Overlordhas its fair share offloor guardians in the Great Tomb Of Nazarick, ranging in power level and plot relevance. None sit higher than Albedo, the overseer of all guardians and also Nazarick’s administrative backbone. Ultimately, she maintains much of the order and acts very much as Ainz Ooal Gown’s administrative assistant, although at times it’s easy to wonder if her power outmatches his. She’s quick to shut other NPCs down when they wonder about his decisions or intentions, making sure to keep them in line. She has a deeper hatred for humans than almost any other NPC in Ainz’s faction, which is overshadowed only by her intense loyalty to Ainz.
She’s also madly in love with Ainz, to the point of obsession. Although, that’s only because he jokingly made it one of her character quirks, unaware thatall the NPCs would gain self-awareness, and he would be unable to remove that trait. In some ways, Albedo has grown more daring, while in others she’s grown more disciplined, but just how much has she changed through the series?
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A Thirsty Start
At the start of the story, Albedo is ather most unbridled and most extreme, except for a few key moments to come. Her love for Ainz is too overwhelming, so she’s unable to hold herself back from openly gushing over him and craving his affection. While all the Nazarick NPCs have some level of love or respect for Ainz, Albedo definitely blows anyone else out of the water. It’s often too much attention or admiration for Ainz to readily accept. Even then, Albedo is still relatively sheepish and obedient without question compared to her personality later in the series.
Not much is shown of Albedo’s personality or intentions outside of her passion for Ainz and her loyalty. Even when afellow follower revolts due to mind control, Albedo is quick to assume it may be from her own free will and doesn’t hesitate to wish death upon her. It even enrages Albedo to consider that anyone could be dissatisfied with Ainz’s treatment. Even in this tense moment in the midst of a possible rebellion, all it takes is for Ainz to mention that he loves all the Nazarick NPCs for her to lose herself in a state of giddy infatuation. She later reveals that she never wants Ainz to leave Nazarick, wants him to rule over them forever, and declares she would trade her own life just to keep Ainz ruling over Nazarick.
Love & Hate
In seasons 2 and 3, Albedo’s strategic prowess comes into play when Ainz asks her for herthoughts on certain politicalor security matters, and she goes from crushing on Ainz to taking action. Her intense love for him still dictates her interactions with him and viewers don’t see her often outside their exchanges. In fact, she becomes bolder in her attempts to seduce him. From initiating a newlywed role-playing scenario or playing enthusiastically with Ainz plushies and body pillows to forcing herself onto him very aggressively, her desire reaches new levels.
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Her hatred for humans also becomes more apparent, portrayed inher interactions with humans. The most notable example is when she almost executes a grief-stricken, young child on sight just because he tossed a rock at Ainz’s death knights during their occupation of the city E-Rantel. At this point of the series, about three-quarters of the way through, Albedo has become more direct in conveying for feelings for Ainz, but she has not changed much in her unwavering loyalty, her animosity for humans, or her haste to punish anyone who disrespects Ainz.
Where Do We Go From Here?
Overlord’s most recent season has shown more of Albedo’s administrative side, with less focus on her feelings for Ainz and greater restraint of her enmity toward humans. Of course, she wouldn’t be Albedo without her crush on Ainz, so that still shines through at points.
Viewers see heraround more humans than ever beforeand while she still has moments where she lets the facade slip a little, she remains cordial for the most part. She has a whole plan that she’s leading without Ainz’s help, although he’s fully aware of the plan. She even chooses not to kill one of her human pawns and replace him after he gets especially cocky. She’s come so far! Although, she also makes more assumptions about Ainz’s goals or intentions than she has in the past.
Surely, viewers will get to see more of Albedo’s personality and growth as the series continues, but who’s to say what direction that’ll go in? In theOverlordfandom, there have been whispers of a concerning facet of Albedo’s feelings for Ainz and her allegiance with Nazarick as a whole.
Some viewers believe that Albedo may have a secret hit squad of sorts, hinted at only in the light novel series, organized to hunt down any possible original Ainz Ooal Gown clan members and eradicate them. Other viewers believe that Albedo just has an intense disgust for the name Ainz Ooal Gown instead of Momonga because of the former’s association with the guild members she believes left Nazarick on its own. Certain moments of the series doleave room to argue for either theory, but that’s a story for another time.
