Gate: Thus the Sorcerous Kingdom Fought There

by oblivon2991

Proofreader: aGuestfromGreece45

Thank you for reading my fanfic!

My mother language is not English, so please be patient about the grammatical issues.

I don't own the Overlord(オーバーロードŌbārōdo?) novel or anime series created by Kugane Maruyama.

I don't own Gate: Jieitai Kano Chi nite, Kaku Tatakaeri novel, and anime series, written by Takumi Yanai.

Please review it. I know I will make mistakes that I intend to correct and will try to learn from them and improve myself.

Thank you!

Please enjoy the story!


"Isn't this, I don't know, a little bit dangerous?" Itami looked around worried. "I mean, both can get seriously hurt."

"It is a duel, isn't it pretty obvious?"

Everyone around watched the man with slight irritation.

"Raidyn-san, aren't you even a little bit concerned about them?"

'Boom!'

The streets turned into a mess under the fight of the two sisters. And now, many craters decorated the ground around the two.

"Not really, why do you ask?"

"It's just…" Itami bit his lip watching the sisters fighting. Obviously, both of them had their fair share of beating. It was only a matter of time before one of them injured the other, seriously this time.

True, Mimoza had explained it was always this way how the mages of Rondel solved their problems. Even so, he hoped more from the people who lived in the so-called "City of Wisdom."

A logic play or something similar? But this? This was just too simple for his taste. He hoped for more.

"How long will this go on?" Itami wondered quietly, and right away received the answer.

"Usually until their shields collapse."

Looking around, it was a dull looking elf who stood not far from them that had answered. His hair was blonde, but compared to an elf, he looked quite, how should we say…? Plain? At least compared to a normal elfling.

"Oh, thanks…" with that, Itami continued to watch the battle, biting his thumbs worried.

'Boom!' A new crater appeared on the square, and from the dust, the running elder sister burst forward. Her clothes were peerless, a thin layer of a translucent field surrounding her.

"Dammit! Stay put, will you?"

While Arpeggio used her bolas and mineralogy based magic to gain the upper hand, Lelei used her staff and all the things she had learned under her stay with Kato. Naturally, the girl had also found use in all the things she had learned under her journey with these strange people — all of this she utilized to defeat her sister and get revenge after her humiliation.

"I will get you this time, Alfie…"

Her previously pristine, white clothes were still stained with the reddish soup. But strangely, no dirt one might expect with such a heated battle was visible on it. Around her body, the same translucent shield blinked up from time to time.

"Doesn't it seem like the two of them could blow each other up any minute now? And all the people around, isn't it a little bit dangerous standing this close?"

Indeed, all around the crowd started to grow and grow. More and more people gathered to witness the clash of the sisters. More and more gathered to make their bets and drool on the two fighting girls. Mostly on Alfie's perfect curves that swayed wildly under the heat of the battle.

"My! My! My! This reminds me of my younger years. Youngsters are always so fiery." Placing her hand on her cheek, the old Sage's expression softened, remembering her youth, the adventures she and Rory had shared, and her many duels under which she wrought great destruction upon anyone who annoyed her.

"Indeed, I was so fiery! Oh, poor Kato and the rest, I wonder how they are doing now…"

Itami and the people who heard her mumbling could only sweat, backing away slightly.

From the old lady's stature and easy going attitude, it was hard to imagine her with the attribute: "fiery."

"…"

Rory, like a good judge, and her god's appointed "gardener" watched the match in the front row ever vigilant, making sure neither side could cheat in any way.

Her god might have been the master of death, madness, violence, war, and darkness, but was also a lawful god who hated trickery and derogative acts. It was against his nature to let such things happen, and as his envoy in this world, it was his task to make sure such a thing couldn't happen in her presence.

"Let's hope this will bring results…"

You don't have to ask, after the momentary struggle at the beginning of the battle, the small mage with the silvery blue hair started to gain the upper hand, more and more pushing back her sister with her excellent use of the environment, and her newly learned skills.

"Dammit!" Arpeggio swore, running away from another compressed air blast.

'Boom!'

"If this goes on like this, I will surely lose! Dammit! That damn brat!"

"[Wind Blades]."

Lelei moved her wrist elegantly, casting her tier 1 magic, and several compressed air waves ruined the ground in the next moment, her sister barely able to evade them.

Indeed, under such a short amount of time, she had been able to learn even a tier 1 spell. For anyone else, reaching this point may have taken months, for some even years. This accomplishment showed how talented she was. Of course, her worshipped deity's blessing also helped to pick up things at an accelerated rate.

Naturally, in the tier based magic system, with each tier, the learning took a longer time, and more effort was needed to cast a spell. For most people, tier 2 was the pinnacle they could attain, usually only truly talented or blessed people were able to surpass that point and reach tier 3. Tier 4-5 counted the realm of heroes, which very few could reach. Tier 6 was for legends. Above that was a mystical playground. Even Fluder under his almost five hundred years could only cast up to tier 7 without serious rituals. And this after his master gave him the necessary books and his blessing to reach that point.

Others, no matter how hard they learned or trained, were never able to cast even a tier 3 spell.

"…"

Although her face was utterly apathetic, deep inside she was angry, and once, disappointed, or was it frustration? Or all of the above? Honestly, she didn't know for sure. At this moment, too many emotions burst forward to decide which one Lelei felt right now.

How could her own sister do this to her? How dare she?! She most likely ruined her chance to participate in the Sage evaluation! With her white clothes stained with reddish soup, no one would take her seriously, neither the judges would allow her to participate. If not having several more days before the examination, she would have most likely killed her sister right away out of a sudden burst of rage.

"Damn Alfie…"

Yet, she knew! Maybe she had gone too far. Perhaps it was her fault.

Her sister was in bad shape before, with her choice of path, her strained lifestyle, she was burdened enough as it was, and then Lelei came with all her success, all she had earned so young…

Yes, she had pushed her hard, too hard. She had pushed her over the line.

Was her success the cause of all of this? Maybe, she was not sure. Alfie was always a little bit unstable emotionally, in contrast, Lelei was usually apathetic towards most things that didn't really pique her interest. Or just, was too good to restrain herself? Even she was not sure which.

Yet, just now Lelei couldn't forget what her sister had done with her. It was her dream to become a Sage, and with this, Alfie had most likely robbed her chance to become one of the youngest, if not the youngest, Sage in Rondel's history.

If she did not win now, if she did not regain her honor as a Sage candidate, if she failed before the people of Rondel and her new friends, her chance to show her results would be postponed for the next few years.

Although she could wait it out, as many Sages only reached this point in the late stages of their life, it was not her intention to do so. Not if the chance to gain paid tutelage in the Sorcerous Kingdom was at stake, not if her honor was at stake!

'Clang!'

The sound of the air shattering resounded through the street as blades of compressed air streaked continuously through the air, and debris rained down from the sky like a monsoon. With waves of their staves to defend against an attack, evade, and then slash out horizontally, the attacks of both sides crashed against each other in the middle.

"It's only been a few years, but you've grown quite a bit."

"This white robe isn't for show, you know."

"Bold words. See if I don't rip the stitches out of your clothes."

After that, both sides upped their ante — and their firepower. Deflected bolts of light went astray and scorched the eaves of nearby houses. Several chunks of stone debris scattered into the crowd, which drew howls from them. The fact that nobody had been hurt was a miracle, which seemed to be proof that the people watching were actually mages.

"It, it looks like they're going out of control…"

Pieces of shattered stone fell from the sky like bullets, making Itami cringe back into his uniform. Strangely, the other parties around him did not even flinch. Most likely because they were accustomed to the crash of battle.

"Huh… so many memories," Raidyn smiled, shaking her head, and Ulbert on her side only patted her shoulder.

"Going sentimental?"

"Just a little bit…" her attention turned to a strangely familiar hooded figure in the crowd for a moment.

A man with stoic features and neatly cut black hair watched the battle amidst the people with wide eyes, although his logical features remained all along.

Ordinary people were unable to see, but with Raidyn's divine sight she right away recognized, the man was not only out of his place, but his planet, and more importantly, his time.

"Is that… Mr. Spock?" Yes, the man's face definitely resembled the famous Vulcan from a specific Sci-Fi series.

"Hmm, did you say something?"

"Nothing, just watch the match… I have a bad feeling."

In the crowd, the man mumbled in a strange device. "Captain, this is starting to turn dangerous…"

The moisture in the air crystallized into icicles, whose sharp tips glittered in the light as they flew back and forth. Some of them stabbed into the nearby walls, and their plaster crumbled and fell.

"The first thing mages of the Lindon School learn is defensive magic. Therefore, in most spell battles, both sides rush to see who can break the other's defenses first. However… the two of them have very high attack and defensive power. Lelei's grown so much I can barely recognize her."

Mimoza explained, remembering her prime.

The truth was, both of them had exerted the whole of their abilities, and the pressure was building by the second.

That said, all people had their limits; and at a certain point, both of them stopped moving. They panted, and with every breath, they cast an attack spell, before raising their weighty staves and using all their strength to throw up a defensive barrier.

And then, a sound like a massive lump of metal striking something else echoed all around, raising a cloud of dust.

"Uuu, is this what they mean by a genius? Dammit…"

Alfie clenched her teeth and took a step forward. It was evident she was at a disadvantage from the beginning; when it came to casting a spell, she was obviously inferior compared to her sister. And blocking the wind blades, her cast just took much more effort than usual. She was on the verge of collapse, only out of her iron will she still stood and was able to fight.

Although now, thanks to her stronger build, she started to gain the upper hand in the close quarters combat. This advantage began slowly to even things with Lelei despite her technique.

The first half of this battle was like a duel between two knights swinging at each other with all their might. The fact that they had come this far was a testament to a clash of strength versus strength and will versus will.

However, if they continued dragging the fight out like this, the difference in their respective strength and tiredness would soon become clear — Alfie was attacking less and less, while she was defending more and more.

In this intense situation, Itami felt it was about time to try and stop them. With that, he turned to Rory, the referee, and ventured:

"Rory, what should we do now? I think their determination is going to push this fight to a dangerous stage…"

"Hmm, maybe you are right. But let's wait a little bit more, or the sister's dispute will remain forever. Look, the match has still not be decided. Alfie is still looking for a chance to deliver a decisive counterattack, while Lelei — who's confident in her victory — is waiting for a chance to finish the fight in a single move."

Yes, watching them closely, Itami started to understand what Rory meant. The battle was not over; either side could still win.

"But is this still all right?" Itami questioned himself, but before he could add his own piece of mind and ask Rory, Raidyn approached the girl, whispering something in her ear. The thing Rory only nodded with a stern expression.

"What's wrong?"

"We may have a problem…" Raidyn whispered, making subtle military hand signs and pointing on several shady places.

Itami had no idea how Raidyn knew those hand signs uniformed everywhere on Earth — might have been in her own world it was the same thing — but it came handy just now.

Looking towards the pointed directions, he right away recognized the strangely moving shadows, and a few cloaked people moving suspiciously towards the competitors.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Notify the others, subtly. Once the time comes, Ardyn and I will make sure things go smoothly. Or as smooth as possible."

Nodding, Itami went on his own way, but it was too late. In the next moment, the hooded figures hastened their steps, almost reaching the front lines of the crowd, slowly pulling their knives bathed in a strange light and drenched in poison.

It was evident, they had recognized things would not go as smooth as planned, and it was time to initiate plan B.

"This is not nice…" Ardyn stepped behind one of them, but strangely, the figure said nothing. Instead…

'Flush!'

Cutting towards him rapidly, the dark sorcerer jumped back. "[Push]."

A burst of power left his hand, shooting away from the hooded figure immediately, making a whole building crash down on the attacker.

"What is this!?"

Being the crowd watched the competitors intensely, only after several seconds later they recognized the attack of the hooded people.

"The Sorcerer King sends its regards!"

Like many zealots, the hooded figures burst forward, appearing from the crowd, appearing on the roofs holding simple looking bows that held glowing arrows.

"Everyone! Disperse!" Itami roared, and chaos ensued. The people started to flee left and right, each and every one of them seeking to save themselves, only a few able mages willing to fight and defend the others.

Indeed, Rondel was the city of mages and wisdom. Not the city of brave or the warriors.

Many mages only concentrated on their studies, rarely fighting in real battle. Only from time to time they dueled with each other. On such occasions, just like now, the crowd gathered to drool on the coming destruction. But even then, if it came to their life, mages as sophisticated individuals preferred to listen to their instinct of survival rather than doing what a hero would do.

Most of them were not cowards of course, but they preferred to preserve their life, as every rational being would do.

Usually, guards patrolled around. But now, in some way they were missing. Maybe, just maybe something had distracted their attention and were unable to reach this place in time.

"Lelei!? What happened?"

Hearing her sister's terrified scream, seeing the chaos all around, the small Sage candidate right away recognized, something was not right. They were under attack!

"Alfie… we need to get out there."

"Watch out Lelei!" In the last moment, Arpeggio pushed her sister out of the way, and a wicked-looking arrow pierced her back, stopping only millimeters away from her chest.

"Alfie…"

"Ugh!"

"Alfie!" Thanks to the long fight and her exhausted state, Arpeggio's shield had been breached by an enchanted arrow right away, completely piercing her chest. Immediately, the girl collapsed, rich red substance leaving her body. Trembling, she had never felt such a pain before. It was like someone was burning her alive.

On the roof, a cloaked person snarled "Dammit!" out of the several fire blasts coming his way. With his position having been compromised, the assassin was forced to retreat. Yet, he was satisfied, assassinating the small mage and several key people was a secondary objective. "It cannot be helped; the main objective is complete. I will get out of here!"

With that, the assassin jumped down, disappearing in the crowd.

"Alfie! Alfie!" Lelei shouted desperately, shaking her sister's slowly dying body.

In the crowd, right and left the hooded ones started to kill people without care, arrows raining down from the sky. Piercing, murdering and killing those who were not protected by some barrier or were unluckily hit. Their chants resounded louder and louder with each moment.

"Kill all! Kill them all! Kill all! Kill them all! For they are unworthy for the coming world!"

Indeed, anyone who was not a mage, or was too slow to cast a barrier, most likely had fallen from the first wave of arrows.

"[Infernal Barrier]!"

With a snap of Ardyn's finger, an infernal force field emerged above the people, stopping and burning the arrows to ash, burning any enemy who attempted to pass it forcefully.

"So many…" Seras mumbled, knocking out and neutralizing one more.

"Shit!" Constantine swore, recognizing something strange. The attackers' movements were shaky, not as fluid one might expect from an organized attack force. And he felt, some kind of mind control magic emitted from them.

'Whisper! Whisper! Whisper!' After a fast incantation, his vision expanded and gained further insight on what's the matter. "They are mind controlled!" he shouted.

He knew too well the nasty nature of mind control, Constantine and Seras had encountered this type of magic too many times under their line of work.

The only things you could do was either to kill the controlled individuals, knock them out, find the source and end it, or dispel the mind control in some way.

Unfortunately, in the heat of battle, the latter two versions were out of the question. The controller was most likely not in the crowd, and messing with people's heads without identifying the proper method was too risky to try, moreover, killing them would lead nowhere. The only remained option was to knock them out.

"Try not to kill them!" But it was evident; the others had also realized what he and Seras already did. Raidyn shouted on the side, informing everyone.

"Dammit!" gritting her teeth, she knocked out another robed cultist. "Ardyn! Are you ready?"

"One more moment!" shouted back the dark lord. Many cultists assaulted him, but an invisible barrier around him nullified every attack.

"Oh my! What is this?" Mimoza cast a sleep spell, and a group of archers collapsed on the roofs.

"Lelei! You need to move!" Itami shouted, yanking Lelei hard. The girl's face was completely blank, staring at her sister slowly bleeding out.

"Alfie…" Lelei muttered, completely blank and frozen. Even against the dragon, she had felt no such fear. Now, as her sister was on the verge of dying, she just… she just couldn't move. Staring the arrow shaft coming out from her sister's chest, watching Arpeggio's blood covering her hands, she could only tremble, watching her sister's haphazardly moving chest.

"Huff! Huff!" Alfie watched Lelei pleading, dread-filled orbs staring back at her, her breathing going from calm to haphazard and hyperventilating, thirsting for air so horrifically cut from her holey lungs.

"Itami! Get her out of here! You are in the line of fire!" Zeno jumped before the frozen girl and Itami, casting his defensive magic, with Tuka and Yao not far from them fending off the attackers.

"[Divine Barrier]!"

He was just in time, because in the next moment several cultists cast their magic, and a line of spells exploded on the holy barrier.

'Bang! Bang! Bang!'

"Their minds are clouded…" Rory jumped away from a slash elegantly, knocking her opponent out with great elegance. "Emroy-sama would be disappointed if I kill them in this state. He would most likely even scold me for sending so many confused souls in his way…"

"Your holiness!? This is really your greatest concern?!" Yao started to get annoyed, knocking out a masked one with the dull side of her sword.

Her opposition was not that strong, but their suddenly appeared numbers started to get dangerous. More of it, several magic casters were amidst their ranks, and the surrounding roofs were filled with masked archers. This was a cleverly organized ambush; there was no question about it.

"In the Sorcerous King's name! In the Sorcerous King's name! In the name of the Empire, we will purge the unworthy!"

Such and similar chants reverberated from their mouths as more and more appeared from the alleys, systematically trying to cut down the group, making them slowly back up. Although, killing them would be no problem, most of them were simple people with a blank expression under their hoods and masks.

Ending the incursion fast would mean they'd need to kill innocent people. Even if they were willing to do so, the chaos was massive in the square; many confused civilians also run amok in the mess. There was a high chance they'd just confuse them with the attackers or unwillingly hit them.

"This is not good…" In the protective dome — Zeno had formed with his paladin magic — a steady supply of people started to gather. Thus, he was forced to expand it to be able to shelter more civilians. Out of this reason, the walls of the bubble started to thin more and more. And the paladin needed more power to sustain it and keep up the integrity, straining his reserves significantly.

He was sure he could keep it up for a while and would be able to get away if he wanted, even fight off everyone in the street if it came to that. The only problem was all the innocents around; if he lowered the defenses, the enemy would breach it right away, and if that happened, they would surely jump at the civilians behind him. He couldn't be in many places at once after all; he was not an omnipotent being or a god.

"How pathetic…" Making a few strange hand motions — just to be stylish — Ardyn finally prepared his magic. "[Magic Calculation]! [Magic Seeker: Paralyze]!"

'Flash!' In an instant, a wave washed through the whole square, freezing every assaulting robed person in a several-blocks radius. At that moment, the attackers froze completely, falling forward like a brick.

"I-Is it over?" Tuka asked shuttering, looking around frightened like a hare, seeing the people falling forward like frozen bricks.

"Hmm…"

"Constantine? Are you alright?" Seras walked closer to the supernatural detective, and the man just stood up, finishing the investigation of the frozen man.

"Paralyzing magic, nothing special, but aiming and hitting only the targets in a crowd like this… that's something very few are able to do…"

For a moment, he gazed at Ardyn, who seemingly recognized his stare, staring him smugly under his mask. The vibe he received from the man's direction sent shivers through his spine.

"It is nothing; we better get out of here before more appear."

"He is right… Mimoza-dono, do you know any good place?" inquired Zeno, on his face a concerned expression settled. Several beads of sweat poured down from his temples. It was visible how concerned he was.

"Hmm, maybe…" answered the elder. "There is a place…"

"...To think they would dare stain the soil of a battleground sanctified by me, Rory. Blasphemous…"

"Raidyn-san… they shouted…"

"I know…" Biting her lip, she had heard well enough what the people shouted.

First, they chanted the Sorcerer King sent them. Then some of them shouted they were sent by the Empire, adding several other parties. Honestly, all of this was confusing. Someone moved the strings behind the scenes.

Looking at her side, removing the hood from one of the cultists, a familiar face was revealed.

"The old guy, from back then?" An elderly face appeared and frozen in a blank state. His previous wise eyes were filled with blankness.

"Grey Co Aldo? What's the Princess' assigned knight doing here?"

For Itami's question, a different voice answered.

"Not just him…" Rory removed another hood, then another. A few of them they knew too well. A few of them were female, more precisely, the members of Piña's Rose Knights. The members of the praetorian guards of the Emperor. The others were not familiar at all.

"What are the Princess' knights doing here? Aren't they…"

"No, it was most likely a rout, a distraction…"

"Halt, you there!" several guard units hurried towards the little band, and the still alive people hid behind Zeno. They were indeed lucky to have been able to survive such chaos. All of them trembled, unable to decide what to do.

"Alfie…!" Lelei wept, hugging her sister's almost cold body. The girl seemed to be dead, in that state, it was not likely anyone could help her. Her breath had slowed at an abnormal level, staring blankly forward. "Can you help her?! Help her!"

Everyone looked away, and Rory placed her hand on her shoulder. The best she could do was to pray for her soul.

"Emroy-sama will take her soul; she died a good death."

"Don't touch her!" Lelei swept away Rory's hand immediately.

"What the hell happened here!?" shrieked the commander of the guard forces. He was a grizzled old veteran with the armor of the city guards. Evidently, he had enough after all the shit that had happened today. Said shit had hindered his way here after all.

"We were attacked," answered Mimoza immediately.

"By whom?"

"By cultists, or more like, mind controlled people," explained Mimoza with all seriousness in her tone. No one in the current parties had seen her like that ever. "All of those with masks and hoods lying on the ground paralyzed were our attackers. You can find plenty of them on the roofs and alleys around."

Looking around, many people had died, even more lying on the ground with a frozen expression.

"Mind control? With so many people? With all due of respect, Sage Mimoza, don't be ridiculous! No one except gods can control the minds of so many people!"

Being a mage himself, the guard captain was well aware of what was possible and what's not, he was not easy to fool.

"But it's all true…" stepped forward Rory. "Or you say I, the apostle of the Great Emroy, am lying? Do you wish to be smitten for your sacrilege? "

"Yo-Your holiness…!" the commander was taken aback immediately, gulping deeply then kneeling. He right away recognized Rory. "Of course not! I would never dare!"

"Then if you're not believing your Sage, believe what I said. This was the work of a vile sect. A coordinated attack of a hidden enemy maybe backed by an unknown god. Do your work — rope the unconscious people. Then take them to custody so they can't harm others. My underlings and I will personally investigate the situation."

"Underlings…" Itami muttered uneasily; he never liked when Rory referred to him like that.

"Of course, if it's that what your holiness wishes. Thank you! I will oblige of course, if you need our help just call for us. We will gladly support your investigation with our expertise."

Before Rory, the dignified guard captain became a humble lamb. The current situation showed how much influence the apostles had over even the highest ranked individuals. How much most people feared them.

"Hmm, that's more like it!"

Meanwhile, Raidyn kneeled on Alfie's side, investigating her state and the arrow that had pierced her.

"Poisoned spellslayer arrow. Very rare, very powerful." She tasted the poison near the tip, and right away recognized, spitting it out on the spot. "King Basilisk poison. She is not likely to survive…"

It had already started. The bodies of the dead people around had already begun to turn into stone. The potent poison of the King Basilisk was not only a deadly toxin which was able to render helpless even the strongest of men, but a moment after death it started to petrify the body, making it almost impossible to resurrect people.

Only thanks to Raidyn removing the arrow and Zeno's constant effort to keep the girl alive kept in line the poison's deadly features. Being the bolt was a spellslayer one, it was extra harmful to mages and magic casters.

"Alfie…" Lelei was crushed, holding her sister's cold hand, she would surely die if it continued like this.

No! She couldn't accept it! She wouldn't! There must have been a way to save her!

"Help her! I know you can! Help her!"

"Zeno…? You are more proficient in healing than me. Can you do something?" The man sweated, trying his best to keep the poison at bay, warm light enveloping Arpeggio's body consistently, originating from his hand.

"Unfortunately, I can't… The soul is on to leave the body. Maybe if Medhirt were to be here, together we could undo the petrification effect."

Watching Arpeggio, some of her parts had already started to petrify, pushing her towards total organ failure.

"But alone, my paladin magic is not strong enough! I am specialized for defense, not healing. " His fist clenched. "I am sorry, I can't do anything more. Maybe I can buy her a few more hours, but that's all…"

The light on Alfie's eyes slowly started to dim, and the last rays of hope began to disappear.

Constantine looked away somewhat sad. The girl was too young to die.

But he was no god, and after inspecting one of the half petrified bodies around and analyzed the poison with a spell, he came to a conclusion.

Without proper items, he couldn't do anything. Deities may have been able to do something, or turning her into a vampire could save her. But damning the kid's soul with eternal damnation, imprisoned within her own flesh? Even the vilest thing did not deserve that fate.

"…" Lelei looked away, still holding her sister's barely warm hands, hands that slowly turned cold and rigid. Tears poured from her eyes endlessly.

She damned the gods. She damned this world. She damned her weak self for letting her sister die in such a way. She would do anything; she would sell her soul to save her. And the devil only needed that much to act.

"How intriguing…"

"Ardyn, can you do something for her?"

Ardyn stepped near the body, inspecting it curiously.

"Hmm, maybe placing her in stasis and finding a way to remove the petrification, then neutralize the poison?" he offered thinking. "Unfortunately, the necessary methods need expensive alchemical ingredients. Nothing I could spare, or willing to sacrifice at the moment for a simple girl."

"Then get away from her!"

Lelei shouted at that moment, and when she wanted to push him away, time stopped for her; a new voice invaded her mind suddenly.

"What would you be willing to give up? What would you be willing to give to save your sister? To embrace her once again as a whole?"

This was no question. She would be willing to give everything for her sister to be saved. Even her own soul! Even willing to make a deal with the devil!

"Are you sure of this? If you agree, nothing will undo the deal…"

Now, hearing this she was unsure. She had heard Zeno speaking about demons under their travel. Demons who tempted people with unfair deals. But if this went on like this, her sister would die. No. She'd surely die if she did not do something.

"I am willing to pay her medication." Zeno glared at the man with all the dislike he could muster.

This Ardyn figure was evil, he felt it in his very bones.

Usually, Zeno never judged people from first sight, but he couldn't help but make his conclusion after such a short period of time.

"Very well. I will do what I can in the frame of a certain cost. I hope my benefits will not be cut. Alternatively…" Ardyn glanced at Yao, sending shivers through her spine and then watching Raidyn with hungry eyes. "I accept alternative payments. That dark elf looks quite good. And I lack a certain specimen from my collection."

"You bastard!"

"Ardyn…"

"Hmm, yes, my precious friend?"

"Don't be a dick. Do what you must."

"Why should I? Without payment? Don't be ridiculous!" the man just waved away the request of his friend. "As a businessman, it is only natural I want something in return."

Lelei started to get agitated. Moreover, distressed by the sheer coldness of the man. Her sister was on the verge of dying, almost completely petrified, they needed to do something fast, or all would be lost. Only Zeno's constant effort on her side was slowing the process.

"Can't you do something?" Itami asked the paladin kneeling on Arpeggio's side, but the man just shrugged.

"Doing the best I can. Petrification effects are really hard to deal with. Harder, if the creature's poison is out of your knowledge range. I've dealt with basilisk-like creatures before, but this toxin is something else, it is almost like it was a mutated creature they gathered the toxin from. Also, the arrow that pierced her is basically the bane of magic casters like her. If not casting continuously [Mid Nullify Toxin] and [Healing Hands] she would have died long ago."

Looking around, indeed, anyone who had been pierced by the arrows, or cut by the weapons the attackers carried, had long ago died and turned to stone statues. Even now, the guards were trying to figure out what to do with them.

"Rory?" asked Itami with great concern. But the girl just shook her head. "I am not a healer, unfortunately. My god is the god of darkness, not life. If you wish, I can help her pass to the other side though. Emroy's warm embrace will accept her."

Lelei stared blankly, shaking her head.

No! She couldn't give up! There must have been a way!

"Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do."

It was not true of course. Both Raidyn and Ardyn were aware of this. But undoing this poisonous affliction with just divine powers would be too much. And unfair to all the people around.

"Yeah, showing off won't do. And may raise too much attention to us — more than we currently have. Though, we could deal with it by modifying people's memories. But why would we intervene? Not only it would be boring, but it would unnecessarily complicate the situation. I hate playing god; I am not one, no matter my power level."

Although Raidyn might have thought like that, her colleague did not very much. Ulbert was more motivated towards collecting souls and garnering more power, regaining his former might, and taking revenge to those who forced him to slumber so long.

Also, he was astonished how much power his friends had gained under their new existences, even after they tried to hide it from him. Now, he felt inferior standing near them. Be it was out of his demonic blood, or simply because of his "evolved Chuunibyou" syndrome that accompanied him since his high school years — and was enhanced by his game avatar — he now felt frail compared to them.

Demons were always territorial, backstabbing and scheming. Only willing to serve the firm, most scheming of their kind.

It was a hierarchical system. If you were weak, stupid or even showed any weakness, other parties simply kicked you around, bullied, devoured or killed you right away, or even simply enslaved you, binding you to their will maybe forever. Ulbert learned this in his long life. There was a time when he was beaten around, forced to serve. Never again he wanted to experience it. Never again he would allow it!

"Never again…"

Only after gaining power he could ascend. Just after that, he could rule as the sole ruler of his own piece of "infernal heaven."

Seeing both of his friends now were stronger than him made him feel miserable. Made him feel inferior.

Even now, using his divine, demonic senses and sensing the sheer volume of dark, and light divine forces emitting from Raidyn made his spine shiver in dread. And although he knew her from the game and was best of pals with both Momonga and her under the entirety of their time in YGGDRASIL, who knew how they had changed? Too much time had passed since the game turned into reality to say for sure if the two had remained the same or not.

Most likely a long time had passed since they had met, he needed to be on his guard, or he would be enslaved once more.

Under this situation, showing weakness was the worst decision. It separated defeat and triumph.

"I will not be defeated! I, Ulbert Alain Odle will not be defeated once again! No matter the opponent! I will overcome it! I will be the one who decides my fate! I will be the one who breaks the chains of weakness!"

"Ardyn!"

Raidyn shouted him back to reality, and Ulbert could only watch her confused.

"Huh?"

"Put her at least in stasis."

"And if not?"

"Then you can walk away with a third boot in your ass. You bad cosplayer!"

Raidyn's shout intimidated not only Ardyn but most people around. Everyone took at least a step back from her.

"You are the one speaking?" Ardyn even muttered as such.

"Lord Zeno. Your master is really intimidating. Are you sure she is not a dragon secretly?" Yao hid behind the paladin, who just scratched his nob slightly embarrassed.

"Yeah, that's master for you. Although, the latter I thought often. But…"

Watching his master scolding Ardyn who started to back away, and remembering the dragons, demons, and other horrific creatures he fought in the past. He doubted his master was a demon or a dragon. No, under raising and training him, he experienced it firsthand. "From time to time I ask the same, but then I realize, she is worse…"

Yao's caramel skin started to pale seeing the woman intimidating the dark magic caster so easily. Ardyn in return started to hang his head like a child who had been just scolded by his mother.

"Scary…"

On the sidelines, Constantine had a strange idea.

"Hmm, I wonder if I can ask her to meet Lucifer. The old bastard would surely get a piece from her…"

Constantine chuckled quietly, then turned back to investigate the scene.

"Do what I fucking said, or I will tear you apart and jerk your intestines full of cum. Then glue you together with the same cum, resurrect you and beat you to crap once more!"

"Ok! Ok! Geez!" Ulbert looked away slightly embarrassed. He was somewhat perverted being a demon, and he as well had done many crazy things with his slaves and wives — as he remembered.

But jerking full his parts, then gluing him together? Even he was not that sick. His friend had picked up some really perverted stuff under her stay.

"It is slightly wrong I am slightly excited about it? Most likely. But it's just as cool as terrifying!"

Ulbert's heart started to beat faster when he came up with the right response.

"You have no cum to spare. You lack the necessary part." He grinned, and his smart-ass comment earned him a fist on his face, a hit which plastered his face in the ground creating a great depression, and destroyed his mask in the process.

Typically, he was immune to such attacks. But one, Raidyn, or more like Esdeath was always a beast even back then, only Touch Me could really contend with her. Two, he was weakened from his long sleep. Also if he wanted to fight seriously in his prime, it would be the same, she who would be the one who most likely win the match.

"Agh… this, was not nice…" Slowly, he raised himself, dusting off his coat, then massaging his handsome illusionary face.

"Do your work, stasis!" she pointed at the girl.

"Ok! Ok! Geez! Why are you biting? The red army attacked today or what?"

"…"

Hers, Yao's and a few girl's eyes just twitched, recognizing the apparent snarky comment. It was indeed inappropriate saying such thing for ladies. But the others either ignored him or were too busy to acknowledge what he had said.

"Ok! Ok! You don't have to give me that evil eye! Geez! Leaving for a short time and you become like my granny! Can't take jokes."

Ulbert shrugged, cracking his neck and preparing his spell.

'Flick!'

Snapping his fingers, several sparks were created by his metallic gloves and two waves of light rushed through Arpeggio's rigid body.

The first forced the petrification to recede slightly but steadily before stopping near a particular area, while the second engulfed her with a bluish force field.

"For now, that's the most I can do for her. Curing her is dangerous. It may easily kill her physical body and corrupt her soul. Of course, I can always extract her soul and place it in a new body, if that's what you wish for…"

Hearing this, most of the people were filled with disgust and dread. Messing with souls? Extracting them? What exactly sounded like this was…

"You mean necromancy. Am I right?" spat Constantine. He had met his fair share of necromancers under his lifetime. None of them lived long enough to enjoy their so-called immortality and the fruits of their labor. Of course, he hadn't met Ainz yet.

"What's wrong with it? Necromancy is a practiced branch of magic in the kingdom," added Zeno with an innocent look. He had nothing against necromancers as long as they did not use their powers against innocents.

"Yeah, Ainz-san is a necromancer too. As well, several schools and a whole development branch are entirely dedicated to necromancy. In the kingdom, we use it on a daily basis to make the people's lives better."

Raidyn added, and everyone around just blinked.

In this world, necromancy was a forbidden art. Despised and persecuted by every church, gods and their followers as an unnatural branch of magic. For Rory, who was the gardener of the god of death, it was unimaginable to tolerate it. It was against her god's very nature to accept it. Robbing souls from Emroy? Unimaginable!

"So you say…" she started to get angry. "Ainz-sama is a filthy necromancer!?"

"Basically, yes. Haven't you seen his created undead? His aura of negative energy? It was obvious if you ask me. After all, he is an overlord. The highest ranked lich."

Well, basically, Ainz had long ago surpassed that point and since then took up stronger racial levels. But others didn't need to know about that.

"I thought those were his servants that inhabited his divine Kingdom, and he brought them with himself." Rory fumed, she really thought like that.

According to the information Emroy had shared with Rory, every god had their own divine kingdom where the cream of their power centered. There, their powers and authority — in theory — spread without bounds. There they ruled as real almighty beings, overseeing their domain. Also, that was the place where the worshipper's souls ascended or descended — depending if it's the abyss or the heavens — after their deaths.

Naturally, these kingdoms were not located in the material realm. The world just didn't have enough places for so many divine kingdoms. Or in another way, the world just couldn't bear them, the sheer radiation of power would damage the structure of the material plane staying down there.

"Who said this to you?" Both Raidyn and Ardyn watched her blankly.

"Those are simple undead. True, nicely made ones, but still undead. Truly, Rory, I thought you were able to recognize them."

"Hmph!"

The girl turned her head away with a slightly flushed cheek, puffing her face offended.

She felt divine power emitting from those undead; indeed, she'd never met a necromancer before who was able to create undead like these. And she had massacred her fair share of cultists under her time, just like every other Apostle and paladin under the gods' control.

"This is really concerning. I need to reevaluate my thinking of him. Still, that divine power permeating from them and those strange winged creatures? Have I lost my touch? Oh, Great Emroy! What to do?"

"We need to go into a closed off space. It is dangerous remaining out here. Even with Ardyn-san's [Infernal Barrier] blocking attacks from above, assassins could still be around."

"Indeed, we need to find the source. Someone mind-controlled these people." Ardyn looked on the side, watching Grey and one of the female Rose Knights roped, still unconscious. "I just have the right method to know the truth."

"No mind probe this time. We want them alive. Not fry their brains…"

"F-Fry their brains!?" Itami backed, looking somewhat horrified. Indeed, he had read his fair share of novels, fanfictions and the like to know how those people ended who underwent the so-called "mind probing."

"Spoilsport…"

"Pervert…"

The two friends snarled at each other jokingly, and the people around couldn't help but feel they were in the presence of a bickering couple.

"What about the people around?"

"What about her/my sister!" Seras and little Lelei asked immediately. Though, Lelei's voice was unnaturally concerned, almost weeping. Apparently, she feared for her sister's life more than anything.

"Her life is stabilized, for now. I managed to stop the spread of the petrification curse and cage it in a specific location, then place her in a stasis field. As long as that holds, nothing will happen to her."

"You said it is a poison," Constantine pointed it out. "Now which one. I must admit, it was strange. Examining one of the people it gave me a weird feeling."

"It is both. Or more like, a poison, a virus, and a curse rolled into one," Raidyn started her explanation. "High ranking basilisk creatures not only kill and petrify their opponent with their gaze, but are able to do so with their poisonous bodily fluids, such as saliva and the sickly substance covering their body."

Itami gulped, this all sounded too familiar. Almost like a basilisk from a DnD game.

"This is a poison which contains many microorganisms, which can mutate into a virus easily — the poison and the microorganisms are magical in origin, and are able to curse the opponent of the carrier if it wished. This cursive poison can be found in every part of the basilisk's body, and part of their essence. Obviously, in a normal case, this "essence corruption" curse the microorganisms cause can be healed quite easily. We have several methods to deal with this."

"Then, what's the problem?"

"The problem is…" Raidyn looked towards the already petrified people, an agonizing expression frozen on their faces. "The problem comes in play when a mutation occurs. If you are familiar with genetics, you know what I am speaking about."

"What mutation?"

"Genetics?"

Tuka and Rory asked confused, and Itami quickly explained the basics of genetics, and the meaning of mutation. Of course, in his own "simple" way.

"Oh!" most of them understood his explanation, some not, which greatly confused him.

"Well then, the mutation we speak about not only changes the physical aspects of the beast, but being it's engineered with magic, its very essence and soul. We are speaking about an entirely new sub-race. That means the nature of the microorganism and the carrier poison also changes significantly. The methods we used previously to deal with this will most likely not be effective anymore. Being we don't have any idea what the cause of this change is, or where it happened in the beast, our options are limited. The best method would be to find the creature and take a direct sample, then check it. Coming up with an antidote or modify a spell formula accordingly. But being our time is short, and it's likely we won't find it, we need to take the harder route."

"Then, what can we do for my sister? Is there a way to save her?"

"In fact there is…" Raidyn's expression turned dark. "One. We can transfer her soul into a new body. In the process purifying her contaminated soul from the essence corruption continuously affecting her."

Lelei nodded accepting. This was indeed a risky method. Souls were the domain of gods, not to be trifled with.

"Two, we ask a god, divine being, Supreme Being, a Dragon Lord, a Godkin or someone with similar power to remove the essence poisoning."

"Can you do it?" Lelei looked at her pleading, folding her hands into prayer.

"Unfortunately, I am not specialized for curses, neither healing. And Ardyn-san…"

"I could do something, but rather not anything rash. Messing with unknown contamination? I'd rather not do that. Under lab conditions, maybe. But my lab currently is in pieces thanks to one of my experiments. And I doubt you can find any being who can help you with her. Like myself, those beings Raidyn mentioned ask a price for their help. Sorry, little one…"

Playing his part, Ulbert patted Lelei's lowered head. The girl started to turn desperate.

"There is a third way of course. Finding the antidote."

"Antidote? They made one?" asked Itami clueless.

"Hmm, don't your governments make an antidote or some preventive measurement when they come up with a new poison, artificial virus or biological weapon? It is always the first step to make the antidote to make sure you can sweep the area clean after the thing has fulfilled its purpose. Or rather, this is how things worked in our world in the past. I don't know if it's the same for you."

It was actually true. Although the Geneva protocol prohibited and restricted the stockpiling, use and development of biological warfare and weapons of mass destruction, Itami was sure; secretly every government most likely conducted experiments with newer and newer strains, poisons and the like. The most reasonable step was to make a neutralizing agent before releasing something dangerous in the wild. Or program the poison/virus to die off after a certain period, neutralize itself.

"Yes, after the First World War the governments of our world made a deal with each other to never use them in open war or any battlefield. Biological and chemical weapons did…" Itami remembered the history lessons from the First World War, and even thinking back those pictures made him feel sick. "Biological and chemical weapons did nasty things in our history. We no longer use them…"

"I see…" sighing, Raidyn summed up things. "These are the three methods I know. Our best chance is to find the source and take the antidote. Hopefully, it will be still effective. But thugs like them are not likely to carry one. So we need to find the trail first. Alternatively, once you visit the Sorcerous Kingdom, you can seek out a Supreme Being, or a being with high power to help you. But as said, the chances of them helping are slim."

Looking around, slowly the guards finished with the cleaning, and Mimoza walked back to the group.

"Oh my, such destruction," the old granny sighed disappointedly. "Let's regroup in a safer place. It's too open here…"

"Umu. Agree."

"Sage Mimoza…" the commander stepped forward. "We finished roping them together. Anything else you need?"

"Huh, oh my… place them into a safe place. Possibly isolated from each other."

"We would also like to interrogate these two," Raidyn pointed at Grey and the girl from the Order of the Rose.

"Sage Mimoza?"

"Let them…" fortunately, being the member of the Sage Council, she had the authority to ask such thing, else there was no way the commander would allow it.

"What about the girl? We've already isolated the victims. They are completely petrified, but…"

"But…"

"A strange throbbing can be heard faintly under the stone's surface like they are still alive. And strangely, the injured people around have started to show pale complexions, like they are sick."

"That's…" Everyone watched Raidyn who offered an ugly expression. "Phoenix's Curse hid by a different property? Or something else? Dammit…!" biting her lip, everyone awaited her explanation.

"Dear, what happened?"

"Mimoza-dono!" Her expression turned rigid. "We need to separate the injured, and the ones that have turned into stone, ASAP!"

"What happened?"

"I don't know… but…" she muttered, trying to find the right answer. "If it would mutate that way to spread airborne, most of us would have already turned to stone, or weakened by the effects. So the most likely scenario is…" Raidyn thought through the situation, trying to find the perfect explanation. "Injured people are turning sick, dead turn to stone almost right away. Yes, it most likely spreads through the liquid and bodily fluids. The question is…" she turned to the guard captain.

"All injured are sick?"

"Hmm, now that you ask... No, some of them are fine, only a few bruises and cuts. Why?"

"Targeting specific genetic vectors found on individuals with the right properties according to the programming!?" she muttered once more. Obviously, only a few people understood what she muttered. "Or simply, delayed activation? It is hard to judge."

"What did you say?" Itami asked slightly frightened, Raidyn started to speak like a scientist from a zombie movie. A zombie movie where an infection started just as she said. He had watched too many zombie movies to remain calm.

"Don't say you let those people away!?"

"Well…" the guard scratched his neck. "They were fine, and we had already questioned them. We simply have no cells to keep everyone under detention, so we let them go."

"Idiot!" Raidyn snarled, making the commander furrow his brow angry.

How dare this kid call him an idiot? The guard commander of the district who served more than thirty years, and still serves with all his heart! How dare she!?

"You little!"

"Shut up! And drag those people back! They may cause an epidemic!"

The commander and the nearby guards paled, looking at each other in fear.

An epidemic in the city? It was unheard of! Since a few hundred years not a singke epidemic had managed to gain a foothold in Londel. If this was true then… it was worse than he first feared.

Ardyn caressed his dense goatee beard thinking, looking quite apathetic, like a scientist who calmly analyzed the situation. "Hmmm, in that case, we also need to check the water sources of the city and around. It might get poisoned with this toxin. It would be quite concerning once this epidemic starts to spread, no?"

Everyone paled, and Itami reached for his radio.

"I need to call the JSDF… if it's contagious…" he reached for his radio, knowing very well the containment protocol — Isolation at all cost! — Itami requested a biohazard team to be dispatched immediately.

"Command, we may have a problem…"

"If it's true… Mimoza-sensei, can you notify the Sage council?"

"Of course, what should I say to them?"

"Tell them; there might be an epidemic on the loose. But do not impose a curfew, the last thing we need is panicking people. I've already notified Fluder-san about the happenings. He has already sent the order. With your permission the Sorcerous Kingdom will send a specialists unit that will help handle this contamination. The most important thing is, do not let anyone out of the city without security and health check. Fluder-san just notified me he has already sent a few people to monitor the main and side gates and will put up several checkpoints in the city. Hopefully, it will be enough until our specialists arrive."

"Umu… that's good. Thank you."

Raidyn turned around, starting to walk towards the alley. "Ardyn put everyone who turned to stone into stasis, then come, we will investigate things. We need to find the source, and the one responsible for all of this."

"Hmm, and what about my reward?"

"Your reward will be a boot in your ass if you don't do so immediately. If it is the same thing I know, once gets lose... there will be no city left to mingle around."

Mimoza started to sweat. If things were as bad as Raidyn said, there was no time to hesitate; they needed to resolve the situation immediately.

"Check yourself. If any of you are injured, that person needs to be isolated from the others."

"What about me?" Rory asked slightly light headed. Like she was not even fazed if she was infected or not. "I was cut by a few of them, is that a problem?"

Raidyn walked closer, and by raising her hand a light scanned the demigoddess and the group behind them.

"It seems none of you are sick or cursed, although, it can be the thing is still dormant. Either way, Rory's demigod status, and immunity prove effective against this contamination. But do not risk it, be careful not to be injured or get infected that many times. This sickness not only aims at the body but the soul too. It might come to that you will die, permanently, Rory. Or worse, turn into something horrible."

Of course, Rory just smiled on this. In the known history, there was no example of a demigod or god dying out of natural causes, not speaking about poisons, simple illnesses, or even curses. They just beared with it until it disappeared, overwhelmed by their regenerative abilities and immortal, blessed soul.

"What about the two of you," Zeno asked worriedly.

"We have methods to deal with it…" added Ardyn, waving his hand which sparkled with magic. "Different from other people, I would spare no expense to protect my friend and myself of course. I propose to cast some barrier magic around you to avoid physical contact."

"Ardyn-kun…"

"Right…" with that, Ardyn walked around, placing in stasis the petrified people. He really didn't want to challenge Raidyn's ire, that woman was just crazy.

"Zeno-kun, I entrust their safety on you. The girl should be fine for a while. Monitor them closely, even if it's a mutated strain, healing, anti-curse, and similar methods might prove to be effective slowing it down for a while."

"Umu, as you wish. I'll do what I can…"

"Interrogate Grey and that Rose Knight. We will find out who's behind all of this."

With that, after Ardyn finished his task and placed every petrified person in stasis, the two left, leaving through a teleportation formation.

"Rory, please lead them to a safe place. I need to notify the council…"

"Ok, take care, Mimoza. I would hate to lose an old friend."

"I too, old friend. I too…" playfully sticking her tongue, the old lady hadn't change. Even old, she hadn't change.

"Come police girl. We need to investigate things…"

"Constantine?! Just where are you going? It is dangerous to remain alone!" yelped Seras angrily, and was on to stop the man.

"Isn't it obvious? I am an expert; my job is to find out what happened. I will do just that…"

"No! You can't go alone! I forbid it!"

"As you could stop me, eh, kid…"

The way the girl stared at him gave away some mean of pressure. Making many people feel around the duo uneasily.

"Hmm, kid, of course, I will not go alone. I said, come, we have work to do. Don't forget why the command sent us there…"

With that, the man turned his back to everyone, cutting his way amongst the confused people.

"Is he just…?"

"Dammit! Hey! Wait for me!"

Seeing them leave, Itami was well aware, nothing else remained to do. The only thing they can do now was to stay put, for the time being, wait for their friends to find a lead. Or be prepared for the next attack.

"Come, we need to know what happened."

Grabbing the clothes of Grey and a female knight of rose, Rory dragged them after herself, the others following her. This would be a long day, that's for sure.

None of them were aware, but not far from them a shadowy figure walked down on the alley. Her shady expression boiled with rage, her once charming face twisted with anger and paleness.

"What the heck was this? This was not in the agreement! They just attacked me…"

Her job was easy. Cause chaos, turn the people paranoid, untrustworthy towards the newcomers.

Secondary, kill the Lelei girl and assassinate as much from her friends as she could if possible, making it look like it was the people from the Sorcerous Kingdom and Empire who acted just as her contractor deemed it neccesary.

As a legendary shapeshifter and manipulator from the Haryo Tribe — the assassin who always finished her job with peerless success — it was expected to go smooth. Yet, those mindless things who were supposed not to harm her turned against her at the moment her task seemed to be finished, attacking in the worst possible moment, treating her like every other lamb around.

She almost lost her head. Following her contractor's lead, stealing the necessary equipment from that shady organization that had popped up not long ago, and getting rid of her pursuer was hard enough. She expected everything would go smooth after this. Her contractor assured her everything would go smoothly, and that it would be an easy job. They even gave her a lead on how to do it and a magical flute that strengthened her mind control ability.

Yet, under the final stage of her plan, she lost control over the intended people.

Her newly acquired flute worked perfectly until now, and she managed to gather a respectful bunch of cultists and disguise them, equip them, then lead them here to attack.

And at the moment she failed to hit the target, she still had hope. After all, the primary objective had been completed — cause chaos and unrest, that was her main objective. She could complete the rest later in a more controlled environment.

And after all, everything seemed to be under her control as she had other methods to finish the job, the clusterfuck only hit the fan afterwards when she tried to sneak away to reevaluate her position.

"Dammit!" Heavy perspiration poured from her forehead and cold ran through her body. Her head throbbed, and she was barely conscious. "I was too careless! Damn those things! To think I, Pied Piper, would fall so easily."

First, she had lost control over the intended people with her flute magic. Secondly, when she tried to get away, she was cut by one of those crazed idiots. Apparently, she right away recognized the petrification effect that started to spread through her hand. She investigated the poison, and it was the nastiest thing she had ever encountered.

By her race, she was immune to most the poisons and toxins, but now, all her immunity was useless. If she hadn't cut down her own hand, she would have either died or turned to stone long ago. It was a response coming from her feline instinct, but seeing all those people turning into stone and dying horribly, she knew it was the right decision.

"But there is still a chance! I know! If I can finish the mission..."

"Onee-chan! Where are you going? Come! Play with me!~" reverberated a voice all around her.

"Dammit! She found me! How did she managed to? I got rid of her in Italica! How come she is still alive after a building collapsed on her?"

That thing! That damned thing!

Since a few cities, that damned being followed her all around! Never letting her go! Playing with her in every moment. Like a cat with a mouse, sadistically enjoying her suffering. All of it because she stole a few quivers of those strange arrows and some poison. Murdered and manipulated a few people to get what she wanted.

"Dammit! Why now? I thought I managed to get rid of her! Why now? How the hell did she find me? Does she have a God's Eye or something?"

"Onee-chan!~"

Running! Running! Running! She started to run frequently. Yet, the steps reached ever closer. Closer and closer she felt a foul breath in her neck with every waking moment.

"There you are! Onee-chan! You made me run far!" The voice unexpectedly came before her, bumping right into it.

"Yo-You!? Why!?"

Eyes wide, trembling, the legendary assassin Pied Piper could only back, holding her curved blade with her only remained hand.

"Are you afraid, Onee-chan?~"

Seeing that sadistic glee, that unnaturally wide smirk under the hood made her hesitate to move.

"Stealing is not nice! Stealing from us is un-for-gi-vab-le…~"

Such delicate and full face her pursuer wore shouldn't have bore that smirk; it was entirely unnatural to look like that! It was altogether strange it was that wide.

"I want to play!~ Clementine-chan wants to play! Do you want to leave Clementine-sama without her toys? Do you want to get away without a lesson? Bad! Bad!~" pulling out a stiletto from the hiding of her robe, red orbs with slit pupils flashed with the excitement of the hunt. Her tongue was playing around the dull looking blade.

"Nya!~ You are a tricky one. But no one can escape from Clementine-sama and the organization. You were a bad girl, making me run so far. Leader-sama would have been disappointed with me if I let you go…~ After all, you killed a precious toy, even taking the key…~"

"What do you want from me?! Leave me alone! You monster! Just leave me alone! It was just a job! As an assassin yourself, you understand right?" she asked fervently, a forced smile forming on her face.

"…"

Seeing it had no effect, and Clementine's smile only widening hearing her desperate claim, Piper started to panic.

"Please! Let me go! I will pay for what I stole! I swear! Say the job, and it will be done! I am sure we can make a deal! Please…"

Usually, she would merely bribe, or control the opponent with her magic. But she had already tried that back then, and they had no effect at all! Even now, it was only out of survival instinct she pleaded. Yes, she was too aware it would not help.

"More! More! Plead more!"

This monster was immune to her mind control melody, as well couldn't be bribed. This thing was a hunter that only lived for the hunt. You could hardly negotiate with a beast and her opponent was from the worst kind!

Sadistic, ever pursuing her prey!

"Please…" Pieper mumbled amongst her tears.

"Oh!~ So sweet! Plead! More, please! Scream for me! Please! Clementine-sama needs some stimulation!~"

"Damn you!"

Piper panicked and wanted to slice the "monster," seeing no other way. But either because of her weakened state, or because of her pursuer's unnatural strength, or both… her hit did not even budge Clementine. It was like she hit a concrete wall, her blade simply stopped by a thin membrane of energy above the "monster's" skin.

"Heheh~! That tickles! Tasha-chan said to bring you back alive. But…~" she looked around, a maniacal light playing in her blood red eyes. "I think, a small game will not hurt. Don't worry; I will be gentle. Bon, appetite!~ Flee my little bird! Let's see how far you can go!"

"Ah! Ahhhhh!"

Thus Pied Piper, the legendary assassin of Falmart started to dash desperately.

"Please! If gods really exist, please save me!"

In the same night, a blood churning scream reverberated in Rondel, waking even the dead from their graves. What happened the legendary assassin Pied Piper? No one knows. She disappeared that day…


Scene Change: Imperial Palace:

Zorzal El Caesar, initially he was the crown prince of the Empire. But now, as his father was out of the picture, unable to make any decision and hanging only on a thin thread of life fallen in a coma, it was him who came next in the line of succession. Which meant now he had complete control over "his" Empire.

True, there were still these annoying people around from the Sorcerous Kingdom, trying to control his hand. Saying: "as the appointed supervisors, we have the right to order you around as we like" — being Zorzal and "his" Empire were the vassal of the Sorcerous King — Mentioning their right to strip him from his power and throne if he tried to act against the Kingdom's interests or stain their king's good reputation with something nasty.

Oh! How deluded they were! Thinking, HE! The wisest, most scheming of all Emperors in the history of Falmart could be contained by a measly power like the Sorcerous Kingdom? Assuming they could control him with fear, and sheer superior power? Don't joke with him!

"They know nothing…" sitting on his throne, Zorzal snickered.

Currently, they might have had a superior military might. Beings under their hand that could destroy cities — possibly countries. Still, with a bright scheme, Zorzal was sure, he would be the one to come up on the top eventually. He would be the one to win this "Game of Thrones"! He had both the talent and the wits to do so.

"In the end, the conquered will take over the conquerors!"

He would kick that Ainz fellow from his throne and take away everything that was his! His family! His power! He wanted it all!

And with the help of his dear, he was confident he could do so with great ease. Pull his grand scheme through.

"They are nothing…"

"Prince Zorzal."

"It is "Emperor" Zorzal. Or your majesty. Know your place, demon!" Zorzal snarled, and the man on his side just smiled smugly. He was a demon, with short pointy hair and red slit eyes. If you remember him, he was present under the garden party the third princess of the kingdom organized.

"Hm, is that so? According to my best knowledge, Ainz-sama has not yet named you as the supervisor ruler of this realm. You are still the prince, nothing more."

Zorzal boiled in rage but held himself back knowing his position.

"I am the next in the line of succession. It is no question I will be chosen. Who else could be more worthy than me?"

"Hmm, don't forget. Your father is still alive, even if he is in a coma, but alive. It may come to that he will heal and can continue his tasks."

Naturally, the appointed demon said nothing about the many ways they could resurrect people, bring them back from death. Trump cards were best to be preserved, hidden from others. Besides that, Zorzal would most likely just dismiss their claim and ability to do so. The man was stupid or was too broken to believe things even if they showed him.

"The old man?" Zorzal scoffed dismissively. "He is as good as dead meat. It is the best you and your king place their bets on me. I am the future, not him."

"Don't forget. You still have relatives to take your place. As well, it might come to that the future evaluation deems your family unworthy to rule this province any longer, and Ainz-sama gives it to a more "worthy" ruler under his command. Nothing has yet been decided. It is up to you if he chooses you, or someone else.

Zorzal daggered the demon with all his hatred, then calmness and pride overcame his thoughts.

Who could be more worthy than him? No one could be more worthy than him!

"You speak nonsense. Who can be more worthy than me? Outside of that, the people would never accept a monster in charge — less likely an outsider. The Senators would surely refuse to acknowledge anyone else than me. They are too loyal. You would face riots if you chose anyone else than me."

How deluded. Mortals like Zorzal were the perfect scapegoats for a demon like him.

"Just as Demiurge-sama divined. How amusing…"

"If you say so…" Demons were the masters of manipulation. And as a high ranked demon, Drakon Beleth was no exception. High ranked, stupid individuals like Zorzal were delicacies for his kind.

He always loved to tell the truth to others. Obvious truths others might deem mere taunts. Obvious truths that lead to their downfalls eventually.

Unlike most angels who loved to use lies — big or small — to lead their victims in their service with a delusional idea, and after that used them for a so-called "higher purpose," — most of the times sacrificing their "protected" ones in the process — demons usually told the truth.

They were bound to tell the truth most of the times by either their contract or their deceiving nature which incited them to twist words.

Most demons were terrifying opponents not out of their infernal powers, but because of their underworldly intelligence and sly character. If possible, and you encountered a rational one, it'd more likely chat with you and cheat on you, offering an unfair deal which at first sounded entirely fair and square. Just to realize later you were stripped from everything, even from your soul and in return received nothing.

Even if a demon was weak physically, it could outwit stronger opponents, making deals only the creature benefited later, rarely the other side.

Just now, Beleth told the cold truth to Zorzal. Yet, the man refused to hear his words just as he expected from a fool like him.

"Not even recognizing his failure, the inescapable trap his family and nation are after the truth has been told… truly, how miserable. They are truly unworthy. Handing them over to a higher demon to deal with would be a disgrace. Maybe a lesser demon will do…"

"Leave now. Your presence disgusts me. I have many subjects to listen today to."

Seeing the throne door opening and through enter the first senator to discuss the daily happenings, Beleth just smiled.

"I also need to notify and remind you, "Emperor," as the appointed supervisor, it is my task to oversee every major decision and the daily council."

"That means you will follow me around all day?" Zorzal shrugged unpleasantly, offering a very sour expression.

"I fear, that's the case…"

"How troublesome," Zorzal scoffed nonchalantly.

But he couldn't do anything with the situation. After what he witnessed in "that" night, he was sure if he attacked this demon his country would be doomed. That Ainz fellow would surely massacre everyone in the city seeking revenge.

This was bad, he had to endure, for the time being at least. Until he came up with a good enough tactic to take back everything and conquer both the JSDF and the Sorcerous Kingdom, he had to endure this humiliation.

"I prefer the presence of Princess Eleanor. Scram, and call her."

"I fear, Eleanor-sama is occupied at the moment."

"With what?"

"National problems calling her attention. She is not in the city currently."

"Fine then! How useless you are…" Zorzal grumbled, waving away the creature. "I suppose, I have to deal with you for a while. If just Piña and Diabo were not so useless, I would have an easier time to control "my" Empire!"

"The two of them are constantly trying to fix all the mess you've been creating since you sat on that throne. But don't bother with them, it is more fun this way…"

Beleth thought so smugly, receiving continuously the reports about the two trying to balance Zorzal's wrongdoings since he arbitrarily announced himself as the new emperor. Without that two and a few reasonable Senators, the leadership of the whole Saderan Empire — or what remained from it — would have collapsed, and the leadership would have been replaced at the moment Molt had fallen into a coma.

"I wonder why his majesty tolerates this slug… Oh, if nothing else. He is at least amusing."

Though Beleth had a faint idea why precisely the higher-ups ordered him to tolerate this slug, he still couldn't see the bigger picture Demiurge spoke about. "Whatever Demiurge and Ainz-sama are up to, I am sure it will be a wonderful display of wits and strength…"


In the same day, close to nighttime, in Piña's office.

Since her father had fallen into a coma, the Princess was more occupied than ever before.

Day after day, she was forced to endure. Day after day she was humiliated before the Senate. Since her brother had named himself the new emperor, her family had started to fall drastically.

"That stupid idiot!" Piña hit her table hard, sweat pouring from her spotless forehead.

Usually, she would never use such vulgar words, but today her brother had made a proposal usually only the most idiotic leader would propose, doing all of this before the Senate in secret.

"How can he ask the people to throw their lives away so easily? How can he say everyone who is not with him is considered a traitor?"

It was not only idiotic but was an invitation for an open rebellion against the Sorcerous Kingdom. Their new overlords…

Piña was aware, if it came to war, another war… they would be on the losing end! Most likely flat out destroyed in the first battle.

No matter how many lives they would throw away, one of these black armored horrors was able to stand against a whole cohort, if not more. And each fallen soldier would just fuel the enemy's lines, raising them as undead abominations. And the enemy had thousands of them! THOUSANDS! If not more!

Not speaking that was just a footsoldier according to Beelzebub! What kind of ungodly horrors they had under their hands, the princess had no idea but was sure they would be their end.

She had heard the tales of the survivors. In the first battle, each man the empire lost from those bulky undead soldiers rose as an undead himself. Against such odds maybe even the gods couldn't help but cower in desperation and puke blood.

And that idiot started to scheme before the Senate? Openly? How deep her brother could fall? In such an unstable time when the Empire is on to collapse he dared to pull that?!

If it was not confirmed before, now every senator was aware. Zorzal was a delusional idiot who was completely unfit to rule.

His faulty decisions had led to the drastic weakening of the royal family's authority since he crowned himself. And without her father's influence and headship to keep things in balance, without Molt to keep a leash over Zorzal, day after day more and more Senators started to turn against her family, showing their back on the Empire they once served.

Proposing to their new overlords to change leadership, someone more stable. Offering themselves to choose from them.

In a time of peace, when her father was in charge, and the Empire still had its vast army, prestigious territory, pride, and the support of its vassal nations, this was unimaginable — equaled with treason treated with execution, or a life-long sentence.

But now, after things turned so unstable, many Senators could freely state their standings. Backed by a country like the Sorcerous Kingdom, there was little reason to fear the revenge of Zorzal, the royal family, and the very few who were still loyal: the royalists and the conservatives. And even they started to realize Zorzal's stupidity.

"Piña…" raising her head from her desk, the princess spotted her brother, Diabo. "You look quite rugged."

Her usually perfect look had turned haphazard, like a person who hadn't slept for a long time. Her make up had melted away under her tears, her burgundy hair standing messy.

"Ah, nii-sama. You shouldn't see me like this. Please forgive me." Instantly, Piña looked into the mirror and tidied her looks a little bit. For an Imperial princess like her, it was really unacceptable looking like this.

"Don't worry about it. It has nothing to do with you. Under all that has happened since our first defeat, it is understandable. We all know what we had to endure since Zorzal named himself the new Emperor."

Since their father had been in a coma, Zorzal had managed to single-handedly ruin and undermine almost all the authority and prestige the royal family previously possessed. And with it, almost pushing them into the position where the different sides could demand the appointment of a new ruler.

With the Sorcerous Kingdom around and its appointed supervisor available, it was only a hand's reach away. Closer than ever, the first time since the history of the Empire, the ruling authority of the royal family was truly in danger.

The Senators just needed to convince Beleth to send a negative report about the royal family or incite Zorzal to attack him directly — which was easier than anyone might imagine — and he would be executed, replaced by someone else as the ruling authority.

But it seemed, that idiot even now was unable to recognize this possibility. Day after day Zorzal taunted the man who oversaw how he ruled and the ordination he made. Day after day he openly incited rebellion, thinking he was a scheming genius.

"That stupid nii-sama…" The burgundy princess bit her thumb concerned. "If he continues like this, all the royal family will be banished. Worse, he will anger the Sorcerer King who will scorch the whole capital. No, the whole Empire, killing everyone."

At first, Diabo thought of this as an excellent tactic to claim the throne for himself. But after realizing the possibility which implied the fall of the whole family of his — including himself, he'd rather not risk this. Leaving Zorzal in his place became too risky to gamble.

With the JSDF on their doorstep, with the Sorcerous Kingdom holding them in their grasp, it was an unacceptable risk even he would not dare to take.

Their vassals had left them, scheming to chew parts from the weakened Empire.

Asking the men in green was most likely not possible. Even they were not foolish enough to risk an open war just to save their butts. No matter how "righteous" they said to be, even they had priorities and prioritized their own safety instead of unknown people not from their land. For people who had sought to conquer and enslave them previously.

The choice was obvious. Wait things out…

Gods? Don't joke with him! When was the last time those bastards cared or moved even a single stone for mortals? Never! Diabo knew it too well. Else, they wouldn't be stuck in this situation.

The only people they could rely now upon were themselves because no one else would help them. They had reached the point where the only savior was their own person. No matter how pitiful this sounded, this was the truth…

"What can we do? If Zorzal continues like this…" No! Piña didn't even want to think about it.

"It is hard to say. But if we don't do something, our whole family will fall. I fear, our only chance is…" Diabo bit his lip concerned, watching his sister with a hard expression.

"Don't say it!" The princess refused the possibility and immediately paled. Zorzal — no matter what kind of person he was — was still her older brother. She couldn't do this to him!

"I fear, this is the only way to preserve what remains from the Empire. Else, all will be lost. Piña, we need to bet for the winners or we'll be pulled down by the losers. Father always said so, no?"

"Ye-yes, you are right. Still, it is just not right. And even if we do so. What do we do after that? What guarantees our people will be preserved?"

A diabolic smile mixed with a cold, sly expression, yes, that's the best Piña could describe her brother's face.

"Don't forget who is responsible for our father's current state. Who poisoned him? Who is responsible for Zorzal's rise in power? We can use this to demand compensation."

Piña just leaned back on her seat, scoffing.

"Tch! Don't say you believe that fabrication. Everyone with a little brain or rationality know Prince Beelzebub had no reason to poison father. At least, I think so…" she looked away uneasily.

The Beelzebub she knew would never do that. And what for? He had no reason to poison Molt. What would he gain from it? It made no sense.

Why would anyone from the Sorcerous Kingdom even do that? Her father may have been a stubborn old man, but even he had seen enough to realize there was no meaning in struggling anymore.

According to Piña, the most her father did in the current situation was to try to keep the Empire afloat, preserving the small amount of dignity and independence they had after so many humiliating defeats.

"If you ask me, there is an explanation behind it…"

"And that is…?"

"Simply, they wanted a puppet for the throne. As you know, father was too clever and stubborn to be directly or indirectly manipulated." Diabo hummed as he said this, thinking through the reasons.

"Think about it, Piña, Zorzal is a fool. Unpredictable? Less likely, don't forget, he is still a fool. He is easier to control than father was."

Oh! If Diabo just knew what Demiurge thought about fools — "Reading the movements of a slightly-above-average intellect that imagines himself a genius is easier than trying to predict the actions of a complete moron." — he would think twice plotting against a fool.

"In the worst case scenario, he drives the Empire into total destruction, and who will be blamed for it? Who will be put into the stakes once civil war arises and many more people die? Who will be blamed after the dust settles? Think a little bit, sister."

Thinking of it, Piña paled even more, staring blankly before herself as she mumbled the words. "Us, our whole family and everyone who supported us…"

"Naturally. Just as you said. Our family, everyone who supported us. After our family falls after the people permanently lose faith in our capabilities. Who will they choose to rule over them? The family who destroyed everything in their attempt to keep power? Who let the tyrant rule and made the people's life miserable? Or…"

Diabo let a small pause, letting Piña enough time to think.

"Or the righteous king who freed them from the tyrant warmonger, a king…" Pina muttered horrified.

A king who according to many people was a living god walking amongst them— a person who had personally appeared, fought, risked his own life and saved them from a terrible demonic entity which sought to kill and enslave them, that saved the people of the Empire single-handedly.

Piña still remembered Jaldabaoth's invasion, and a shiver ran through her spine. The puzzle started to be pieced together in her head, and it was horrifically perfect.

"Remember it, that skeleton even put his son, his own son, a royal heir into a prison to prove everyone is equal under his rule. What shows this to the common people? Hope, of course. Who will they choose? A tyrant, a family who abuses power? Or a king who righteously rules over them, putting even his own family before the judges if it comes to justice. Intervene personally if the need calls for it — a person who's armies are like an unstoppable meat grinder before the masses. I think the answer is obvious. The reactions of the common people are predictable. And if you've heard the news spreading about the innovations the Sorcerous King brought here, received the intel of what the common people think about him and his family. Then you know, the choice is obvious."

Piña just lowered her head for a moment, then started to shake it.

"No! Prince Beelzebub is not like that; he would never willingly participate in such ploy!"

"Think what you want, Piña, but it is too obvious for me. The total takeover has already started. Offering vassalage was a mere courtesy. A courtesy that only served to deceive the stupid, and offer a steady foundation for their future operations. After things settle down, Prince Beelzebub will be released unconditionally and will be remembered as a hero who ended the reign of a fallen family. Even his imprisonment was an act that served nothing more than win more time and solidify their power in this region. The preparation of total takeover from inside has already started. It is only a matter of time. The final battle is on the horizon…"

"Against whom? They have already captured the heart of the people. If what you say is true, the Empire is already theirs."

"Are you blind, girl?" Diabo's face darkened, standing up and sticking his dagger into the map hunging from the wall.

"That's…!?"

"Right…" Diabo nodded, both watching the place where the blade embedded.

"Holy Hill Arnus…" Piña muttered completely pale. "Without them in the picture."

"Their authority will be complete in the continent. No one can oppose them. Not us, most likely not the gods. According to my spies, even the surrounding countries are hard pressed to join them as vassals. The whole continent will come under their rule eventually."

"Then we need to make sure to help the men in green keep their position."

"Good thinking. A little bit risky, but good thinking. Although, I would be slyer if I were you…" offered Diabo with a foxy expression, facing the map once more.

"What do you mean?"

"What if I say, our family could gain a permanent place in the throne? What if I say, after Zorzal's "accidental" death, parties will aid us to reach the point where we will be appointed to oversee the Empire? Unconditionally? Where the Sorcerous Kingdom will be hard pressed to keep us around."

"Us?"

"Us…" Diabo smiled sly.

"What are you proposing?"

"I have a plan. A plan so solid, nothing can go wrong. A plan which will provide power to our family, and the independence of the Empire for the future generations. If we are lucky, even more…"

Piña was unsure if listening Diabo was worth her time or not. But, if she remembered it right, aside from her father and mother, her brother was always the most reasonable person in the family. A son who resembled her father the most when it came to political craftiness and slyness. She did not like this "plan" of course. But the least she could do was to listen to him.

"What do you propose?"

"Easy, the first step is..." A devilish smile formed on Diabo's face, painting his expression much more sinister.

"Emperor Zorzal will die in a mysterious way…" thus, Diabo started to state his "crazy" plan, a plan that could tip the scales and make their family an essential factor for future operations, or push them even deeper than it was previously possible.

Unknown to him, a shadow watched them through the doorframe, listening to all that he said.


A/N:

Hey all! Long time no see!

Sorry for the delay!

This was the first part of a double chapter. In a few days, I will release the second part. (It is already typed, I just need to skim it.)

Sorry for the long delay. I hope the double release will make up for the lack of content in the past weeks.

Unfortunately, I entered the last semester of university.

You know, I have to finish my absolutorium, final exams, and the thesis… a lot of crap to get my degree finally!

Because of this, the chapters might be delayed in the coming period. I ask your patience until then.

But to make you feel good, I have good news!

The story finally reached the 1k+ followers and favorite count! :) All thanks to you faithful readers and addicts! Thank you for all the support!

You readers are the best!

The next part will finally close the Rondel arc, and we get a peek of how the Sorcerous Kingdom really works!

The guys finally visit it!

Do you believe it! We finally reached that part!

Brace yourselves!

Until next time! :)

Have a good day!

Good night! Good sleep! Good day! Sail safe!

(By the way, the Mr. Spock thing at the beginning of the chapter was an Easter egg from the manga. You don't have to take it seriously.)