Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Oh!verlord Short Story

Apologies for releasing this late. Anyway. MyNameHere and ZiggySquaresoftZiggurat were very useful mammals and helped me TLC my translation of this story from the Oh!verlord yonkoma tankoubon. Hope you like it.



Ainz’s Ambition

The regular maid stood in front of the door. As usual, her back was ramrod straight, her posture
immaculate, with no signs of crumbling. In truth, he could not shake the notion that she had used
some kind of spell to freeze herself in position. And then, her eyes were trained directly on Ainz.

Ainz sighed in his heart. This has become a part of his daily routine, and not seeing her there
made him feel a little uneasy. Even so, he felt like he was being watched over.

The same went for the Eight Edge Assassins who were always clinging to the ceiling. It only
served to intensify the feeling Ainz had of being watched.

This constant observation ― even though it was not enough to overcome the ruler of Nazarick
― was like torture for Suzuki Satoru, who was but an ordinary man.

More to the point, they were even monitoring him all the way to his bed. When would Suzuki
Satoru be able to find relief?

And there was one more thing.

The maids were given one day to rest out of every 41 which they worked. Still, these utterly
unethical and torturous conditions had not been imposed by Ainz himself.

The maids had strongly opposed the rest scheme he had initially proposed. Instead, they said,
we’d rather continue working.

Ainz had awarded them those rest days for their hard work.

That had taken a lot of bargaining.

Still, Ainz had to consider things from the maids’ point of view.

In YGGDRASIL, one could negate bad statuses like fatigue with items or skills, and removing
them with spells was hardly a big deal. These maids who adored him so possessed items like that.

Still, he had his doubts over whether those items retained their effects in this world. In addition,
he wondered if their mental exhaustion remained, even if their physical fatigue had been
eliminated.

There were too many things he did not know.

It was not Ainz’s intention to cruelly use them. Thus, he had loaned them the undead he had
created in order to lighten their burden.Even so, that did not decrease the workload the maids
had to shoulder throughout the sprawling 9th Floor and the 10th Floor.

Moreover, while he had thought lending them the undead would be a good idea, the maids had
not taken more breaks. Thus, Suzuki Satoru’s heart craved time to rest.

Of course, he could simply order the maids not to enter any room he was in. However, that would
be doing them a disservice. Ainz was very happy that the maids were working so hard for him.

Isn’t there something I can do which won’t make them sad…

As he idly pondered that problem, his eyes fell to the report in front of him.

The reports which Albedo submitted were very difficult to understand. He could still understand
balance sheets, income statements and cash flow calculations, but all he could do was go “hmph”
when faced with a national-level budget.

Well, if Albedo and Pandora’s Actor signed off on it, then the estimates shouldn't be too far off.
Which means putting my seal of approval on it shouldn't be a problem.
(TL note: the JP term is hanko 判子, or chop/seal used for signature)

The fact was that he rarely looked through the documents that he stamped.

In the instant that Ainz raised his stamp, a devilish flash of inspiration raced through him.
“Holidays ― ahem!”

As the word slipped unconsciously from Ainz’s mouth, he panicked and tried to cover it up with a
fit of coughing.

“Ainz-sama! Is something the matter?”

The duty maid for today flew into a panic as well and stepped up.

“No, nothing’s the matter. Ahem! Just having a bit of trouble with my throat.”

Surely something was very amiss if a skeleton could have throat problems.

“My sincerest apologies! I will adjust the humidity right away!”

“Ahh, it’s fine. Nothing to be worried about. Although, I wonder if someone’s been talking about
me....”

“Is that alright? In that case, if you permit it…”

If he attributed the sneezing to being caused by someone speaking about him, then the maid
would not blame it on the humidity, and that would be the end of it.
(TL Note: the old Japanese trope of people sneezing when others talk about them)

After watching the maid return to her position in front of the door, Ainz refocused on the flash of
inspiration that had popped up in his mind.

That’s right. How about implementing a block of holidays in Nazarick? Three days would do…

The arcology megacorps handed out holidays for summer, and AInz’s company typically gave
three days of block holidays.

We could make a calendar for Nazarick, and then mark off holidays from there. That said, it kind
of frightens me to lose defensive strength, so I’ll probably need to rotate the rest periods for each
Floor… Hm. How about bringing back the wage system I scrapped in the past? They’ll need
something to use for recreation if they have days off…

Ainz felt a thrill of delight as his plans came together.

The dream he had once had, the plan for making Nazarick an ethical organization which he had to
discard as unworkable, once more surged to the forefront of his heart.

And if there’s a holiday, maybe I should send the maids on a trip. ...Hm , maybe I should set up a
tour agency… E-Rantel Tours, maybe… Come to think of it, there aren’t many tourist spots in my
country.  Looks like I’ll need to consider this for the future; should I discuss the matter with
Albedo? No, no… that’s right…

As he pondered the matter Ainz noticed that there was something different  about the maid
standing in front of the door from just now. She had been alert and at attention just now, but
currently she was even more so. It was as though she was tensed up in preparation for a battle.

“What, what is it? Is something the matter?”

“No, I simply thought you wanted to give me a command, Ainz-sama.”

“Oh? Ah, so that was what you thought. No, don’t worry. I was simply thinking about the future of
Nazarick.”

Ainz rubbed his face. He could not feel anything from his unmoving features. Still, had something
changed there?

Umu, I don’t get it. Well, that’s fine, I guess. More importantly, there’s my idea from earlier… even
if I drew up a list of sightseeing spots, the plan would be doomed to failure… for starters, I ought
to think about the How-To-Get-The-Ordinary-Maids-To-Take-A-Break-For-A-While Plan. Still, how
should I do it?

If he told them to take a vacation straight to their faces, they would flatly reject it, and if things
went poorly, they might end up crying.

“Do you not need us, Ainz-sama?” they would say. No―

―There ought to be  a better way that that. The worst thing would be if they swallowed their
feelings and harbored them inside until they finally exploded. That would be scary.

In his former friend Herohero’s company, there had once been somebody who committed suicide
by jumping off a building. Herohero had once mused that maybe things would not have gotten to
that state if only he had the chance to blow off steam earlier. As Ainz recalled those words, his
body trembled.

The concept of fear was alien to the undead, but the dread he felt from inside him refused to go
away.

I need to institute a system of taking holidays which the maids can accept. No, would that be too
much to ask for? How should I phrase it to them? As a reward for good service or something?
...It won’t work. If I only pay attention to the maids, then I won’t know what the Floor Guardians
and the Area Guardians are thinking. Should I conduct a test here with relatively low stakes?

Umu, Ainz nodded.

The important thing was for them to understand that this was not a punishment.

The regular maids, who hated resting, would not be able to accept that. Therefore, he would have
to change the maids’ way of thinking at the same time.

Similar thoughts had come to him during his days as a salaryman.

It would be strange for someone to take a day off if nobody else took a day off as well.

However, if many people were on vacation, then it would be hard to take a vacation day as well.
Therefore, he had to pay attention to who would be applying for a holiday. That said, he could not
force any of the maids to do so.

The subordinates ought to be more willing to take a holiday if they see their superiors openly
doing so. In this case, their superiors are Pestonya and Sebas, and…

“―And me. Maid!”

Ainz rose from his seat and turned around. The regular maid listened attentively, her eyes wide
open..

“I will be taking a long holiday of three days. Call for Albedo!”

“Yes! I shall summon her right away!”

As he watched the maid hurry off, Ainz nodded.

Taking a holiday out of the blue would incur dissatisfaction. One had to inform the others ahead
of time. For that reason, it was important to arrange for a replacement to cover your duties in the
meantime.

While going on holiday for too long would mean that nobody would be able to fill the gap he had
left in the organization, going on holiday for about three days or so ought to be acceptable.
Fufu. Being able to take a three-day holiday on any occasion other than the New Year shows
what a big shot I am. Still… even with a holiday, what should I do?

In the past, he would have just spent it all on YGGDRASIL. He could not do that now.

Ainz thought about the matter. However, he could not think of any other interests he had other
than YGGDRASIL.

If he went strolling around Nazarick, that would be like the boss of a company going on a walk
around the office while he was on vacation.

Should I go shopping? Watch a movie? Read books? Listen to music? None of that really
interests me… As I thought, there was nothing else for me in life other than YGGDRASIL…

♦ ♦ ♦

All the maids were gathered in one of the rooms of the 9th Floor. This was an emergency.

For starters, being Ainz’s duty maid was a very important task. The regular maids of Nazarick
valued that duty above everything else, as did the person assigned to that role. Therefore, the fact
that Ainz’s duty maid was present as well meant that they had abandoned their duty.

Naturally, the person who had gathered them here was none other than the Guardian Overseer
Albedo; in other words, the second highest ranking person in Nazarick. As the boss of their boss,
it only made sense that they would obey her orders, but even so, Ainz’s duty maid had refused
the summons. That only made sense, because serving Ainz Ooal Gown, the absolute ruler of
Nazarick, took priority over everything else.

Thus, when they saw the duty maid, the other maids all froze in shock.

She was the maid who was on break today.

She was not alarmed by the fact that she had been called here. In the days before taking on the
role  of Ainz’s duty maid, she had thoroughly prepared and composed herself. Normally, she
would not be around, but she could not refuse Albedo’s orders.

“...Hey, what’s going on? Isn’t Etoile the duty maid today? This must be something really big…”

“That’s true. All the other maids are gathered here too, so who’s accompanying Ainz-sama today?”

The maid who asked the question looked over at Pestonya, who would be standing beside
Albedo.

“Even Pestonya-sama is here… I’m getting a little worried.”

Talking among themselves was strictly forbidden when they were gathered on orders. That said,
they were free to speak until Albedo arrived, or until Pestonya told them otherwise.

Neither were those maids the only ones to do so. There were other maids speaking here and
there, and some of the manservants were talking among themselves as well.

Still, it would seem the two of them had been overheard. Etoile approached the two maids who
were talking to each other.

“It’s fine. Today, Yuri-neesama is taking my place by Ainz-sama’s side.”

“Eh? Onee-sama?”

The topic seemed to have garnered everyone’s interest. Snippets of startled, whispered
conversation came from all around.

The Pleiades were maids, but they were combat maids. As battle maids, they were not assigned
to the same duties as the regular maids. That was why the Pleiades had little contact with the
regular maids.

“If Yuri onee-sama is on the job, then she’ll perfectly cover our duties… so does that mean she’s
taking our jobs?”

“That worries me too…”

Several similarly-concerned voices could be heard as well.

“In any case, how are we going to proceed from here? Are we going to be reassigned?”

“The manservants are here too. And then there’s Eclair-sama.”

One of the manservants was holding Eclair as he spoke to Pestonya.

“Well, I can accept that for now… huh? Isn’t that human here?”

There was a human maid being trained in Nazarick for the time being. The regular maids had a
strange relationship with her and none of them had spent much time with her.

“You mean the woman that Ainz-sama took pity upon? Isn’t she in a human city now?”

The maids giggled to each other.

They had many superiors, but only one supreme ruler.

That was the ruler of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick, Ainz Ooal Gown. These maids
would kneel before him, obey any order he gave, and dedicate their hearts to him, the one who
stood over all the maids of the world. Therefore, it was truly pitiable for someone so close to him
to not be allowed to work for him.

Just then, the door opened, and Albedo and Sebas entered the room. Tension filled the air in an
instant.

The levity in the air from earlier was now gone.

After looking over everyone, Albedo explained the reason that everyone had been gathered here
today.

“Ainz-sama will be on vacation for several days. You have all been gathered here to prepare for
that.”

The assembled regular maids looked at each other. After that, one of them asked a question:

“A moment please, Albedo-sama. If that is the case, then the maid assigned to Ainz-sama―”
Albedo held up a hand to quiet her before she could finish.

“It is only natural that you should have questions. However, I would like you to listen to me before
you ask them.”

♦ ♦ ♦

This was the beginning of Ainz’s three days of vacation.

“So, Albedo, can I leave the rest to you?”

“Yes. I will manage Nazarick in your place.”

Albedo bowed her head deeply.

“Umu. In truth, I have always been fully confident that you could handle that duty, Albedo.”
That was why he could rest easy in his role as a ruler. If this goes well, maybe it would be a
good idea to take regular vacations like this, Ainz mused.

“Thank you very much. May I know what you plan to do now, Ainz-sama?”

“Uh, umu. I was thinking of rolling around in my room for a while before going for a walk around
Nazarick.”

“Indeed,” Albedo smiled.

Hm, does she think it’s a boring way to spend one’s vacation? Maybe Touch Me-san would spend
his time with his family… So should I go somewhere with Pandora’s Actor?

Ainz furrowed his brows. It was not that Pandora’s Actor was a bad person, just that dealing with
him was quite mentally exhausting. That said, he disliked how he would suddenly shout “ahhhh”
for no reason at all.

Well, rolling around in bed is a good way of using one’s free time. Fufu… Maybe I could spend a
day practicing how to be a ruler. I’ve got all kinds of ideas I want to try out…

“That being the case… what’s with those maids over there?”

There were 40 maids lined up in the room, and Pestonya stood at their head.

“Since we did not know how many maids you would need to help you out during your vacation, I
felt it prudent to have everyone take part. I have entrusted the daily tasks to the various Floor
Guardians and if need be, I can have key personnel dispatched to assist ~wan.”

“...?”

Unable to comprehend her meaning, Ainz tilted his head.

What on earth’s going on? I’d like you to tell me. But of course, that was not in keeping with the
image of Nazarick’s ruler.

“Ah… surely there’s no need for that, is there? I just want to roll around in my room…”

“I sincerely apologize for this ~wan. While I do agree with what you have said, we have calculated
that this amount of people will be needed to provide the optimum assistance for your three days
of vacation ~wan. If you wish to roll around in your room, then I feel we must ensure you move
around in perfect comfort ~wan.”

“For rolling around?”

“Yes ~wan. We have already decided who will help move your body around ~wan.”

“...?”

“For instance, if you wish to roll on your back, we will have eight maids to turn you ~wan. In
addition, if you wish to read a book, we will have one person hold the book while another watches
where you look and turns the page ~wan.”

“...What did you say…?”

Ainz looked at Albedo in search of salvation, but the look he received from her was not what he
hoped for.

“Ainz-sama. Will you not permit this? If we decrease the number of people allocated to you, then
we will be disgraced in the one in a thousand, one in a hundred million chance that your rest is
not as perfect as it could have been.”

As Albedo replied, Ainz’s brain worked furiously.

However, he noticed it.

Ainz ― Suzuki Satoru ― had many duties as the ruler of Nazarick. However, the maids and the
other followers of Nazarick were bound to serve Ainz. Therefore, even when Ainz was on
vacation, he was still their absolute superior.

It was just like how a company’s president continued to be its president even when he was on
leave.

What… is this…

He could sense a tremendous pressure from the maids as they contemplated his three days of
vacation.

...This is bad.

“I am grateful that you have accepted our goodwill. ― Now then, maids. Let us not shame the
kindness Ainz-sama has shown us! Let us ensure Ainz-sama is fully satisfied during his rest!”
The maids replied in unison, an overpowering force unleashed in response to Albedo’s words.

This forceful shout was one that he had never heard before.

And so, Ainz’s gut-cramping three-day vacation began. It felt like he was in a retirement home,
and it was a hellish experience. At the same time, he decided to put the maids’ vacation plan on
hold .

Still, Ainz did not give up.

He would make Nazarick into a kind, ethical world for his beloved children―

59 comments:

  1. hahaha poor ainz always being misunderstood xD.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for everything guys♡
    When is volume 13 translated btw?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It would need to come out first

      Delete
    2. It would need to come out first

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    4. I thought i read somewhere that Overlord volume 13 is already out 🤔

      Delete
    5. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    6. If it was out already we'd get a post about it here

      Delete
    7. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    8. Around how much time does it take for a volume to be translated after it comes out?

      Delete
    9. the other volumes if i remember begin translation in little time, just some days

      Delete
    10. all the process to translate an volume, it's basically:
      1- the Novel comes out
      2- a dude post the raw text of the novel on internet
      3- they translate

      this took close of 10 days on total... well. last time on volume 12 it was close of that...

      Delete
  3. Poor guy can't even get a break during his break 😓

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh god...
    Ainz you poor lucky bastard xD

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ainz mentioned rolling around in his bed. Which brings up the question - why does he even need one? Sleeping is to recuperate from physical fatigue, but Ainz is basically a collection of animated bones - no blood vessels, sinews, organs etc - so does he even need to physically refresh himself? As for mental fatigue - he also does not have a physical brain either. Now since he is essentially a magical creature, maybe he could get magical fatigue? How would that work and how would that be remedied? That might be an interesting issue to explore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. it's easy dude, cuz he's mentally tired, it seems no spell could heal ainz mind.

      Delete
    2. More like he cant use any, there must be some helonging to clerics and priests

      Delete
    3. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    4. If you bothered to read any of the novels, you'd know he explains this several times. He does it because of mental fatigue and because he has remnants of humanity left in him, despite being undead. The real question is how Albedo and the other Guardians knew of this habit, when Ainz is meticulous enough to not let anyone see him in that state. But, maybe they didn't and he just revealed it to them. Idk.

      Delete
  6. Replies
    1. seems not...
      parece que nao...
      http://overlordmaruyama.wikia.com/wiki/Overlord:_The_Undead_Oh!

      Delete
  7. "Should I go shopping? Watch a movie? Read books? Listen to music? None of that really
    interests me… As I thought, there was nothing else for me in life other than YGGDRASIL…"
    > why not "call for Albedo...again?

    ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Goddammit Ainz. You didn't think that one through, did ya?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thanks for sharing. Poor Ainz😂

    ReplyDelete
  10. Next vol 13 :)
    Thx for overlord translation :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. “I am grateful that you have accepted our goodwill. ― Now then, maids. Let us not shame the
    kindness Ainz-sama has shown us! Let us ensure Ainz-sama is fully satisfied during his rest!”

    good thing he got his emotion-suppression passive skill and, ironically, at the same time he got nothing else but bone (biologically speaking)

    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    ReplyDelete
  12. LOL
    Ainz-dude, you forgot to ask Sebas advice (for Maids thinking pattern) and Pandora Actor (for the choice of words).
    If only he communicate with Guild Master, perhaps he will get all help he need to get his vacation XD
    On a side note: I'm jealous to Ainz right now, he pretty much a Maid Harem Master.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My idea to get them to take a break has always been a maid sports festival. Then Ainz could get the maids in gym clothes and school swimsuits. You could get the Pleiades in on it too but seperate from the other maids since they'd probly win against them easily.

    ReplyDelete
  14. “For instance, if you wish to roll on your back, we will have eight maids to turn you ~wan. In
    addition, if you wish to read a book, we will have one person hold the book while another watches
    where you look and turns the page ~wan.”

    The would be nightmarishly stressful to me... *Looks over to a window out of boredom* -result-: maid who happened to be standing there drops to here knees apologizing for blocking my view for a second while preparing to suicide.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Well spend three days with 40maids it blessful isn't it Ain-sama

    ReplyDelete
  16. Well spend three days with 40maids it blessful isn't it Ain-sama

    ReplyDelete
  17. Oh ainz mau liburan aja susah \( ̄▽ ̄;)/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. yaah websitenya aja pake .co.id berarti bukannya ini hostingan org indo yah?

      Delete
  18. When i opened this chapter (on phone browser) the word are overlapping the page.. pls fix it nigel

    ReplyDelete
  19. Is there a chance for mobile friendly version ?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Good news everyone... or at least we have some news now about the future of the series.

    This was posted today. Hope it cant help with the itch we have at the moment.

    https://www.inquisitr.com/4748968/overlord-season-3-release-date-overlord-anime-spoilers-manga-kugane-maruyama-light-novel/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sasuga, Maruyama-sensei!

      please release all the 50 volumes and let the "boning" festival begins

      Delete
  21. awesome, great work, thank you so much, it was very funny, poor ains hahaha

    ReplyDelete
  22. XDDD Ainz has terrible luck, doesn't he? XD

    ReplyDelete
  23. KUGANE JUST MADE A RELEASE IN HIS TWITTER ACOUNT!!!!.... but I cant understand it all, but mentions about 200 pages.... AND THERE IS AN IMAGE OF PAGES AND YOU CAN READ THE WORD EPILOGUE!!!!!!

    This news came just 2 hour ago from the moment of this comment.

    For any curious out there, the Twitter messages say (IN ORDER OF UPLOAD):

    200ページならすぐに出せたのですが、今回、このように最長となっております。くがねちゃんの冬は17月まである!

    ページ数が多いと作業量が増大して、どんどん後ろにずれ込んでいくんだよ……。あと、ついに1000円じゃ無理なので、1200円(税別)になります。多分、なります。申し訳ない!

    モンハン? 原稿が届いたから今日のノルマが終わるまでは無理だ!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I used google translator to translate it, so it's quite a bad translation but it's better than nothing. It is the longest in this time though it was able to be put out as soon as 200 pages.

      My sister's winter is in the 17th month! When the number of pages is large, the amount of work increases, and it postponed to the back fast. Also, because it is impossible at last 1,000 yen, it will be 1,200 yen (by tax). Maybe, you will.

      I'm sorry! Mon han? The manuscript arrived, so we can't do it until today's quota is over!

      Delete
    2. "If it was 200 pages, it could be put out immediately, but this time it is the longest. Kugane-chan's winter is until 17 months!

      If it was 200 pages, it could be put out immediately, but this time it is the longest. Kugane-chan's winter is until 17 月!

      When the number of pages is large, the amount of work increases and it gradually moves backwards ... .... Finally, since 1000 yen is impossible, it will be 1,200 yen (excluding tax). Probably, it will. I'm sorry!

      Monhan? It is impossible until the end of today's quota since the manuscript arrived!"

      uh-oh... APRIL / MAY?

      Orz

      Delete
    3. trying to be (extremely) positive, I hope it will be a thous--cough-- it will be a 500+ pages copy (not including afterwords or any omake & char sheets)

      *crossing fingers*

      Delete
  24. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  25. When vol 13 release???? 😍😍😍😍😍

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. April 27, 2018. So very near.
      You know how Nigel is very fast to catch up translating the next volume. So expected english translation on 3 days after the first chapter and the rest on first week of May.

      Delete
  26. "He feels like he is in a Retirement Home" HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! MY STOMACH IT HURTS XD!

    ReplyDelete
  27. As the word slipped unconsciously from Ainz’s mouth, he panicked and tried to cover it up with a fit of >>>COUGHING<<<.

    If he attributed the >>>SNEEZING<<< to being caused by someone speaking about him, then the maid would not blame it on the humidity, and that would be the end of it.

    This is fucking garbage either you messed up the translation or its a really shitty fanfic

    ReplyDelete