Disclaimer: I own nothing
Volume 1: The Pecking Order
Chapter 4
"I wonder how I'm able to smell?"
Ainz was busy taking one of his many walks through the woods outside of the village as he pondered something that had been on his mind for a while.
"I mean, I don't even have a nose! I don't have lungs to even breath in with! I don't have eyes either...so how do I see?"
Ainz had made it a point to take these as often as he could, both to alleviate stress and to take in the beauty of this world. After all, in the time on Earth that Ainz lived in, scenes like the ones he was enjoying right now where of the past. This was because humanity and their corporate overlords had ruined their environment, turning it into a literal hell on earth for those not of the top brass.
"Now that I'm at it, how am I able to speak at all?"
Before starting his walk, Ainz had finally gotten the food situation sorted out. Using the magic item [Cauldron of Daghdha], he was able to make an infinite amount of meat for the carnivorous demihumans that served under him.Curiously enough, the meat produced by the item lacked bones. The meat, however, was still perfectly fine.
"Also, how do I even move without muscles?"
In addition to getting the food issue sorted out, Vijar informed him that the village defenses were finished. So now the newer inhabitants of the village were granted protection by a wooden wall almost identical to the inner one.
"But the most pressing of issues, how am I even able to think about this or anything without a brain?!"
Speaking of Vijar, he had been doing a good job of keeping everything and everyone organized, and he had implemented Ainz's plans and ideas quite well. He had also done so with a fervor that was appreciated, but was also a little off putting. Nevertheless, Ainz battled through it for Vijar's sake. Why? Well he was Vijar's boss of course. And Ainz would certainly not be like one of those corrupt and uncaring bosses that treated their employees like trash back on Earth.
Ainz stopped his mental questioning as he reached a clearing. He stopped walking as well. What he saw on that night sky made his non existent breath hitch.
"Beautiful...If only you were here to see this right now my friends. I really miss you guys. Just...just please be here too. I don't want to be all alone in this world."
Ainz then shook himself out of his thoughts.
"On a different note, Vijar, I think I should reward him for his hard work. Yeah, that's a great idea!...What do I even give him though?Think Ainz, think!What would Vijar even want? A new weapon perhaps? Maybe some armor? Ugh. I don't even know if he'll want one of those. I should give him something that really shows how much I appreciate the work he's done for me. I mean, he's done a lot, managing not one but two tribes! Uwahhh...must be rough. I know I'm supposed to be the 'head honcho' around here, but it feels like he's doing most of the work...What if I relieved some of his burden? I mean, what if I put someone else in charge of the Stone Eaters? No, that could be seen as me not trusting him...How about I give him a promotion instead? He could be my chief supervisor or something. Yeah, he would be my direct subordinate, and below him would be the 'branch chiefs' of the two tribes. Who would be the two branch chiefs though? I think Muar would be a good choice for the Zoastia, but what about the Stone Eaters? Well, demihumans follow the strong right? So why not I hold a tournament for the Stone Eaters to determine their branch chief? Way to go Ainz! You're doing a great at being a boss!" Ainz mentally patted himselfon the back before pausing. "...At least I think I am?...Uwahhh, being a boss is hard. I literally went from being a salaryman man to a 'CEO' of a 'company' overnight!...Let's just stick with the tournament idea. Play it by year I guess."
At that, Ainz turned around and started making his way back toward the village.
Hectowaizes was really cursing his kind heart right now.
He and his tribe had been picking up and helping some of the other tribes escape south with them. Away from the encroaching menace that is 'the Ashen King'.
They had picked up the Snakemen, the Armat, the Centaurs, and the Horuner. All four of these tribes were in the way of 'the Ashen King' and all four were smart enough to not face him. However, because of their now greater numbers, they were moving slower. Hectowaizes knew that at their current pace, 'the Ashen King' and his forces would overtake them somewhere around the Zoastia village. Hectowaizes could only hope that they would assist them, because then they would maybe, just maybe have a shot at surviving this ordeal.
One can only hope.
Hectowaizes was broken free from his thoughts by a messenger. He could tell immediately that the messenger was a Horuner by his horse like legs.
"Lord Hectowaizes! The other leaders wish to speak to you! They want to know if there's any other options. They request your presence in the command tent immediately."
A sigh escaped Hectowaizes' lips as he gazed up at the night sky. "Again? Really? Fine, tell them I'll be there soon."
"Of course my lord! I shall inform them immediately!" After speaking his response the messenger turned around and immediately started making his way toward the command tent where the tribal leaders were.
This wasn't the first time they had asked him about this. The answer was always the same, "There is only one thing we can do. We must continue south, and pray to the ancestors that our tribes will make it out of this." and yet, they kept asking him.
He didn't blame them though, after all, everyone in the Abelion Hills knew about what happens when you face 'the Ashen King'. They all knew what the fates of the Caben were. So it was only natural that they were afraid of what could happen.
Still, he wished that they wouldn't ask this five times a day.
Jircniv couldn't believe his luck.
The Warrior Captain of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Gazef Stronoff, was dead. Not only that, but his spy in the Kingdom's court reported that the current king, Rampossa III, had all but abdicated due to his grief. To add fuel to the fire, there was an impending civil war due to the succession crisis between the first prince Barbro, and the second prince Zanac.
This was great! No, this was amazing!
Those foolish royals and nobles. They couldn't see that they were practically handing him their kingdom on a silver platter!
However, there was one factor that was unaccounted for in all this, the third princess, Renner.
Jircniv knew that she was intelligent. Probably on the same level as him. So, he knew that she could probably fix this whole situation if she wanted to and if she had enough time. But, she had been quiet.
Jircniv prided himself on being able to read people. However, he couldn't figure out what her angle was in all this. Was she going to try to directly take over the kingdom? Or was going to rule in the shadows through a puppet? Jircniv didn't know, and that worried him.
Pushing away his doubts, Jircniv pulled out a piece of paper to begin writing a letter to the general of the first legion.
He shook himself free of any remaining doubts as he began writing, after all, he had a kingdom to conquer.
Renner had everything planned out.
She had prepared the perfect plan to enable her puppy to live a peaceful life with her forever. Just imagining her plan coming to fruition excited Renner. Why wouldn't it? Once her plan succeeded she would have her Climb all to herself forever, and ever.
"Hehehehe, oh Climb, my dear puppy, you're the only one who can get me this excited, hehehehe. I can't wait till I have you all to myself, forever. sigh. It'll be perfect. Just me, and my Climb. Mine. Mine, hehehehe. All mine. Mine."
Renner broke herself out of her thoughts. After all, she was beginning to really smile due to her thoughts. She couldn't do that while other people besides her puppy were around. No. Her smile, her real smile, was for her puppy and only her puppy. Not one of these worthless maids that she knew were only here to spy on her.
But, they didn't matter. Only her Climb did.
Runner started humming softly to herself as she thought about her future with her puppy.
"Just the two of us, forever. Hehehe."
"How boring."
The conqueror was growing tried of chasing his enemies, no, his prey all over the hills. At least he had got some fun out of those useless fossils a little while ago. They should be grateful that he gave them a purpose before they died. He was generous enough to give them the task of providing music and light for his men as they were burned alive.
Was he not benevolent?
They surely must be signing his praises in the afterlife.
He did give them a beautiful death after all. Truly fire was beautiful. Always hungry, always wanting more. Strong and unrelenting.
Beautiful, truly beautiful. It was the only way he could describe it. Just like him. He was fire. Elegant, strong, hungry for more, unrelenting. What else could he be but the personification of fire?
Also like fire, the conqueror left a trail of ash wherever he went.
The conqueror chuckled a bit.
"Perhaps I do live up the title those weaklings gave me."
With his face illuminated by the fire, 'the Ashen King's' face was split by a grin.
