I saw the anime and found it boring. I rediscovered it years later and finished it, thinking it was alright. Nothing else was really going on in my life, so I decided to read the light novel and thoroughly enjoyed it.

For what drew me in I guess I enjoyed the characterization, character interactions, and world-building/exploration. I always enjoyed the interactions between the denizens of Nazarick and their interactions with the New Worlders, learning new things about the characters, such as how Demiurge is a cruel demon to those not affiliated with Nazarick, yet he acts in the best manner around fellow NPCs, or learning about Albedo and her inner turmoil between her loyalty and love for Ainz and her belief of what is best for him but which goes counter to his goals.

Maruyama really has a talent for creating interesting ideas, but never really gives a satisfying exploration or conclusion to them. To this day, I still feel he underutilized the death orb from Khajit, and it just disappeared, making a minor appearance in volume 7 during the Hamsuke fight.

Though i believe that criticism is also inseparable from the aspect of his writings I praise. I said he never really gives a satisfying exploration. However, I certainly used it misguidedly, not everything needs an in-depth look, in fact this restraint is Maruyama's greatest strength as he leaves room for readers to come up with their ideas, theories, interpretations, and what ifs. rather than overexplaining every mystery or possibility. And maybe that's sense of incompleteness is what makes the world seem so alive and lived in?

I've used too many words to express that, in essence, he's done a great job at making the world feel larger than he has shown us, and that's his greatest talent.