IV

As Rokkan approached the steps leading to the center of the room, he gazed upon his future interlocutors with ravenous eyes. His severe father and current head of the Drykven bloodline Brute Diomedeus Nagreydan the Third, was sitting on his makeshift throne sculpted from raw stones and bone. His son and Rokkan's younger brother, the weak-willed and pious Fratherickus, was looking at him expectantly with dreamy eyes.

He was small and insignificant, a kind soul among wolves. Extremely religious and devout to the cult of lady Hilda, the mere thought of conflict deeply troubled him, to the point that he hid behind Rokkan's broad shoulders during his early adulthood whenever his father threatened him phisically.

This behaviour wasnt limited to situations where a real beatdown was a very tangible possibility: he soon got used to retreating, escaping, delegating his own responsibilities to someone else, and deflecting the blame for his actions towards his subordinates.

All that made Rokkan deeply upset, to the point that he soon began hating his younger brother with a passion. His current demandeur didnt help. He often wore dark robes similar to those of the priests and he refused to eat more than a simple meal every day, thus his constitution, already weakened by inactivity and deep meditation, was significantly affected. Sometimes Rokkan thought he could just kill his brother with a simple push against a wall. At first he didnt mean it, but now he was quite willing to do the deed.

However, that was no time to dwell in such petty concerns. As he was even more eager to avenge his tarnished honor and reclaim his rightful place among the powerful, he was going to be patient and wait for the opportunity to strike at the heart of his enemies.

For that specific purpose he had sought such a meeting, and his father, although quite upset, had agreed to formally grant him his wish.

"Greetings lord father. I see you are well and stoic as always".

"Spare me the flattery Rokkan. Tell me, what brings you back from your expeditions? Have I not been generous enough with you? Money, an escort, twenty assassins at your disposal, and yet here you are, empty-handed. Why should I listen to the tales of your failure? Will you beg for mercy?"

"I am grateful for your generosity, lord father. And I am here today to announce one of my greatest successes. As a matter of fact, I am far from being empty-handed. Please allow me".

Rokkan bowed deeply, then he proceeded to show them a yellowish map containing a signed note next to a wax sigil. Brute recognized that as the symbol of the Sorcerous Kingdom; a mixture of concern and anger overtook him.

"What is this? What is the meaning of this? Have you lost your mind, son? I sent you off on a quest to retrieve the sacred artifact of our gods and you come back with a piece of paper signed by the enemy of mankind? Have I not told you that our agreement with the Falsjagos is precarious already? You disappoint me".

"Lord father... if you could just spend a moment to read it... you would realize that this is much more than a simple piece of paper. I have successfully contacted the prime minister herself, you see. At this very moment, negotiations could be started. If you allow me to participate, and arrange a proper meeting, I'll be most pleased. I think we should give them the sacred artifact and form a beneficial alliance that will grant our survival, and better still, preserve our power among the people of this city".

"And YOU want me to ally with the enemy of mankind? YOU will conduct the meeting? How foolish! You are too daring, my son. Cease this nonsense at once or I swear I'll have you gutted like a fish by tomorrow morning!"

The air around the three had started to get colder. Rokkan's determined eyes were piercing through his father's like a polearm. While he understood the importance of one's place in the world, he wasnt ready to back down at that time.

Fratherickus had been silent the whole time. He looked frightened like a rabbit, but with the little courage he had left he spoke up.

"Please father, give... give Rokkan the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure he wasnt going to defy your wishes! H-he's been a good son, just let him try this!"

"Silence! Do not side with the traitor, Fratherickus. Your blood will one day carry this family, so you'd better know what your place is. You are a human, and as such you will not side with the enemy. Do you understand?"

"B-but Rokkan isnt my enemy, father! And neither are you! Can we please just put this matter aside for one evening? I beg of you, let's get along just this once. I havent seen you happy in years!"

"Dont waste your breath, dear brother. I understood. I have received my orders. I'll rescind my proposed agreement with the Sorcerous Kingdom. I am sorry to have troubled you so, lord father".

Surprisingly, Rokkan averted his gaze and knelt. While his tone felt cold and condescending, it didnt take long for Fratherickus to understand that he was buying time.

Happy with the result of his action, his brother stood up beside him and helped him raise his body.

"Oh dear brother... you made the right choice. Angering lord father is unwise, and besides, we really need to catch up. It would be best if we stood firm as a united family in this time of great danger! Now come, I was eager to see you for quite some time. We havent spoken a lot, have we? Let's chat for a brief moment before departure. Here, lend me your hand".

"Indeed. thank you brother. I shall retire to my room after we've finished, and then I'll depart to fulfill my mission".

Rokkan's father seemed unimpressed by his act. He was no fool. He didnt believe a single word, but regardless, he couldnt just imprison his son for no reason. No crime had been committed, however, that single proposal seemed so preposterous that he had already thought about putting his son under surveillance for the remainder of the evening.

Thus the brief exchange had ended prematurely. Seeking his father's approval had never been Rokkan's real intention, rather, he just wanted confirmation that his actions were correct. Now he felt more determined than ever to see it through to the end.

Rethinking about the whole ordeal, the mere fact that house Falsjago had been able to steal one of the sacred relics from the city's guardian had been nothing short of miraculous. Their greed really knew no bounds. Some had no scruples whatsoever and would sell their own mothers for money if they could. The same group that did the deed had been responsible for several kidnappings for the church years prior, and they had a long streak of robberies in and around the city and the nearby kingdoms at the other end of the desert. In short, these were true professionals in the art of theft.

Rokkan wasnt familiar with the Falsjagos, but he was very well acquainted with the power-hungry chiefs of the local bands of bandits. They often exchanged information and did favours to each other, thus enhancing his perception of society and how the criminal social structure of a bigger nation would work.

If he had pushed the right buttons, he too might have been at the peak of that evolutionary stair, so steep yet so easy to climb with the right means. For that very purpose, his ambitious project had matured into a behemoth of such large proportions. Unbeknown to his father, Rokkan had established a large net of informants with eyes and ears everywhere in the city, and he was on the verge of overthrowing him.

While Brute Diomedeus' cunning was second to none in the underground world, his son had two very distinctive traits: an endless thirst for power, and an ambition that defied reason. His sheer force of will was so strong that a few years prior he'd been able to overcome a deadly disease and survive with less than 33 percent chance. For that feat alone, his brother Fratherickus had started to worship him as one of the blessed sons of the gods, protected by holy lady Hilda herself.

With this conviction in his heart, and his mind clouded by an unbridled love, the young and frail boy embraced Rokkan with all his might as soon as they were left alone in his quarters.

His slender hands reached for his brother's neck and slowly descended towards his waist with sensual intent.

"Aaah, it's been so long dear brother... I longed for the day I could see your face again and touch your strong body... you are indeed so blessed by the gods that even your shoulders are broader and your deltoids are so... perfect!"

"Yes, well... I did receive more blessings than what I deserve. And you are one of them, little brother. How lucky am I to have such a loyal and pretty brother...".

Rokkan's words were inflated with praise and a fake warmth that Fratherickus just couldnt comprehend. He was all entangled in his love and fanatism to the point that he couldnt distinguish between lust and devotion.

"Your words honor me, brother. Tell me, what brings you back home? I do not think that seeing our father is the real reason, is it? Perhaps... were you lonely? Did you miss me?"

"Of course I did. I missed our moments together more than anything in the world".

Rokkan felt a deep urge to vomit. Even uttering such words with a straight face was particularly painful.

For a moment in the back of his mind he considered grabbing a knife and stab that little bastard in the chest, but his hand instead reached for the nape of his neck, lovingly caressing his white hair.

"Ah, you little...! My weak spot! How could you...! Now I'll have to be aggressive..."

Fratherickus' fingers were long and soft, almost like a woman's. While the sensation was quite pleasurable, Rokkan just couldnt stand that position. However, he would endure it for the time being.

As his own fingers reached for Fratherickus' throat, he grabbed it firmly and shook it violently. In a few moments, Rokkan sat on top of his brother with a feral motion of his torso.

"Tell me something Fratherickus, your entourage... the three formidable assassins that our father gave you as your bodyguards... are they still here?"

"Y-yes indeed dear brother. Why?"

"Would you lend them to me? I need more of your troops for the endeavour I'm about to accomplish".

"You mean... you intend to defy our gods?"

"No silly. I want to put an end to the corruption that threatens to destroy the church of lady Hilda. You see, my sources reported that a circle of corrupted priests has kept other sacred relics hidden away in the archbishop's estate. It seems that the archbishop himself is a zealot worshipping the old gods, and his intention is to openly denounce lady Hilda as a traitor and false idol. How can I not do something about this?"

As he spoke, his hips started to move ever so slightly. Fratherickus' breathing grew heavier.

"But... why did you have the sacred relic stolen in the first place? You told me that it would have benefitted the church... was it wise to steal it from the city's protector?"

"I did say that. And that is a real thing. As a matter of fact, now that the sacred relic is in my hands, the little rats wanting to defy lady Hilda will come to me to try and get it back. You must not trust anyone from the church, not until I've purified it of its corruption. Once the sacred relic and the artifacts currently in the archbishop's estate will be gathered in the same place, under my protection, only then the church will be saved".

"Ah... you are so... mean...!"

"Why? Do my words not reach your heart as a devout servant of the true gods?"

"No, they do... it's just... you're too rough!"

"My apologies. I'll be more gentle from now on".

Rokkan felt like his brother didnt truly understand a thing. He was completely lost in the pleasures of the flesh and the incestuous nature of their forbidden relationship. And that was exactly what he was aiming for. Reduced to the assertive single-minded fanatic that he was, he could now manipulate him as he pleased. Even though he had prepared such an elaborate lie, he now saw that it didnt matter. He could've said whatever he wanted.

"So, will you help me?"

"H-how could I... refuse such a... majestic offer!"

Rokkan's grin grew larger as he spun around and threw his brother on the other side of the bed for another round.

"I'm so pleased with you, little brother. You truly are the best sibling one could have. Oh, before I forget, I need another favor. This time... it will be on me".

"W-what do you mean?"

"... I need you to cover my traces. I'm going to assassinate someone".

"Care to tell me who's your target, so that I can pray for their safe journey to Heaven?"

"I will say it only once, and to you alone. I'm going to end the mayor's daughter's life today".

There was no reaction. Just a nod, as if he understood. It had to be done, otherwise the gods might have descended to Earth and disrupted the upcoming deal between men and devils.

Satisfied by the outcome of that exchange, Rokkan took his time. After a couple hours and a good shower, the man was ready for action. He dressed in his assassin robes, black leather jacket, silver hoodie clad in magically enhanced mythril and ceremonial sash which could contain a large number of objects. He used to store bombs, gas-based traps, throwable knives and lockpicks inside of it, bot now the only weapon he needed was a sword. The ceremonial sword he had received from his grandfather was more than a magic weapon, it was a symbol of true heroism and gallantry. Far removed from the excesses of the mortal world, the old man had had a completely different life compared to his son Brute Diomedeus; a stoic warrior with strong ties to the Brennedt family, he had used the very same sword to slay evil and free the Star City from an invasion of trolls and demonic creatures from the forest. Rokkan was genuinely proud of his grandfather, and despite their visions of the world being complete opposite to one another, he deeply respected him. Thus that sword ended up being in Rokkan's hands rather than Fratherickus, because of his attachment to his grandfather as much as its fascination for power and grandeur.

With time, Rokkan had learned to enhance its properties by adding runes and magic infused jewels to it. For this reason, the blade was beginning to look more like a multi coloured staff, with all the gems and glowing carvings adorning it.

WIth that sword he intended to kill the mayor's daughter, for she posed a great threat to the Sorcerer King. She had the power to summon a flock of magic creatures that would guide the gods back down from their mountainous retreat, thus assuring a bloody clash that would most likely result in their victory. Since she was apparently the only one capable of such a feat, and nobody knew about the upcoming menace beside the mayor himself, Rokkan was very determined to keep the Prime Minister's coming a secret.

Late that afternoon, he departed the Drykven manor and marched towards the city center with an escort of sixteen assassins, concealed in magic robes. As he gathered information about his target's whereabouts, he found out that lord Flannar had been already summoned by someone else, an old acquaintance at the adventurers' guild. Furious, he sought out to minimize the damage as much as possible regardless; the plan did not change, he would've just spent more resources preventing any info from reaching the god's ears.

Issuing such an order, he dispatched ten of his men in all directions, with the precise intent of disseminating false info.

WIth six remaining assassins, he reached the municipal grounds and waited patiently. There he saw her conversating with the old mayor on the rooftops, almost blissfully unaware of how agitated the bureaucrats below looked, as the hour of the ceremony drew nearer.

"Appointing a new mayor seems such an unnecessary chore" Rokkan thought, "but it will all end soon enough. Once the Sorcerer King conquers this city, I'll be the new mayor. And there wont be any election ever again. Why would these people even support such an old, frail and inept elf anyway? I'll be the first human to ever guide those fools, it will be an historic moment of immense proportions! My reign will be just and legitimated by higher powers, not even lord father will dare defy the Sorcerer King!"

Thinking about it, Rokkan smiled as he realized that he too, just like his brother, looked like a single-minded fanatic in that precise instant. How pathetic must've been from an external perspective. Such a villainous act of sabotage, just for the sake of his own goals. More power, richer ambitions, larger domains. He sounded like the typical evil lord from ancient folktales. He was well aware of that, even so he genuinely believed that his reign would be better than the current status quo. He wanted equality between humans and Elves of Purity, and he would've obtained it, by all means necessary.

His target seemed to have moved upwards to the summit of the observation deck. That was the moment he had been looking for.

He pulled out his sword, moved his hand across its blade, and pointed it at the observation deck.

"So young and unaware of anything. You are not to blame for your condition. In fact, I might have spared you if we could've reached an agreement. But... I dont deal with kids. You are simply too young to be convinced with words alone. I've been naive as well, you know? A long time ago... I might've chosen to stop right here. But I cant turn away now, nor can you. We both chose our path in life, and it lead us here".

Rokkan was talking to his target as if she was right there with him. For a moment, he had the slightest glimpse of remorse. But that was nothing but a fleeting thought of the foolish young idealist he once was. That person was long gone.

He took aim, then slashed in the air. The shockwave from the blade's motion travelled across the building and silently made its way to the top. A single flash of light signaled him that the target had been hit.

A splash of blood splattered all across the observation deck's walls. The deed had been done.

"Go check it, quick. THe next shift will start in about five minutes" Rokkan ordered one of his men to confirm the kill as he took care to search for a way out of the building, now packed with bureaucrats eager to give battle for the new mayor's ascension.

In a few moments the assassin responsible for the confirmation came back with such haste that he seemed to be teleporting from wall to wall with each step. The death of the girl was unmistakable, all went well.

Satisfied by the swift outcome of his action, Rokkan ordered a general retreat. Once the breach had been found, he moved into the crowd and disappeared.

A few hours later, news of the mayor's daughter's death spread like wildfire among the ranks of the municipal politicians. Some were concerned about the potential implications, others were just glad that a half-elf had been disposed of. But the majority was simply terrified by the prospect of a killer capable of killing a magic user with such incredible power in the blink of an eye.

The mayor had been informed for last. Shocked, he sat on his large wooden chair like a sack of beans and stood there motionless for several hours. He refused to eat and drink the following day. as his catatonic state grew heavier, his eyes also slowly lost their color.

During the night, Rokkan went straight to the cathedral as his informants assured him that the place was devoid of people inside. No sound could be heard, and the electoral ceremony clearly had taken precedence over any religious function for the day. Convinced after witnessing for several minutes a total lack of personnel coming or going, as it was customary for many priests to briefly leave the cathedral in order for them to restore their incense supplies, Rokkan and his entourage slipped past the large doors and hid behind pillars, jumped on top of elevated balconies, or nested in between large groups of lit candles with such mastery that one would have thought those were just abandoned robes on the floor.

As he approached the pulpit with silent steps, his heart started pounding harder than ever before. It was a daring situation and he was, for the first time in years, truly at the heart of the gods' secrets.

"Just a few more hours... and lady Hilda's precious artifacts will be mine" he thought, drooling in front of her armor, "I cant believe that I'm actually doing this. I, a common human, am able to stand this close to the gods' remnants and soon I'll wield their most powerful possessions... no, not yet. I need to remain calm. Excitement leads to perdition and defeat. I must remember what grandfather told me".

As he recalled upon his childhood memories, footsteps signaled him that someone was fast approaching. Many people, probably a dozen or more. He went into hiding in the darkest area of the cathedral as far from the pulpit as he could, then he waited. Priests, fanatics, and a large number of poor people swarmed the place in a few minutes.

Rokkan thought someone had tipped them off, but it was soon revealed to him that it wasnt the case. The ceremony began: many children, thus far kept in secret cages, emerged from the back of the pulpit. As he witnessed them being freed and subsequently eating the poor beggars, made to sit at the center of the cathedral by the archbishop and his entourage, he realized in horror that the church that he had often times smeared with accusations and vile remarks was indeed corrupt and willing to go to such lengths.

"This is nothing short of barbaric. Even for someone like me... this slaughter is unjustified".

He didnt know what he was looking at, but it must have been something important for them to consider creating a soundproof barrier around the cathedral. The blood of the poor wretched souls being eaten alive by the mass of children with sharp teeth and voracious looks on their faces splashed everywhere around the cathedral. Soon their screams of agony ceased as their throats had been forcefully ripped apart in that hungry frenzy. In about an hour, all that remained was an endless sea of blood and guts being swallowed whole by the ravenous children who stood naked, laughing in satisfaction, all around their unholy feast.

During the massacre the archbishop of the church of lady Hilda had preached the absolute love for the gods and how the gifts of life and death are bestowed upon the faithful only. His words sounded empty and ridded with contempt for the lower classes.

What would Rokkan do then? He was not sure. The situation wasnt pleasant, he thought he could just kill everyone in sight and be done with it swiftly but he couldnt possibly do that now: the archbishop himself was an inhumanly tall creature with abnormal power. His sheer presence made his skin crawl. He could feel the aura of strength surrounding him, as well as the powerful children he had freed from the cages. The rest of the unholy congregation seemed to be manageable, however there were too many for him alone and his companions were not born fighters, their specialty being lurking in the shadows waiting for the right opportunity to strike.

Thankfully for him however, someone was about to do the deed. As he looked upwards, he spotted a woman clad in brown ragged robes with a simple adventurer's attire. The woman looked young enough, with a long ponytail and a murderous expression depicted on her face. She jumped from a considerable height and landed on her feet without so much of a scratch. Upon landing, she immediately moved towards the center of the cathedral with such speed that Rokkan had to enhance his vision with magic in order for him to grasp her current position. When the woman reached the pulpit, she instinctively dodged a swing from the archbishop's staff and returned the kindness with a high kick to his chin.

They appeared to be conversing briefly after that, but Rokkan wasnt interested. He took this chance to recall all his forces and order them to move further away. With a gesture, his assassins slipped past the fanatic priests and slid all their throats at once. After that, he came out of the shadows and reached the back of the pulpit as fast as he could.

Panicked and screaming, the cannibal children ran in all directions as their masters dropped dead one by one. The archbishop was still battling the woman, so Rokkan was sure to have at least a small chance of succeding. He ran towards the niches exposing the artifacts and grabbed as many gems, necklaces, pieces of armor and mantles as he could. Then, he silently ordered a general retreat.

But before he could commence his own escape, he realized that the woman was losing her battle.

His concern wasnt out of pity, rather, pure interest and curiosity. She seemed to be strong enough to take on the archbishop on her own, yet he had successfully imprisoned her. She was being kept tightly still by a large number of magical chains that became stronger and heavier the more she tried to struggle.

The ravenous children were then recalled by the archbishop and made to come closer to her.

Now Rokkan had a choice: get out of the way, ensuring his escape, or help the woman.

Had he chosen the former, he would have had more artifacts for himself and the meeting with the Sorcerous Kingodm's ambassadors and prime minister. However, he had a feeling that by doing the latter, his chances to get closer to the Sorcerer King would increase exponentially.

Taking on this gambit, he dropped every holy relic he had on his person and charged head on towards the archbishop, brandishing his grandfather's sword.

"You look like you need some help. Allow me to assist!" he shouted while striking at the chains keeping the woman on a pillar.

"Who the hell are you? I dont recall needing help from anyone here, especially humans" she roared while struggling even harder.

"Dont be ridiculous. Pride at this time will just get in the way of your success. Do you wish to live and accomplish your mission?" he responded with resolute eyes.

"...I do. But I can do it alo-"

"Then by all means, give yourself up to your pride. I shall avenge the people who got slaughtered here today and nullify the terrible misconduct of this morbid priest and his cult. If I happen to save you as a side effect of my powerful deeds, I ask that you remember me. We will meet again, after all".

Somehow, Rokkan felt that he genuinely wanted that, deep in his heart of hearts. However, his ultimate goal had to be concealed as much as possible. Nobody had to see his good side, for that would mean losing grip over his men and the evil dwellers among his underlings. He was evil, and he needed to be as irredeemable as possible in everyone else's eyes.

For that reason, his main concern in that situation had to change.

He charged his sword with all the power he had stored in its gems and spoke unholy prayers of destruction to enchant it further. With a resounding slash, the magic chains were broken and the woman got freed.

Soon after that, he moved towards the archbishop; with a feint he successfully dodged a swing of his large staff, then he went under a flaming ball of light that had been thrown at him immediately after.

He used the archbishop's long robes as a jumping platform to reach his neck in one swift motino.

He slashed in the air, the subsequent shockwaves from his strikes reached the archbishop and cut him multiple times. Even so, he looked unfazed by Rokkan's bravery.

"Damn this is a freaking monster... it seems that I wont be able to do this alone after all".

He didnt have to take a second glance at the pillar to understand that the woman he had just liberated was waiting for her turn.

"Tch. Enjoying the spectacle, are we?" he muttered while charging his next attack.

"Fool! You must bend your body and soul to lady Hilda's merciful wrath! Repent and everything shall be forgiven!" the archbishop shouted as loud as he could, his bloodshot eyes staring into space.

"Shut it, disgusting murderer. Killing innocents for the fun of it is not what assassination is all about. You give righteous murderers a bad reputation".

"Fun? You speak to me of fun? This is a sacred ritual! It is for the preservation of our species and the Elves of Purity that we do this! You son, you have been blessed with lady Hilda's talents as well!"

"Dont give me that crap you swine!"

Rokkan jumped yet again to avoid another attack, this time he choose to run up the archbishop's staff and strike at his face. He moved as rapidly as he could, but just before he'd be able to hit him, he got intercepted by a supersonic object behind his back.

Something hit him so fast and heavily that his body could not resist that force, and thus he got sent flying towards the archbishop's forehead. He was already in a striking pose, so that event only made it easier for his sword to sink into the enemy's skull.

As he tried moving the sword upwards to deepen the wound and then extract the blade, he realized that he could not as the archbishop's skull was too thick for extraction with his hands alone.

At that moment, someone else's hand reached his own. The long and slender fingers of the woman he had saved now grasped firmly around the hilt of his sword. Rokkan then understood: there was no supersonic object at all, it had been the woman using her inhuman strength to propell him towards his target. She was right behind him.

"You look like you need some help. Allow me to assist" she stated, a sarcastic smirk running between her cheeks.

"Tch. You're a funny one arent you" he smirked back at her.

As if they both knew what they needed to do next, their hands and feet pressed against the archbishop's large forehead and moved upwards with all their might. Together they were able to move the sword even further deep, and then extract it from the open wound. Already weakened by the hits received previously by the woman, the monstrous creature limped back and forth for a moment before kneeling on the ground. His wound was spreading a large amount of brown blood everywhere. There was no telling if that would have been enough to finish the job, however it was unlikely that the archbishop would have regained his former strength.

"Well that was intense. I suppose I should thank you for the help".

"No need. I realize I've been too rash with my decisions. Let's call it even".

Rokkan nodded. He moved away from the corpse and took back his possessions, ready to get out of the cathedral.

"Your strength is impressive. Are you... perhaps, are you one of the Sorcerer King's assistants?" he finally dared to ask.

"What if I am? Will you report me? Will you try to kill me?" the woman seemed tired but still able to put up the best fight of her life. Rokkan was sure he would be dead in no time if he didnt measure his words carefully.

"No, nothing of the sort. If you were... I'd be pleased if you recalled my name. Rokkan of house Drykven, at your service. Tell your master that I have what he needs. Soon we shall meet and discuss the future".

With the tiniest hope in his heart, Rokkan jumped away into darkness.

Narberal was finally alone, her robes soaked in blood and guts, the cathedral was a messy spectacle of flesh and bone. With more questions in her head than ever before, she took this chance to come closer to the niches containing the few relics still untouched.

"All good materials, rare minerals, fine jewels... I wonder if it could be useful to lord Ainz. And that sword of his... not too bad at all. I think I'll take it as a trophy".

She was thinking about Rokkan's ceremonial sword. The power within it was not great, but it could be enhanced with the right components. It would make it at least a legendary class weapon if it were. Overall, she was very pleased by how fast that encounter had been. Rokkan's presence made it easier for her to return to the tavern as she could have just blamed him for the mess. There were no witnesses because his men had killed eeryone, so beside the scared children that were already crawling all over the archbishop's body trying to eat it, nobody had seen her come and go.

"I guess I should kill the older ones. They might be able to speak to the guards".

She sighed as she took the archbishop's staff in her hands and searched for the more developed kids.

"So boring. At least now I know why they did all this. Dismantling the organization behind the rituals will be a long and tiring process, I'm sure. Maybe I could persuade Solution to do it. She loves eating virgins after all. Ah, what am I thinking? I'm getting ahead of myself again. What if lord Ainz deems this place necessary for his future plans? I should just report my findings and let the higher ups deal with it.".

She found a couple of targets, grabbed them by the arm, and tossed them all in the same place. Half a dozen kids now stood at the center of the cathedral, naked, covered in blood and viscera, trembling in fear. Normally Narberal wouldnt do the killing in cold blood against creatures that wouldnt put up a fight, but those bastards had tried to eat her alive so she felt no remorse.

"Now, stay still, it will only take a moment" she whispered as her arm moved upwards, ready to smash their tiny heads.

"Miss Nabe, a moment please".

Demiurge's mellowish voice instantly calmed her heart.

"Yes? What is it?"

"Our plans have changed. You are scheduled for immediate removal from the chessboard. Come back to base as soon as you're able if you please. Dont make me repeat myself".

She lowered her arm, then angrily threw the staff against a pillar, smashing it in one strike.

The kids crawled back to their cages, terrorized.

"You're lucky. For now. Next time we meet, I'm going to finish the job".

She spit in their general direction, then she took off at the speed of sound.