Climb was racing his horse behind the (now not so new) vice-captain of the Paladin Order, Reiner Braunin. He was a jovial, brown haired, grey eyed young man not older than twenty-five who took everything in stride. He was stationed in Prart but had been called to Hoburns on official business but right now he was taking Climb to the border city of Iustitia.
The city was relatively new, it started when a few members of the Order of Justice went to occupy villages. A border village had been completely decimated so when they started rebuilding it, it was built by members of the Order and their families. It gradually became a city of now fifty thousand citizens who were all members of the Order.
This meant that every single person who could walk was essentially a soldier. It was also the first city to completely accept the reforms His Majesty had started in E-Rantel. They used skeletons for menial labour meaning even farmers where better trained than the average squire of the Paladin Order. They also used Death Knights for security and heavy lifting. The wall that was being built was also aided by Death Knights in this regard, they had refused golems from His Majesty because they wanted to prove their strength of unity by coming together for a common cause.
The now ten metre tall stone structure was called the first line of defence, it was initially only half that height but when hostilities from the South, especially towards them started getting violent they increased it's height and built watch towers. Due to its large security force and sturdy structure some southerners were calling it a fortress city. It was also wide enough to ensure that any army that wanted to go north would have to either go through them or burn through their supplies and delay a march by a week or so – depending on the size of the army – to go around them.
It was specifically built to slow down an army no matter how you looked at it. A small troop could make it around but they were exactly that – small. It wouldn't pose a problem for the Orders armies behind them. As a city built in the honour of their saviour, they had a very effective ruling system. It was made up of a priest/priestess from their church and the Commanding Officers of the military branch. It was effective because both the priest and commanders were viewed as equals who reported directly to the Pope. They all viewed themselves as serving a higher purpose so there was no point in one-upping each other.
The commanding officers were made up of an archery specialist from 'Neia's Archery Unit' and a sword specialist, usually a former member of the Paladin Order. They trained to gain some proficiency in both disciplines. The priest would make healers into combat ready support specialists. The groups fighting style was closely linked to how adventurers worked together so it was effective.
"I noticed you also wear the sigil of the Order of Justice? Aren't you part of the Paladin Order?" Climb asked Reiner as they stopped by a river to rest their horses.
"I am, and a vice-captain none the less and I'm the head priest in Prart. There is no rule that says you can't be a paladin if you're part of the Order of Justice. Those former paladins left because they didn't want to be associated with Remedios Custodio, but we all swore loyalty to the Holy King after his coronation so we all technically serve the Holy King. Some don't see it that way but won't complain because the Holy King fully supports the Order of Justice. A few members even have a position in court."
"It isn't just the Pope? Also didn't you say paladins become part of the military unit."
"No. There are representatives for each major area where we operate. And also no, nothing is set in stone for us about who must and must not do what. As long you strive to grow stronger no matter in what respect you are fully a member as long as I'm concerned."
"But why become a priest? Are you a divine magic user?"
"The more proper question is why become a paladin. I can cast third tier divine magic so I basically suck with the sword. I effectively argued my way out of being a priest of the four, sometimes I wonder if that's the reason why I'm alive. I probably would have died alongside Kelart Custodio if I didn't. I only became a vice-captain because of my quick thinking ... and luck."
"So why the Sorcerer King?"
"He saved me when I was too weak to save myself. Ever since I realised that I was a sinner I vowed to become stronger. Even though I was part of the Paladin Order the Pope accepted my services despite the fact that I worshipped the four even if I wasn't enthusiastic about becoming a priest there. It was this acceptance of my beliefs that led me to change faiths, I wasn't told to discard my beliefs, but embrace them and become stronger. That is how I quickly rose to Head Priest. I report directly to the Pope; am a member of court and will lay my life to preserve this belief.
"Those pompous pricks in the South just want to attack us because they believe we are weak and don't understand what we went through. We know, that's why we fight!"
"Then why not ask the Sorcerer King for help again?" Climb asked as he sat next to the man.
"Political reasons: if we ask for aid in what is still political unrest turned slightly violent it may cause an international incident. Right now we are ordering arms and armour, the work of the dwarves is amazing and Iustitia has the most enchanted armour ordered, they get first pick because they rose quickly and paid quickly.
"Moral reasons: this is the most important really, if we just jump to the Sorcerer King every time we have trouble, doesn't that make us sinners? We don't want to be weak again, we don't want to sin! After being helped so much wouldn't we be ingrates if we just put ourselves at his mercy? The Sorcerer King showed us what strength is, what justice is on more than one occasion. If I live through this I am going to petition the pope to meet him personally. That would be the greatest reward."
Climb couldn't exactly come to terms with this man.
"What about what he did to the Re-Estize? Is that justice?" Reiner perked at this question as if he was waiting for it.
"Yes! The nobles of Re-Estize were not only stupid but also sinners! If the Sorcerer King saw fit to eradicate sinners and build a world where the those that seek strength can prosper I support him! If he had called us to arms I would have volunteered to go! He showed us his strength on more than one occasion, his justice prevailed. I heard that since we are now neighbours the Pope wants full integration.
"If that happens then I hope to be a priest in E-Rantel. I want to build many temples all over the domain so that all that live there will know of his justice. The Elves beat us to it but we are still scarred, we cannot give an incomplete, broken piece to our God. We will hand over ourselves as a united and strong nation. Of course the Pope was just talking about her wish back then, but I share her sentiment."
Reiner was now standing, he had gotten quite passionate during his speech that Climb started to wonder if he was the crazy one for not worshipping his new master.
"Come on, I think the horses have rested enough, we'll ride until nightfall. At this pace we'll make it to Iustitia by the end of the week. At lot of villagers are already flooding into the place, the South has been burning unprotected villages so survivors are abandoning the way of the four and heading there. If more and more members from the Order of Justice keep trickling in at that rate it will be one hundred thousand strong in two months, give or take."
"Isn't there a peaceful way to this?"
"Trust me we didn't do anything to the South. They just started burning anything related to the Order of Justice when the Pope was granted more power than the priestess of the four. Then they started killing members who tried to teach them of the Sorcerer Kings justice whenever they went south. If there was a peaceful solution the South killed it. It will have to get worse to get better." Reiner declared resolutely.
"So in just a few months this country will be in a full blown civil war?"
"Exactly, who would have thought! But the members in Iustitia saw this coming so even if you're fighting on the front line you should be relatively safe, for a siege war that is anyway."
The rest of the day was quiet as Climb contemplated all he had learned. At this point in time he didn't know who was right and who was wrong, but it wasn't his job to know. He was a soldier now, he would fight alongside the people who believed in his new master.
Dragon Kingdom: Advance Camp
"I find it odd that the hero of two nations should be residing in a place such as this ... even if it is temporary, wouldn't you say Momon?" Demiurge entered a tent that could only be described as lacking, which really put bare the situation of the Draconic Kingdom considering it was still a tent. He had sent word of his intended arrival, so the teleportation defences were temporarily lowered.
"The country is in ribbons, I couldn't exactly demand more."
"But you are bringing them prosperity and the Supreme One's will, don't you think this is a little disrespectful?"
"You didn't come all this way to talk about my living conditions?" Pandora's Actor motioned for him it sit on the makeshift chair near the portable bed.
"Of course not, I am working on a plan for the Slane Theocracy, the information I have is only what I got from Zesshi, Aura and Mare. A little bit of my own, but I ventured to guess that someone might know more."
"Then shouldn't that be enough?" Momon's face seemed really confused that he would want more.
"Those reports were technical, for someone who has more information I figured you could help me with their personalities, it makes the scheme all the more fascinating. For you could expect someone to react one way and then they do the complete opposite ... or worse, the unexpected?"
"That idiot Philip really got to you that much?" it was an innocent question.
"No, it was my inability to include such actions within my calculations." Thinking back on this slightly increased his insecurity about failing his mission.
"Here, this is what I concluded based on reports from those three and the Dragon Queen about the Cardinals. But what exactly are you trying to do?" he gratefully took the small tome of information and started flipping through it.
"I sent that girl to that country to help encourage the Theocracy to join the Southern Holy Kingdom in their war or at least attack her and give our master a casus belli to invade but they did nothing. At the very least I hoped to persuade the South to start a propaganda about how their Pope was abandoning them. Don't get me wrong I don't think them incompetent – for humans, at least – but the least they could've done was be angered that their treasury was looted." Demiurge said and continued reading until he came to the page about the Cardinal of Earth.
"Do you really think Raymond Zarg Lauransan is this level headed? If that's the case then I can make the necessary adjustments - with their bigot of a Cardinal of wind this is really going to be fun."
"What about Climb? What role exactly is he playing?"
"Come now Pandora's Actor." Demiurge giggled. "When you didn't tell me to take the boy to the Holy Kingdom this is what you weren't planning, right?"
"To what end?" Pandora's Actor elaborated.
"I am going to hand this continent to Ainz-sama and fix my folly. If the Theocracy and South have to fall at the same time so be it."
"I see. You're right. I didn't tell you to do anything. I'm an actor. I play the role given to me, I don't direct ... unless that is the role I'm given." There was a hint in his voice that suggested ambiguity. Demiurge wondered if this meant he was overthinking their conversation earlier that week.
But why phrase it like that? Have you been tasked with directing me in this mission? It would make sense that Ainz-sama doesn't trust me.
"Tell me how do you come to these conclusions without meeting the person?" he asked ignoring the thorn building in his heart at the very idea.
"How was Ainz-sama able to tell that Philip acted without thought?" a question answered with another question usually indicated a common, obvious answer.
"Ainz-sama is a Supreme Being who can think from many perspectives." Demiurge said as he wondered where this was going.
"And that Supreme Being created me, I like to think he granted me a fraction of his intelligence just like yours did you."
It finally dawned on Demiurge, Pandora's Actors way of thinking wasn't as straight forward as his, calculating people's actions based on their personality and desire. Narrowing down their ability or tendency to do something within an expected margin. The doppelgänger was specifically made to think while on the field – the front lines, if you will – this meant that it was safe to say Pandora's Actor didn't have a margin which he expected people to act within.
While he was made to think and direct from the rear, there was something to be learned here and he was starting to understand his masters greater plan for their growth.
Even idiots learn from their mistakes.
Those were his masters words, though he was quite certain that one wouldn't exactly have the opportunity he was certain his master wanted the guardians to grow so he would be able to reveal more openly his plans without always having to do things himself.
He steeled himself to learn the most from the man in front of him while he had the time to do so. He had been right to come to their masters creation but wrong to think their intelligence worked the same way.
"Thank you for this, I'll make a copy and bring it back to you at the end of the week even if you can keep it all in memory it is still your work." Demiurge said standing up.
"Oh Demiurge, remember!" it was a sudden outburst it almost shocked him, almost. "The Sorcerer King is justice and weakness is a sin!"
"You would make for an excellent speaker for that religion." His smile was genuine. "Tell me, are you joining the humans now?"
"You of all people should know I would have started that religion if Ainz-sama told me he wanted the masses to worship him."
And we would have all joined ... how right you are. If only Ainz-sama told us. He thought as he teleported to his office in the Abelion Hills.
MINA-SAMA! REVIEW. ONEGAISHIMASU!