She is OVERLORD
Eleven
"Narberal Gamma. Welcome," Sebas Tain nodded to the woman leading the new arrivals from the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
"Lord Sebas," Narberal nodded respectfully. "Mistress Kobayashi sent me, along with others to serve as your staff."
The mansion near the noble district was the new Embassy for Ainz Ooal Gown in Re-Estize. Using gold provided by Kobayashi he had bought it outright, and left it mostly unfurnished. He clearly didn't need any fancy trappings, though they would maintain it as is so as to not shame themselves.
"Here is a message from the Empress," Narberal passed the papers over, "and she will contact you via magic with further instructions."
"Thank you," Sebas said as he lead her inside even as he scanned the pages. "The Mistress wishes us to investigate local magic?" he noted.
"Correct, that is part of why I was sent," Narberal agreed. "In discussions with the human mage, Ninya, Mistress determined local magic is much weaker than ours. But there may be spells that are of some use to us."
"Hmm, understood," Sebas nodded.
Her voice dripping disdain Narberal added, "We have been instructed to enlist Ninya's help in that endeavour." Clearly, the idea of asking for help from someone not of Nazrick offended her deeply.
"She was helpful to the Mistress," Sebas reminded her.
Narberal nodded, conceding that.
Three maids, and several soldier types, had accompanied her, and the maids were looking around eagerly. "Lord Sebas," Yuri, the redhead, said, "we will begin cleaning at once."
Lily, a buxom blond, added, "We need to prepare the kitchen, too."
Sappha, the brown haired one with glasses added, "Can we expect guests, Lord Sebas?"
"Not yet, though Princess Renner has stated she wishes to meet," Sebas noted.
"We'll be ready!" the three maids rushed off to work.
"There are far too many rooms for our needs," Sebas said as he led Narberal off, "but it is for the glory of Nazrick and Ains Ooal Gown. You may take your pick of any of the bedrooms."
"I see," Narberal noted dubiously as she followed.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Gazef Stronoff grunted with effort as he ran through his sword drills. Normally such activity was largely mindlessly repetitive, but his thoughts were annoyingly persistent.
'What are we going to DO?' Gazef thought, swinging.
The treaty with Ainz Ooal Gown would, hopefully, stave off trouble for now. But he felt deep in his bones that they were still in grave jeopardy. He had already had a sense of how powerful they were, but what happened in the graveyard was a whole other thing.
Evil Eye, a Sorceress with the Blue Roses, had told him flatly, "What she did was impossible."
"Eh?" Gazef asked
Evil Eye had continued grimly, "Skeletal Dragons are commonly thought to be immune to all magic. Period."
Gazef processed that, "So they're more powerful than any magic we know."
"Exactly," Evil Eye agreed.
He had then interviewed the team Swords of Darkness, to try to get a feel for their physical power. That was even more worrying, bluntly. They were at least as strong as the strongest adventurers out there. He has beginning to doubt he could fight even one of them, even using Razor Edge and the royal treasures.
"I don't think I've ever seen you train so hard, sir," a voice noted.
Gazef looked up, seeing a handsome young man in simple tunic and pants. "Climb," he nodded, "well, I have never been this out matched before."
"YOU, sir?" Climb sounded startled.
"Hmm," Gazef nodded, finally stopping the drills. He stretched, "Have you met the group from Ainz Ooal Gown?"
"I saw them in Court," Climb admitted. "They feel... very dangerous."
"They are that," Gazef agreed. He picked up a towel and wiped the sweat away, "You've been training with the adventurers Blue Rose, correct?"
Climb nervously answered, "Ah, yes sir."
'Good," Gazef nodded, "I think we all will need to become stronger, before this is over."
Climb clearly didn't get it, but went along, "Yes sir."
Gazef put the towel down as he said, "I'm back on duty soon, but next time, let's spar together."
"I thought we shouldn't...," Climb started.
"Because you or I beating the other could be used against the King's faction," Gazef nodded. "I think that whole... situation needs to change too."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The second Primce, Zanac, was good at reading the political situation. He was also cleverer than he looked, though he was well aware he was underestimated due to his appearance. No one expected much of the chubby prince, after all.
"Are you use this is wise?" Marquis Raeven asked the prince.
"No," Zanac admitted, "but I have realized the situation has fundamentally changed."
Raeven really couldn't argue with that. Like the other nobles, he had heard about how powerful Ainz Ooal Gown was. More importantly, Raeven had agents working to follow up on the reports. There wasn't much added information out there, but what he could find worried him immensely.
Zanac knocked on the door, then both waited.
Climb opened the door, looking a little surprised. "Your Royal Highness," the young man said warily. "I did not know you were coming to see the Princess."
Zanac felt a faint twinge of regret over how often he had taunted the commoner. He had had reasons, of course, but it was coming back on him now.
"Could you let the Princess know we're here?" Raeven asked smoothly, "it's important."
"Of course," Climb nodded. He was gone for a few moments, then returned and said, "Please, come inside."
Princess Renner was waiting for them in her sitting room, and her eyes showed actual curiosity. Mind you, Zanac knew she was an excellent actress. Being as brilliant as she was, from an early age, had broke something deep inside her. She was incapable of caring about most people, though again she put on a good act.
Climb took his usual place behind Renner as she smiled, "It's so nice to see you, brother."
"Could we speak alone?" Zanac asked, looking at Climb.
Climb frowned, "I..."
Renner smiled up at him warmly, "It's all right, Climb. You can just wait outside for a little bit."
Climb frowned but nodded, "Of course."
Once Climb left Zanac noted, "Does he think I'd actually try to kill you?"
Renner's face lost all expression, as if a switch had turned off. "You do keep calling me a monster," she said dryly.
"Yes, well...," Zanac sighed.
Renner studied the two men then said perceptively, "You want me to work with you? Because Ainz Ooal Gown."
Once again, Zanac and Raeven were startled by how incredibly intelligent the woman was. "Yes," Raeven said quickly, "with the new Empire of Ainz Ooal Gown on our border, the situation has changed. We can no longer allow the local political situation to continue."
Renner nodded, "Yes, but why should I join you? What is in it for me?"
"Survival, since I expect we'll be destroyed otherwise," Zanac offered wryly.
"Survival has never been a priority to me," Renner said flatly.
"But Climb's survival?" Raeven pointed out.
Renner paused, then conceded, "Point."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The Swords of Darkness had been hired to escort the maids and soldiers from Carne Village back to Re-Estize. Which had been a odd experience. All the travellers had kept to themselves, and the lead maid, Narberal, loathed them in general.
Peter Mauk, the leader of the Swords, said, "All right. We're taking a few days break, then Nfirea wants us to take him back to Carne."
"The lad needs to decide to stay with his lady, or not," Dyne Woodwomder noted mildly.
"Ah, love," Lukrut Volve the ranger sighed.
"Hey, Peter," Brita took him aside, "Ninya and I are going to work on some errands. We'll check in with you, though."
Peter, knowing some on Ninya's background, nodded seriouisly. "Be careful," he said, "we'll help out if needed."
Ninya smiled shyly, "Thank you Peter."
"All right," Brita said briskly as they walked towards the Adventurers Guild, "first off, what's your sister's full name?"
As Ninya told her, 'he' felt the first twing of hope they had felt in a long, long time.
To be continued...
Notes: Other than the few in one episode, the maid staff at Nazrick don't get named. So I just made stuff up, and decided to go with a yuri theme for them.
Working on Renner and what's going on with her. Not spoiling anything, but I think Zanac and Raeven are going to quickly realize they've bitten off more than they can chew.