Overlord's Dragon Maid!
Six
"Visitors at Carne Village?" Kobayashi noted, looking up from her paperwork.
"Yes, a group of adventurers and an apothecary. They know the villagers, apparently," Tohru said, serving as her aide.
The Tomb was jumping as they began to organize as the 'Empire of Ainz Ooal Gown.' Kobayashi had mapped out a certain distance on all sides on the Tomb and declared it 'their' territory, with mixed patrols of undead out on the borders. She knew they were cutting into lands controlled by local kingdoms, and expected an attack eventually.
Well... she suspected the Re-Estize Kingdom might not. She felt reasonably certain that Gazef was aware of how strong they were, and would tell his king. But politics complicated the situation, too. And the Theocracy was going to be wary as hell, she figured. But that still left the Baharuth Empire, The Dragon Kingdom and the Roble Holy Kingdom...
"That... could be useful to us," Kobayashi noted to Tohru.
"We could kill them or hold them for random," Tohru suggested mildly.
"Ha. No," Kobayashi realized she meant it, but still treated it as a joke. "We need to go to Re-Estize anyway, so we'll go along with them."
"I'm not happy that you plan to go alone," Tohru complained.
"I'll bring Sebas," Kobayashi countered. "I want you and Fafnir here, in case something happens," she explained.
"You think we'll be attacked?" Tohru assumed.
"It's a possibility," Kobayashi agreed, "and that's yours and Fafnir's responsibility."
Tohru pouted, but she couldn't really argue the point.
"In addition to Sebas, you should take at least one combat maid," Tohru mused. "If things go very wrong, they could sacrifice themselves so you can escape."
Kobayashi dryly added, "Or I'll teleport us all out."
Tohru just ignored that and asked her, "Who do you want to take?" She looked thoughtful, "Entoma Zeta?"
Kobayashi imagined how a bug woman would go over with humans. "Not a good idea," she decided, though she DID look awesome in her kimono. Say what you will, the maids in the Tomb were beautifully designed.
"CZ2128 Delta?"
"Shizu?" Kobayashi considered. She had the highest attack power of the maids, but was fragile (relatively speaking). "No, I might end up having to save her, in combat," she pointed out.
"Point," Tohru conceded. "Lupusregina Beta?"
Kobayashi groaned as she considered the outwardly cheery werewolf. "She'd kill someone out of pure amusement value," she pointed out.
"You could order her...," Tohru started, then gave up. After some backing and forthing, they decided on Yuri Alpha.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"We're travelling with WHO?" Peter yelped, the normally calm leader of the Swords of Darkness having been rattled by events over the last few days. They were standing by the new gate, beside Nfirea's wagon loaded up with rare herbs and goods from the area.
"The Emperor of Ainz Ooal Gown," Nfirea explained patiently. "They need to travel with the village chiefs to Re-Estize city, so they're asking to go with us."
Ninya the mage gulped.
Brita paled visibly. "I heard she was a level equal to Adamantite," she noted.
"Possibly Heroic class," Nfirea noted.
Nfirea had talked with Anri and the villagers about Kobayashi and the soldiers' attack on the village... According to them, she and her companion, the old man, had been beating down armored soldiers with their bare hands. He had originally thought it was an exaggeration, but everyone he talked to agreed on that point.
"Could we just... leave before they get here?" Lukrut the ranger suggested nervously.
"Do you want to piss off people that capable?" Ninya asked dryly.
Lukrut nodded, "Point."
"Ho! Adventurers!" a cheerful voice called out to them.
They all turned around to see a tall, redheaded woman striding towards them. A gruff but dignified looking older man followed, along with a black haired woman wearing spectacles and a stiff, formal looking dress.
"Well, hellooo," Lukrut smiled at both women.
The tall redhead looked amused, while the other woman frowned at him.
"LUKRUT," Ninya hissed at him.
"Hmm?" he asked, trying to meet both lady's eyes.
"That's Empress Kobayashi!" Ninya told him.
"Urk," Lukrut stepped back as everyone sort of bowed awkwardly.
Kobayashi just laughed. "Please, relax," she reassured them as her two companions looked appalled. "I respect adventurers a great deal," she added, "you do difficult jobs, risking life and limb for little reward. It's quite impressive really."
"Ah... thank you," Peter managed. Introductions were made, then he added, "I understand you wish to travel together?"
"We do," Kobayashi agreed, "we're and the local chiefs are travelling to the city of Re-Estize,as you probably know. I and my companions would assist in guarding the wagons and such, and I also would pay whatever fees you'd normally charge."
Out of Kobayashi's line of sight Ninya waved frantically at Peter, who nodded. "We of course wouldn't charge your excellency for this," he told her politely.
Kobayashi looked amused, "We'll talk about it when we reach Re-Estize."
"How will the chief's be travelling?" Dyne the druid asked thoughtfully.
"We've got a carriage," Kobayashi noted, "it shouldn't be any slower than Nfirea's wagon. Of course I and my associates will go with you on foot."
"MY LORD," Sebar looked upset.
Yuri Alpha just sighed, "She is determined, Sebas. Let is go."
Peter had literally felt a chill run down his spine when Sebas got upset. For just a moment a sense of the servant's true strength came out, and it was immense. He could probably beat ALL of them.. and with ease.
'If her servants are THAT strong... how powerful is she?' Peter found himself wondering.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
In the city of Re-Estize (Well, more exactly in the huge graveyard) Clementine was explaining her scheme to Khajiit Dale Badantel.
"But why do YOU wish to unleash the dead on the city?" Khajiit asked suspiciously. They were both part of the same secret society... but that barely made them allies. They certainly were not 'friends.' who would go out of their way to help.
"It'll be fun," Clementine smirked.
Khajiit gave her a LOOK, but nodded reluctantly. "So, we'll need the Nfirea boy to use the Sorcerer's Crown you stole," he mused.
"He'll be back in a few days," Clementine agreed. "We'll snatch himn, put the crown on him then maker him control the undead."
"And then my ascension will be complete," Khajiit laughed.
Clementine just smiled at that bit of idiocy. He might manage his goal, maybe... but the Slane Theocracy wouldn't allow him to continue to exist as such a powerful undead.
"Hmm?" Khajiit noticed she wasn't laughing.
"I should go up to the city and keep a eye out," Clementine added, "if our prey came home early it would spoil everything."
"Thank you," Khajiit added as she left.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"What." Peter gaped.
"What," Dune agreed.
"What..." Brita whimpered.
"HUH?!" Ninja yelped.
"I'm in LOOOOVE," Lukrut sighed.
"Shut up, Lukut," everyone chorused.
They had run into another band of monsters on the way to Re-Estize. Peter had ordered the civilians to hide, then...
"Would you mind if I and Yuri engage them?" Kobayashi had asked.
"I...," Peter started.
"I want to test my power against regular monsters," Kobayashi explained. "I promise to retreat if I get into any danger."
Both Sebas and Yuri Alpha snorted at that.
"Go ahead," Peter gave in.
Now they were watching in awe as Kobayashi was cutting Ogres in HALF. Casually. While Sebas and Yuri fought the goblins HAND TO HAND. Easily.
"This is really unusual, huh?" Nfirea asked quietly.
"You have NO idea," Ninya said, stunned.
To be continued...
Notes: I'm KIND of banging around the idea that Clementine is actually still working for the Theocracy. One of the things covered in the LN is that the Theocracy encouraged the Re-Estize Kingdom to exist, but are now unhappy with it. So she could be under orders to help the evil cult wreck the kingdom...