creating another one.

Player Comments:

- Wait... Archer. Swordsman. With one level in mage. And with a great amount of mana with very little in all physical parameters... Guys, I brought you one more, open the archives of useless builds!

- Being an archer and a swordsman at the same time may sound cool, but what's the point if you fail in both directions?

- Oh, of course, pretend you're a cool super-warrior and a super-archer, walking in cool clothes. Until you find the first normal player with a normal build.

- A cool skill that was failed by an underdeveloped build. Level-up at least a little bit at first!