She is OVERLORD
Eight
Brita had lead the village chiefs into the city, passing them off to representatives of the King. Then she hurried to the Adventurer's guild to report the possible undead activity.
Say what you would, the Guild Master took this stuff seriously. He swiftly organized all the Mythril adventurers available, and lead them in investigating. Annoyingly, he dragged Brita along, since she had brought the report.
They arrived at the cemetery gates, and saw an astonishing sight. The restless skeletons that wandered the graves were gone. Shattered bones littered the ground as far as the eye could see, and as they advanced they found more and more.
"How..." Pluton Ainzach muttered quietly.
"Kobayahi and her two companions are incredibly strong, sir," Brita said. "When we were travelling together, they defeated strong monsters easily."
Pluton shook his head, "This is Adamantine level. If not higher!"
They saw the end of the battle against the skeletal dragon, and for a moment were honestly afraid for the heroes.
Then Kobayashi destroyed both with a single spell.
"What." Pluton said weakly.
A few moments later Kobayashi and her companions, along with the Swords of Darkness, met up with the group, leading several captives. "Brita!" Kobayashi greeted her, "And these are from the Adventurers Guild?"
Brita nodded, "Empress Kobayashi, meet Guild Master Pluton Ainzach."
"It's an honor, Empress," Pluton bowed slightly, "You may have saved E-Rantel."
"If there had been a disaster, we'd have been caught up in it too,' Kobayashi waved that off. She gestured to a group of gagged men, "We caught the necromancer and his acolytes. Not sure what you want done with them..."
Pluton was struck by how casually the woman was dealing with all this. The strong really were different, he supposed. "We'll take them to the guards," he offered.
"Thank you very much," Kobayashi smiled charmingly.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"They did what?" Ramposa III asked, blinking at the guard.
"The delegation from Ainz Ooal Gown detected a nercromantic threat, went into the graveyard, destroyed all the skeletons and then defeated two skeletal dragons." the man reported, mildly disbelieving himself. "And they captured the necromancer."
The king sat back on his throne, stunned.
"I told you," Gazef Stronoff murmured from where he was standing by the King's side.
"And these are the people coming to negotiate, tomorrow?" Ramposa III sighed.
"It's a trick," his son, Barbo, said after a moment, "has to be."
Zanac, the younger brother, shook his head. "Everyone agrees that was a skeletal dragon. You don't call that up as a trick," he said.
"Oh, how frightening," Renner looked honestly frightened, the king's daughter standing off to the side.
Zanac saw no fear in her eyes, though. Instead she was observing the situation, and figuring all the angles. 'How does no one see this?' he wondered.
"We need to be firm with them," Barbo said after a moment. "This 'Empire' has seized our territory and encouraged the villages to rebel. We should at least insist on them paying reparations."
Ramposa III tried not to look at his son like he was an idiot, but it was hard. As a prince he should know better. "We owed those villages our protection. We failed," he pointed out. "They have the right to chose not to follow us after that."
Barbo looked mulish.
'This could end badly,' Ramposa III though.
"Father, we should negotiate a treaty with the Empire of Ainz Ool Gown," Renner surprised her brothers by saying.
"Are you a fool?" Barbo yelped.
"We know they have powerful warriors and magic," Renner continued. She looked at her father, "And consider this: We've only seen four people from them so far. Just imagine what else they might have waiting?"
Zanac visibly paled as he considered that.
"Hmm," Ramposa III nodded thoughtfully.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The next day, at the Adventurers Guild, the Swords of Darkness were summoned. "We're all being bumped up to Silver rank?" Ninya said, surprised.
"Don't let it go to your heads," Pluton noted as the silver haired man continued, "but you helped save the city."
"We mostly just followed along and killed any escaping undead," Peter admitted.
"We can't award the Empress, so...," Pluton shrugged.
Brita raised her hand, "Why am I getting a higher rank too?"
"I was impressed with you in the cemetary. Also, you assisted too," Pluton said.
"Congradulations," Lukrut told Brita, the archer smiling at her charmingly, "maybe after this we could go and..."
Brita kneed him in the nuts again.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
They met in private, after a public greeting of the delegation. Ramposa III also formally thanked them for stopping the necromancer, and the undead horde.
"First of all, I wish to apologize," King Ramposa III bowed his head to the village chiefs, "we failed in protecting you. There are various reasons for that, but still."
"Thank you," the chief of Carne accepted that nervously.
"I am sorrowful you have chosen to leave the Kingdom of Re-Estize, but I accept it," Ramposa III added.
Several diplomats on his side grit their teeth. Especially those allied with Prince Barbo, who at the very least wanted gold for this.
"Empress," Ramposa III addressed her, "we would appreciate knowing the location and dimensions of the Empire, to prevent territorial conflicts."
"Completely understandable," Kobayashi said, "Sebas?"
The dignified, handsome man stood, placing a map on the table and unrolling it. "We have mapped out the area, here is a copy," he said. "The far edge of our territory will be Carne village, obviously."
Several of the lady diplomats sighed dreamily.
Ramposa III nodded as he said neutrally, "You know, the area you claim intrudes on several local kingdoms."
Kobayashi gave a feral smile as she said, "If they have an issue with it, they are welcome to come discuss it with us."
'They're confident in their sheer power. Supremely so,' Ramposa III thought to himself. And from what he'd heard, he couldn't blame them. Making a decision he said, "I believe both our people would benefit if we avoided conflicts between us."
"I would agree. Do you propose a formal relationship?" Kobayashi asked.
"I think it would be wise," Ramposa III agreed.
Both rulers sat back as the diplomats, Sebas and Yuri worked out the details of the treaty. Kobayashi and Ramposa III each added points, but their minions were generally good at carrying out their ideas.
"Will you have problems with your lords over this?" Kobayashi asked.
'I wonder who told her about our internal problems?' Ramposa III wondered sourly. "Yes, but they will accept it, considering the alternative."
"Now. Now, we just want to be peaceful neighbors," Kobayashi protested.
Ramposa III just smiled wryly.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Are we going to stay in town a few days?" Sebas asked neuterally.
"I'd like to look around a bit," Kobayashi admitted as they walked away from the castle and into the town itself.
"Of course, mistress," Yuri Alpha agreed.
They were being put up in the finest hotel in town. Which was a bit of a dump, by their standards, but at least the king tried.
"Now, we need to go to the Adventurers Guild and hire a party to escort the village chiefs home," Kobayashi said briskly. "No point in making them wait for us."
Both Sebas and Yuri Alpha looked like they wanted to say 'They should be honored having to wait for you' or something, but held back.
"Besides, I've always wanted to see a Adventurers Guild," Kobayashi admitted.
Kobayashi wasn't disappointed. There were adventurers of all types, and it bustled with activity. She made her way to the counter as she said, "I wish to commission an escort quest."
"Please fill out this form," the clerk looked up and froze. "Eep."
Kobayashi smiled charmingly, "Relax, miss."
The Guildmaster came down to gush over them, but eventually they got the request set up. Amusingly, the Swords of Darkness snapped up the job.
"Congradulations on your promotion," Kobayashi told them warmly.
"We should be thanking you, ma'am," Dyne noted mildly.
Kobayashi looked over at Brita, "I thought you weren't a member?"
"I think they're good luck for me," Brita shrugged.
To be continued...