「蒼の薔薇」 (Aoi no Bara)
“Blue Roses”

While action aficionados may have a week or two wait before the baddy beat down begins, never fault Overlord for knowing how to hype these moments up. We may have received some further introductions and new faces yet again, but with the pieces being united and certain group(s) now making their moves, this arc is setting up to be a jolly good ride. Just ask Solution.

Probably the most important aspect revealed this episode was the Blue Roses, the previously unnamed adventurer group. Besides featuring some great characters (looking at you Tina you adorable oni-boss lover) and a thing for tea parties, they have direct ties to the monarchy which you can rest assured will become paramount before too long. Why? Ainz Ooal Gown. Both girls and butler both are after the same group of baddies, and it will not take long before both parties run into each other. Simply have princess Renner encounter some troubles for her targeted support—I imagine her unctuous brother (who’s very likely involved with the Eight Fingers) wouldn’t take much to turn on her if given the opportunity—force someone like Climb to go seeking help (remember Gazef talking about Ainz Ooal Gown?), and viola, serendipitous opportunity for papa bones to acquire some real political power. No guarantee of it happening exactly like this of course, but all the breadcrumbs are being dropped for a reason and it’s not to liven up two independent, separate plots. Much like with the lizardmen there’s a deeper purpose here which will see Ainz Ooal Gown grow in some capacity.

How Ainz Ooal Gown is impacted though is up in the air, and it’s all thanks to another character finding a sense of independence. It should probably be unsurprising Solution would actually go over Sebas’ head and report directly to Ainz, but goddamn was it surprising, and a bloody cliff hanger to boot! At its core Solution’s lie is just a temper tantrum (she’s been sullen ever since Tuare defiled her sense of aesthetics), but it takes on serious connotations when Shalltear’s little act of (unintended) rebellion is remembered. Simply claim Sebas is under the influence of a cute face and it won’t take long before floor guardians and Ainz both come to sort matters out. The problem for Solution is the situation will probably not turn out the way she wants. As Sebas showed he’s well aware of what Ainz desires and acts in accordance with that will. He may have brought a random human girl in, but did so with the intention of finding a suitable use for her and in a manner concomitant with her human status. When Ainz finds this out (and make no mistake, he will soon enough) he’s bound to be delighted because it provides a perfect opportunity to show why humans need decent treatment by everyone involved. Doubly so if the brewing situation with the Blue Roses and the Eight Fingers ends up netting Ainz Ooal Gown some brand new political sway.

Buckle up boys and girls, Overlord is going to show us the magic of a little cold calling.

48 Comments

  1. I like all these characters individually. The adventurers have good character designs; Renner and Climb are less visually exciting but they’re cute and I liked the cautious bond Climb showed with Stronoff.

    But the plot is a little stock, isn’t it? The lizardman war arc was pretty unique, even if it just ended up being a lesson for Cocytus.

    But by comparison, the Eight Fingers are being built up pretty well but at the end of the day it’s ‘evil dudes doing bad things to a pretty girl, hero saves pretty girl, bad guys don’t learn their lesson so the hero has to go beat em all up.’

    Guile
    1. Most of the volumes after volume 4 are built on floor guardians following Ainz’s orders from first 4 volumes (season 1 in this case) and making their own independent decision that benefit Nazarick (most of the time), season 1 was the only season dedicated solely for Ainz, for those who do not like the way things are going now… well too bad because this is how Overlord is going to be, until fateful volume 12 which would be end of season 3 into beginning of season 4 if they ever make em.

      James
    2. ‘evil dudes doing bad things to a pretty girl, hero saves pretty girl, bad guys don’t learn their lesson so the hero has to go beat em all up.’

      …you clearly still do not understand the fact that Ainz Ooal Gown is pretty much evil now. If you would just replace the lizard men with humans you will realize just how horrible Ainz Ooal Gown is toward anyone & anything not part of his/its circle.

      So yeah the bad guys will get beat up, but the saving is not confirmed.

      LGM
    3. Most story arcs are derivative when you get down to brass tacks unfortunately. The key thing here, however, as others have pointed out is the role Ainz and friends have. The Eight Fingers may be bad, but Ainz Ooal Gown is in a whole other league. Just take Solution for example, you know exactly what she would do to Tuare if given the chance, and that’s before touching on the likes of Albedo and Demiurge.

      What we have may be stock, but it’s the angle Overlord is approaching it from that makes it interesting, at least for me.

    1. Gah how do you edit comment here? Post prematurely orz

      Anyway best girl outside Nazarick finally makes her debut yasss.

      Btw Ainz breaking character at the end is priceless lol

      Randompasserby
  2. Been waiting for so long for Renner to show up, ever since I read she’d be voiced by the same angelic tone as Katou from Saekano.

    Show Spoiler ▼

    Giorno Giovanna
    1. I must admit I liked that scene with the money. Fantasy stories often gloss over logistics and finances; characters always have the exact amount of money they need to pay for their expenses (if such expenses are shown at all) and maintenance of weapons, armors, parties and keeps is a non-issue. Not for Ainz, though (and in turn it explains why he keeps with the adventurer charade).

      Mistic
  3. Solution going over Sebas to report directly to Ainz isn’t so much a temper tantrum (although Solution can get one of those, from what I’ve seen in the side stories) Sebas unwillingness to even let Ainz know of him taking in Tsuare, does scream suspicious and she did naturally what any loyal follower of Nazarick would do given what happened to Shalltear in S1.

    Also am glad they decided to hurry along the scene with Succulent and Stefan gloating, that one of the most infuriating scenes in LN and Manga. Show Spoiler ▼

    Can’t wait for next week XD

    Devastaot001
      1. i dont think sebas would go for something so direct, killing police chief even if corrupt is only going to bring more trouble with law…
        not that the end result cant be same anyway (dead bodies)

        ewok40k
    1. I agree with Devastaot001. I actually can’t wait till the scenes I like so I reread that whole arc. And from what it seem, while Solution doesn’t like the idea Sebas is keeping Tsuare around. The reason why she contacted Ainz is really because of her loyalty for Ainz and worries that Sebas may have betrayed/disobeyed them. Since she was a bit hesitant on contacting Ainz due to her loyalty to Sebas as well but her loyalty towards Nazarick ended up winning.

      Nioa
  4. I know that it’s just meant for comic effect, but seeing Momon/Ainz obsessing over money when he has unlimited treasure vaults back at Nazarick seems ridiculous. Just melt down some of the Yggdrasil gold or get a bag of non-magical jewels to sell. Use Solution/Sebas as a front if he doesn’t want to come up with a story (i.e dragon’s lair) of how Momon got the treasure.

    Also why does he need money to repair the lizardman villages? They killed many lizardman warriors but I don’t recall their homes being destroyed. Do lizardmen even use money?

    Kling_Klang
    1. A. The treasure vaults are not unlimited.

      B. As stated in the first season Yggdrasil gold and new world gold are different and only Yggdrasil gold can be used for a lot of his powers especially raising Floor Guardians from the dead.

      Magewolf
    2. Until otherwise stated, for now all of Nazarick’s resources and treasures are non-renewable, have uncertain value in the New World or are just way too attention-catching and therefore is limited to emergency use only. Weapons and equipments for safety precautions notwithstanding.

      The Exchange Box is a promising solution but it’s not without its flaws like needing tons of wheat for a single Yggdrasil gold coin. Ainz is still experimenting with it hence the ore deals. At the moment Ainz’s gig as an adamantite adventurer is Nazarick’s only legitimate source of New World currency.

      As for the Lizardmen projects, well they’re not just rebuilding but also expanding to facilitate the now united tribe. Plus all other life quality improvement under Ainz Ooal Gown to further instill loyalty and experiments for self-sufficiency. And you can tell just looking at Solution’s irritation at having to use a mere healing scroll for Tsuare that the denizens of Nazarick sure as hell aren’t gonna touch Nazarick’s treasury unless absolutely needed.

      Randompasserby
  5. https://randomc.net/image/Overlord%20II/Overlord%20II%20-%20ED2%20-%20Large%2002.jpg
    So this girl is a monster? Well, compared to another princess (Tate no Yuusha no Nariagari), who I REALLY REALLY HATE, Renner is a more favorable monster.

    https://randomc.net/image/Overlord%20II/Overlord%20II%20-%2007%20-%20Large%2011.jpg
    If I had to listen to the words of either a pompous looking prince, and a princess that seems kind, it is obvious which one is the better choice; not to mention, because of that tone he gave, the prince didn’t seem that convincing. Also, as an orphan, Climb was saved by Renner so I can’t blame his choice.

    L002
  6. Decent episode i guess, although i do wonder at which point they will end this season with how everything is paced so far.
    Show Spoiler ▼

    Oh and Pancakes, do keep an eye out for renner as she is a big player here in more ways then you can imagine 😛

    Damrod
      1. Just placed it in spoiler to be sure since some of it is hinted at in the OP/ED.
        Show Spoiler ▼

        It makes one wonder who would win in a match, Renner her unmatched intellect or Ainz his unmatched luck at bullshitting himself out of problems.

        Edit: Fixed.

        Damrod
  7. https://randomc.net/image/Overlord%20II/Overlord%20II%20-%2007%20-%20Large%2015.jpg

    Lakyus is quite a looker. Props to Madhouse for her design

    https://randomc.net/image/Overlord%20II/Overlord%20II%20-%2007%20-%20Large%2014.jpg

    Same goes for Tina (and her twin)

    https://randomc.net/image/Overlord%20II/Overlord%20II%20-%2007%20-%20Large%2033.jpg

    And let us not forget to thank our future corpses.
    Thank you for being a stepping stone for Ainz Ooal Gown.

    Ginobi47
    1. I can’t find a good shot of the brothel owner’s outfit, but that’s also pretty cool.

      Between the armor and the scar I assume he’s got some moves of his own. Retired adventurer or something? So maybe Sebas will need like, three punches instead of one.

      Guile
      1. Is Sebas a floor guardian? I thought his thing was he was the head of the battle maids. Like, when Shalltear is off doing other stuff Sebas subs in as floor guardian while she’s gone, stuff like that.

        Basically the same thing in the end I guess.

        Guile
      2. i stand corrected – and i spoiled myself by looking up sebas wiki
        http://overlordmaruyama.wikia.com/wiki/Sebas_Tian
        if anyone wants to see how sebas fares against leader of eight fingers security wing, the six arms, and multiple of his top agents, feel free to spoil yourself
        Show Spoiler ▼

        ewok40k
  8. The best thing about Overlord is definitely its world building. It does not focus on one character and there are lots of characters with stories to tell. It would be so much better if there are characters who can put up a fight though.

    Btw where did the supposedly strong psycho girl and dragon go?

    yodad
      1. On the one hand, a lack of enemies on their level is people’s big complaint about Overlord.

        On the other, why introduce interesting characters entire arcs ahead of time with just a ‘hi I’m a dragon’ and ‘I’m a potential Ainz waifu’? Feels kind of lazy.

        Guile
    1. While normally, that might be thought of as a good thing indeed but in the world Ainz lives in it would only tarnish his reputation.
      The logic in that world is that the higher your rank is, the higher your income. And since adamantite are supposed to be swimming in the money ( probably thanks to their work before getting adamantium rank as well ) they are expected to live luxurious.
      It would essentially be as if one of the princes from england with his monthly allowance of 1 million ( just a random ) euro’s would live in a rundown apartment of lets say 300 euro’s a month instead of a proper house befitting his status and monthly allowance.

      Damrod
      1. I see, that makes sense, humanitarian deeds aren’t seen as praiseworthy the same way it does in our world. It can be sad that no one donates to places like the orphanage in fantasy worlds.

        L002
      2. Well, renner did try to donate and do humanitarian work already at this point even though it gets blocked a lot of the times. Think they already discussed some of those things in this episode, otherwise it can be placed in the spoiler as she did openly mention those things in the LN at this point.

        Show Spoiler ▼

        Damrod
      3. Sigh, it would be great if Ainz can simply steal from all those CORRUPTED nobles, it would be so much good service if Ainz can kill the nobles that tried to kill gazef stronoff or the particular noble that gave hell to Tsuare. I mean, I am sure that Ainz can summon undead thieves.

        I forgot why are Nobles blocking Renner’s humanitarian efforts. Oh well, thanks for sharing.

        L002
      4. They are blocking those humanitarian efforts for 2 reasons.
        Reason 1 is because her presentations generally suck in conveying the plan and rewards in a short and clear way ( first explaining how something works and then talking about the potential rewards is not a good order most of the time after all )
        And reason 2 is because her efforts are more for the long term instead of short term.
        Lets take the example of crop rotation like they did themselves.
        In the short term, there would be less to farm if you use 3 fields instead of 4 which equals to less food and less to sell. Less to eat would reduce the income if they want to solve that but would yield less money. If they would sell more to fix the income issue, they would have even less to eat. Which is a double negative in the eyes of the nobles who are used to thinking in short terms.
        In the long term though, think around 3 or 4 years at the bare minimum, the yield would be of a better yield so that you need less for the same stomachs and the increased quality also nets a better price so increased income.
        If we go with the economics of our own world, they could break even in another year with the proper help in that case and after that it is pure profit.

        Damrod
    1. That’s actually one of the morbid details left out in both the manga and anime adaptation I think.

      Imagine what a young, pretty, long-haired blonde commoner girl would suffer in an illegal brothel under the hands of criminals, slave traders and disgruntled nobles all holding a grudge towards the Golden Princess who’s threatening their livelihoods. A princess famed for being a a young peerless beauty with long blonde hair.

      Well actually you don’t have to imagine much if Solution’s diagnosis is any indication…

      Randompasserby
      1. It gives me and my wife the willies when we think about it.

        In reality, blonde-haired and blue-eyed are the most coveted among the slave trade, has been for a long time, going back to the “Dark Ages” (early Middle Ages) when the Moors raided Europe and bred with Caucasian slaves they plundered. Nothing’s changed in the Middle-East and North Africa ofc, a Caucasian slave is still the highest status symbol right up within the Saudi family, but slave demand for blonde-blue is world-wide now from Argentina to Japan.

        Jerry

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