IX
A deep sigh escaped Ainz Ooal Gown's fatigued jawbone.
Yes indeed, fatigued. Mentally strained. Psychologically exhausted.
No matter how many hours he spent on assimilating particles, exuding magic essence, feverishly researching those peculiar steam puffs emerging from the earth beneath his boots, he could not get the answers he wanted.
For the purpose of his experiment and therefore the hopeful resolution he so dearly sought, he had to stop and rethink his strategy.
He sat on a rocky formation, thoughtfully repurposed into a throne by his zealous subordinates. Of everyone who had accompanied him in that venture, Cocytus seemed the most excited and eager to get the job done.
Therefore, it came natural to the leader of the Great Tomb of Nazarick to request his aid right then and there.
"DO YOU REQUIRE MY ASSISTANCE, LORD AINZ?"
"I do. Cocytus, I will be taking a rest at the edge of the forest. Please be on your guard at all times while I sleep".
"UNDERSTOOD. WILL THIS BE A LONG REST OR A SHORT ONE?"
"Short one. I have no reason to take a long rest now. Besides, the task at hand must be completed by the end of the week. I dont want to dwell too much on this matter. Should I fail in my quest, we need to prioritize another experiment and start over".
"BUT YOU NEVER FAIL, MY LORD. THIS WILL BE A GRAND CONQUEST, AS IT ALWAYS IS".
"I wonder..." Ainz rubbed his chin with his skeletal fingers, projecting his imagination towards uncharted clouds up above.
Cocytus stepped back and presented arms as he watched his master move towards a makeshift shed created by himself and Narberal. There, a large throne made of the finest bones one could find in the whole region awaited his arrival; even the smallest detail was embroidered with golden marrow and black porcelain, imported from one of lord Ainz's latest conquests.
As he sat comfortably on such a glorious work of art, Ainz snapped his fingers, and a moment later he was able to close his eyes. It was nothing but an ephemeral projection, an illusion created by his deepest desire to see one of his earliest manifestations of self assertion make a comeback after those long decades of constant wakefulness.
As a matter of fact, there had been instances where even the undead could dream. Ainz had been experimenting on a couple new species he had acquired in the past, and to his surprise and delight, he found out that the fabric of dreams could actually be recreated, albeit somewhat inconsistently, with raw magic. The brain of a living being was very much different from his own, however there were exceptions to the general rule of thumb that such an occurrence could happen for all species not currently residing in an undead body; during one of his most successful experiments, he managed to make a skeleton remember their past life just for a fraction of a second, and briefly flashes of their past had awoken their sense of self to the point where they started cowling in fear once they realized that they were in the presence of an undead being. The reaction soon vanished, but Ainz was very pleased with the results obtained from such a miraculous accident.
If even undead beings, mindless sacks of flesh and bone barely attached to what remained of their mortal essence could be resurrected in such a manner, then there was hope for him too. With the right dosage, and the right conditions. He would be able to reclaim a small piece of his humanity.
It should be noted that he had yearned for it for quite a while now. In his long decades on that new world, he had started to reconsider his options and expand on his future actions. Of course there was the more annoying question of global pacification, as all nations of the world had united in some form or another against his rule; and secondly, he wanted to find out whether or not that small corner of the world could offer shelter to other players like him, now that he had a global map almost entirely filled with detailed information and he could reliably trace his steps from one end to the other without fear.
Then there was the more pressing matter of consolidating his position inside of his already conquered territories and setting up proper puppets that would act in his stead. Many were inefficient and thus had to be replaced with complacent politicians, easily corrupted and less prone to getting murdered by the general populace, or outright fabricated from scratch via his supply of loyal doppelgangers. If that hadnt been enough, he would have to resort to his vast net of undead minions that had been prepared for action throughout decades of hard work and meticulous placement.
... or so he had thought up until a decade prior. When did his resolve begin to weaver, he couldnt recall with certainty.
What he did know for a fact was that he enjoyed his current dream very much. Away from countries he had never even heard of, conquests in his name only for they had been taken hostage by his subordinates, far away from his field of vision; away from those inept new worlders who still claimed pieces of his lands and the near constant waves of protestors and ungrateful serfs who demanded emancipation for substrata of their needlessly complex societies without merit nor devotion.
A gentle breeze took all of his problems away. He could feel his quiet rage being carried away and dissipate into dust.
The state of animated suspension created by the spell he had invented still permitted to reset the status of his consciousness at any time. In the back of his mind, there was this lingering feeling of fakeness that kept him from fully giving in to the embrace of the night. However, being aware that it was a dream made him happy.
The mere notion of his being retaining even a fraction of his former self made him feel somewhat vulnerable. That was good, as his seemingly never ending streak of conquests had previously prevented him from keeping up with his own goals. Though paranoid he may have been, he was no longer. Cautious to a fault, but no more afraid of advancing where his heart, as well as his soul, felt like.
A sudden realization of space and matter casted his being in the sky. His ephemeral body started to fluctuate, hovering above a large field full of poppies and whitish flowers resembling elongated fiber cables.
These cables would then connect to a large motherboard deeply encased into a blackened gulf filled with water and wet humus.
Ainz looked at the sky with a mixture of nostalgic remembrance and apathetic sigh; the air was polluted, a veil of greenish gas covered the atmosphere as he came closer to what appeared to be a city. Tall skyscrapers, barely visible underneath a multitude of logos and neon signs, were engulfed in deep columns of dark smoke and fiery chimneys exhaling toxic waste.
That scenario reminded him of a large metallic dragon spewing undead breath everywhere, in an agonizing effort to stay alive. That world was far from him now. Yet, that too was once home.
He had never stopped thinking about it. Originally he didnt want to consider it at all, yet his stance on the matter had gradually softened as his conquests had piled up and the possibility of him being alone on that planet had become more and more plausible.
"If I ccould go back with the power I wield right now... I probably would".
He secretly had wanted to change the world. His world. A childish thought born from a hidden remembrance, closed deep inside the depths of his subconscious.
It had emerged at times, albeit briefly. A mere instant, something so trivial and far from him that, initially, he couldnt even recall when it exactly occurred. But it did.
Amidst the smoke puffs and endless stream of murky waters, it appeared as clear as the light of day when it had been blessed by the ever rarer sunlight. The shape was unmistakable. The visage of a child he once knew.
"A western board game, perhaps?" words had suddenly escaped his lips.
"Nah. I'm not in the mood right now. How about we watch the flowers bloom?"
"Hmph. Such a joker you are. That is impossible".
"You just dont have enough faith in me. Come. Let's go upwards".
Suzuki Satoru found himself on an unfamiliar platform. It felt unstable and oddly wet, as if it had been exposed to a downpour a few hours prior. There was rubble all around him, moved aside by gigantic cybernetic arms. Below him, a large dumpster was being filled with the remains of that district's human waste. A foul odour had filled the air, yet he stubbornly refused to wear a mask.
His companion had just moved past him. He could see their perfectly immaculate white shirt being lightly stained with mud between their forearms and elbows.
"Are you sure about this? You'll get in trouble again".
"Of course I am. Stop complaining, this is a good chance".
Small rays of sunlight had just filtered through the dark veil covering the skyline above the skyscrapers. They barely illuminated Satoru's surroundings, yet his vision had adapted to the darkness just enough to make out the shape and size of the complex.
It was a large rundown apartment building with circular elevators. One of them had stopped functioning long ago, however its innermost maintenance shaft was still operational. His companion descended to where the elevator was located and then opened the shaft. A small ladder came down.
"This should do it. Father used to be in charge of this establishment. The passage is connected, I can tell!"
Satoru looked at the gap between himself and the elevator; unlike his acquaintance, he wasnt as agile nor prepared to climb.
He felt like giving up at any moment. Was that even worth it?
"Come. We have arrived. It just takes a few more steps forward". His companion waved their hand, their fluffy red hair moving in that windy noon. Satoru gulped as he let go of his foot and jumped towards an opening in the wall.
Miraculously, his knees landed on a soft surface. As he looked around, he realized that they were in what appeared to be an abandoned hospital camp. Soft beds and bedsheets never used before had been arranged everywhere in several rooms. Some had been parked on a flight of stairs, as if they had just been intended as part of the background.
"See? All good!" Satoru's companion smiled, indicating a large opening in the elevator a few meters away from their location "let's move. Past this room there's two more ladders".
The children entered the elevator and climbed the ladders, rolled across the rubble and slided several floors below. Then, light finally came back as they reached the ground floor.
It was a blinding golden light. Something Satoru had seen only in picture books.
"Aha! There, I'll go first. They'll let you enter if I tell them you're with me".
His companion's shadow came forth, then it disappeared. Sounds of guns being loaded echoed all around them.
Satoru's apathetic visage looked closely as his little irises spotted red dots flashing briefly on his torso.
"All clear. Proceed with patrol duties as scheduled. Move along".
Six or seven guards in full gear came about and inspected their surroundings with precision. Satoru moved forward, expecting to be interrogated. However, that was not the case. He was nothing but a small piece of rubble in the way. Adults would pay no mind to him.
"Hey, this way. Hurry!" his companion showed up behind them. A large gate leading into a white dome encased in glass and what appeared to be a layer of electrified steel had opened up.
Satoru reached them and they both entered the structure. A loud metallic noise caused his little ears to ring abruptly.
Inside, everything was different. Everything, including people.
Satoru looked in amazement as he could clearly see a blue sky greeting him far above. Flowers were blooming, large coniferous trees sparkling with life and clear water emerging from the earth. He couldnt believe his eyes.
"Dont touch anything. If you want to drink, ask me first. Oh and I'll be giving you a guest pass for the day, just in case. Also, dont wander around too much. Stay close to me at all times".
Satoru silently nodded, his brain still processing what was happening around him.
As they started walking, he could see a world of its own grow more and more, as if mountains and rivers expanded from the fabric of reality itself. Shrines and schools, temples and army barracks, all coexisting in perfect harmony between one another, their personnel calmly going about their business for the day in synchronous movement.
The memory became hazy as Ainz's present self creeped in and overshadowed Satoru's fading remembrance of something hidden deep within.
Reality and fantasy were about to become one once more. Yet, something still grasped at his collar.
"Just like that one time..."
He could feel them. The big blue eyes of that person.
"Akemi. Do you have a dream?"
"Only one? Of course I have. Many, many dreams!"
"... I suppose its fine. After all, your dad can build stuff".
"Mhm. One day, when I'll inherit all of his wealth and get to know all of his employees, I will be queen of the world!" she laughed maniacally, playfully tearing apart a small portion of her hair just below her earlobe.
"Will you still play videogames with me?"
"Sure, why wouldn't I? As long as father lets me go outside the dome I can do whatever I want. Trust me, we will build something so great even people like you will be welcome".
"People like... me huh..."
A brief pause ensued. Satoru looked at his feet, then back at her. She stared at him, quietly challenging his gaze with a generous, piercing smile.
"Is there something that bothers you? Do you... dislike what I said?"
Ainz's glowing red eyes entered Satoru's field of vision. In that moment, they became one.
"The lowest of the low. The most basic function of society. Pawns in the system. Clueless fools. I..."
Ainz slammed his fists on the throne, his skull pointed at the ends of the universe far above.
"I will not stand for this!"
With a rash movement of his arm, nearly half of the shed so carefully constructed to host his respite crumbled like a house of cards.
"MY LORD. IS EVERYTHING ALRIGHT?" Cocytus rushed in, katana in hand, ready to give battle.
Ainz Ooal Gown, the most supreme of all beings, and also the most frustrated, stared at him with what some may consider contempt. It wasnt directed at him though. Who he was truly angry with, was the universe itself.
"I'm alright, Cocytus. Please resume your watch outside".
Obediently, his subordinate quickly regained his composure. Before exiting what remained of the shed, he spoke. "MY LORD, IT SEEMS THAT MARE WANTS TO CONSULT WITH YOU WHENEVER YOU ARE READY. I WAS TO INFORM YOU AS SOON AS YOU FINISHED YOUR REST, BUT GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES-"
"It is fine. Thank you for informing me. You may go now".
Ainz sat down on his throne once more, touching his forehead with his index finger as if it could help him unwind. If he still had temples, maybe that might have truly helped.
"Suspending the emotional suppressant might not be the best idea I've had" he thought to himself "...but this is a real bummer. Why did I dream about that time, of all things".
After a few moments of hesitation, Ainz reprised his short sleep.
"I wonder if she is still chasing that dream. Or if she became a cog in the machine. Perhaps..."
A fleeting thought crossed his mind as his self induced slumber took hold of his body.
.
"Greetings. I believe we've met before".
"... yes. Charmed".
Solution, almost completely recovered from her wounds, greeted her interlocutor with a malicious smile. Her hands and feet were tied to a magic rope glowing red and blue. her hips and parts of her chest were still recovering, leaking her essence everywhere on the floor. To an uncultured bystander, her body would appear as a mostly immobile cadaver partly melting away in several points. A hazy veil of sulphuric acids coming from beneath the earth crust were engulfing her surroundings, except for a small enclosed space in between her and the door leading to her cell.
The man addressing her put aside his cane and sat on an uncomfortable reversed wooden chair. On his head, a host of moving black snakes were incessantly looking at that curious creature, perhaps holding off in the hopes they could eat her whole.
Their eyes finally met.
"I'm glad to see you're recovering. To tell you the truth I was worried I might have hurt you a little too much".
"Oh? What is this, interrogation or open flirting? If that's the latter I may actually fall for someone like you..." She tried to show him a little bit of chest by lowering her undergarment, however the tissue was part of her being and thus it still had to recover enough to be able to move as she would have liked.
"Dont bother. I do not like blondes anyhow. But, I very much love your modus operandi. And your personality. In a way, you... impress me so much, miss Solution".
"I'm glad. May I inquire as to who exactly am I speaking to?"
"Certainly. I am lord... no, sorry. I am Flannar, humble host of this prison. And officially, commander in chief of this city".
He offered her his hand. In doing so, one of the ropes tied to her left arm suddenly became loose. Her eyes narrowed for a brief moment, then her expression returned as stoic as it ever was.
"Pardon me. My arms are still recovering. I'm afraid that I cannot return your gesture".
"Fair enough. I will leave that rope untied, as a sign of good will".
Solution instinctively licked her upper lip. That was a chance she would not easily pass up.
"So, what do I owe your visit to? I would imagine that you're not here to admire my stunning body... or am I wrong?"
"Well, partly yes. I know you dont like humans, so I will reassure you immediately, I am not one of them. I'm as much as a wild card on this planet as you are. And I am very much eager to get to know you better. But in order to do that, we have to be on equal terms. So I will now ask you if you're willing to cooperate with me for a while".
"Hmm. Perhaps I could. But would I? Have you considered that I might just run away as soon as I am able?"
"You probably could. But would you? After all, you didnt hear my offer yet".
"Offer? You? To someone like me? ... I have to say this city hosts some intriguing characters. Perhaps I will not kill you all. I might even let you eat at my table. Once or twice a month".
Solution smirked at her interlocutor hoping to get a reaction out of him. But Flannar did not flinch.
"Please miss Solution, this is important. What I am about to offer could be useful to your master, as well as you of course".
"Look, I appreciate the concern, but you're way out of line. First off, assuming that I need anything is childish. Second, my master doesnt need to parley with the likes of you. Lord Ainz could graciously enter these very gates at any moment and destroy you and all this pathetic filth you have stored here. Therefore, this conversation is over as far as I'm concerned".
Flannar sighed slightly as he reached for his pocket.
"I see. Well, I have to say that I am a bit disappointed. I thought a seasoned treasure hunter like you, a master assassin, a beautiful lady with the grace of a goddess, could certainly be entertained by the idea of inheriting a Guild Base".
"A... Guild Base?"
"Indeed. You see, there are certain individuals among us who are identical to your people. They too have come from a richly built background in YGGDRASIL. And you are the first to know of their existence, miss Solution. Imagine, having them as subordinates, inheriting the power of a supreme being. Wouldnt that entice you? Wouldnt your master... want to get to know them in detail?"
Solution kept silent for a while. Her head was full of intricate plans already starting to form, either for herself or lord Ainz, but none involved both. On one hand, she truly wanted to be regarded as the best battle maid, the most formidable and deserving of lord Ainz's appreciation. On the other however, she had started to appreciate herself so much that a little bit of envy had seeped in throughout the years. Not enough to be a threat to Nazarick in any way, but potentially harmful to her immediate subordinates without question.
"I see. Well, I thank you for your transparency, if anything. But what you propose is completely unreasonable. Who do you take me for anyway? I am loyal to lord Ainz Ooal Gown in every respect. You cannot buy me with words. There is nothing you can give me that lord Ainz cannot. Your point is null and void. And now, please release my arms so that I can properly heal. This posture is uncomfortable enough as it is".
Flannar closed his eyes. His hand moved away from his pocket, holding a single thread of white fur. Solution looked at him with perplexity written all over her face.
"Your beauty, your strength, the way you act and your sense of strategy... you're a remarkable woman. Maybe I cannot buy you with words, but I certainly can charm you".
"Hmph. Bold assumptions, snakehead. While I dont dislike your appearance, you're not my type. Besides, would I be interested in anything else other than my master?"
"Everyone want something else out of their lives. Nobody can devote their whole existence to a single being".
"Ha, now you're just imagining things. There are plenty of examples throughout history".
"Most certainly there are. But those belong to a history that is not yours to begin with. That is the history of the world where the supreme beings resided, a world we've been cast away from. The current earth we inhabit has none of that. Men and monsters, undead and animals alike cannot live without pleasure and entertainment. There must be something... anything that you're into".
"And why would I tell you that? Assuming there is something else other than killing humans and obeying my master, that is".
"True, you dont have to tell me. It is enough for me that you acknowledge what I'm saying".
Moved by a mixture of genuine curiosity and need for answers, Flannar moved closer to her. The snakes that adorned his head slowly but surely enveloped her long hair. His hand barely touched her shoulder, as if he wanted to ascertain her physical composition.
"You know... as much as I like your company now you really are crossing a line that a sensible person should not. Kindly move away from me or I'll split your head in two. I hope you'll consider complying".
"Naturally. I have no intention of harming you, miss Solution". As he spoke, Flannar slipped his index finger behind her neck. The thread of white fur gently seeped into her body.
Satisfied, he moved away shortly afterwards, observing her captive's expression with trepidation.
"...Why the hell is this shit happening now?" a brutish remark came about as violently as a punch to the face. If words could kill, the harshness of these would probably pierce through a dozen men.
"Keep your voice down for Hilda's sake. This is not the right time to complain. Let lord Flannar do his thing".
"But this is nonsense. That bitch killed 638 men in a single day, not to mention almost captured miss Cledna on her way out, and now we parley like nothing happened? Hell why not offer her some cookies while we're at it. I'll put on some tea, nice music, maybe lord Flannar will invite her to a local brothel later!"
"Goodness Phrax, if I wasnt in charge of this place I swear I would throw you in the dungeon and toss away the key ''.
Far away from their conversation, the Judge and Bormeliar were arguing about nothing, as it was customary of them whenever they were in the same room with little to nothing else to entertain their boredom. Bormeliar was observing Flannar's mannerisms and savoir-faire, ready to offer assistance if he ever needed to divert Solution's attention or change the subject. The Judge was there to peform guard duties, but his patience in that particular instance was way lower than usual.
His temper seemed to be irreconcilable with what was happening right in front of him.
"This is disgusting. I cant stay here. Just watching this scene makes me want to vomit".
"And that's why I'm in charge of the prison system and you are not" Bormeliar stretched briefly before continuing "I've only ever seen you at Luma's drinking yourself to sleep".
"Hey, I'll have you know that I'm pretty important, old man. I'm not sitting in my comfortable armchair with some ugly ass magistrates scratching my crotch all day like you".
"That was uncalled for. Even from you".
"Hmph... alright, apologies. I just... grrraggh this is painful!"
The Judge smashed a small cup of water that had been prepared for one of his subordinates, before he was stationed on that very same guardpost.
"What lord Flannar is trying to do will benefit us immensely. Even if negotiations are ultimately pointless, letting Ainz Ooal Gown know that we are reasonable people will buy us some time, and maybe even grant us an exit strategy".
"Yes, right. A monster like that, a mass murderer. I'm sure he will love to talk things out".
"Stop being so unsophisticated".
"Oooh, I'm so sorry your majesty".
Bormeliar was about to respond with a resounding slap to the cheek when a hint of blue light diverted his discontent; he turned around to face a small window just above the guardpost which was inviting a great deal of sunlight in. A magic trail preceded an illusory pigeon flying inside the structure.
"Ah, perfect timing. She's back. You should probably go get her report".
The Judge nodded and hastily exited the guardpost.
Asta came into his field of vision. She appeared tired and demoralized.
"Hey, welcome back. What's wrong girly? You look like you've seen a ghost or something".
"...I guess you could say that". She sat on the ground, her bare feet crossed underneath her large mantle. The fabric granted a 65% reduction to all detection checks and nullified aggro for all creatures smaller than a regular human being. Moreover, Flannar had gifter her a dagger imbued with magic capable of paralyzing any target up to 3 levels above hers in a radius of 10 meters from the center of her body.
To a regular human that would have been extremely valuable as her current level was barely above that of a trained scout. But if she had met any member of Nazarick's entourage, her orders were to flee at once and find shelter wherever possible. Had she not been able to fool her pursuers, she was to immediately surrender and offer that very same dagger as compensation for wasting Nazarick's time on the chase.
Those conditions, imposed on her by Flannar himself, were so harsh that her fighting spirit had began to waver.
"I dont understand what's going on. Are we really so weak that we need to bend over backwards for those lunatics?" she shook her head, looking at the ground.
"Believe me, I'm as mad as you are. But right now there's no questioning lord Flannar's actions. We have to endure for a while".
"I'm not mad. I'm just... sad".
The Judge came closer to her and timidly moved one of her fringes with the palm of his hand. The intention might have been to caress her head, but to anyone present that scene was probably more akin to an owner petting a stray cat.
"To be completely honest... I already wanted to flee somewhere else. I wanted to see the world outside the boundaries of this desert for a long, long time. Maybe this is my chance" Asta finally confessed.
"You know... I dont blame you. You have received little love in this city. Even still, it is our home. Yours too. The people have worked their asses off for their independence. Nobody believed we could do it, but thank Hilda we did".
The Judge's eyes vividly sparkled with pride as if he was talking about his own deeds. "Lady Hilda came here with a dream. And those who followed her believed in that dream as well. They worked, and worked, and kept their heads cool and marched on no matter how many disasters Nature threw at them. They built this city from the ground up, they loved it, it was their child. For 400 years we've been nourishing it, expanding it, growing it. Nobody will ever tell us what to do, how we should do it, or for how long. We are masters of our own nation. That is what gives us strength, Asta. This place is ours because we have loved it from the moment we built it. The pioneers that came here with nothing and gave us our future, are watching from above every day. When we suffer they cheer us on. When we fight they give us the courage to face the enemy.
You may not like it here, but know that you are loved regardless. By the statues commemorating our sacrifices. By the libraries containing our History. By the fields producing crops to feed our people. And wherever you are, no matter how far away, you will always be a citizen of the Star City. Forever. And should you abandon us, we will welcome you back, as we always have".
Ending his speech, the passionate man shed a single tear. "This may sound all gibberish to you. And I understand, you're young. But I want you to look into your soul for a change. Dont forsake us in the time of need. That is all I ask".
After a brief pause, Asta looked at his face with curious incredulity.
"Huh. And here I thought you'd just pinch my earlobes and drag me back to work. I'm surprised. You can be... almost a decent person sometimes".
"Ha! I'm not getting that from you. My point is, think twice before you act, sneaky brat".
That said, the Judge faced the other way, probably to avoid being embarrassed further. Asta smiled weakly as she took out of her side bag a small envelope.
"This is all I've got for the day. Recon has been difficult. There was a thick fog preventing passage between the high hills up north and the rest of the forest. But I did manage to map all the locations of the supposed bandit camps around the walls. There's quite a few. Mostly caves and large holes dug underneath the bastions, for which purpose I have no idea. Point is, you should probably do something about this".
"Hmmm. Well done missy. I'll get the boys where we need them and storm their lairs. We cant build any defenses if these bastards are still meddling in our affairs''.
The Judge looked at the drawing and started putting a basic strategy in place.
"How curious. It seems that I'll be able to witness this interrogation in peace". Bormeliar thought, not without a hint of irony, extrapolating from the looks on his companions' faces all sorts of schemes and possible solutions.
That childish distraction lasted but a few seconds. When his eyes moved back to Flannar's location, his eyelids widened.
Solution Epsilon, the fearsome assassin famed for her untamable sharpness and wits, seemed to be in a state of cathartic trance.
Her lifeless eyes were looking at Flannar's as if they had been precious jewels worthy of a million gold coins.
"Now, my dear. Would you like to talk?"
"Talking... for which purpose do I find myself here...?"
"You are here to explain the Sorcerer King's plans to us in detail. We come here as friends, do not worry".
"Unbelievable... so the thread actually works! This is marvelous!" Bormeliar jumped up from his seat with an expression of pure joy on his visage,
"Now my lord, press the advantage! Give her no time to think!"
Solution's lips started moving on their own. Her body shook lightly as all her defenses were activated and the very essence of her being was trying to command her to stay silent. But she could not.
"The plan has not been set in motion by lord Ainz... he has left the task to lord Demiurge..."
"Interesting. If Ainz Ooal Gown isnt in command of the operations, who is this Demiurge?"
"Lord Demiurge... is a high ranking member of the Great Tomb of Nazarick... he is our master strategist..."
"Very well. So this... Demiurge, what do you know about him? Please be detailed if possible".
Moved like a puppet whose strings had been strengthened, Solution detailed a brief rundown of who Demiurge was and the key roles assigned to him and the rest of the guardians present in the plain.
"I see, I see. Very interesting. You have been exceedingly helpful, miss Solution. For starters, will you tell me-"
Flannar interrupted his train of thought as the realization that the gig was up came crashing down on his plans. His captive's eyes were back to normal, as well as her usual demeanour.
"Dammit. It lasted way too little to extract any useful info" he thought, still holding on to the tiny hope that he could press for more in the coming hours.
"...What did you do to me? I cant remember the past few minutes... and I could swear you werent in that position before" Solution caught on to the manipulation immediately. There was no avoiding a confrontation now. Flannar put on his most trustworthy facade and exhibited a reassuring smile.
"Indeed you are correct, miss Solution. You passed out for a few seconds there. I wanted to check if you were well, but I couldnt bring myself to touch your beautiful form for I would have inevitably soiled it with my dirty hands".
"Hooo... that's... that's an excuse, is it?"
"No, not at all! Who do you take me for? Have I been unpleasant during our conversation?"
"Actually yes, you were. Your snakes tried to bite me. And I'm pretty sure your flirtatious lips were trying to squeeze a confession out of me".
"... true, I apologize. I've been fascinated by your beauty, that's all there is to it. Admittedly as I've stated before, I am not into your kind, but there are circumstances in which a male does get stimuli from such an intriguing, passionate, and arguably powerful person".
Solution seemed speechless. Most likely not because of his words actually having an effect on her, but rather because of how blatantly false all that sounded. Even so, she decided to play her cards.
"Hmmm... so if what you say is true, then... you received a stimulus from looking at me, is that it?"
"Why of course! And that is why I-"
"Prove it".
"... beg you pardon?"
Bormeliar closed his eyes. No good. That conversation wasnt going the way he thought it would. Of course for now they had managed to avoid speaking about the white thread directly and Solution seemed oblivious about it entirely, however it was clear that she wasnt buying it for a second. What was she after? What would she gain from such an affirmation?
"What's the deal with you, devilish witch?" Bormeliar took a cup out of a small porcelain set that had been prepared in the guardpost and poured in some coffee. He couldnt fathom how that scheming mind of hers could work. Maybe she had more than a trick up her sleeve. Would she reveal her true colours now? Had she been in control the whole time, had they been played for fools? Was the Sorcerer King listening right now?
The tension rised fast as all the strategist could think about were immediate countermeasures to save Flannar's life and preserve the prison.
"Is this a trick question?" Solution smiled maliciously at her captor, waving a hand as to demand his immediate assertion.
"No. I... I dont quite understand what this has got to do with-"
"I think you're lying to me. And to be honest, I wouldnt blame you. If I were as powerless as you are right now, I would probably be begging for mercy and kiss this lady's feet".
A boiling rage erupted from Flannar's guts. What he felt was hate, humiliation, and self-conscious indignation. More than anything however, he hated himself for being so insignificant. He clenched his fists, lowering his head just enough to evade Solution's laughter.
"Poor thing, you're the master of a castle of rubble, ruler of a city of cowards and commander in chief of a mass of despondent children. And now you add to this the not so subtle fact that you openly lie. What else can be said? You'd best be ready to accept lord Ainz's rule, and since you have been so care...le...ss..."
Solution's jaw dropped in amazement. There was no mistaking it. What she was witnessing right then and there had to be the most incredible exposition of oneself she had ever had the displeasure to see.
Flannar's eyes were burning with rage and determination like never before. He was glaring directly at Solution with fierce confidence and resolution as if his life depended on his current actions.
Bormeliar, who had been sipping coffee for a while, spat everything he had in his mouth, soaking his facial hair to the very last drip.
"Umm... guys why are lord Flannar's belts on the ground?"
"Dont look, Asta! Get away from there!" Bormeliar rushed out of the guardpost to screen her vision.
"So you see now?! I wasnt lying! I truly had a massive reaction from your stunning personality and power. I am not a liar in the slightest!"
Flannar's hands were pulling up his vest as his belts had been quickly undone and his robes were halfway down his tighs.
"Do I have to make myself more clear than this? And remember, I am in charge of this place. Until further notice, you are being detained and therefore you will follow our rules until the moment of your release. Am I understood?"
"That... was... ugh. I..." Solution desperately tried to regain her composure. Between shock, laughter, rage and indignation, her mind was a mass of incoherent thoughts that would end up either costing her life for trying to murder him right there, or prolong her captivity.
"Fine, fine! You win this round filthy snakehead. But remember, what you did just now... I will never forget it. NEVER. And let me be clear: when this pathetic city falls, I will personally chop off your lower abdomen and use your testicular apparatus to clean our stables".
Flannar quickly put his robes and armor back on, bowed politely and moved back to the entrance in long strides.
His sweating face was almost blood red. He secretly wanted to drown his shameless self in alcoholic beverages for the day, but his better judgment told him not to. There was too much to do for him to waste precious hours leisurely.
Bormeliar was waiting for him outside, both of his hands firmly crossed behind his back. Asta peeked from behind, her glare in between mild worry and amusement.
"So uh... that was something" the young girl dared speak.
"...Did you see?"
"No, not really. But I'm not stupid. I would've never thought that you could resort to that kind of behaviour my lord. But it is alright by me. After all, what do I know about... politics and complex talking points and... all that stuff".
"... Asta, would you please allow us some space?" Bormeliar didnt wait for her to reply. A snap of his fingers, and two guardsmen appeared from behind the gate.
"Escort her outside. Be sure to resume guard duties as soon as she is out of the perimeter. And inform the captain that this area needs to be put under quarantine effective immediately. No one is allowed to enter or exit for any reason including risk of death. Are we clear?"
The guardsmen presented arms and nodded, then they did what they had to.
The strategist's attention then returned to Flannar, whose gaze still had that peculiar burning flame that kept him vigil and stubbornly confident.
"I know what you are about to say. And I fully admit my responsibility. I made a fool of myself in front of the enemy".
"... but the diversion worked, am I right? She didnt inquire further about her mental status. So all is well" Bormeliar sighed, relieved.
"I'm glad you see it that way. I truly did not want this to happen. I swear by my mother all I wanted was for her to forget about the reason we had that conversation".
"It is as you say, dont worry too much about it, please my lord. I am trying to forget the matter even happened".
"Sorry... I got carried away".
"That was a remarkable effort though. I didnt sense any kind of magic involved. How did you... no, nevermind. The ways of the gods are mysterious and inscrutable. Let's leave it at that, shall we?"
"Yes, lets".
The two men shook hands as if that mutual understanding equated their pride as males of any species or race.
"So what do we have on our plate at this time?"
"Well, she told me who the actual commander in chief of this operation is, as well as names and roles of her associates. It isnt much, but at least we now have a lead. We are looking for a demon named Demiurge next. It seems that the major threat comes from him directly. Ainz Ooal Gown has temporarily delegated his primary role to him".
"A demon huh. Interesting. Do you suppose that he might be..."
"Stronger than me? Apparently not. But that doesnt mean anything. We still have no clue about the others. There may be an infinite number of stronger beings out there on the hunt for more conquests. In this context, my physical strength doesnt matter in the slightest''.
"Then what do you suppose we do?"
"We need to gather more info and locate Plurimo's whereabouts. For that to happen, I will have to speak to this Demiurge in person".
"Are you sure? Wouldnt that be exactly what they wanted? If he truly is the mastermind behind the assault then there is a great chance that he already anticipated your arrival".
"I know. This demon seems to be exceedingly cunning. I need you to be a foil for this mysterious Demiurge. Can you do that for me?"
"Of course my lord. I will consider it an honour and a pleasure. Besides, there really isnt anything as challenging in this city".
"Ha. You've always been like that as far as I can remember. Even when mom was still here..."
Flannar's memories of that time were hazy at best. However, he could distinctly remember how Bormeliar had successfully defended the Guild Base from an assault of a group of wild NPCs gone rogue when their masters massacred each other. Driven by rage and sorrow, their madness soon had consumed their bodies and minds and they had started ravaging the earth. It was Bormeliar who proposed to sink the Guild Base underground, as deeply as it could be, near the planet core, to evade any possible assaults and protect it from future invasions. Moreover, his tactical prowess granted him the title of captain of all the NPCs present at the time. With him in command, they successfully defeated one of the greater rogue NPCs and drove the rest away from the desert plains. They may had been able to stop them all and eventually overcome each and every one of them, but Bormeliar opted not to take action. Why expose themselves to the hatred, inequity and enmity of the often barbaric human and demi-human countries when they were trying to build their own beautiful utopia? They were not ready for the task. They would one day accept refugees who would come to them instead, to build a better future for everyone and make their own nation as great as it could be.
Lost in remembrance, Flannar almost lost count of the minutes passing. A rough cough took him back to reality.
"My lord, I must ask you... what do you plan to do with Solution Epsilon? She is quickly regaining her abilities. By my estimate in three days or less she will be able to escape. Of course the magic barrier surrounding the prison can keep her here for more, but it wont be long until she figures out how to break it. That woman is dangerous".
"I am aware. I'll be frank, I am thinking of letting her go".
"You... why?" Bormeliar barely suppressed a gasp.
"You see, I want her to face judgment as much as everyone else. However it is in our best interest to cooperate with the Sorcerer King's forces until they decide to declare war. We are still not formally enemies. They are just gathering intel for now".
"But miss Solution almost took miss Cledna away from us. Isnt that enough?"
"I understand your point of view and I was convinced of it myself until we had that conversation. But talking to her real self, through the white thread, made me realize that we are yet not certain if the command came directly from this Demiurge or if she acted on her own accord. Think about it: what good would it be to kidnap a weak, amnesiac naked girl in the middle of the street?"
"You may be right... still for us to just let her go... what will we tell our soldiers? What about the general public?"
"I will give a speech. Hendrickvor assured me he can gather as many supporters as we need through his party's connections. As long as we have the political quorum to keep consent strong, public opinion will swing in our favour".
"I hope your connections are as good as they need to be. If the pendulum swings the wrong way, bayonets and pitchforks will turn on our throats for the first time in centuries".
"I know what I'm doing. I swear on my mother's honour, there will be no civil war under my watch. if only the mayor was still with us..."
"Hm. I wonder. That is still an unsolved mystery. Gathering info on it seems more problematic than extracting the Sorcerer King's plans from his subordinates".
Flannar took his cane, which he barely had use for now that his physical condition was steadily improving, and walked outside with a renew sense of purpose.
"Ah, one last thing. Do you suppose we could use the white thread again?"
"I'm afraid that is not possible. Its connection to the soil is as frail as a feather touching the ground. It needs time to remodel itself and find its way back to the cocoon".
With a dismayed sigh, Flannar took his leave for good. There was nothing that could be done: the cocoon that once hosted his body, buried deep underground at the center of the Guild Base, was connected to the surface by a multitude of white threads that looked like small, puffy fur. Once one of these had been taken by righteous inheritors of the Guild, they could use them in any way they pleased. As thin as a spider's web, frail and easily broken, they were effectively indestructible. No matter how many times one would tear them, break them, or sewer their ties with the original cocoon, they would reform endlessly.
However this process took time and the resulting threads might not always appear in the same place. The lightest shift in earth's atmosphere, climate or natural disasters could cause them to disperse in a rather wide area. When Flannar had found one a few weeks prior, he had been contemplating on how to better use it to finish his quest. Given the great opportunity, he opted to use it to interrogate Solution, bypassing all of her primary defenses. Despite its potency however, it seemed as though she was able to resist it with ease. It only took a few minutes for her body to naturally reject the thread.
"Yet again, I am not strong enough" he muttered, clenching his teeth, "if I cant be stronger, I shall be smarter. Fear not everyone. I will protect every last citizen".
.
Even in the early morning, despite the mist and foul odor of the open sewers nearby, it seemed as though a large rabble was gathered in all sorts of locations. There were virtually no streets left deserted. That displeased Albedo quite a lot, but for the time being she had decided that she would just grin and bear it.
With her personal carriage dismissed and waiting outside the city walls, hidden by an invisibility spell and concealed further by an aura of perpetual shadow, the queen of Nazarick had entered enemy territory just a few hours prior. She had sought after a suitable location to call her own, as she would soon be in control of the city and therefore her headquarters had to be as pristine and grandiose as possible.
She found her primary target in an inconspicuous noble house of 5 floors; pure white walls, decorated with white jewelry hung at the walls and on the ceiling, brimming with light from every corner. A large quantity of portraits and paintings of variable quality was exposed for the noblemen visiting, all framed with silver and white furnishings. She was initially ecstatic by the prospect of receiving her lover in such an elegant place. However, her tune changed quickly as she discovered that her servants had been a little too zealous.
"...I told you not to stain the curtains. How can you be so incompetent?" Albedo shouted, visibly upset.
"We are sorry for the inconvenience, miss queen miss. But those damned nobles just wouldnt let go... we didnt want to kill the children too, so-"
"Enough. Get out of here at once. I'll deal with it".
The humans and elves who had been hired for the job quickly ran away with their silver coins. Indeed, many were corruptible and even more were outright willing to defy their citizenship to march alongside the Sorcerer King's forces. As soon as Albedo had stepped in, the few who immediately recognized her figure simply prostrated in front of her and immediately begged to be hired. There was no joy in fighting an unwinnable war, they thought. The only way to stay alive and perhaps advance in their lives was betrayal.
Albedo was well aware of this, therefore she would have taken advantage of it as much as possible for she did not want to waste Nazarick's own resources to clean such a small, insignificant city. Moreover, as far as she could tell, employing local force would be a better solution for the time being considering that she didnt want to be discovered by her own allies.
Pondering on what to seek for next, she tried to enter a large dining room that would then lead to the sumptuous bedroom where she wanted to make love to her beloved lord Momonga as soon as the city had been conquered. However, the doors were locked from the other side. Albedo put an ear closer to the doorframe; she could her sobbing and small feet moving in the back, probably near the table.
"Come out children. Come out, I'm not going to hurt you. Open this door now and you wont even realize I'm here" she spoke softly.
The sobbing increased, as well as Albedo's impatience. After decades of desk work, reluctant warfare and pitiful solitary dimplomatic meetings, she could stand none of it.
She lightly tapped on the doorframe with the tip of her foot. Someone from the other side came closer to the door and touched the doorknob.
"Do you... promise?"
"But of course. I always maintain my promises. Do not worry. Now open this door please. I really dont have time for your games".
Hesitantly, child hands unlocked the door and turned the doorknob. Albedo pushed the doors away and got greeted by a pleasant aroma of freshly baked bread and a beautiful sight: the room was gigantic, with a vivid red pattern on the walls and light grey furnishing near the ceiling. White boiserie decorated the lower half of the walls, sometimes interrupted by small ornamental columns of the same colour.
"Ah, I am really pleased. There wont be much to do here. Maybe a little restructuring of the upper floors, perhaps I could enlarge the basement... possibly a thematic garden with a greater variety of plants...".
As she moved in, the three children who had been locked in until then ran to the far end of the room and there they stood, observing the intruder silently while sobbing and shivering.
"Oh right right, where are my manners. Here, I'll disappear".
Albedo calculated the distance between the children and the wall. A moment later, she cut the air with her index finger, pointing it in their general direction.
As if suddenly bloated with helium, the childrens' heads popped without a sound. Large splashes of blood emerged from the holes in their necks, occupying a remarkable portion of the wall. Even so, the boiserie was still immaculate. Their tiny bodies dropped on the spot, perfectly aligned with the carpets. They twitched a little for a few seconds before laying still.
"Oh, thankfully the walls were the right shade of red. It's almost perfect" she thought to herself, relieved "and now... I shall wait".
The situation with her emissary was unclear. He should have been there an hour prior, yet nobody was in sight.
Normally she would have been able to use Message to verify his whereabouts, however doing so would mean that other denizens of Nazarick could detect her. She just couldnt take the risk.
It took him another twenty minutes to arrive; Albedo greeted him with a cold stare, which she immediately reverted to a reassuring glare.
"My lady, I beg you to forgive this miserable fool. I was not aware that the city held such terrible traps" he spoke, still recovering his breath.
"Greetings, Bludigar'd-Bluden. I have never witnessed a loyal servant of Nazarick being late at an appointment. What kept you away?"
"The walls... the streets themselves and the sky... they all changed many times during the course of my journey. It is as if someone knew that I wasnt part of the citizenry and they wanted to keep me away from you at all costs. I swear on my honour, the city itself is alive".
"Hmm. I'll have to take note of this. What absurdity... it just delayed the inevitable. I'll see to it that all streets shall be destroyed and rearranged as soon as the city is in our hands".
"Very well. I'm glad to see that I did not cause too much trouble. Regarding the matter at hand... I understand that you chose to come inside on your own volition".
"Not entirely correct. My hand was forced due to external circumstances. You see... someone has seen me. I needed to get rid of them and disappear. And now here we are. Henceforth I will be taking control of this mansion. You may refer to this place as my personal headquarters. Any news, rumors or relevant info about Demiurge's movements as well as... what was his name again?"
"Flannar, my lady".
"Right, him. I need you to keep them both in check. Have you found a local representative yet?"
"Other than marquis Drykven, no. There seem to be a rather peculiar affair going on between 3 rival families. The Drykvens are just one third of the puzzle. While they hold most of the power in the immediate proximities, there is no telling which one of the other two will take over".
"I see. More useless feuds. Truly, men never change".
Albedo turned her attention to a bowl containing delicious bread, still warm and soft. She paused to take a bite.
"I have to say this is quite exquisite. Surely not better than anything Nazarick could offer, but it is close. How can this be, I wonder..."
"While my contacts are still rather unreliable, there is a distinct possibility that the city itself may be just a facade for something greater".
"Greater? Explain please".
"Yes my lady. A witness swears to have seen large masses of prisoners, elderly and priests being eaten alive by infants with teeth as sharp as adult beasts. This appears to be some kind of ritual. It is related to a special breed of elves cultivated only here, called Elves of Purity. They are most likely a genetically engineered species with unknown abilities. We must be wary of any possible harm until the situation is clearer".
"So the city is... a breeding ground. No, not even. It's a test chamber".
"Correct my lady. You are as intelligent and refined as ever".
The doppelganger performed a deep bow before continuing "It is only speculation for now, but the basis is there. If true, then this new species may be a first class contender for the ultimate predator on this planet. Such a behaviour is not random; apparently the teachings of what they call Church of Lady Hilda indicate that eating the flesh of so many people triggers a special shuffling mechanic from the world of the supreme beings".
"The supreme beings... can such a mechanic really work here?!"
"I must reiterate, such info is very hard to come by and it is impossible to verify at present. But, if taken at face value, then yes".
"A whole army of such creatures might prove to be a formidable obstacle".
"Precisely, my lady. It is still unclear to me how this might affect the ensuing battle, but it is undoubtedly a factor to consider".
Albedo pondered on the situation with calmness and grace, as if the incredible info she just received one after the other didnt bother her in the slightest.
"So, assuming any of this is true, all we have to do is finding the source of their creation and take control of it. Then I shall give it to lord Momonga and together... finally..."
Albedo grabbed her breasts with opposite hands, squeezing tightly as if entangled in a weirdly shaped embrace.
"My lady, please be cautious at all times. We dont know what those creatures are capable of. There is a high chance that the same abilities bestowed upon us can be wielded by them".
"That will not be a problem. What we need now is celerity. Moving faster than our enemies is the top priority above everything else. Continue searching for a representative and keep me posted. As soon as you show up under the guise of the mayor, the election will resume I gather. Move the marquis forth and put him in his rightful seat. Then solicit his involvement. With him as mayor there won't be any obstacle to our advance. We'll march on to the next phase of the operation in no time".
"Understood, my lady. Then I shall take my leave".
"Please remember that you have never seen me here. Should lord Momon... Ainz, ask of me you will tell him that you last saw me at my desk. Is that understood?"
"Ah, so this will be a surprise. Very well, I shall avoid the subject at all costs".
That said, the doppelganger left the room and entered a secondary exit to avoid being seen. With the mansion under her control, Albedo could finally relax. She explored it centimeter by centimeter, savouring the thought of herself being coronated queen of the world. It didnt really affect her on a personal level, rather the mere thought of lord Momonga acknowledging her existence and prowess as a leader as well as commander of her own forces sent shivers on her back. No more desk work, no more loneliness, no more unwilling subordinates; the Star City would be the stepping stone where she could plant her own flag and affirm her own greatness as an individual. It was time for her to be something more than just part of Nazarick. After all these years, she would finally be her own person, with her own achievements, and it would all culminate in a splendid marriage.
"Just a few more weeks" she told herself, smiling maniacally at the bloodstains slowly dripping down the boiserie "wait for me, lord Momonga".
