Review Replies!
Malhavoc Shadowlord: No he hasn't, he's been busy, though he may consider the possibility of it In the future.
Chamaeleonx: I have plans for her sister, but they will come much later, as it should be obvious I'm dragging events into a longer timeline. She'll appear, but not for a while yet.
Levelgap : She doesn't need disguise, recall her Yato kitsune racial. Shapeshifting!
. .Name: Scenes on surface, closer than you think. (see footer author note.)
gabrielchiong11: Considering the lack of non-simple humanoid in most cities, it'd probably go, Holy shit tail = monster!
And now on to the chapter! ( important Author note at the footer.)
"HAAAA. Now, what to do about this." Ainz muttered to himself as he sat at the desk in his own private quarters. The past few days since dealing with Clementine had been . . . 'Tense was one word for it, and interesting could be another, but he had no real idea what word truly suited the situation perfectly.
Slaughtering Clementine, Shall tear being mind-controlled, Freeing her, Ninya being Reincarnated instead of Resurrected, having her trained. It was hectic and wonderful and terrible, but beyond it all, it was tiring, and Ainz could feel his mind reeling from it all.
He just wanted to rest.
"Ugh, I can't though." Ainz Muttered to himself. "Elder Lich's do not require sleep, so the best I can do is simply not do anything. I still need to find out who mind-controlled Shalltear, and figure out a way to protect Nazarick if they come at us directly."
Ainz let out another sigh as he remembered something. Albedo had suggested turning the local villages of Lizardmen into skeletons to serve as a stronger defence, and the idea was sound, in theory at least. There was no way to prove it other than actually doing it, and he was, hesitant to slaughter an entire race for a concept.
"No, I need to put Nazarick first." Ainz muttered to himself as she lowered his skull into his hands and let out another sigh. "Cocytus would be the obvious first choice to have challenge the Lizardmen but . . . . . . . . . . . .
No, he couldn't put off the decision any longer. It had been nearly five whole days since he had returned from freeing Shalltear, he had to make a decision, or the guardians could think less of him, and if they rebelled. . . . .
Ainz shuddered. The idea honestly terrified him; it was why he honestly liked the idea of having Ninya train to join them. The more skills and training he gave her, even indirectly, the more trust she could have toward him and it would be trust built up over time, not suddenly come into being.
Then a thought crept into his mind, and made him began chuckling to himself. It was perfect!
Immediately Ainz stood and proceeded to the throne room, messaging Albedo to gather everyone of importance together.
This would become interesting, and would appease everyone's expectations of him perfectly!
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"Foxfire Arrows!" Ninya cried out as a chain of arrows were flung out of her open hand and the tip of her tail in two directions, flying into the oncoming wall of lesser skeletons. a single arrow did not kill them, but it only took a handful of arrows to break the skeletons apart, tidying up their numbers and giving Ninya the room she wanted. "Lesser Rejection!" Ninya cried out as she pointed toward one of the seven remaining skeletons, and instantly its bones began to glow, and then began disintegrating on the spot.
Turning to another skeleton, she did the same, and then to the one closest to her, Ninya changed her tactic. "Purify!"
Two more skeletons broke to pieces, the magic holding them together taken away.
There were only three skeletons left, two holding shorts rods, and one holding a large and rusted axe. None of them carried shields, and their armor was old leathers that were mostly rotted away, but they were getting close to her, to close.
Shaking her hand to dispel her excess magical energy, Ninya reached behind her and pulled a simple longsword out of the ground and gripped it with both hands, readying herself for the nearest skeleton,
The skeletons suddenly sped forward, its body clicking and snapping as it moved toward her and raised its sword high into the air. It was a slow attack, and with a single step Ninya dodged it, causing the skeletons swing to miss, and swing its arm around further than it probably could intend. She quickly brought her longsword down at an angle, dropping its edge into the skeletons shoulder, through it, and down to its hip, breaking it into pieces.
The next skeleton was on her immediately, swinging its word madly from side to side, forcing Ninya to backstop as she evaded each blow, waiting for the right opportunity. When it showed itself she blocked the skeletons strike, stepped forward and swung her sword forward, crushing the skeletons ribs with the longsword pummel before twisting her wrist and bringing the sword through the remainder of its torso.
Only the axe wielding skeleton was left, but where had it gone?
Her ears sensing a sudden shift in the wind, Ninya leapt forward, the subsequent sound telling her that the skeleton had moved around her, and its axe was now buried in the ground. Spinning off the ground and twisting her body, Ninya found the skeleton already picking up its axe, and leveled her blade to the ground. The skeleton charged, and as soon as it was at the edge of her range, Ninya swung the blade across the skeletons midriff, severing its spine from its hip. Its body flew forward, flailing its axe, but a roll to the side found Ninya out of harm's way for a moment, as the skeletons upper half crashed to the ground, attempting to turn itself about and crawl toward her.
Not wanting to give it the chance, Ninya stabbed her longsword into the ground, took a step back from it and sighed. "Foxfire."
Her tail flashed as a bolt of foxfire seared from it tip into the skeleton, lighting it up for a few second until it stopped moving.
"Decent." Cocytus said loudly as he walked over to Ninya, surveying the small pieces of disintegrating skeleton that remained around her.
They were on the first floor of Nazarick where, at Cocytus's Request, Shalltear had pulled some simple skeletons away from a group and sent them at Ninya as a form of a test.
"You were supposed to kill them with your blade." Cocytus said stoically, causing Ninya to shrink slightly.
"I- I was, worried about their numbers. I wanted to thin them down to a number I thought I could handle." Ninya tried to explain, unsure if it would do her any good.
the two days since the beginning of her weapon training had been tiring, but she had learned fast and felt like her body was taking the teaching just as well, getting stronger, faster and more lithe than she ever thought possible.
"You are a magic caster before you are a warrior. Your skills will protect you well enough, for now." Cocytus said clearly. "Your skills are your own now. Choose a weapon, two at the most, and learn them overspecializing will be counterproductive for you."
"I will, as soon as I decide what weapon to use mainly." Ninya said with a sigh as her shoulders slumped down a bit. "It's annoying that I cannot cast magic while wielding a weapon though."
"Hmm, to cast magic while wielding a weapon, you must have the class, or skills that allow you to do so."
Ninya nodded. "I've heard that such classes, jobs and skills exist. Do you know of any?"
"Yes, but none that I could teach." Cocytus admitted honestly. "Lord Ainz, in his wisdom, would likely know of them all."
"I see." Ninya said with a sigh. Over the past two days she had learned a couple new spells, and had learned that she could combine weaker spells to a degree, as it was some sort of Kitsune skill. but more importantly, she had learned the basics of fighting with a weapon, and while she would not be able to carry one on her and use magic at the same time, just knowing how to use a blade made her feel a bit safer. "Thank you for agreeing to teach me!" Ninya suddenly said as she bowed to Cocytus. Normally the idea of bowing, especially at the waist would seem so strange, why did it seem so natural now though?
Cocytus was quiet for a moment before he returned the bow, though slightly and only with his head. "Lord Ainz told me too, however you have learned adequately well for one without the initial skill. I would request to spar with you in the future when your skills are up to the task.
Ninya felt her body cool and her heart race at the fact that, though not immediate or even soon, Cocytus had requested to spar with her. Learning under him and from hearing about him from the Pleiades, mostly CZ, Yuri, and Entoma, she realized that Cocytus was very powerful and stoic, who rarely acted on emotions, and instead only acted on his instincts and orders. If a warrior like he was requesting to spar with her, perhaps she had some more potential with a weapon than she figured?
"T-thank you. I would be honored to spar with you when I am much stronger."
Cocytus, while he did visibly react in any way, somehow seamed to gleam at Ninya's words with respect, and then suddenly turned his gaze aside, as Shalltear walked toward them, looking miserably.
Granted, every time Ninya found her she looked miserable, something about being mind-controlled and being made to fight against Ainz or something of the sort. Ninya could understand how that would feel to an extent, but it had been five days since it had happened as she had been told. Was it really that big of a deal?
"Albedo has called all the Guardians and Pleiades inside Nazarick to the throne room." Shalltear said, her expression a mix of fear, worry and hopefulness that made Ninya curious if she was actually sad over what happened.
Cocytus nodded and then glanced slightly down to Ninya "And what of her?"
"A-Albedo dint say anything about her. . . .But, I think Lord Ainz would want her there as well as his . . . apprentice." Shalltear said, her words hissing a bit at the end.
Ninya had noticed it a few days before once she had begun getting used to CZ and Yuri, but while the Homunculi's and Pleiades seemed to not have anything against her, except for Narbarel, some other residents of Nazarick were different. Some were extremely, if not disturbingly friendly, while others were as cold as ice, all because she was apparently titled as, The Apprentice of Nazarick.
She still wasn't sure what to think of that title, especially since some residents that she would meet in the canteen greeted her by that name of all things. That or a bunch simply called her fox, much to her chagrin. The only ones that called her by name were Ainz, the Pleiades, and a handful of the guardians.
Following Cocytus and Shalltear off the first floor and to the throne room, all three of them were very quiet, which seemed a bit odd. Ninya herself had nothing to talk about, and Cocytus was very quiet most times anyway, though she had realized it wasn't for lack of things to say, but a lack of need to say anything. Shalltear was the quietest however. She made no noise with her step, looked completely terrible, and almost appeared to be on the verge of crying, but still made absolutely no noise whatsoever.
It was actually rather unnerving. Especially since she was a vampire.
Entering the throne room itself Ninya found it filled with the usual faces she expected to be there, without Sebas and solution oddly enough, but apparently they were on a mission of some sort. Everyone beside herself, Cocytus and Shalltear already were standing in a line before the throne, where Ainz sat, looking noble, and also exceedingly bored despite his lack of expression. Or maybe it was because of his lack of expression? Ninya wasn't sure anymore.
Cocytus ad Shalltear quickly waked up to their usual spots, but the previous times she had been in the throne room, it had been as a guest. Where was she supposed to go, stand, whatever it was?
As if answering her question, Ninya noticed CZ standing to the one side of the Pleiades, staring at her. Completely at her, her gaze unshifting at all. Ninya took the hint and stepped up beside CZ, feeling extremely awkward about the fact. It was made worse worse when Albedo stepped away from the throne.
"Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, The supreme leader of Nazarick, All guardians, Pleiades and The apprentice have gathered." Albedo said imperially. At this everyone knelt down, CZ quickly motioning for Ninya to do the same.
Ninya did so, but felt odd doing it to say the least.
"Raise your heads, and behold Lord Ainz Ooal Gown's Greatsness!" Albedo stated, allowing everyone to look up at her and Ainz. With a smirk she turned to him and smiled pleasantly. "Lord Ainz, we have all arrived. Command us as you see fit!" Albedo finished as she took a step back and bowed to him.
Ainz nodded to Albedo and then turned his gaze before him. "It is good you have all come as there is much to do. First off all, Shalltear,"
"Y-yes?"
"Please step forward." Shalltear did as Ainz Asked. "Demiurge has told you of what has transpired, and that I do not blame you. "
"Y-yes." Ashalltear replied, looking like she was about to cry.
"I would like to know then, why you have such a thorn in your heart, and such a somber expression?"
Shalltear was quiet for a moment, and looked like she was trying to come up with the answer. Then it came to her and she nearly fell apart. "I- please my lord, I deserve a punishment! I am supposed to protect and guard you, yet I fought against you! Please, please punish me for this transgression!"
Ainz looked at the sobbing Shalltear for a moment and mentally sighed. "Shalltear, if an enemy has access to world class items, then there is no way you could hold your own, it is not your-"
"My lord," Albedo suddenly interrupted as she stepped forward. "I believe that Shalltear should receive punishment, both for the sake of Nazarick, and her own."
Ainz looked at Albedo for what felt like an infinite second, then sighed and looked own at Shalltear. "Very well, I shall decide what punishment you shall receive later Shalltear."
"Th-thank you my lord!" Shalltear said while beaming, just before she stepped back into the line of guardians.
"Very well, onto the next item. Cocytus!"
"Yes my lord?" Cocytus asked, only his head moving his gaze directly up to Ainz.
"Your training with Ninya has been successful, yes?"
"It has. With more experience she may become a dangerous enemy to our foes." Cocytus said simply, not noticing Ninya's scowl at the way he described her, and theirs.
"Good." Ainz said with a nod as he turned his gaze to Ninya " Ninya, I asked you a few days ago, if you would like to return to E-Rantel, and you said yes without hesitation. Now that you have learned how to wield a weapon and are getting a hang of your spells and body, I have a mission for you!"
"And that would be?" Ninya asked, doing her best to keep the annoyance in her voice, and the pain from still having to awkwardly kneel, unheard and unseen.
"The mission will be threefold. You, along with CZ shall stay in E-Rantel masquerading as foreign adventurers. By doing this you will be able to hear rumors, discover important information for Nazarick while I am unable to masquerade as Momon, and improve your own skills. Do you accept this mission I have for you?"
At the idea that it sounded like Ainz was giving Ninya a choice in the matter she felt the gazes of every person in the room shift to her, and realized that while he was wording it as a choice, refusing would be very unhealthy. Luckily, the idea of being back in E-rantel, even for such a reason, was too good to pass up. "Yes, I accept . . . how will I go unseen though? My tail and ears will stick out." Ninya asked her tail swaying a bit as if to prove the point.
"Kitsune naturally can shapeshift, and with your Racial Level, you should be able to do simple shapeshifting. Once we are done here, Pandora's Actor and Narbarel Gamma will explain and tutor you on how to do so. Tomorrow you and CZ will leave for E-Rantel. Do you have anything else to ask?"
". . . . .Yes. How will I get into the Guild without causing a ruckus from being foreign? It would make me a center of attention. u-unless that is what you are wanting, I mean."
"Hmmm, yes, it would, and while some attention is good, too much would be problematic for you. I will explain how that will be dealt with tomorrow. Is that all now?"
"Um, Cocytus mentioned that there are classes that allow one to wield a weapon and magic at the same time." Ninya said, trying to ignore Albedo's gaze trying to bore through her skull.
"I will explain that to you tomorrow. Now, the last item is Nazarick's defences." Ainz said simply causing Shalltear in particular, but all the guardians as well, to perk up a bit. "Sebas and Solution have reported that they have found nothing unusual or related to those who controlled Shalltear. Demiurge, have you noticed anything outside of Nazarick? Magical or otherwise?"
"No, nothing of note has happened whatsoever. Mare's Illusions and work has kept us well hidden. I believe that we look completely like a simple grove of trees. I have not noticed anything magical nearing Nazarick either." Demiurge answered quickly and professionally, reminding Ninya of a military officer, or an actually skilled noble who took pride on their work; though such nobles were few and far between.
"I see. I have decided that Albedo's suggestion of crating stronger undead to protect Nazarick is sound and the simplest thing we could do. As such, Cocytus, please step forward."
"Yes my lord." Cocytus stated as he complied, kneeling again once he did.
"I order you to destroy the Lizardfolk that we might harvest them. However, I want you to fight with just the troops I provide you with. You may not use your own subordinates or your own power! Do you understand?"
"Yes my lord, it shall be done!"
"Good. You will be the one to make all decisions related to this war of yours. You shall head out tomorrow, so prepare yourself." Ainz said as he looked down at everyone and let out a short chuckle. "Soon things will begin to move forward, until then, you are all dismissed." he said as he got up and waked out of the throne room.
Moving toward his study Ainz raised a hand to his skull and sent out a single message. "Entoma, I would like you to come to my study. I have a special mission for you that will coincide with Cocytus's!"
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The entire throne room was quiet for a few seconds, and then the guardians all let but a collective chain of sighs and gasps. Ninya understood why, as Ainz did feel quiet suffocating to be around when he spoke like that, but their reactions seemed far too, extreme to her.
"Lord Ainz, has given me such a conquest. . . I must prepare." Cocytus said as he turned and began leaving, prompting everyone to stand back up.' almost immediately Shalltear, Albedo, and Aura began bickering as Ninya had discovered was, probably normal?
"So, um. Shapeshifting?" Ninya asked as she turned to Pandora's actor, who had been standing to the one side of the throne room.
"Yes of course! If Mien Creator requests for I to teach you, then I shall!" Pandora's Actor said with a length, and completely overblown bow that forced Ninya to take a step backward, or get hit by his hands. "Lady Narbarel, please come along as well, our lord did say that the both of us were to explain!"
Narbarel nodded shallowly, keeping her gaze off of Pandora's Actor as she walked over to the two of them, then following as Pandora's actor began leading Ninya out of the throne room.
Unfortunately Albedo had other ideas.
"Hold it!" Albedo nearly screamed as she stormed past a surprised Aura and Shalltear, and rampaged straight toward Ninya and Pandora's Actor, every guardian moving out of the way as she went. "You! You were disrespectful to our lord!" Albedo said as she glared at Ninya.
Ninya felt her blood begin to chill, but at the same time, she felt an anger pulse inside of her. She had not been rude, simply to the point; did Albedo not understand the difference? "I was not being rude. I simply asked Ainz-" Ninya stopped speaking when she saw Albedo's glare turn from angry to completely and utterly ferocious. "- Lord Ainz, for more information on my mission."
" Lord Ainz did not give you permission to-
"Ahem, Fraulein, if I may?" Pandora's Actor suddenly interrupted Albedo and he stepped between her and Ninya, both hands up in the air between them. "While the little Fox here did not have permission, Mien Creator did not deny her the information she requested, and even asked if she had more to ask. Is this not proof that Mien creator was not insulted by her actions?"
Albedo's gaze turned into a flame as hot as the sun as she tried to perforate Pandora's Actor with it alone; however, Pandora's Actor was unfazed by her looks, and the aura of complete hate radiating from her, and continued.
"Additionally, Mien Creator gave myself specific orders to teach her how to use her shapeshifting abilities before tomorrow. Would not trying to argue and berate her get directly in the way of his orders?"
Hearing this Albedo reeled a bit, actually taking a step back in shock as her expression mellowed out. "Fine then! But don't think I'll allow such a slight in the future!" She hissed as she turned and walked away, muttering and cursing under her breath.
"Ah, now then, let us be off, if we are to have you shapeshifting by tomorrow, we must get to work!" Pandora's Actor exclaimed energetically as he nearly paraded off while rambling about the concepts and capabilities of various shapeshifters, Ninya trying to keep up with her shorter legs, and Narbarel looking annoyed as she trailed behind the two of them.
Demiurge smirked as he watched them go. It was surprising to see that Pandora's Actor could stand tall before albedo so easily, and while he saw some worry in her expression, the fact that Ninya herself was able to talk back to Albedo without her voice breaking was impressive. If she was going to be away from Nazarick from tomorrow on for a while, it would be very interesting and surprising how strong she could become. "Hmm, perhaps I will take it upon myself to mark down her growth. If she is like this now, she may be a very skilled member of Nazarick, and sooner than I had thought!"
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Name: Ninya
Title: Apprentice of the Tomb of Nazarick
Race: Kitsune
Racial Levels:
Zenko Kitsune (lvl2 – 10%) – Good kitsune, levels increase shapeshifting capability and shift Alignment in the good direction. increases max mana by .10% per level after 2.
Yako Kitsune (lvl1 – 37%) – Evil kitsune, levels increase illusion and charming magic capabilities, and shifts alignment towards chaotic with the desire for power, but not true evil. increases max mana by .10% per level after 2.
A Kitsune can only level one of either Zenko or Yako Kitsune to lvl10.
Class level's:
Wizard (5) 94%
Miko (1) 27%
Fighter (1) 0% -
Level total: 10
Tails – (1)
Authors note: So as it explains slightly in the chapter, Ninya's going back to adventuring!
On this note however, is something important. The swords of darkness are obviously dead and just two people, could not make a party, add in the fact that at least a couple adventurers have been killed directly by Ainz, and the fact that many have likely bit the dust since then, I need adventurers.
I could just make some up, but that would take time, and they likely would not be fleshed out as much as they could be.
Considering how willing everyone was to help choose Ninya's growth, I then figured, why not have those of you who can, come up with some other adventurers!
So how this is going to work is like this. If you want to drop an adventurer to me go ahead and do sy by PM only, (one adventurer per person.) I will need to know the following info for them
Name, gender, looks, class, weapon skills, talents (if any) and personality. Anything else you want to add you may. Talents that are too good will be removed ( Remember Ninya's is a rare one) and please remember that adventurers given this way may live, die, or suffer by my hand and nothing personal is meant by it.
Also.
Adventurers put into Reviews WILL CUASE THE REVIEW TO BE DELETED, NO EXCEPTIONS, so please PM them.
Thank you, and hope everyone like the chapter, and is looking forward to the upcoming adventurers guild antics!
PS: I realize I haven't been putting Ninya's racial skills down in the chapter notes alongside her levels. Think I should?
