“No, no such thing! The collected World Class items are the results of the Supreme Beings’ hard efforts, therefore they are more valuable than us!”
“... is that so?”
If it were a game, Ainz would think so as well. Now, however, he was conflicted about this way of thinking.
But then, facing this kind of situation, it was also true that Ainz had no method of using these trump cards.
Among all of the balance-breaking World Class items there were some called the 「Twenty」. These twenty were items unrivalled in terms of power.
Of the 「Twenty」, there was one particularly famous item named 「Longinus」, capable of complete deletion of the target, but the price to pay for its use was the complete deletion of the user.
After having the data deleted by this World Class item, unless another World Class item was used for revival, there was no coming back. This was regardless of using cash items or having revival magic. If, for example, someone were to use such an item on an NPC of Nazarick, they would justify its use based on the NPC’s level. This would remove the largest advantage of the base——the NPC’s collective level amount.
Several similar insane items came to Ainz’ mind.
「Ahura Mazda」, capable of inflicting massively powerful effects on targets with a negative sense of justice across an entire world.
「Five Elemental Restriction」, which could request the YGGDRASIL developer company to change part of the Magic system.
「Ouroboros」, which had an even greater scope than 「Five Elemental Restriction」, was able to request the Game Developer Company to change a part of the game itself.
And finally, the most powerful World Class item 「World Savior」. Normally it had the strength of an ordinary club, but it had an unlimited growth potential. Thus even during the time the Great Tomb of Nazarick had been at its peak, with all guild members present, it would take just a single enemy with this item to defeat the entire place.
These items called the 「Twenty」 were so powerful that they could only be used once before disappearing. As such, it would be regrettable to consume their use even if they were trump cards.
Ainz Ooal Gown took pride in being the owner of two of the 「Twenty」, thus they could only be used against an opponent which used an item of the same class, because only an item of the same class would be worthy of its use.
Therefore if it vanished, it would be well spent.
But what if after it vanished, it fell to the possession of someone else, and furthermore an enemy of Nazarick? What then?
Nazarick was protected by these World Class weapons, therefore internally it would not be affected. But if this was not managed well, perhaps opponents would invade the entrance.
Therefore these World Class items could not be used. It was necessary to find another method to rescue Shalltear.
“Albedo, thank you for what you have just said. Let me tell you why I fell silent earlier.”
With past human emotions still lingering inside him, Ainz took a deep breath like he would were he still living, because he knew that the following statement would be of utmost importance.
“I plan to fight Shalltear alone. As such… I do not know if I may return alive…”
“——I understand that it is necessary to fight Shalltear, because leaving her as she is would be a bad idea!”
Ainz had the same thoughts in mind.
It was not known why the enemy had not given orders to Shalltear. If however the opponent were to give such a command, things would soon become difficult, because everything about Nazarick could be exposed to the whole world.
“But then, why must it be a solo fight? Can we not win with numbers? Are we incapable of helping you with this?”
Once again wiping off Albedo’s welling tears, Ainz replied:
“That is untrue, Albedo. I trust you deeply. The only thing is...this, there are three reasons. Firstly, I have doubts whether I am the most suitable to be the master.”
“Ainz-sama, how could you say this?”
Ainz raised his hand to interrupt Albedo.
“......Thinking over it calmly, accounting for the possibility that players exist in this world, it is only right to also consider that there is the possibility that World Class items also exist. Therefore someone who only caught on so slowly like me, isn’t it questionable whether I am worthy of being a ruler? Isn’t it questionable whether I am qualified to lead everybody?”
“Ainz-sama has value simply by being here! Even if there is something lacking, we will all fully support you!”
“Thank you, but I am still the one who should bear the full responsibility for this incident.”
If this world really did have something like Longinus, using a villager to completely delete a Guardian was a very real possibility. Although Shalltear being mind controlled was not a pleasant turn of events, from a different perspective, it was perhaps fortunate, considering that the situation could have been much more dangerous.
