Part 7: Bicorn racing

"It would seem that our fifth game will need a few minutes to be fully prepared." Demiurge said as he read the ball dropped from the bingo machine. "The Bicorn Race!"

At his direction a collection of maids started leading them out by the reins. Multiple horses of near solid black color, save for the red of their eyes and the silver of their armors and saddle. At both sides of their heads featured a horn for two each, distinguishing them from their Unicorn cousins, of which they were a subspecies.

Demiurge continued on as the maids bequeathed a single Bicorn to each of the NPCs who wished to take part in the game. "It shall be a simple four lap race, from one end of the beach to the other and back again. The first to cross the finish line at the end of the fourth lap is declared the winner, so I do suggest you pace yourselves."

A little more time was needed to finish passing out the horses and setting up the starting line, so Ainz had a moment to study how the NPCs handled the animals. He found it odd that Aura was not participating in the game, nor was allowing Mare to, but she was still assisting the maids in keeping the Bicorns calm and under control, as was only natural for someone with her skillset. He could see Sebas gently stroking the mane of his mount, Ainz putting together that it was his way of getting the beast to trust him before he'd even attempt to get on. The biggest surprise was most certainly Solution, having already mounted her Bicorn and having it pace around for a bit to get the feel of things. He had no idea she had any experience riding.

"I did not know that horseback racing was considered a beach activity." Ainz commented to Demiurge once he got close. Not out of doubt, just curiosity.

"According to the research we did beaches have traditionally hosted a wide variety of races, from three-legged team races to using some wheeled machine called an A-T-V. Unfortunately we had no such thing resembling the latter within Nazarick so the Bicorn were another option come up with to ensure the most overall even playing field."

With a gleam of intrigue from his master's eye, Demiurge was encouraged to continue his explanation. "While they possess no truly unique abilities, Bicorns are exceptionally strong and able to support a considerable amount of weight and bulk. Even Cocytus should give no trouble to the mare he's given." He happily explained, having the nearest maid bring over one so that he may better emphasize its impressive black frame. "Though of course asking one to support Gargantua might be a bit much."

"I'd be in agreement with that. Though I'm sure there are exceptions, most simple animals should have no reason to be made to endure such cruelty."

"Indeed, my lord. Most animals." Demiurge gave a chuckle, like he was laughing over some private joke between the two of them, though what that joke could possibly be Ainz had no idea. "Anyway, another bonus is that, unlike the War Bicorn Lords which can only be ridden by their summoner, these were raised with help on the 6th Floor and thus will obey orders from any rider. The trade-off, of course, being a much lower level, though they can be put to use as mounts for our troops after today."

"Ah! A sound investment then." Ainz praised him. He shouldn't be that surprised. Demiurge was exactly the type to make moves that resulted in the most net gains overall. If Nazarick were an actual company Demiurge's department would be the one spending the least amount of its budget and yet still somehow end up being the most profitable (Suzuki Satoru's was fortunate enough to break even at least half the time).

As one of the maids approached with questions about the set-up and Demiurge had to excuse himself to attend to those other matters, Ainz studied the Bicorn further. He knew really nothing about horses but even as untrained an eye as his could tell how remarkably in-shape and muscular this beast was. It seemed doubtful it'd even feel his weight if he were to get on, much less be restrained by it.

"Now that I think about it, I don't think I've had any experience riding a horse since I got to this world, have I?"

Most of his travels tended to involve horse-drawn caravans, of which he'd be in the carriage, or simply using [Gate] and [Greater Teleportation] to get to anywhere he'd already been instantly. To date his only significant experiences with a mount were with Hamsuke (and no matter what anyone in this world said, he'd never be able to see a grown man riding atop a giant hamster as anything other than completely humiliating) and with one of Aura's pets as they made the trek to the Dwarf Kingdom. In both cases the builds of the creatures were completely different from that of a horse and required much different ways of sitting and directing them. What was going to happen when the time came for him to ride an actual horse, like one would expect a king to do?

He could just see it now. The great and powerful Sorcerer King, Ainz Ooal Gown, sitting atop his majestic steed; royal fanfare all around to announce his presence as he made his way down the street!

…with the saddle soon slipping and Ainz taking an undignified tumble off the side.

Ainz quickly shook his head to free himself from the mortifying simulation.

"If the Bicorns are strong and easy to control, this wouldn't be the worst opportunity for me to get some practice in." He decided firmly, gripping his hands upon the horse's reins, to which the Bicorn made no objection to. "If I do fall, I can always say that I was just goofing around and trying to have some fun. It wouldn't be as big a deal here as it would be doing it out there."

"Lord Ainz, please, allow me to help you." He heard Sebas' voice from behind; the butler having taken notice of him figuring out how best to get on.

"Hm? Ah, yes, thank you. If you'd be so kind."

As Sebas offered a literal hand for the Overlord to step so that he may gain some needed height over the Bicorn's middle, just a short bit away was another whom had yet to get on her mount, though for very different reasons.

Albedo had not yet even made the attempt, simply instead staring at the Bicorn a maid had granted to her, cheeks tinted heavily pink with heat and teeth biting her lips.

She knew what would happen if she got on. As did a certain other, whose mocking stare she could feel scalding her backside.

"O~hohoho!" Shalltear laughed from behind her hand, having no idea how happy she'd have made her creator if he'd ever heard her laugh like that. "What's the matter, Albedo?" She asked as she walk up closer. "It's just a Bicorn. Nothing to be scared of. You've ridden one loads of times. …OH WAIT! I guess you haven't, have you?! I'm so sorry! How inconsiderate of me! O~hohoho!"

"Sh-Shut up! Like you can say anything after your disastrous performance during the 200-meter swim!" Albedo immediately snapped back but even she could tell how hollow it was.

Completely unphased, Shalltear went up and ran her hand tenderly along the Bicorn's face, getting the horse to lean into her comforting palm, the vampire's smug expression taunting Albedo the entire time.

"Don't feel too bad. It is a lapped race after all. I'll be sure to pass by the starting line enough times so that you're not lonely!"

"Why-! You-! You-…!" Albedo tried to force something out but there was nothing. What was there to say? What could she possibly say? Shalltear had her nailed on this one and they both knew it.

While this Beach Day was the brainchild of both herself and Demiurge, Albedo had mainly left the games up to him, having already been planning on participating in them to show off to Ainz and not wanting Shalltear to try accusing her of cheating for having inside knowledge. Despite not having won any of the other games yet, that had still been working out reasonably well for her so far…until now. She could have caught and stopped this before it was too late but what would she have even said? To Demiurge these Bicorns were just stronger horses Nazarick had easy access to. He had no reason to know what it meant for them to be a symbol of impurity. Lord Peroroncino's old encyclopedia was the only reason the three female Floor Guardians knew and it most certainly was not information Albedo had felt the need to share.

The succubus' "purity" was her greatest shame, and a secret she tried to keep hidden from even Ainz himself. But there'd be no way of hiding her Bicorn stalling on the track and no other explanation for why her very touch weakened the creature to the point it could not move forward other than…that.

A distraught neigh finally broke the two out of their bickering and they turned to the sight sand kicked up by the uncomfortable shifting of hooves.

"Ugh-! Am I…doing this right?" Ainz fumbled with the reins as the mount ignored all direction. At first he was afraid the Bicorn was about to chuck him off the saddle but rather the exact opposite seemed to be happening. The poor thing whined pathetically, legs wobblingly like it could barely support the weight of the two of them.

For the longest single moment of their existences, all sound and motion had to have cut out from the world for Albedo and Shalltear.

"Demiurge, we'd like to lodge a complaint."

"It's a very urgent matter."

"Hm?" The archdevil turned his head to the two in confusion.

And thus the Bicorn race was cancelled due to clearly defective equipment.

The defective equipment in question was shortly thereafter beheaded for insolence.

Author's notes: So, on the Overlord reddit I believe I once saw a question asking how Albedo would react to finding on Ainz is a virgin too. Would she be completely ecstatic and unable to keep her hands off him (more so that she already does) because not only would he be her first, she'd be his? Or would she be completely unbelieving no matter the evidence before her, as how could someone as supreme and godly as Ainz not have already banged like a Zeus in heat? The only real solid answer I could come up with is that either way, if she found out because of the Bicorn, the Bicorn was going to be slaughtered, because virgin or not how dare it disobey Ainz. Most of the NPCs would kill to have him sit of them and ride 'em like a pony!

Of the two options, I do have a preference for the former, as I don't believe someone never having had sex is anything to be ashamed of any more than I think someone having had tons of sex with many partners is anything to be ashamed of. As long as it's consensual, I typically don't tend to give a sh*t what you do/don't do.