—Plans of the Sorcerer King—
"W-We noticed some movements from the beastmen army approaching our city!"
Sweating profusely, the kneeling soldier bellowed the words with a grim face.
Everyone, except for the toadman, jumped up from their seats.
Realizing the sudden urgency of the situation, Draudillon and Micard stood in momentary shock and stepped back from their place.
"An invasion?! H-How strong is their army?!"
Walder yelled his question.
"W-We have concluded that it was an invasion army! Their army..."
The quivering soldier stuttered and gulped loudly. He weakly dropped his head, remembering the numbers as if visualizing the reflection of the beastmen army on the furnished floor. Following a deep intake of breath, he looked up and gazed at the nervous general with desperate eyes.
"T-Their army is at least four hundred thousand strong as per the report from a scout of the eastern wall!"
Accurate or not, hearing such numbers of an army of beastmen, the queen concluded it was a full invasion, a never before seen quantity of beastmen in one army would be the end of the Draconic Kingdom and eventually, the end of all the human nations in the whole continent.
The entirety of the beastmen army was humorous, the thought of it was unbelievable if not impossible.
Draudillon felt her strength being drained from her little body as she plunged lifeless into her seat followed by both of her hopeless aids as if overwhelmed by a great earthquake, quaking the floor under their feet.
Amidst the kingdom's upcoming end and realizing that she could not do anything to stop it, the girl's heart descended into chaos, tears formed in her cute little eyes causing her vision to slightly blur, and alongside the sadness of the Draconic Queen, the room fell into an audible silence like the heavens itself had crashed against it over and over and over again.
Hopeless, defeated faces waiting for their doom dominated the room.
Then—
"HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"
The toadman broke the solemness and released a deliberately exaggerated mocking and evil laughter of overwhelming pleasure and joy, raising up both of his hands towards the heavens and stood as if saying thanks for the miraculous blessings from the Gods.
The queen, the Prime Minister, the general, and even the kneeling soldier stared daggers with more anger than confusion at the laughing toadman who could not even read the damn situation.
"Sorry!"
Taking back his seat, Demiurge apologized and stopped immediately like nothing had happened, slightly satisfied with the reactions of the despaired humans around him.
Demiurge, who had finally recovered from his dilemma, put his index finger towards his spectacles and pushed it through up to his nose bridge. He forcefully cleared his throat, taking all the attention of everyone inside the room.
"Now this is a favorable development of the situation. Supposedly—"
"How can you—"
Unable to contain his anger, Walder jumped up from his chair and started to shout in rage but the toadman immediately raised his right frog hand towards the face of the angered general indicating to wait and hear his explanation. The man slowly took back his seat while still fuming with hostility and with a twitched face, he slightly nodded at the toadman to continue.
"Supposedly, I need to go to each city, village, and prison camps all over your kingdom. Now that the beastmen are all together in one place, we know that an army stands with its belly, therefore, we can conclude that their food—"
Demiurge forcefully cleared his throat again and decided to change his words, seeing the raised brow of the little queen. "—I mean your kingdom's citizens, their captives are together with them or just very near for them to…"
As if to seek everyone's guesses, Demiurge darted his gaze from the queen to the prime minister, and lastly towards the general, and in response, the humans lowered their heads as they understood what the toadman had implied.
"Then—"
Demiurge raised his hand and lifted an index finger, bloodlust had barely escaped from the toadman as he yelped with a heightened voice, capturing the interest of the humans.
"—I can just easily massacre them all and save all your citizens at the same time."
After a moment of making up her chaotic mind, Draudillon released a weak audible sigh, pulling out her aids from drowning in their thoughts.
"I'm not so sure about this, but it will be now or never. I'm counting on you Demiurge-dono."
The queen turned and faced the general on her right side and commanded: "General Walder prepare all the available soldiers of our kingdom who can be deployed immediately and be ready before an hour, we have thousands of our citizens to protect and rescue."
She let out a weak smile and finished her optimistic command with finality in her voice.
The general, despite being unsure of how everything would end up, stood from his seat and nodded towards the kneeling soldier.
The trembling soldier stood and positioned himself a step away from the general and both of them bowed deeply in unison towards the little queen.
"Your Majesty!"
As the general and the soldier walked out of the room and closed the metallic door, Draudillon steeled her heart. She had made her decision that she would do something she had never done before and the cute childish queen would be another part of the Draconic Kingdom's tragic history.
"Micard please prepare the Draconic Kingdom's treasures. I will see the end of this war myself."
Astonished by the words of the Draconic Queen, the Prime Minister's mouth opened and shut again and again like a fish without uttering an audible sound. No words came out from his mouth, he was having a problem in phrasing the words he wanted to say.
Draudillon inclined her head, her Prime Minister did not acknowledge her command and instead, she only saw doubt painted on Micard's face.
"B-But your Majesty, how about the leader of Crystal Tear? I mean how about everyone who doesn't know the truth of your form?"
The Prime Minister managed to mutter his concern, the queen had already expected some questions and even confusions from her people but she had resolved herself.
She needed to fight for the kingdom and in order to do that, she needed to be herself.
A human with the blood of a Dragon Lord.
The die had already been cast. It's now rolling, tumbling upside down. Time would come, it was near. The die would eventually stop flat and her kingdom's future would be determined.
It's either the kingdom would cease its struggles together with the die or she would triumph and win a brighter future for her people.
The queen could only hope.
"No matter, I can revert anytime I want. That pedophile does not care at all as long as his fetishes will be fulfilled. The deal is on hold. Don't inform them or anything, I guess he will come himself!"
The queen surmised with determination in her voice, ignoring the concern of the Prime Minister.
Draudillon faced the emotionless toadman. She could feel an exuding bloodlust from him. She could consider the Sorcerer Kingdom her greatest bet and her kingdom as her wager.
'Why do I feel like everything seemed a plan and I am just dancing in the palm of their hands? Everything seemed so convenient for the Draconic Kingdom. Coincidentally, it also seemed so convenient for the Sorcerer Kingdom, giving their aid just like that on a whim for a country on the brink of extinction. Forget the seal of approval, someone who could claim to kill hundreds of thousands of beastmen like mere insects could not possibly belong in this world. I am definitely missing something here. What did the Emperor experience? I need to know it for my dumb self.
The queen believed she was playing with an inextinguishable fire. She needed to see what the Sorcerer Kingdom was capable of, hoping that their army could single-handedly defeat the beastmen army and the Beastmen Kingdom or both of the kingdoms could weaken themselves in this war, enough to be incapable of invasion and leave her kingdom.
As Draudillon ran simulations of possible scenarios, she was faithfully hoping that whatever may happen, she needed to be sure that the Draconic Kingdom and her people would survive in the end.
Draudillon intently looked at the toadman. She could see the pleasure, gleaming from its knowing eyes.
"I am sorry Demiruge-dono but the army and I will take a while to prepare."
Draudillon said in a serious voice, her childish expressions were no more. She wanted to ask a favor yet the sliver of her honor barricaded her heart to utter the words. However, the seriousness of her little face suggested it, silently screaming the words as though asking the toadman to defend her people.
Demiurge saw the glaring weakness of the queen's dignified demeanor. She really loved her people, his red big eyes could pierce through even against the queen's body of deception. Demiurge was quick to take the end of the offered rope for him to hold on. He needed to display his power in spite of everything.
"Alright, I will be there first and wait for you and your army."
"W-What do you mean?!"
The Prime Minister blurted his question with anger, breaking the cold expression in his face.
"You can't let the beastmen army reach the city! It will only take minutes for the beasts to trample it down!"
He emphasized with concern, trembling from what he had heard from the toadman. He had mixed feelings of fear and anxiety, every night dreaming and witnessing in his nightmare, a city being plundered and massacred by the beastmen army. Now that their mortal enemies were already knocking just behind the door of their kingdom, his nightmare felt much better, it paled in comparison against the current situation. Not only for him but for everyone else in the kingdom.
"Of course, I will wait away from the city towards the east of Lufhsem. Be there and you will know what I mean."
Demiurge replied with an ear to ear smile. He was absolutely calm, making the Prime Minister more concerned if the toadman was very strong like a mighty god to face the beastmen with such unfaltering confidence or just a foolish one, overestimating his powers.
"Then I am counting on you."
Unusually positive, the queen responded to the toadman and swiftly turned her head towards the Prime Minister.
"Micard, please prepare everything."
She implored, making sure the man would cool down, demanding him of his duty.
After the nods of approval from the emissary and the Prime Minister, the queen stood up followed by everyone else in the room. She was now beaming with hope and poise.
"Now, let us destroy this beastmen once and for all!"
Draudillon declared and a predatory grin bent the small lips her innocent face.
x x x
There was a huge luxurious room painted in dark brown, and it had two extensive floor-to-ceiling tinted windows. A bookshelf, bursting with books was in a corner, with stacks of papers under a paperweight that was shaped to look like a neat tuft of grass. A couple of magic imbued crystals with bluish-white radiance was the main source of light, hanging at the center of the vintage ceiling. There was an ornate wooden desk paired with a swivel chair in which the very incarnation of death itself was seated on— a skeleton flipping through countless pages of reports from various resources.
"Uwah!"
The skeleton muttered a breath of relaxation after he dismissed his guard-assassins and his duty maid, leaving him alone to conduct his secret ritual though it was only a devious reason he had made out of thin air to escape from the pressure of being watched at least once in a while.
The skeleton was the undead king— Ainz Ooal Gown, staring at a certain document about the guardian's various proposals of different tactics to be taken for the upcoming invasion.
"I'm excited to see Shalltear's creative idea to lay siege against the Re-Estize Kingdom, it's an unfamiliar one and it will be a sight to see."
Lost in his imaginations, Ainz felt someone connected to him. He received a [Message] spell.
"Ainz-sama?"
After the mention of his name from the other side of the spell, the Overlord of Death quickly felt his non-existent stomach ache. He knew very well the voice he loathed so much just by keeping up with it and as he sighed internally for his relaxation had suddenly come to a tragic end, he inhaled a breath of courage and acknowledged the [Message].
"Yes, Demiurge, any news from the Draconic Kingdom?"
Ainz replied in his noble voice hoping that he would not work his non-existent brain overtime if ever the arch-devil tried to ask and interpret his 'master plan'.
"Yes, Ainz-sama, I will now massacre hundreds of thousands of beastmen invaders in the Draconic Kingdom for the queen to give her seal of approval for our War of Retribution against the Re-Estize Kingdom and later, after a few months, we can accept their offer of being a vassal state when they realized that they should be better serving you, Ainz-sama."
'Massacre hundreds of thousands? I thought he would only fend off a few beastmen. Is he talking about an entire army? Vassal? What was going on in that kingdom really? I have never read any intelligence report regarding that kingdom except that it's in constant threat against the beastmen and it's founded by a Dragon Lord. It's not yet in our list of conquests that is why I have sent Demiurge for the purpose of information gathering in the guise of acquiring their seal of approval for the upcoming war.'
Racking his non-existent brain and finding no answers, Ainz decided to change his approach.
"So Demiurge, do you have any information from the Draconic Kingdom or any of its surrounding countries?".
"Regarding that Ainz-sama, I have already sent a progress report to Albedo and a full report will be given to you later. I have also gathered a lot of information about the neighboring countries in the eastern region of the continent. As for the beastmen Ainz-sama, may I request something?"
The arch-devil answered Ainz and ended it with a request of his own.
"Ask." Ainz replied in a neutral voice.
'Umu. Maybe he wanted some assistance to fend off the invaders from the Beastman Kingdom. It's much better to be sure than to overestimate our capacities or underestimate the enemies. It's nearly impossible to encounter powerful entities or even players but it's still possible.'
"Yes, Ainz-sama! You are the most generous to allow a request from such an undeserving servant!"
Demiurge paused for a second but Ainz knew very well, the arch-devil must be bowing his head with absolute respect and admiration.
"As for my request Ainz-sama, I would like some assistance for invading the beastmen country to be integrated into the Sorcerer Kingdom."
Demiurge voiced his request to his master like a boy eagerly asking for a toy from his mother.
"Truly Ainz-sama, after sending me, I have only expected a gathering of information for the next stages of your master plan in the guise of acquiring their seal of approval yet I was proven wrong, you're plan had already started just by sending me here. I didn't imagine that you have more reasons other than that. To realize that your plan this time around exceeded further than I could comprehend. It is truly disappointing."
Demiurge added as if emphasizing his frustration that built up after his late realization of his master's unfathomable plan.
"That plan huh?"
"Yes, Ainz-sama and also the other one."
"Hoho? You've also realized that plan?"
"Yes, Ainz-sama, all of those, nevertheless, I worry that what I've known were the only ones you have already unveiled."
'What 'plans' is he talking about?!'
Irritated on his ignorance of what Demiurge meant, Ainz could only cry to himself in silence. Being in a conversation on a [Message] spell was no different than having a conversation with the arch-devil in person. Ainz was in disbelief, he was still lost on what part of his 'master plan' Demiurge was disheartened about, although he did not have one which made it more complicated.
"Umu."
Ainz replied with the most strategic word for buying time as he felt his non-existent sweat flooding out of his non-existent skin.
'Argh! Don't worry Demiurge, my expectation was the same as yours yet I feel more frustrated than you.'
Ainz bawled as he complained internally.
'What do I know about this Beastman Kingdom? A country composed of several demi-human tribes which considered humans as food huh? I need to know the specifics and look back at the reports... at least he gave an initial report to Albedo. Since Demiurge suggested an invasion, maybe he had already thought this through and concluded that we could conquer the beastmen country easily and Albedo has the same conclusion with him. That must be it? Or has he concluded that I have concluded that we could conquer the beastmen country easily as part of my 'master plan'? And Albedo has also thought that I have and agreed without hesitation. Aarrgghh!'
Well along a moment of contemplation and an eternity of headaches, Ainz ran into something which he considered as an excellent idea.
"Outstanding, Demiurge! You've seen through some parts of my 'master plan' again, I am very proud of your steady growth."
"Your praise captivates me to improve myself more, Ainz-sama but an undeserving servant such as I must be arrogant to even—"
"Don't mention it Demiurge, your brilliance deserved as such." Ainz interrupted before the topic could led to more unnecessary headache. " Now, you can take good care of the Draconic Kingdom. I will go for an excursion to this Beastman Kingdom myself. I surmise you already have plans to subjugate their invading army, but we need to make more profits out of this good opportunity and for that reason, you can [Message] Shalltear. I have a special surprise for the beastmen army."
"Understood, Ainz-sama!"
With that, the connection was cut off and as the [Message] spell finally ended, Ainz felt his life came back to him.
Broken down by way of the intense conversation with the arch-devil, he was now under pressure by the unplanned event involving the Draconic Kingdom and the Beastman Kingdom. He could not say it, he could not show it, the non-existent 'master plan' must exist or he would disappoint the children of his friends. It was now his responsibility to give them the best of the best. Building the perfect world, the fulfillment of Project Utopia and in order to do so, he needed power, it was compulsory to acquire it and dominate the world in the palm of his hands.
"Uwah!"
Ainz exclaimed and leaned his spine on the office chair. Gone astray in his thoughts, he looked up at the vintage ceiling. He stressed his right skeletal arms and grasped a red orb, taking it out from his fleshless belly. He stared at the blood-red orb and saw the reflection of the two crimson points on his eye sockets.
Ainz put his skeletal index finger on his chin and nodded as if in approval.
"[All Appraisal Magic Item]"
World Class Item [Undoable Will of Ainz Ooal Gown OverLevel 23]
"Hmm, OverLevel twenty-three huh? Just about five hundred million soul energies to max level or wait five hundred years?"
Ainz let out a chuckle at the extreme requirements of the World Class Item. He was immortal and would reach eternity though he could not halt himself from being inquisitive and impatient for the new powers he could attain from the orb.
The Overlord of Death tossed the orb away, towards the ceiling as if shooting a basketball at an imaginative basketball ring. No more than a second away from his hand, the red orb vanished, however, Ainz did not care about the orb, he knew it would return directly to its rightful abode.
"No matter, I will reach OverLevel thirty as soon as possible. I want to unravel a new exceptional job."
Ainz contemplated as he felt the delight of anticipation for the next milestone of his World Class Item.
"[Message]"
Ainz cast the spell, he knew very well what he needed, thinking about the cute little dark elf he was so fond of.
"Good morning, Albedo. Please gather all the available guardians within an hour and wait for me in the throne room but leave Mare and Aura for it, I will meet them myself."
Disclaimer: I don't own the Overlord Universe.