Momonga scratched his bony head, staring at the back of the Death Knight in befuddlement as it charged towards the village on its own. He had summoned it to test his abilities and was completely blind-sided when it didn't stay by his side. Many things appeared to have changed from the game. As he heard others come through the Gate he had cast, he turned back to them. Veres had come through in full battle gear, her scepter at the ready as Albedo came behind.
"My apologies for the delay. The preparations took some time." Albedo said. Her brutal plate armor seemed all imposing to those who didn't know her.
"So, why did you come here all of a sudden?" Veres asked, looking at the corpse of a knight and the two children. She had been messaged in the middle of her conversation with Cocytus.
"When experimenting with the Remote Viewing Mirror I noticed this village was under attack by knights. This village is the closest sign of habitation to our home, and there didn't seem to be any particular reason for the attack. It seemed like a good way to gather intelligence about what has been happening in the area, so I intervened." Momonga tried to not say it was purely a whim, but Veres noticed.
"*sigh*, 'Saving someone who is in trouble is common sense', is it. Well, I can't fault you for that when it's what you used to get the others to let me join. So, what do we do next?" Her mood seemed reluctant, and her ears drooped in reaction to her mood.
"Ah, I already killed two of the knights. They were really weak. I was able to kill one with a fifth-tier spell. I also created a Death Knight to protect me, but it ran off to kill them and is still fighting. You should still stay alert, but so long as we are cautious we should be safe." He said, pointing to the fried corpse encased in armor.
Veres nodded in understanding before focusing back on the two humans. The two of them were huddled together, they hadn't let go of each other since she showed up. On their faces was a look of pure shock, so much had happened so quickly that they were incapable of processing what was going on.
'Well, in for a penny, in for a pound.' Veres didn't think they were a threat and felt that gaining more good will from the people they were saving was the reasonable thing to do. She still didn't want to be there, though.
"[Heal]." Ears flicking in annoyance, she stuck out her palm and cast a healing spell. The small wound on the older girl's back quickly closed up with the overpowered spell. Both children stared in wonder at the magically healed wound.
"I'll set up a perimeter. Don't do anything crazy, we're here for intelligence." Veres said. Turning back to Momonga, she fixed him with a stern look, hoping to keep him focused on their goal, before her form faded out of view. A more powerful person would be able to sense as her magic spread out, providing a warm and comfortable glow to her allies.
Once Veres was gone, Momonga decided to find the knights who were keeping watch around the village. He cast some spells to protect the girls before throwing them a couple trash items for a meager defense. It would be unsatisfying if they died right away after he saved them. As he strode away, Albedo in toe, he only waved over his shoulder when he heard to two village girls thank him.
Veres floated gently above the small village. Although no one could see her, as she was both intangible and ethereal with her magical nature. She had quickly set up a magical defensive screen so that no high-level players could interfere from afar, and with the arrival of more servants from Nazarick they were now physically defended too. Below her, she could hear the 'fighting' between the Death Knight and the attackers.
She had watched the Death Knight fight for a while to better understand the strength of the locals. She had been sorely disappointed. She had watched as the attackers were butchered with contemptuous ease. However, instead of feeling relief that the innocent villagers were saved, or pity for the broken knights, she only felt irritation that she had been called away from Nazarick. Especially when the enemy was so weak.
She didn't understand why she felt that way. When she first arrived, she figured her indifference to the cooked corpse and injured girls came from her not witnessing the fight. However, after she felt little for the many brutal deaths she witnessed in the village she wasn't so sure. As she watched the proceedings below, she took note of Momonga as he experimented with the corpses of the knights who had stood watch. Whatever was affecting her probably affected him too, as he was indifferent to the inhumane experiments he performed.
Finally, the Death Knight had almost killed all the knights in the village when a horn rang out. She watched as Momonga took that as his que to intervene, the last few knights being spared. She didn't watch as Momonga talked to the rescued villagers, instead watching the knights who had run away with all their might. They soon left the main sensor net, but she still tracked them magically to find out where they came from. They eventually met up with a larger group, probably their superiors, before they took off running in terror again, to her utter amusement.
She watched as the group started to fan out, encircling the village. It appeared as if they were there for something else and Momonga just happened to intervene at the right time. The group, who she now noticed were all magicians, didn't make any moves on the village, so they were probably waiting for something to happen.
She then expanded her sensory magic, hoping to discover what they were waiting for. She wasn't disappointed when she noticed a group of riders approaching the village. They were still some miles away, but they would arrive at the village soon. She noticed when the encirclement seemed to let these riders in, before closing up and tightening around them.
When Veres noticed long-range magical surveillance prodding at the edge of their defenses, following the riders in, a monstrous grin split her muzzle. If anyone saw it, they would think she was snarling, a monster ready to pounce. Her long-range counter magic was the best in Nazarick, if anyone tried to watch her or find her using magic she would know. She also took great pleasure in trolling them from afar with false images, illusions, and 'special' counter spells. It didn't take her long to set up one of her more favored counters to unsolicited surveillance. She started to giggle madly at the thought of what medieval spellcasters would think of her show.
With a start, she snapped out of the dark haze she had descended into. Her pleasure at causing chaos and toying with the investigators was stronger than her normal joy at messing with people, instead bordering on heinous and malicious. She now understood that their minds had probably changed with their bodies. It explained why Momonga was so capable of slaughter, and her current inclination. She was a Celestial Beast with a Kitsune base. To her trickery and deceit of foes were the greatest things. It also meant that, as such a magnificent Beast, such inferior creatures as the humans below weren't worthy of her attention, so she was irritated with Momonga for making her help them.
She then grew uneasy. She wasn't afraid, just apprehensive of what these changes would mean. She didn't want to lose all of what made her human to her racial disposition. In YGGDRASIL, you could create lore and backstories for your character and NPCs. It didn't affect abilities usually, more there for flavor and world submersion. A Celestial Beast tended to be a bit different, as it had very relationship specific lore in the game, herself included. It was very important in explaining why they did something or were in an unusual place for NPC types. In this New World the completely flavorful lore she made for herself was now 'real', meaning that it might control her thoughts and feelings. How that would impact her relationship with Momonga wasn't clear when he was so important to her personal history and created lore.
"Ah. I can't let this distract me. [Message]." Her focus returning to the situation at hand, she messaged Momonga to inform him of the trap.
"[Hm? What is it Veres? Is something wrong?]" Momonga seemed distracted by his conversation with the lead rider.
"[Someone is setting up a trap. Although, it's for those riders, not us. Those knights probably attacked to draw out these riders, so expect an ambush soon.]" Her tone wasn't stressed, so Momonga was able to tell that it wasn't a serious threat.
"[Understood. Can you come down here? The leader of the riders is the Head Warrior of the kingdom we're in. We should keep good relations with him, for now.]" Momonga asked kindly, but for some reason she could only see it as an order. One that needed to be followed.
After double checking that her defenses would alert her to any threats, and that her fun little surprise for the nosy watcher was ready, she teleported to Momonga's position before allowing her intangible form to take shape. She suddenly faded into existence beside Momonga, opposite of Albedo, the Death Knight in the back. Her white motif was a harsh parallel to the other three.
All of the humans reacted in shock to her sudden appearance. The uncomfortable looking villagers' eyes widened at the sight of her holy radiance. The riders seemed to tense as they tightened their grips on their weapons, ready to strike at the four of them. The leader of the riders schooled his features well though, only briefly surprised before controlling his reaction.
"Amazing, I never would have expected this to happen." He said. His tight smile and heavy tone suggested that her appearance was just part of the oddity in that situation. Veres was now very curious about why everyone seemed so befuddled and surprised by her appearance.
Momonga descended slowly to the ground. He had been alerted to the plight of the surviving knights by the sound of a horn for aid. Of course, he had already killed their support that waited outside the village with their horses. They had all been excellent test subjects for his abilities.
"Death Night, that's enough." With his command it ceased its one-sided slaughter of the remaining knights. The survivors didn't seem all that pleased though, as the knights' trembling intensified, and the villagers seemed to want to run away.
"Greetings. I saw this village being attacked and just had to intervene. Of course, I can spare your lives, if you through down your arms." The knights didn't know what to do. They were terrified of the Death Knight, but its monstrous master was much worse. They were afraid that if they surrendered a fate worse than death would await them. Eventually, their fear of the known outweighed the unknown and they threw down their arms.
Shortly after, one of them prostrated on the ground. The other knights and all the villagers swiftly followed his example. Momonga was pleased to see the knights understood their position, but was also a bit embarrassed by the reverence the villagers were showing him.
"Well then, I believe you may live. If you deliver a message to your master. Tell them, 'This area is under my control. Do not go causing trouble, or I will sweep aside your entire nation.' Now, go." His commanding voice didn't broker any dissent from them. Although, they were too scared to resist anyways.
With permission to leave given, the knights fled like rabbits. They ran with all their might to escape the monstrous being behind them and could only pray in their hearts that the villagers wouldn't suffer. After the knights had left, Momonga turned back to the villagers.
"You are safe now. You may be at ease." Although he didn't show it, he was perplexed by their reaction. He had just saved their lives, and while some gratitude was expected they seemed adamant to please him as they remained prostrated.
"…However, I didn't rescue you for free. I will expect compensation for the lives of the villagers I saved." He had hoped a crass demand for money would alleviate their concerns about him, but it seemed to make things worse. Many of the prostrated villagers started to tremble, their postures similar to the knights who had fled. After some further coxing, and a few subtle threats, he finally got someone, who was probably the chief of the village, to look up at him. When he saw the fear in the man's eyes, naked for the world to see, he understood the humans' reactions.
He was an undead, and while in YGGDRASIL seeing undead around wasn't uncommon, it would appear that in this New World undead were thought of as monsters. For these simple people to have such an imposing monster show up and make demands of them broke their spirit. They seemed to fully expect to be killed and turned into undead. He finally understood that his demand for money made them think he was claiming their lives.
"Haaah. What a pain. Albedo, remove your helm." Quietly ordering his living subordinate to show she was alive, he started to understand where Veres' irritation came from.
"Understood." Once Albedo removed her helm the chief's eyes went wide. He had expected another monstrous visage, not a divine and radiant beauty.
"I wish to speak with you in private about my reimbursement." Momonga felt that the chief, and a few brave villagers who looked up, started to realize he wouldn't just kill them without reason. If it was possible for him to have a living servant, inhuman or not, then they should be able to convince their savior to let them live. Finally, the chief and his wife took Momonga inside the largest house in the village.
"Thank you very much for sparing our lives. We are in your debt. If there is anything we lowly beings can give to satisfy a Supreme One such as yourself, we will gladly give it to you." Their foreheads pressed down in deference, they now begged him to let the villagers live. Albedo seemed to purr at the way the chief referred to Momonga as Supreme.
"You don't need to worry. I merely saw the attack in passing and decided to intervene. It has, yes, it has been a long time since myself or any of my subordinates have left my home, so I am rather remiss in my knowledge of the surrounding area. I believe that that, as well as a few minor things, would be acceptable as payment. Also, I rescued a pair of girls when I first arrived, please send someone to fetch them." Momonga felt it was best to tread carefully, choosing to let the chief's fear overestimate his desires and then endear the chief to him with his kind treatment.
"Th, thank you very much! We are just a poor farming village, so we don't have much to give you. But, we, we will gladly give anything to our savior if we can." The chief seemed to relax. While there was still obvious fear and tension in his stance, he seemed to believe that the demands made would be feasible.
As time passed Momonga was able to gather a great deal of information about the surrounding countries including politics, agriculture, and currency. He was pleased to realize just how wealthy in this world he seemed to be with the literal sea of YGGDRASIL gold he had, although he'd have to be careful about how he distributed it. He was caught off guard by their lack of knowledge on resurrection and high-tier magic. The chief spoke of them as things of legends, attained only by heroes.
This did lead into an informative discussion on people known as adventurers. They appeared to be the largest group with any individual fighting strength, and the primary source of all magic usage outside the religious temples and a dedicated mage guild. He was glad to learn about a guild for them in the nearby city. When talking about this, the chief finally addressed the proverbial elephant in the room.
"If you wish to conduct trade or gather more information you would need to go to a city. But, one such as yourself would never be permitted entry. While a Supreme One such as yourself is incomparable to lowly undead like skeletons, monsters like Vampires and Elder Liches are beings everyone has learned to fear. I don't doubt that you would be attacked on site by adventurers or soldiers if you ever went to a city." The chief obviously didn't want to upset him, but Momonga still praised him in his heart for the valuable intel. He'd have to hide his unhuman nature if he visited any cities, but he was still glad to learn lowly Elder Liches were considered powerful beings.
"I understand. Thank you for the explanation. When my friends and I used to be out in the open more often seeing heteromorphs wasn't uncommon or strange. It appears that things have changed significantly over time. Now, we have been discussing for some time, so I'm sure work for yourself has been building up. I believe that with the information you have given me, as well as the funds previously discussed, we can say your debt is cleared." Getting up from the rickety chair, he made his way to the door.
Outside, the villagers had tentatively started to repair their village. Pulling aside debris, putting out fires, and collecting bodies for burial were all tasks they went about performing. They still visibly avoided the chief's house and the imposing Death Knight who stood guard outside it.
Right in front of the house sat the two girls he had rescued. They had been cleaned up and put into nice(r) clothes while they waited for him to finish talking with the chief. From their posture and nervous demeanor, he gleaned there was more to them being there than he thought.
"Hm? Why aren't you two helping in the village? I'm sure your family would like the help in rebuilding your home." He asked, hoping to glean some information from their words.
"Um. Are, aren't you taking us too?" the older girl asked fearfully. It would appear the villagers had misunderstood his intent when he asked them to get the girls. They all seemed to think that he had claimed them as part of the payment.
"No, I have no need for more subordinates. Besides, this is your home. I couldn't possibly take you away from your family." He tried to dissuade their misbeliefs with a gentler tone. He was caught off guard when the younger one started to cry as the older one gripped her tighter.
"Our parents were killed in the attack. We have nothing left." The older girl seemed to be on the verge of tears as well. Momonga's opinion of the chief dropped a little bit. It appeared that he was willing to give up the girls, who might become a burden, to be part of his reward.
"… This is your home. While your parents may be gone, I'm sure there are those who would miss you. It's up to you to push forward and rebuild your life." He could only give them bland words of encouragement as he left the two girls. He really didn't think it would be a good idea to take them with him, so he could only coldly turn away and hope that the villagers wouldn't scorn them.
The reaction he got wasn't what he had unexpected. As he walked towards the small cemetery where the killed villagers were to be buried, he did his best to ignore the look of pure adoration on Albedo's face and the near worshiping gaze of the villagers who had seen him refuse the girls services.
Once all the bodies were collected, all the villagers came together and buried them. He could only watch in discomfort as they were put to rest and the survivors gave prayers for their souls. He still wanted to talk to the chief, so Momonga decided to wait until he had completed some of the more pressing tasks. Eventually, a man ran up to the chief, drawing Momonga's attention.
"Is something the matter?" He asked after noticing the quickly panicking villagers.
"It, it appears more riders are approaching the village..." The chief said nervously. He clearly wanted the powerful magic caster to stay in case the riders were hostile but was afraid of the Undead's response. He was also afraid of how these riders might treat them after seeing an undead in the village.
'Ah well. It's too late to do anything about it now. I doubt I could wipe all their memories, and just killing them would be a waste.' Momonga realized he had made a mistake by not disguising himself, but figured it was best to own it and deal with any consequences.
"I understand." Momonga moved off to the side with his two servants cum bodyguards. Still visible to the riders and the chief, but with a less pronounced and demanding posture.
When the riders entered the village square, he took note of their well-armed and serious demeanor. They all tensed when they saw him, many even drew their blades upon seeing the monstrous trio. The most powerful looking one at the head of the formation bore down on the chief. He took note of the inhuman beings and tensed, but maintained his bearing while trying to discern the truth. He didn't want to fight against something he didn't think he could beat unless he had to.
"I am the Kingdom's Head Warrior, Gazef Stronoff. I've come to investigate the attacks on villages by armored knights. However, I must ask who that is." He approached the chief while gesturing to the Undead and its companions. He didn't react when many of the villagers whispered his name in recognition and reverence.
"Head Warrior. You grace us with our presence. Those individuals are our saviors from the knights when they attacked. They intervened just in time to rescue most of the village. They are…" The chief trailed off when introducing them, and Momonga realized he had never introduced himself. He had let them refer to him as Supreme One or Savior out of convenience, making him forget his courtesies to give them his name. Pausing to think about what name he should give, he made his decision.
"… How do you do? My name is Ainz Ooal Gown."
*Hoh-ho. What changes will this bring? Ever so slowly, the changes to the story will grow. Comment on what you think about these changes. I feed off them.*