She is OVERLORD
Nine: Repercussions
"Why should we not strike you dead, Clementine?" the representative of the Slane Theocracy said grimly.
Clementine knelt, thought she fought back her anger. "I bring important information," she answered, "about Ainz Ooal Gown."
The Cardinal stiffened. "They attacked one of out Scriptures," he noted.
Clementine's eyes widened. She hadn't known THAT. Worrying.
The fighter quickly sketched in Kobayashi and company's arrival in the city of E-Rantel, the battle against the skeleton army, a necromancer and the destruction of TWO skeletal dragons. By, apparently, raw magic.
"Impossible!" the Cardinal blurted.
"I witnessed it, as did many adventurers," Clementine said. She continued calmly, "You can confirm it, sir."
The old man digested that.
"Re-Estize has also chosen to formally recognize the Empire of Ainz Ooal Gown. It also appears the Empire has laid claim to territory formerly belonging to us and the Baharuth Empire," Clementine also reported.
The Cardinal looked even less happy, if that was possible.
Clementine waited nervously, knowing that it was still entirely possible she might be killed for her past actions.
"We will consider your report," the Cardinal finally said, "you are confined to the care of the Black Scripture. Do not make us regret sparing you."
"Sir," Clementine nodded and was led from the chamber.
The woman waited outside for her. She was striking looking, with hair that was black on one side, white on the other. She looked profoundly bored, but also radiated a sense of immense power.
'Zesshi Zetsumei,' Clementine recognized her, the incredibly strong member of the Black Scripture. She was kind of complimented she was assigned to watch her, and of course a bit terrified too. This woman could kill her easily.
"You aren't going to be any trouble, are you?" Zesshi drawled.
"No ma'am," Clementine blurted.
"Come with me," Zasshi lead her off. After a few moments she continued, "So. Tell me about this Empress Kobayashi..."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
News spread as messengers for various kingdoms left Re-Estize. Even kingdoms that were enemies or just neutral kept representatives in each others Courts, both for negotiations and, of course, spying on each other.
Jircniv Rune Farlord el Nix, the Emperor of the Baharuth Empire and, arguably, the most powerful politician in the world, listened thoughtfully as he lay on a lounger in his throne room.
"They willingly gave up land to them?" Jircniv clarified.
"Yes, my lord," the messenger nodded.
"Leave your report," Jircniv ordered, waiting until the young man left. "What do you think, Gramps?" he addressed the ancient wizard.
Fluder Paradyne looked ancient, dressed in his Wizard's robes, his beard reaching his waist. Despite his age, though, his eyes glittered with excitement. "Can we confirm that this Kobayashi destroyed Skeletal Dragons by magic?" he asked.
Jircniv gave him a thoughtful look, "Several adventurers saw it, including the Adventurer's Guild guildmaster. I'd say we can trust their accuracy."
"IF that is true," Fluder said excitedly, "it may redefine what we know about magic. By all conventional wisdom, Skeletal Dragons are immune to magic."
"Or she's just much more powerful, in magic," Jircniv mused.
"I have always thought that Sixth Tier magic, which always fails against Skeletal Dragons, was the limit humans can reach," Fluder said reverently. "If she has Seventh... or even beyond that? It would be incredible."
Jircniv looked decidedly unhappy. "Your being the most powerful wizard in the world has always been our trump card," he noted. "This changes that."
"Hmm," Fluder nodded, though he seemed happy knowing there might be more powerful magic out there.
"There's also something else to consider," Jircniv added thoughtfully. "They only sent three representatives to negotiate, and we can assume they were sent for their strength."
Fluder nodded again.
Jircniv continued flatly, "But what if we're wrong? What if they sent out their weakest, or most easily expendable?" He drank some of his wine then added, "What sort of horrors do they have waiting for us, back at their home?"
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
It took word of the battle etc etc a little longer to reach Roble Holy Kingdom, but it did get there eventually.
"They're ruled by non-humans?" Calca Bessarez, the Holy Queen, noted. The beautiful blonde didn't necessarily sound disapproving, just thoughtful.
"Indeed. And an unusually powerful one at that," Kelart Custodio noted, the brown haired High Priestess advising her as usual.
Remedios, her sister and the head of the Paladins, loudly scoffed at that. "I don't believe the story of her destroying two huge Skeletal Dragons and a flock of wyvern in a single spell," the armored woman noted.
(The story had passed through enough hands that it had mutated a bit. There were also a force of beast-men in the later versions of the story.)
"It IS unlikely," Kelart agreed, "but apparently Re-Estize felt the need to formally ally with them, as well."
"And their lead by a undead!" Remedios declared scornfully, her prejudice against non-humans showing up again.
Calcia nodded with a sigh, "But she appears to be intelligent and is not controlled by her monsterous side."
Remedios just gazed at the queen in disbelief.
"Well, they are far enough away, we likely won't have to deal with them," Kelart added thoughtfully.
"Which, considering our problems with the local demi-humans, is probably a good thing," Remedios noted dryly.
Remedios soon left to attend to her Paladin duties, and Kelart was left looking thoughtfully at their Queen.
"What?" Calcia said innocently.
"You're plotting something," Kelart accused her, looking amused.
"Just... thinking ahead. If this new Empire survives long enough, we might be able to use them as a counterweight to our other rivals," Calcia admitted. "Or even ask for their aide. Throw monsters against monsters?"
"That sounds like something Remedios would say," Kelart noted.
"Your sister isn't always wrong, especially tactically," Calcia shrugged. "Anyway, any of this is far in the future."
"Here's hoping it doesn't come to that," Kelart noted, feeling an odd chill.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Princess Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself of Re-Estize poured tea for her guests, even as her loyal bodyguard Climb stood behind her.
"You can sit, you know," Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra told Climb wryly as the adamantite adventurer sat with Renner.
"Ma'am!" Climb responded, "It would not be appropriate."
Lakyus shook her head but smiled. "You called me, Renner?" she asked her friend.
"Yes," Renner agreed. "You're heard of Ainz Ooal Gown?" she asked.
"Just the rumors," Lakyus nodded. "You met the delegation, correct?" she asked.
"I did," Renner admitted.
Lakyus knew that Renner pretended to be a flighty princess, but was in fact highly intelligent. Her suggestions had improved life throughout the kingdom, and the only reason more wasn't done was due to resistance from the nobles.
"So what was your impression?" Lakyus asked intently.
Renner looked at her, all humor seeming to leave her expression as she considered her answer. "If we don't handle them extremely carefully, they could destroy the kingdom," she said.
Lakyus nearly dropped her tea. "Seriously?" she blurted.
"They are hugely powerful, and are sitting on our border," Renner said calmly. She continued, "Just by existing, they have already taken remote villages of ours. You know our ongoing troubles with the Baharuth Empire... if they show they can protect us from them better than father, we'll bleed out citizens."
"Oh," Lakyus said quietly.
"And father, bluntly, lacks the charisma to hold the citizens just based on loyalty," Renner said a bit regretfully.
Lakyus drank some tea, "So... best or worst ending?"
"Best, we peacefully join them," Renner said flatly, "worst, we lost a large piece of the kingdom to them, then the Baharuth Empire invades and crushes us."
To be continued...
Notes: I always thought it would be interesting to see more of the Theocracy. So, using them a bit. And yes, the blood knight Zesshi Zetsumei is interested in Kobayashi. And yes, Clementine was working for them at one point, at least. Then went freelance.
Poor Jircniv is understandably VERY worried about the new Empire. While Fluder would, probably, throw his master under a bus for magic knowledge they possess. As in canon...
I'm not sure how I want the Holy Kingdom arc to play out, frankly. I still REALLY dislike Remedios, from the way she acts in the novels, but it would be interesting to have Calcia in play as a 'lawful good' Queen, compared to how murky most characters in Overlord are.
I haven't decided if Renner will be evil in this version. We'll see.