It Takes a Village
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The sun had descended once more. Beneath the horizon, it sank and disappeared from the heavens. Left in its place lingered the myriad of stars blanketing the midnight sky. Dark clouds billowed in the distance, but for now, their reach was inconsequential to those sleeping comfortably in their beds.
Carne lay in a peaceful silence.
Crickets serenaded the darkness to be still. The wind sighed through the trees and set the grass to rustle across the plains.
Like tombstones, many buildings were sacredly quiet. There was no noise coming from within their chambers that signaled the presence of life. The sounds of conversation, the clatter of bodies shuffling about, and the clamor one would expect from the congregation of the living remained elusive, but not entirely.
For in the periphery of Carne, stood a single house rebellious to the callings of sleep, and how defiant it was.
It was a relatively small home, made to serve the needs of one and only one. Though it was two stories tall it did not impose against the landscape; rather it hugged the edge of the Great Forest of Tob with great care. Outside the perimeter wall, it stubbornly refused to blend with the society of the interior.
A single window lay open for the world to peer inside, while the magic of continual light bathed the space in a soft glow. A voice could be heard echoing against the walls. One that was calming, soothing, and tempting to the ears and minds of men.
"—You are the fairest ornament of all the realms; you are the almighty God of all the world, to which all other beings rightfully look up to with reverence because they recognize that your august person is of the most divine. That which your omnipotence has now deemed proper to demonstrate through us exceeds all incredible acts since time immemorial. We above all, who by grace learned in your immaculate Kingdom, cherish the art of governing all peoples with equity. Our loyalty is an imitation of yours; modeled on your grand purpose, a testament to the only Supreme Being; and as so far as we follow you do we excel all other nations."
Nemu Emmot's rosy lips turned upward into a radiant smile. Her dark eyes were soft and moist as she gazed upon her appearance. The reflection bearing testimony to her declaration was that of a beautiful young woman. A formal dress embellished her form in a soothing sea of white. Pure and alluring, the opulent attire gently aligned with her curves while her chestnut hair cascaded elegantly across the exposed flesh of her upper back. A warmth spread from her ample bosom in admiration of the gift she had received.
In all of Carne, there was no one more captivating than her.
—Safe for one.
"~Well now, you've gotten really good at making me look bad. Nemu-chan, a simple thank you would have been enough. Now, what am I going to tell Ainz-sama when I can't repeat everything you just said?"
The girl in question continued to be entranced by her image in the mirror.
She had devoted many years to becoming what she was today. The hunger within could not be satiated. Even now, her progress only increased her longing for that which she desired most. Nothing had quenched her wanting. Her mind had grown sharp, her body had blossomed, and the depths of her eyes only ran deeper than ever before.
Nemu carefully traced the corners of her lips, very much enjoying the creamy delicacy of her skin. Still, her mind was keen not to let her guest go unattended.
"Lupusregina-san, I would be more than happy to repeat myself for you. Though, with what I gave you that shouldn't pose a problem. Your concern is fictitious at best."
Another beautiful individual stood carefree in the small quarters. Her attire was best befitting that of a maid, and, indeed, she was one of the highest qualified in said field. Though the two beings shared a beauty unrivaled within Carne, they were each of different essence. One was the product of many sacrifices, of much dedication and strife. A beauty that had been molded by hands once dirtied and soiled by the grime of the earth. Nature and careful nurturing had yielded high achievements, but even so, a touch of the magical arts had also played a role, be it a minute one.
The other was the result of spontaneous creation, carefully designed but never toiled into perfection. A beauty that simply was.
"You sure you don't need this thing for tomorrow? Then again, seeing you embarrass yourself could be fun too…"
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I've engraved all of which you just heard to heart. You'll have to find someone else to indulge your fetish tomorrow. I only ask that you remember what the occasion represents for me, less you go overboard."
Nemu offered the maid a soft smile. Her dark eyes looked into the mirror to observe her guest's reaction behind her.
"Ah, there is that I suppose. Anyhow, what you said was great and all, but is it alright?" Inquired the maid playfully. In her hand was a parchment of paper that waved effortlessly with a light flick of her wrist. Her gaze was dull and relaxed, indicative to Nemu that she was bored and itching to find a victim for her propensities.
A couple of seconds passed in silence as the heteromorphic creature glossed over that which was inscribed on the parchment once more. "There's a lot written down here. None of it makes sense to me either~su. Still, to think you put this much thought into it. Say, did Nfirea and En-chan help you write this stuff?" There was a hint of disbelief in her voice…as well as something edging dangerously close to an accusation.
Not a second had passed before Nemu snatched the article from Lupusregina's hands. There was no resistance from the member of the Pleiades; rather her mocking smile illustrated that she was pleased with the young girl's reaction; her words had successfully disrupted the trance of the other.
For her part, Nemu attempted not to fall into any further provocation, but the smug look on Lupusregina's face made the task of doing so painfully tempting. In the end, she gave in to her impulses. "No, you're mistaken. The words I uttered just now were entirely my own. My sister's family had no part in any of it. I might come off as repetitive, but I ask that you, dear friend, please remember to mention that if you ever do decide to deliver my letter to Ainz-sama."
"Hmph, what's with all the mistrust suddenly Nemu-chan? ~I thought we were closer than this," she exclaimed in an exaggerated tone of voice while fabricating an expression that meant to portray her alleged disbelief. Nonetheless, her beauty was still left unblemished in the eyes of the young girl in front of her.
"Sometimes I wonder about that. After all, you are inclined to side with my sister and her husband more often than not."
"Of course! En-chan has all those goblins at her command!"
"You're lying is atrocious. The goblins pose no threat to you, and sister would never dare to order that harm befall upon you, let alone permit the thought to cross her mind."
Lupusregina allowed a fake smile to adorn her lips. "So good! For someone to know me so well. But, you forgot the most important thing of all~su."
"...Which is?"
"En-chan and I are close friends~su. Also, compared to her, Nemu-chan only has her looks and a gob or two. Ah, and I guess those followers of yours could be of some use as well."
Nemu clasped the side of her head much like one would in anticipation of a migraine. A wretched emotion coursed through her, a feeling similar to how one would feel when reminded of an inconvenient truth.
Meanwhile, Lupusregina hummed merrily to herself as she once again looked over the text absentmindedly.
The younger Emmot didn't appreciate the sound effects.
"Having all those goblins monitor me day in and day out is infuriating, not to mention exhausting. Agu and his kin might not be slaves to my sister's will, but his behavior is still only slightly better than that of a mere child infatuated with her authority. The only respite I have is within the confines of this house, and much to your chagrin, you're the only individual whom I trust not to tell my sister that which she need not know. As long as you continue to honor that I care not for the nature of your relationship with her. I understand that my value is comparatively low…but as long as I have Ainz-sama's blessing I can continue to—"
Suddenly, Nemu felt a cold shiver travel down her spine as the battle maid took hold of her shoulders and leaned her head inward to rest just behind her ear.
She was dangerously close.
So close, in fact, that her breath tickled the nape of her neck. Goosebumps immediately spread throughout the exposed flesh as the temperature in the vicinity turned cold and foreboding. A sinister pressure filled the air like a maelstrom of death.
"Poor Nemu-chan, you're not going to piss yourself again, are you?"
Sharp nails dug slowly into the girl's shoulders, eliciting a small measure of pain. If not for the magical properties of the dress, she may have gone into a deeper panic.
"When you talk like that it makes me want to kill you. So try your best not to upset me too much. Though, if you feel like you're getting left out, you and I can have a moment to share things with one another without En-chan finding out," she whispered, her voice transitioning from one of a harbinger of malicious intent to purely seductive. "Why don't we talk about your secrets again, hm? I bet Nfirea would love to know the role the Harvest Maiden had in the old goat's death."
The sound of paper being crunched up echoed throughout the room. Out of distraught the young maiden had crushed it under the force of her nimble fingers.
A cold sweat threatened to surface over Nemu's flawless skin. The fear she felt at this moment was very much real. If not for the fact that she was familiar with Lupusregina's character better than most, then perhaps she would have fainted in light of the immense pressure. Even so, she could feel her legs grow weak and her heart race. Quickly, she glanced at her reflection once more and focused solely on the white dress that now belonged to her. It was impossible to measure its value in gold or any other precious metal.
…My dear Lord Ainz.
With that name securely at the tip of her sharp tongue, Nemu carefully stepped forward, leaving Lupusregina effectively out of arms reach. The young Emmot inhaled deeply, and the mirror in front of her revealed a person not seen by many.
As if a spell had dissipated, the red-headed maid returned to her usual and joyful self. "Ah, Nemu-chan, how scary! I know you don't like my pranks all that much, but there's no need to go that far~su. What would Enri say if she saw you like this, I wonder?"
"…You're terrible; you know that?"
Seeing her guest finally relax gave Nemu the reassurance that she needed. Visibly, her shoulders sagged, and her eyes softened with regained vitality.
"Please don't talk about such things so freely like that. I…I rather not discuss such matters."
"Welp, I'll let you be this time, only because it would break Enri's heart to hear the truth~."
The younger Emmot was about to reply when a knock suddenly came from the front door.
Nemu furrowed her brows as she guessed the possible identity of their uninvited guest.
At this late hour, she questioned, hoping that it was merely a trick of the wind.
Safe for the goblin guards that patrolled the dirt roads and Carne's immediate perimeter, there were very few who one would expect to be awake. The Death Knight assigned to protect her lurked in the darkness nearby; however, it would not act without any imminent danger to her safety. Furthermore, it wouldn't do something so out of place for such a powerful being as to knock politely on her door if it truly thought her well being to be in jeopardy. No, it couldn't have been the Death Knight.
"—Haha, aren't you going to answer it? I'm not your maid you know?"
Nemu offered her guest a surprised look before she realized who it was. That malicious intent of Lupusregina was surely capable of arousing suspicion from the goblins standing outside.
"Tch, this is what happens when you let your sadistic tendencies get the better of you," she warned, though there was no edge in her voice.
"It's a hobby~su. Besides, you should put that body of yours to good use and stop hoarding it all for yourself. Yup, this is a perfect opportunity, and a gob has his needs too."
Lupusregina enjoyed the look of pure disgust that manifested on the girl's face.
"I'd rather eat horse shit," quickly replied Nemu. However, she instantly covered her mouth. The window was open, but she did not dread that her voice would carry over outside. The house they stood in secretly employed the effects of a few magic items. One of which guarded against eavesdropping, so even if the window was open, so long as the door remained shut no one could listen in on the discussion—at least, not in any discerning detail. Still, the items had their limitations, and the heteromorphic being's malicious pressure was far too powerful to conceal within the confines of the walls.
Because of this, she hadn't moved to cover her mouth out of fear. Rather, she never meant to articulate those words openly. It was undignified and repulsive to feel such words grace her tongue. So for the second time that night, she glared at Lupusregina for making her lose her composure.
"Nemu-san! Are you alright!?" The voice from the other side of the door sounded genuinely concerned. A frantic knocking accompanied the question.
"He sounds terrified that he may lose his maiden, haha!"
"…If you don't wish for them to see you, now would be a good time to leave," urged Nemu, both for the maid's convenience and her own piece of mind, "and please refrain from making such crude jokes in the future."
"Nah, and I'll stick around for a little bit longer if that's okay with you."
As if I could make you leave, silently begrudged Nemu while taking her time to answer the door.
Typically, she would have simply ordered that they let her be, but after witnessing Lupusregina's aura first hand, she thought it prudent to show them that she was unharmed. For if not, they may as well rush to get her sister and the other goblins; or worse: they could knock down the door and with their dirty feet trample all over her pristine quarters.
The door opened momentarily, and three goblins stood near the entrance. At the head stood Agu, the hobgoblin that her sister and brother-in-law had rescued all those years ago. True to his race, he had grown considerably taller than the rest of the other goblins, to the point to which he was slightly taller than even her. Though he and his fellow tribesman were more or less free to do as they wished with their lives, they had all insisted to Enri that they remain a part of Carne's security force. Naturally, their bodies had never atrophied from that of a soldier's. Agu especially was muscular and no longer the vulnerable child he had once been. Of course, compared to the goblins in Enri's army, he was still considered weak.
Behind him stood two of his tribesman, or perhaps they were descendants, possibly even his children?
Nemu didn't know nor care, however. All she saw was that these goblins were well equipped with leather armor, shields, and swords while small composite bows lay strapped on their backs. A fiery determination was present in their eyes, but it quickly dissipated upon seeing her form.
Nemu didn't fault them for the surprise looks on their faces. She knew herself to be quite beautiful and would have been unsettled to a degree if they couldn't even recognize something so self-evident. Still, while Agu looked passed her shoulder to glance at the waving Lupusregina, was it all right for the other two to eye her figure so openly?
"How'ya doing? Did you three strong goblins come all this way to greet me? I'm flattered!"
"L-Lupusregina-san…"
"That's my name! Oh, isn't it cold outside? Come on in! We just had a little girl's chat is all."
The three goblins stood motionless. They were apparently expecting an entirely different sort of encounter. In light of this confusion, the two goblins of shorter stature looked to Agu for instruction.
"Ah, no, that is, we thought Nemu-san might have been in trouble…"
Unsure of what exactly was happening anymore, Agu spoke with little to no confidence.
"You see, we thought we sensed something wrong coming from inside."
"Don't be silly, Agu-san. There is nothing wrong here. Also, since my Death Knight hasn't come about, there shouldn't be any danger, right?" Nemu spoke in dulcet tones, making sure to offer all three of them a gentle smile.
She did not enjoy being watched over by the goblins. The only reason she had ceded to her sister's request to let Agu volunteer his time to check up on her was that his loyalty wasn't tied down like the rest of the goblins. That is, he could be manipulated far easier than all the rest, should the need ever present itself.
Of course, one could argue that with the Death Knight on standby, such altruism on his part was unwarranted, if not outright laughable.
"R-right…yes, I guess that's true. Sorry for the inconvenience, Nemu-san."
"None at all, it is quite reassuring to know that I have such attentive protectors but within arms reach. Though I have caused you much trouble, I insist that you cease your watch and return to your own homes and get some well-deserved rest. Tomorrow is a grand day for me, and for all of you as well. It would be good for all of us if we rested before hand."
Agu nodded and seemed to relax, seeing that there was no danger finally. Still, he eyed Lupusregina carefully once more for good measure. Both females did not miss this gesture, but neither of them paid any heed to it. Nemu understood that the goblins were weary of the battle maid. Her tendency to appear out of the blue without prior warning was something she at times heard the demi-humans complain about in secret. Unlike the other residents of Carne, they were capable of realizing that Lupusregina was more sinister in nature than she ever let in on. Combined with their loyalty and desire to protect Enri—and her property—it was natural to understand why they were so on guard whenever she showed up. The fact that Agu was skeptical was in part due to his time spent with the other goblins.
"That's right; tomorrow Nemu-chan initiates the commencement of the Harvest Festival~. Don't you think she's the most beautiful Harvest Maiden you've ever seen?"
Agu turned to look at Nemu once more at the maid's prompting.
"Y-yes…although, isn't Nemu-san the only Harvest Maiden?"
"Don't mind her, Agu-san, but you are correct. Because of Ainz Ooal Gown-sama's blessing, I can help those in the countryside obtain plentiful yields during their harvest seasons."
One of the smaller goblins spoke up in earnest, "Nemu-san is amazing!"
"Yes, we get plenty food because of you!" The other goblin offered his praise as well, not wishing to be left out.
Despite their harsh voices and poor pronunciation, Nemu smiled in response nonetheless, "I am glad you feel that way. But I digress, there will be many people present from across the countryside of the Sorcerous Kingdom tomorrow. Though it may seem rude of me not to offer you any food or drink, for your own sake, please take this maiden's advice and retire to your homes for the night. As your Harvest Maiden, I wish for everyone to enjoy the festivities to their fullest."
Agu appeared like he wanted to say something. Perhaps he wasn't convinced that everything was all right, but his inability to grasp the full extent of the situation made him uneasy and ultimately indecisive. After having bowed in respect to Nemu, the other goblins were already making their way down the dirt path. Only after a few seconds did they stop and realize that their leader was still standing in the middle of the doorway.
"Agu-san, is there something you would like to tell me? I am fatigued and wish to retire for the night, but if you have any lingering doubts, you have my invitation to share them with me."
"No, it's n-nothing. Forgive me for not responding sooner." Agu stared blankly at the girl for a second before eyeing the maid. "You should leave as well, Lupusregina-san. Nemu-san needs her rest."
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. There are still a few things we need to discuss. I'll be sure to leave after that."
"Then, it's settled. Aug-san, I bid you goodnight," Nemu offered him a tired smile one last time.
Agu and the rest of the goblins left shortly afterward; but not before he stirred the courage to complement Nemu on her appearance and apologized once more for the misunderstanding.
After their departure, Nemu leaned against the closed door and sighed in relief as the cold sensation of the mahogany wood flooded into her body. What she had mentioned towards the end was not a lie. Fatigue was a familiar feeling for her at this time of the year. Also, she had little to no patience for Agu and his awkward demeanor. Above all, the doubtful look in his eyes made her sure of one thing. He was going to inform her sister of Lupusregina's presence, meaning that Enri would eventually try and bring it up in conversation in a casual manner.
"He's a sweet little errand boy, isn't he? He seems to delight in making sure sister's property is safe."
At times Nemu wished he had been left to die.
"Eh, that's your problem. Also, don't forget to live up to your end of the bargain. Ah, I almost forgot this," the maid swiftly snatched the parchment from Nemu's hands. The look on her face was telling that she didn't wish to spend her time here any longer.
"~Welp, I'll see you later."
With that Nemu was left alone in silence.
She stood against the doorframe for a while longer before returning to the full body mirror.
She was beautiful, a temptress to some and a maiden to many. Such titles brought her some measure of delight. Still, these were only stepping-stones.
One of her hands snaked towards her abdomen while gingerly feeling the natural contours of her form. The other caressed the flesh above her left breast as if grasping at her heart underneath. Her neck tilted slowly, and her eyes became moist with a forbidden desire. Everything that had transpired till now came to the forefront of her mind.
There was still much that needed to be done, too great a task for her to overcome alone.
So she breathed out the name of the only being she trusted, of the only one who was allowed to claim her heart.
Dark clouds billowed in the distance, and only at this moment, when Carne was lulled asleep, did her lips part and release that which she ached for in earnest.
In this night, she prayed to the only man she could entrust her mind, body, and soul without hesitation.
"…Please…make me a goddess."
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I borrowed heavily from a letter that was written to the Eastern Roman Emperor Anastasius in Constantinople in 507 AD. Written specifically by Theoderic the Goth, once ruler of Italy, when I wrote Nemu's declaration in the beginning.
Credit must be given to the guy.
God bless.
-Henupenko