Chapter 689: with title translation and glossary

"Mr. Otto, your wish truly moves me." Standing behind Otto, Gredi chuckled, "If I didn't know you, I'd be fooled by your nonsense. Reunion of old friends? Just some garnish to your business."

"Gredi... uh, perhaps I should call you Mr. Reik now? Has the work editing been finished?... Such important work, still have to rely on you."

Mr. Reik said calmly: "I cut out the content involving the participants' privacy, keeping only the most exciting parts of this Holy Grail War. Perhaps it cannot be called an excellent work artistically... but commercially, it should not disappoint you."

"That's enough, you artists, always wanting to carve your name onto the monument of the art you believe in, no matter the cost... heh heh heh, alas, those who get their wish are as few as the victors of the Holy Grail War." Old Otto chuckled lightly, "I'm different; aside from monetary reward, what else in the world could better measure the effort you put into something?"

"... The memories of past heroic spirits are also a reward that satisfies me."

Old Otto asked curiously: "Oh? The memories of Gredi, that terrible film director? Tell me, what value does that have?"

"As for filmmakers' memories, their value is indeed as worthless as dust. But as for human memories, that is truly... an unparalleled treasure." Reik's voice gradually shifted from flat to fervent, word by word: "Struggle, despair, resistance... ultimately becoming nameless passersby, this senior is a microcosm of the Pinokangni era, the most hilarious clown, and also a genuine hero."

"Such memories, multifaceted like gemstones, how could I possibly miss them?"

——

OVERLORD。

"The Holy Grail... is truly an astonishing creation."

In the side hall of the throne room, Demiurgus pushed up his glasses and murmured in awe.

"Indeed." A steady voice came from behind the corridor pillar, Sebas's tall figure appearing at the side hall entrance, "That golden chalice of the Holy Grail is truly worthy of being added to Lord Ainz's collection."

Behind his reflective glasses, Demiurgus's narrow eyes narrowed slightly: "Sebas, when did you return?"

"Just returned to the Great Tomb." The old butler bowed calmly, "After confirming that the affairs arranged by the Supreme One were settled, I immediately came to report. However, Lord Ainz seems to still have matters to attend to..."

"I see, thank you for your trouble." Since mentioning the Holy Grail, Demiurgus continued with interest: "Sebas, what do you think is the origin of this Holy Grail?"

"Hmm... according to my speculation, there are two possibilities." Sebas pondered a moment, his white glove lightly rubbing his beard: "First, it could be the product of a certain star god, lost in the universe and picked up by humans, who then used the power called 'magic' to modify it postnatally, ultimately becoming today's all-purpose wish-granting machine in the Holy Grail War."

"Second, the Holy Grail is humanity's own creation, without any star god's power, a wish-granting machine created by humans themselves."

"Humanity's creation..." Demiurgus recalled the humans he had seen so far; as fellow wielders of magic, those feeble beings hardly looked capable of crafting a Holy Grail.

"Well, but compared to the two possibilities, I lean toward the former, after all, the power to 'grant any wish' and 'resurrect those dead for thousands of years from their graves' hardly seems like human handiwork, but rather the work of some star god."

"What? Demiurgus, since you're asking me this, you must have some deeper meaning, right? Could it be Lord Ainz's intention?"

Demiurgus shook his head: "No, nothing... just my personal curiosity."

Sebas felt even stranger: "Then, could it be that Lord Ainz isn't interested in the Holy Grail? That's a miracle capable of granting any wish..."

"Hehe, Sebas, although Lord Ainz hasn't summoned me to discuss the Holy Grail, if it truly appears, his thoughts might be simpler than mere wishing."

"Oh?"

"If a Holy Grail War is needed, I would certainly participate on behalf of the Lord to seize the chance to grant a wish. However, the Holy Grail is undoubtedly a tempting bait that can lure out all the hidden powerhouses of the several kingdoms, netting them all—whether they threaten the Great Tomb or are dissatisfied with it—few could remain seated before the miracle of wish fulfillment."

——

"But I'm more curious about you, spending lavishly to stage such a grand farce—aren't you afraid of ending up disgraced like Gredi?"

"Old Otto didn't care: 'A businessman who, living to my age, still cares about dignity is simply a failure.'"

"Well then, this business is settled; allow me to take my leave."

"Having said that, Reik vanished."

"Alright, it's your turn, Miss Asuna. I will sign a statement, relinquishing the trademark registered under your name, as well as all rights to your creations... Is that satisfactory to you?"

Asuna let out a cold snort: "It's hardly satisfactory. But if you dare say no, I will, before vanishing, exert all my strength to choke your neck so short it's invisible, watching you gasp... although I know this could never actually kill you."

"Goodbye, the most successful businessman of Pinokangni. I have some sincere words I've always wanted to tell you—"

Asuna turned away, gritting her teeth, cursing: "Go die sooner!"

Upon hearing this, Old Otto laughed loudly: "Heh heh heh heh! What a touching confession! Asuna, I hope your wish can one day be fulfilled."

……

"At the same time, on the train."

"In a corner far from the battlefield, the Servant summoned as a Rider seemed to have had no intention of joining the fight from the start."

"As a Rider, he once personally crafted an unsinkable small boat named the Compass. As a Rider, he had once been a nameless traveler riding trains through the stars."

"After centuries of time, the boy, now a heroic spirit, finally returned to the place where he once worked hard. Here, an old friend awaited him."

"... Passenger March 7 always likes to bring back strange curiosities; once he even brought something called the Allocation Gun, which only gave Pam a single point!"

"Also, be careful of Passenger Kijou's coffee—that's the most terrifying drink Pam has ever seen—but absolutely don't tell her to her face."

"Pam's confidant... turned out to be Misha!"

"But more accurately speaking, it was the young Mikhail."