E-Rantel
It was late in the evening when he finally arrived, he didn't fault him. It was Demiurges fault for not informing his host of his arrival.
"Pandora's Actor, do you have a minute?"
"Ooh! What a surprise! I had no idea someone was here!"
Weirdly enough this behaviour set him at ease, he saw right through his act but he also realised that that was the point. He wanted to be seen through in this case, unlike when he was Momon and ensuring he's role was perfect. You couldn't expect anything less from a creation of their master.
"Do you have a minute?" but he still ventured to ignore it.
"Is it about what you did to Sebas?" Anyone would expect the doppelganger to be uninformed and wouldn't be faulted, but he wasn't.
"Am I that obvious?"
"Very."
Pandora's Actor said leading him to the living room. The room by human standards could be called opulent, it was well furnished and served its necessary purposes.
"I don't really see how I can help you though, I know you as well as you know yourself, if you can't come up with a answer to your question Albedo would be better suited to help you, no?"
"Unfortunately it's not my own judgement I seek, I need your help. It seems Albedo is using this chance to try and wrestle the communication network from me, but I don't know why."
Pandora's Actor took off his helmet to reveal his own face and sighed deeply. Demiurge was certain that anyone not of Nazarick would question how that was possible. "I see." He muttered while carefully removing the armour his master had borrowed him. It was magically enchanted and unless another level 100 being deliberately tried to damage it, it wouldn't take any damage. The care taken by Pandora's Actor in dealing with the armour and swords was not only natural but expected, but it was also worthy of note.
"What?" Demiurge was curious.
"Oh don't mind me. So the way I see it she is basically taking on your role. As much as everyone in Nazarick is bound by our loyalty we're also bound by our rivalry. Those who can elevate themselves by doing their best in the eyes of the Supreme One. We will not effectively outright sabotage each other but seek to eliminate the first sign of disloyalty. Both you and Albedo are what I would call frontrunners in this.
"You both - as much as anyone in Nazarick - don't want Him to leave out of disappointment and because you both have the brains to ensure that that doesn't happen, you could say you're setting yourself up for failure by exerting yourself too much. Though I don't believe anyone in Nazarick could spread themselves thin enough for the Supreme One, you both let your emotions get the better of your judgement. As much as you were willing to kill Sebas twice, Albedo was willing to do that to her own sister.
"If Albedo wants the communication network it's because she lost faith in you, or maybe she may have her own nefarious reasons, who knows? Kukuku."
Demiurge wanted to laugh at the last part but it came out a little too seriously, he wondered if Pandora's Actor knew something he didn't about Albedo. Considering how hard she was to read he wouldn't put it past him.
"So are you saying I shouldn't give her control of it, I did fail after all."
"Mm? I'm not saying anything, Demiurge. I did say not to mind me."
"I see ... so whatever I do is up to me, is what you're saying. Speaking of which I would certainly like to have your input along this mission."
"Nein!"
"I'm not saying you have to come with me, I just may need advice from time to time."
"No you won't. Whatever your feelings towards Sebas are for you to figure out on your own. Oh! And while you are at it see if you can complete your mission in six weeks, the less time you take the more pleased Ainz-sama will be."
"Except that's the problem." Demiurge was exasperated. "It took the girl six months to open the box and her intelligence rivals our own, I can't help feel that Ainz-sama holds me in too high a regard. Did Ainz-sama say I asked for too much time?"
"That was under normal conditions, wasn't it?" it sounded like a question but the matter of fact tone told Demiurge his line of thinking was being led and his own question ignored.
"What do you mean?"
"I'll be going back to Draconic Kingdom if you really want to run away from Sebas that badly, but there is nothing there. I suggest you go to the Holy Kingdom, I hear the South has garnered quite a bit of favour from the Theocracy, especially since a certain Pope visited. And with their war on the Elves ended they may have extra resources to lend the South especially if it threatens their ways.
"I hear you were the one that ordered the girl to go after the war was ceded. Wasn't this your plan all along?" Pandora's Actor sounded exasperated.
"You should join Cocytus and I for drinks sometime on the ninth floor. I insist." Demiurge said.
"I may take you up on that offer, like you I was made to adjust myself – pun intended – to work well with others. But despite what you think I don't usually have a lot of time, you'd be surprised how much time passes when you are invested in your craft."
"Oh I am well aware. And thank you, I was so caught up in how to make this fit in that amount of time I didn't consider Ainz-sama's thoughts. To think he was giving me all the answers." Demiurge said smiling an evil grin as he remembered how his master operated and some of his own favourite crafts.
"Wie ich sagte ..." Pandora's Actor sighed
"I hear you get along quite well with your new roommate." Demiurge said changing the subject.
The next few hours were wasted as Pandora's Actor passionately sung his heart out about the magic items the old man was creating, they were nothing special but clearly Pandora's Actor was pleased.
Robel Holy Kingdom: Hoburns – Kings Quarters
Doppel-Caspond was working - well, to serve the Supreme One wasn't work - in his private office, no one was around when he saw the dark circle appear, he knew what it meant and instinctively stood up and waited for his master to appear. When he did appear he had already taken a knee.
"I bid you welcome Demiurge-sama." He saw two more pairs of feet and instinctively looked up to see who they were though he wasn't given permission to raise his head. "And Sebas-sama welcome to you."
"It's been a while, Your Majesty." Even a dead person would not have missed the mocking tone of those last two words. But Doppel-Caspond couldn't really disagree with that tone or the statement. His master didn't keep regular contact with him even if he did, and usually any responses would be written. For him to come in person after so long ...
"Has this one done something to displease you, Lord?" and there it was, he saw a pained looked on his masters face. If he had really done something that set the plan off track he was certain he would get a rebuke only for his master to set it right but the way it was now that look clearly wasn't for him, and just as quickly as it came it was gone almost as if he imagined it.
"No. Sebas will need lodgings for the foreseeable future. Can you have it done?" kind as it sounded it wasn't a question.
"Of course, and the boy?" he asked looking at what was clearly a human. He didn't look scared.
Is he valuable? To Demiurge-sama?
"Ah yes! The boy, I almost forgot about him." It was a blatant lie. "Have some uniforms prepared for him, he'll be joining the war as a civilian conscript."
"Huh?" apparently this was news to the boy.
"Demiurge-sama, I believe its about time you told me your plan." Sebas said stroking his beard.
"I was never hiding it from you, as the commander you have every right to know. I would never dream of keeping it from you." There was a slight but clear provocation in his voice, whatever the reason for the two of them working together they weren't happy with it. If they were enduring it, however, it must be a mission from the Supreme One.
"The mission is simple really, Climb-kun, I need you to fight in a civil war as if you're fighting for you own life because lets face it ... you will be. Second I need you to make lots of friends, about one hundred should do it. Eat with them, fight with them, sleep with them, mourn with them. I need you to make really good friends. People who could rival Brain Unglaus with how well you speak of them. Third I need a few prisoners from the South, you'll bring them, the King will keep them safe for me.
"The most important thing is you make sure nothing comes back to Nazarick. Also don't die. I don't think we'll be able to bring you back a second time." There was a look on the Demons face that said he was practically daring someone to say something.
The Doppelgänger wasn't sure but he felt as if there was a mocking tone when the boys name was spoken, but other than that he couldn't piece things together as to why he would bring a human to make war friends.
"I don't understand." Climb stammered out.
"Which part?" the Archdevil wasn't pleased. Why would he be?
"My apologies, Lord, but I mean I don't understand why?"
Demiurge took out a box from his pocket space. Doppel-Caspond immediately recognised it. Anyone in Nazarick would.
"This is you. Right now you are closed off from us, we don't know what's inside. When this box opens we'll know where your loyalties lie? Do you understand now?" he said handing him the box.
"So this is where my test begins? I swear my loyal-" Demiurge put a hand up to stop him.
"We'll see when the box opens, keep it safe where no one will find it, I don't have to explain the consequences of it going missing to you, do I?"
"Not at all, Demiurge-sama."
"You may rise." Demiurge said to Caspond as he seated himself in a chair.
"Should I see to Climb-dono's and Sebas-sama's needs?"
"That would be a start."
After handing Climb over to a guard outside, who seemed to question where Climb came from but didn't speak his mind Caspond turned back to enter the room only to find that the room itself was suffocating. Silence had never been this deadly or this cold.
"Is that boy really worth a fallen seed, Lord?" he tension in the room ceased like it was conjured up by his own imagination.
"Of course not. But he's valued by someone who is." It was stated in such a matter of fact manner that Caspond wished he knew what was happening in Nazarick.
"Then what you told him was not your entire plan?" Sebas made it sound like a statement even though he was asking a question.
"Obviously. The only thing worse than too little information is too much information. Though I may be lacking in how Ainz-sama would do it I still have my own ways of ensuring the desired outcome."
"Then what is your entire plan?" Sebas was still standing, notably a good distance away from Demiurge.
"I'm sure you already know." There was a smile so pure on his face that no other word except sadistic could describe it.
"I meant with the prisoners you intend on taking."
"Oh that? Who knows? For now lets say a personal project or something to keep me occupied if you will. It's nothing important." The pure glee in his voice contrasted greatly with the look of consternation on the butler of steels' face.
"Is there anything else you need me to tell you, Sebas? I don't want your reports to be lacking in any way."
"No, I should be fine for now. I believe I shall be informed of any of your important intended actions?"
Whatever this mission it seems Sebas-sama is in charge of Demiurge-sama. This isn't going to end well.
"Yes, yes. Very well. I'll be back next week, keep him in the most dangerous areas, the boy is such a loyal puppy I'm sure even that won't kill him. I hear you have a booming border town?" this question was directed at Caspond.
"Yes Lord. Most of the members of the Order of Justice were inspired by the tales of E-Rantel told to them by the Pope and confirmed by Captain Montagnes that they sought to imitate it. It isn't a fortress city that rumours seem to relay but if you were being considerate it could be called a city, but it just has a high wall."
"The population matters not, the quicker I get this done the better. For all of us."
"What will you be doing in the meantime, Lord?" the question seemed completely unexpected, it followed thought and a pained look then the demon returned. It was obvious he had nothing to do here unless he wantonly wanted to start trouble – which Caspond knew he wouldn't do.
"I will probably be crafting for a while. Sebas do you want me to make you anything?"
"I couldn't possibly bother you for something like that, Demiurge-sama."
"Trust me ... it is no bother at all. I would be delighted to do it."
"I insist I do not need anything. I'm sure you still have other duties to attend to?"
"Oh those can ..." Demiurge finally noticed Caspond buckling under the pressure in the room alone.
"I may be temporarily off duty but most of my work keeps me outside of Nazarick, inform me if anything happens."
And just as quickly as he arrived [Greater Teleportation] took him away.
"Demiurge-sama has been exiled?" Caspond asked the Head Butler in shock, he may have honeyed the words but the meaning was clear. It was such a scary thought he didn't want it to be true.
"Until Climb-kun takes the fallen seed." Caspond now understood why Demiurge had spoken the boys name the way he did.
"Is it safe to leave it with him though? Anyone would easily mistake it for something valuable and steal it. Especially if he is going to the front lines."
"Then I'll have to keep it for him then. He hasn't been dispatched has he?"
"No, just finding him some uniform, letting him rest here tonight, he'll be dispatched tomorrow. There are always maids in attendance should you need something, I'm usually not hard to reach. Though if I have it correctly, shouldn't you be by Demiurge-sama's side?"
"I would rather not get invested in his work if it is unrelated to this mission. I'll introduce myself to your staff, and I will go see what else I can do for this mission."
"I'll tell the maids to bring Climb to your room when he returns." He said. Though he wanted to show him to the room himself it wouldn't do for the image of the Holy King to play escort.
He wondered when such an unusual and dreary silence took over. Of course the real thing that was weighing on his mind was the thought of exile, never being allowed to return. That was a fate worse than death. Almost as bad as having your master leave, he supposed that's what Demiurge was desperately trying to avoid.
Hoburns – Military Outpost
Climb didn't really understand what was going on, ever since he woke up this morning he had just been led around. He was excited to see Sebas but then realised that he did in fact serve the Sorcerer King.
"Why do you serve the Sorcerer King?" Climb asked genuinely trying to understand what could bring people so different together.
"I was created to serve my master the way he see fit, it is only natural that I do it to the best of my ability." There was no hesitation or fear in that answer - only pride.
He was told to leave his armour behind because it was too bright, then he walked through what he could only describe as a portal. But even for Climb seeing that Kings willingly bent the knee to Nazarick told him he had no choice. For the woman who brought him back to life he would do the same. If opening the box proved his loyalty he would do it even if it took a thousand years.
Climb now walked with a guard who wore dark amour with a sigil he didn't recognise. If he didn't know better he'd say that the colour was a close imitation to the Sorcerer Kings favoured robes but by comparison – well technically there was none but if you were to compare it – it was a crude cheap rendition. The deep purple wasn't captured as it should have been and the black just seemed faded.
Be that as it may the armour itself was of good quality and the woman carried both a bow and a sword. Climb couldn't imagine anyone being equally good at using both but this woman carried herself with a sense of pride that he didn't want to find out the hard way if she could.
"So? How do you know the Holy King?" this was the type of question he knew to be wary of. If he didn't pay attention to what he said it could lead back to Nazarick, since it was clear that the Kings guard told her where he came from.
"My mistress sent me, I am her personal guard. I don't know the Holy King personally." he said vaguely.
"Hmm? Then why did your mistress send you?"
"She wished to show the Sorcerer King she meant well and suggested I help fight in this war without drawing connections that might make me seem like international aid."
"Your mistress serves the Sorcerer King?!"
Oh fuck.
"Uh, yes, I mean, no. I mean please keep this between us, we only recently arrived."
There was a broad toothy grin on her face. "Depends."
"On what?"
"Which side you're fighting on obviously." She stated in a matter of fact tone that made it seem more than obvious he was lacking in information.
"What do you mean?"
"Are fighting alongside the Paladin Order or with us?"
"Who is us?" everything was making less and less sense the more she spoke.
"The Order of Justice, obviously."
What is the Order of Justice? Why am I supposed to know this? I wasn't told anything.
"Haaah. You really don't know anything." She said after clearly reading how dumbfounded he was. "The Order of Justice is an organisation heavily backed by the Holy King. Some even called us a church, doesn't matter. Everyone who joins, joins for one reason and one reason only – to stop being a sinner."
Sounds like a church ... unless it's actually a cult.
"We believe that His Majesty the Sorcerer King is Justice and weakness is a sin. Now if you want to fight alongside people who believe in true justice, people who work to improve themselves to be strong then you come with me. Unless you want to join the Paladin Order?"
I've heard of this group from somewhere?
"Do you hate the Paladin Order or something?" Climb asked remembering the condition.
"Huh? No. Some of their members are stuck in the old ways, or even if they believe in our ways they don't want to claim The Sorcerer King as justice. We can't get along with people like that. Ah! Don't tell Moro though, even though some Paladins are hostile towards us he doesn't want us to show favouritism, we are after all fighting against South and we must put up a united front. The more zealous paladins who don't believe in our ways are fighting on the side of the south or died with Remedios. Now tell me, which side are you fighting on?"
Climb was still trying to figure out where he had heard about the group but he knew one thing, the side he was told to fight on.
"I believe the Holy King said to put me with the Paladin Order." It was true, he even wondered why the woman had even asked him in the first place.
"Mm. Your loss, you would have been famous amongst our ranks. Anyway your captain is Gustav Montagnes, we actually get along well with him so it wont be the last you see of the Order of Justice. I stop here. Hope you survive this kid and remember, weakness is a sin!" she said as she handed him over to a paladin and returned to the castle, presumably to return to her guard post. And without promising to keep his secret.
"The Holy King recommended you for the front lines. You look quite young kid. Are you strong? Because that's practically a death sentence." The old man with greying hair said to him while he handed him what he assumed to be the uniform of the Paladin Order. An assumption that would be proven wrong, he learned quickly there was a route to take to become a paladin. Right now he was given what little armour they could spare for squires. Simple leather armour with a steel breastplate. How he wished he had the shiny full armour Princess Renner bought for him.
He was well aware he'd be fighting against humans that meant that weak armour was an easy target. How was he not supposed to die. Right now it would be easier to be killed in this armour than, say, commit suicide, because that is exactly what this was. Suicide.
After he was introduced to a few people he was back with the kind butler who took the box for safe keeping. He would fight a war, make friends and prove his loyalty!
You guys are the best! Just had to say it. I got quite the positive feedback and was so pleased that this is the longest chapter I've written so far. All reviews welcome, they fuel longer chapters! I also got a few questions/concerns from guest reviewers so I couldn't respond, usually I PM these things but since all the concerns were about my Zesshi level estimation I decided I would make a Q&A chapter with some of my own ramblings, so whatever questions you might have ask away, I'll upload the answers with the next chapter.