CHAPTER 19-A LONG NIGHT
Within the Deep Darkness Dragon Lord's lair, he lay in a type of hibernation as he focused on recovering the strength he expended facing Madara in their first encounter. Although those efforts had been slowed considerably due to his activities on the surface, he had learned how to optimize the times when he could devote himself to that goal.
"Hrm?"
Suddenly, his consciousness was drawn back by a powerful and unmistakable presence that he had become quite familiar with over the last few months. One that had not only defeated him in single combat, but had won his begrudging respect as he slowly grew to know him...
"Madara... What brings you here this time?"
Dy'vom's tone was relaxed, unmoved, and stoic, giving one the perfect image of a prideful dragon, despite having sworn his service to the Uchiha, who then spoke in a straight tone.
"Hmph... Ever the prideful Dragon Lord. I take it your efforts to recover your strength from our dance are going well?"
"As well as can be expected under the circumstances. As soon as your schemes for the war in the Dragon Kingdom get underway, I expect those efforts will become more fruitful. But you did not come here just for that." Dy'vom said in an expectant tone.
"Umu... Quite. I assume you're aware that my efforts to increase our ranks continues apace, but it is not enough. That is why I will require your assistance."
"..."
To this statement, Dy'vom perked a brow. Even though Madara's tone was even and calm, he could not help but feel that there was a tinge of urgency somewhere in his voice. Like there was an undercurrent of disquiet to the man that felt decidedly out-of-place in one whom carried himself with supreme confidence.
"Hrmm... This is not like you, Madara... Have you not already added more pieces to your board, both living and reanimated? Why the sudden haste?"
For a moment, Madara narrowed his vision on the Dy'vom, whose frame was like unto an abyss of blackness that swallowed light, form, and even life itself. Rare was the individual that could pick up on his feelings. Still, a dragon's senses were especially sharp, and those of a Dragon Lord were even sharper still. With the "contract" between them, combined with time and familiarity with each other, perhaps it was a given that the Dragon Lord could see past at least some of his inscrutable countenance.
"Hmph... What you call 'haste', I call pragmatism, Dy'vom. Not counting the fact that the entities your kind dubiously call 'Players' have once again arrived in this world in the form of an undead called 'Ainz Ooal Gown' with his own personal army of every type of monstrosity imaginable, I sense that something else is on the horizon. A shift in this world's balance that we must prepare for, or be left to drown in its wake."
"..."
After Madara's answer, Dy'vom became usually pensive as he lowered his head. It was Madara who then perked a brow, seeing the Dragon Lord was now the one to act out-of-character, but in his case, he realized why.
"I see you have felt it too."
"Hrm... Indeed." Dy'vom said in rumination.
"Why then have you remained silent until now?" Madara asked with a subtle edge in his voice, to which Dy'vom answered in kind.
"Hmph. Do not misunderstand, Madara. I have been in isolation longer than you've been alive. The last time I was even on the surface was over two-centuries ago, so I could not be sure of what I felt. Since you did not seem to notice it, I merely thought it to be my imagination. What you must understand is that the very nature of this world's magical forces became tainted and twisted when 'Players' brought their accursed [Tier Magic] with them to these lands. As a result, this world already feels 'wrong' to one as old as I."
Cradling his chin with his right-thumb and index-finger, Madara gave Dy'vom's words their due consideration as he mulled over what the Dragon Lord revealed to him. For Dy'vom, hating these beings called "Players" wasn't just because his kind was hunted down to near-extinction by a particular group of them called the "Eight Greed Kings".
By also spreading the powers of [Tier Magic] throughout the land, they fundamentally changed the very nature of the world he called home, with powers akin to "magical pollution". It was something that he himself could vouch for, since the differing nature of this world had altered the nature of some of his own abilities.
While Madara knew the history of those events to an extent, thanks to the information given to him by the Observer, speaking with someone who had actually lived through that period had a decidedly different impact. Gone was the dispassionate view of one who simply read it as just words upon a page, and despite the different circumstances, he could not help but feel a kinship with Dy'vom's point-of-view.
After all, his own world was fundamentally altered when "Kaguya Ōtsutsuki" brought Chakra to it, bringing the endless cycles of wars that followed. It was this that resolved him to prevent spreading the powers of Chakra throughout this world, focusing only on [Ninshu] to help strengthen those he brought into the fold. Still, as much as he sympathized with Dy'vom, confirmation was needed before jumping to conclusions based solely on emotion.
"You have made your point well enough, but tell me Dy'vom, if you had to describe how this world feels to you now, compared to how it was before, how would you phrase it?"
At this prompting, Dy'vom silently nodded as he rose his head, closed his eyes, and focused his consciousness on his surroundings, his Avatars, and the magic items he was linked with on the surface. After a few moments, he reopened his eyes and firmly spoke with a troubled expression and tone.
"If I were to put it to words... it feels as if the world's ebb and flow is being disturbed. Imagine this world was alive with a beating heart; the flow of blood to and from that heart has been... perhaps not damaged, but certainly disrupted. Altered in such a way that the heart's rhythm is not the same. What exactly is causing this newest imbalance, whether it is the result of the machinations of this 'Ainz Ooal Gown' and his servants, some other group of Players, or something else entirely, I cannot say... And I confess, this newest unknown worries me."
This newest bit of insight was all Madara needed to confirm his suspicions that something was on the horizon. Now his drive to conduct further preparations was all the more justified for it. As such, his expression became even more resolute when he addressed the Dragon Lord again.
"Then it is time you and I begin to take more active steps in our preparations."
"Grmph... You are a curious one, Madara. Although, I find myself intrigued, nonetheless. Tell me, how would you add upon what you are already doing, and how would you have me take part in it?"
"To that, I will answer your question with a question of my own; How goes your efforts to find any of your former comrades?"
"Aaaah... I see. So, you knew?" Dy'vom asked in a flat tone, unsurprised by this revelation, to which he only received a subtle smirk from Madara as a reply.
"Hrmph. No matter. I've had my Avatars explore the regions I knew them to once frequent, and I have a rough idea as to where and how to approach them. Even though most of them still live, some have since become... undesirable for anyone to have as an ally. There is another of my kind as well who may in fact prove amenable to joining your cause, but I know little about him as he is now. If anything, I do believe that some of the humans you've gathered would be the best ones to ask about him."
"I know of whom you speak Dy'vom, and that is a matter I plan to address in due time. But what of your old comrades?"
"If all goes well, you may be able to gather two, perhaps three of my former allies under your banner."
"Hoh? 'If', you say?" Madara asked with head tilted up, a clear sign of his interest.
"Yes. I am sure you recall as to how our first meeting transpired, so I must warn you that many others among my brethren have somewhat... troublesome, personalities to deal with. Even for one such as I. So even reaching out to them might elicit some negative reactions. I cannot stress how unfathomable it was at the time for us six Dragon Lords to have united to combat the next wave of Players back then. You don't know how difficult it was for us to come together to face a common enemy, and it didn't take long to fall apart despite the continued threat posed by Players either. So naturally, if we approach them, we must do so under two conditions. First, only the two of us may go. Anything more will be taken as an outright challenge or threat."
"Umu... A reasonable restriction. And the second?"
"You leave your panoply behind. I need not explain to you why." Dy'vom answered with a firm growl of warning.
Indeed, Madara perfectly understood the rationale with no elaboration needed. It was common knowledge that dragons had a keen sense for treasures and magical items, and this trait was greater still with Dragon Lords. So, for him to approach one whilst garbed head-to-toe in YGGDRASIL items would be foolish in the extreme, due to Dragon Lords' history with Players. No, starting conflicts from the outset of these meetings was not the goal, and must be avoided unless there was no alternative.
So, with an understanding nod, Madara weaved the Seals necessary to conjure a [Wood Clone], and once it manifested, he weaved another set of Seals that made his gear disappear from his person, and reappear on the Clone in a burst of white smoke. He long ago placed summoning circles on his gear for occasions such as this, so he was prepared to acquiesce to that condition.
Now sporting black and brown traveling attire from this world with plain cloak, Madara stood ready and spoke in his usual neutral tone.
"I trust this should suffice. Now, is there anything else before we proceed?"
"Hm... There is one last thing I must confirm before we begin, and this is very important in our future interactions with my brethren. Once they learn of your Edo Tensei, there will be concerns that you may try a similar method to make the fallen Eight Greed Kings your pawns. Such a move will only serve to incur their ire, so I must ask, do you have any intentions of doing such a thing?"
There was a tense moment of silence between them as they narrowed their vision upon each other. After all, Madara was a pragmatist at heart, and if reviving the fallen Eight Greed Kings could serve his goals, he wouldn't hesitate to do so. But to Dy'vom's surprise, there was an amused chuckle as Madara answered.
"It pleases me that you still have the guts to stand your ground against me, despite how our last dance ended... Set aside your worries, Dy'vom. I have no intention of reviving a group of fools who destroyed themselves over something as banal as lust. Furthermore, as you should well know by now, I would need their remains to even contemplate such a move. Unless you know where I should begin such a search, we can both consider that course of action closed to me."
"Hrm... Indeed."
There was another moment of silence as Dy'vom weighed Madara's reply. Quite frankly, he was surprised by his answer. Or perhaps it would be more accurate to say that he was pleasantly surprised. Despite all that he had learned of him, Madara was still an enigma, and just as he felt he understood how this paragon among humans thought and acted, he would say or do something to flip his expectations on its head. And he found it to be oddly refreshing in a way.
Madara likewise sensed Dy'vom's relief and amusement from his answer and indeed, if he had a choice in the matter, he would rather not revive the fallen Eight Greed Kings. He truly did not think highly of such a group of fools who destroyed themselves in the manner they did. Even if their actions allowed the relatively weak human races to flourish, the utter stupidity in which they allowed themselves to fall offended him on a number of levels.
"I trust that is enough to assuage your doubts?" Madara asked in a straight tone.
"Indeed... Now let us get underway..."
With that, Dy'vom stood up on all fours, and in an act that had pleasantly surprised Madara, the Dragon Lord turned to his side and lowered one of his wings. This was an invitation for Madara to ride upon his back. But more than that, for a dragon it was a sign of trust and respect. One which Dy'vom felt Madara had earned due to both his strength, and the respect he had shown him despite having made him submit.
So with a simple nod, Madara acknowledged the act and what it represented, jumping atop the Dragon Lord and attaching himself to his back using the Chakra upon his feet. Madara folded his arms as Dy'vom stood up to spread his wings, and began to glow as he chanted a [Wild Magic] spell...
"{Qo' NguvwI'a}."
In a bright flash of red light, they both disappeared from the Deep Darkness Dragon Lord's lair to seek out others of his kind. Leaving Madara's clone behind, he then spoke to himself before disappearing using a reverse-summoning Jutsu.
"Well then, I suppose I should get busy helping to get those young ladies settled in... Ah, yes. They will need a believable cover-story to convey to their guildmaster in the capital. Of course, the best lies are the ones that contain a fair amount of truth within..."
...
"I see... So that's what happened..."
Ameillia Grann thoughtfully hummed to herself as she sat at her desk, listening to Evileye as she recounted the results of their most recent quest. According to the small magic caster, the team recovered their missing people, and fought against not a cult, but a powerful and quite mad druid that wanted to use their blood in some kind of twisted magic ritual.
In other words, the quest itself was a trap, set with the expressed purpose of luring Blue Rose there. The guildmaster sighed heavily at the implications of one of the Re-Estize Kingdom's few Adamantite teams being targets for some magic caster's blood ritual. The details of which she did not wish to know if truth be told. The fact that a single master of the druidic arts very nearly defeated the five of them was almost unbelievable to her.
Still, it was a known fact that the Empire's Imperial Court Wizard, the "Tri-Arts" Fluder Paradyne was a wielder of the fabled 6th-tier of magic. Then there were unconfirmed reports that reached her ears of an unknown magic caster that saved Carne Village from destruction, and even saved the life of the Kingdom's Warrior-Captain.
Combined with her own recent experiences in the Demonic Disturbance, and she could not help but believe that yet another powerful figure had revealed itself. Though thankfully, Blue Rose had evidently been able to overcome this one, even if all of Evileye's teammates were recovering for the time being.
"Well, I am simply glad that your team managed to survive such an ordeal, Evileye. That you were able to also recover the missing guild members reflects well on all of you." Ameillia Grann said in a relieved tone.
"Hm... Thank you, Guildmaster. But as I said, it'll take some time for my team to recover from this latest fight." Evileye said in her usual stoic manner.
"I hope their recovery is a speedy one. We are still finding ourselves shorthanded with all the requests coming in, as well as needing those suitable to guard that demonic item recovered from the warehouse district." She replied in a weary tone.
"Um, about that, Guildmaster? I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but for the time being, our team won't be accepting any more new quests. We've instead decided to re-train ourselves in isolation."
"..."
Ameillia Grann was blank-faced in utter shock from such a simple sentence. Even with the mask and cloak, she could tell that Evileye was somewhat uncomfortable to be the one to deliver this news, and she had every right to be as she spoke in an agitated tone.
"Evileye...? You can't be serious... The guild is already in a fragile state after the Disturbance. Why has your team chosen NOW of all times to focus on training, when we're already dealing with a great many urgent matters, and our quests aren't slowing down, in the slightest?"
There was a heavy, resigned sigh from beneath Evileye's mask, before she replied in a firm but distant tone.
"Guildmaster, I'm afraid this is something we must do... Recent events have shown us that we simply can't continue as we are... I... may be hailed as this country's strongest magic caster, but next to that thing Jaldabaoth, I was nothing. Nearly half my team would have been killed if not for Momon. Then immediately after we faced powerful demons that pushed us and even the Warrior-Captain to our limits, yet to Jaldabaoth they were disposable pawns. Even in our most recent ordeal, we faced a single man whose power simply beggared belief as to how strong a human can be..."
Evileye paused in her speech as her hands shook briefly, but it was more than enough that the guildmaster could tell just how profound their most recent experience was. Never had she seen the small yet stoic magic caster behave in such a manner, and it frankly unnerved her to see it.
"...It's simple, Guildmaster; our recent trials have made it apparent to all of us that our current level of strength is simply not enough. Jaldabaoth's still out there, and the next time he strikes, will we be fortunate enough to have Momon around to drive the 'Demon Emperor' back a second time? It's no secret that he bases himself in E-Rantel, and is constantly taking quests of his own that see him traveling all over the land. If we're attacked again and he isn't here to defend us, what will we do then if we don't get stronger ourselves?"
Once again, Ameillia Grann was stunned. Evileye's logic was flawless, but more than that, she had spoken more to her in the last half-hour, than she had in the last half-year. Indeed, she shuddered to think what may have happened if Momon the Black had not been in the capital when Jaldabaoth attacked. But more than that, she had never seen or heard any member of Blue Rose be so humbled. If even Evileye, by far the most stoic and reserved member of the team was like this, then what did that say about the current physical and mental states of her recovering teammates?
"Hm... Very well, Evileye. You've made your point. While I would have preferred to have heard this from your leader, for now I will accept your reasoning. I'll try to cover for your team as best as I can, but I will need some kind of concession in the event another Adamantite-ranked job comes across my desk, or there's some kind of emergency that requires Blue Rose's expertise." Ameillia professionally added.
"Yes, our leader thought you might say something like that, so I was told to give you this..."
Pulling out a crystal wrapped in a bluish-colored metal patterned in an ornate lattice design, Evileye handed it to the guildmaster, who accepted it with a questioning look in her eyes.
"It's a magic item for communication and teleportation. If there's an emergency, you can use it to contact us, and if we're able, we can return to the precise spot it is placed. Will this work?"
"Truly? Hmm... Then yes, this should work for now. Given how important this clearly is to you all, and the admittedly sound logic behind your decision, I'll agree to reserve this for emergencies."
Expertly hiding her bewilderment at this turn of events behind a veil of professionalism, the guildmaster took the crystalline item and locked it in a reinforced drawer in her desk, until such time came where she could relocate it to a more secure place. Truly, the last few days had been a series of headaches, many of which simultaneous.
Although Red Drop, the country's third Adamantite team, was due to arrive in a few days to fill the gap, she hardly enjoyed dealing with its leader, Azuth Aindra. Despite Lakyus' uncle being friendly enough, his maverick nature made him a different kind of headache to deal with. It was made worse by the fact that, much like his niece's close ties to Princess Renner, the man had an irritating habit of regularly accepting personal requests from one of the Argland Council State's Dragon Councilors.
'Uuugh... I swear, that whole family is a pain in the ass to deal with. Finding a way to keep him here in the capital is going to be an uncomfortable challenge...' Ameillia Grann thought to herself in annoyance.
"Guildmaster?" Evileye prompted with head-tilt.
"Oh, my apologies, Evileye. I was just thinking about how best to fill the gap that Blue Rose's absence will create... Before you say anything, let me make it clear that I understand and agree with why you lot have decided to do this. But given my position I must always think of the guild as a whole."
"I understand, Guildmaster... If there's nothing else, I must head out and join the others. Weeks if not months of pain and misery await us, if it's any consolation." Evileye said in irony, eliciting a chuckle from Ameillia.
"Hehe... 'Tis a small one, but I shall accept it nonetheless. Give my regards to the rest of your team, and make sure all of you take care of one another."
Giving the guildmaster a respectful nod, Evileye jumped down from her seat, turning towards the door to leave before she stopped in her tracks. Raising her head and exclaiming "Oh!", it was as if she recalled something important as she turned her head back to the woman seated at the desk.
"One more thing, Guildmaster. I have a personal message to you from Lakyus."
"Oh? What is it?" Ameillia asked, intrigued by such a thing.
"I don't really understand the meaning behind it, but she wanted me to tell you that, 'You were right'." Evileye said with a shrug, before promptly exiting Ameillia's office.
As Evileye left Ameillia in stunned silence, the guildmaster interlaced her fingers on her desk and propped them up on her elbows before she allowed herself a small, brief smile.
"Huh... Well, well... Perhaps some good did come of this after all..."
...
Elsewhere, a decidedly different meeting took place within Nazarick as the Overlord of Death Ainz Ooal Gown, sat across from Demiurge in his study on one of the resplendent sofas that faced each other. In the middle was a rectangular table, packed with a rather large stack of papers and files that made him internally sigh at the sight, since it rather unfortunately reminded him of his days as a salaryman.
Before he could address it, the Arch-Devil to his front bowed at the waist, speaking in a devoted and subservient tone.
"My deepest and humblest apologies for the sudden summons and need for a meeting, Ainz-sama."
"Umu... Think nothing of it, Demiurge. I know that you would not have so urgently insisted on this meeting if it was not of the utmost importance, and I was not doing anything that could not be postponed for the time being." Ainz dismissively waved.
"Oooh~! For the Supreme One to so readily dismiss your important work for the likes of one such as I, truly, your magnanimity knows no bounds, Ainz-sama!"
As Demiurge once again bowed whilst sitting, and even deeper than before, Ainz had to halt the urge to sigh at such an embarrassing reaction.
'Eh? Important work? Wherever did they get THAT idea?! All I was doing was practicing my lines and gestures in-front of my bedroom's mirror... Is it because I routinely dismiss the Eight-Edge Assassins so I can have some moments alone? Uuugh, what a bother. Something to address at a later time...'
In a rare moment where his annoyance at the NPCs' misunderstandings got the better of him, Ainz spoke in a tone that reflected that as he replied.
"That's enough of that, Demiurge. You came here because you had something important to discuss, no? Then dispense with the unnecessary praise and get to it. We won't get anywhere otherwise."
"Oh~oh, my apologies..." Demiurge began, startled by the sudden shift in Ainz's tone, who realized his mistake and held up a hand to forestall further words as he spoke in a calmer tone.
"It's fine, Demiurge. Now then, what is the purpose of this meeting, and please explain all these stacks of papers."
"Ah! Certainly, Ainz-sama..." Demiurge resolutely said whilst straightening his posture and pushing his glasses up.
"...In accordance with your previous orders, these are the latest reports of your servants' latest activities relevant to the matter that I wished to bring to your attention."
"Hmm..."
As Ainz looked down at the sizeable stack before him, internally he was exasperated.
'Eh? Seriously? I know I said I wanted to be kept better informed to what they were doing, but it'll take me the better part of tonight to get through this, even if I just skim the contents! Oh, not good. Demiurge might get nervous again if I badmouth his efforts. Maybe I can play it off as wanting to quickly get to what's so important.'
"Umu... Good work, Demiurge. However, in the interests of saving time, please summarize the relevant material to the topic you wish to bring to my attention."
"Of course, Ainz-sama. It would be my pleasure... Now then, in light of recent setbacks with the lizardman tribes, and the incident in the Kingdom's capital, I have been taking the lessons from your seminars, as well as orders to ensure Nazarick is seen as justified in the moves it makes on the wider-world, in preparation for our moves with the neighboring Baharuth Empire..."
"Hoh~!"
Ainz cradled his chin with his left-hand as he gently exclaimed in interest. He was happy to hear that his lessons were being taken to heart and was eager to hear how Demiurge was going about it.
"...To that end, Albedo and I have been sending servants proficient in reconnaissance, stealth, and information gathering to various places across the Kingdom and the Empire. During the course of their investigations, they discovered three pieces of information. The first pertains to information passed on to us by our collaborator, Princess Renner. It seems her pawns in Blue Roses stumbled upon activities of a demon worshipping cult that was, until recently, operating in a remote location called, Leite Village."
"Oh? Is that so? What did they discover?"
"Unfortunately, so far they have discovered little of interest, beyond that this cult was wiped out by a mysterious third party by the time Blue Rose had arrived. However, this leads into the second point; we discovered they garnered the attention of the cult of Zuranon, with whom your adventurer persona dealt with some time ago. Apparently, a spy was sent to the village to watch over matters, and our Shadow Demons have been keeping a constant watch on this spy ever since."
"I see..."
Ainz cupped his skeletal hands in front of his chin as he heard this latest information. It was only after the Cemetery Incident that he came to know of Zuranon as a cult that was obsessed with the undead, and that was when he had to devote his full attention to what followed with Shalltear's brainwashing. While he heard a bit more from other adventurers afterward, he had to admit that they had completely slipped his mind with everything that has happened.
"As much as they angered me then, the incident they caused did help to raise Momon's name and rank, so I have to admit that they sound like they could be useful." Ainz mused aloud as his right index-finger pensively tapped his left-hand.
"I likewise thought the same, my lord. Which brings me to another point of interest. A separate investigation was being conducted into E-Rantel's past and history, to see if it can be used as a piece to manipulate the Kingdom and Empire, as it borders those nations, as well as the Slane Theocracy to the south. While those investigations did bear fruit, our vassals stumbled upon a most interesting bit of information. Apparently, the corpses of the woman Ainz-sama defeated, and the necromancer that Narberal Gamma killed, mysteriously disappeared from E-Rantel's morgue shortly after their recovery."
"...!"
It was like a lightening bolt had struck Ainz's mind whilst parsing Demiurge's words. His initial fears from back then about leaving those bodies in the care of E-Rantel's officials were now fully realized. Whoever recovered those bodies currently had access to a wealth of information on him and Narberal. Or more precisely, the fact that the personas of "Momon" and "Nabe" were more than met the eye.
'Dammit, dammit, dammit! What the hell?! This is a serious blunder! If those two get revived, everything from the Swords of Darkness' and Shalltear's sacrifices will have been for nothing! No! I won't allow that!'
Both panic and anger flared within Ainz like a fiery maelstrom, until then his [Emotion Inhibitor] passive thankfully kicked in, calming him enough so that he could think more rationally. After a minute, he began to parse his thoughts aloud, since Demiurge's calm, smiling countenance told him that there was more going on.
"Hmm... This is concerning, but something's not quite right. I would have expected someone to have capitalized on my blunder somehow, if those bodies were recovered and revived. But it's been about 3-months with nothing negative happening."
"Indeed, that is so, Ainz-sama. Still, no need to be modest, my lord. Surely, you had intended..."
Demiurge was curtly cut-off mid-sentence as Ainz's head snapped into his direction, and he spoke in a soft, yet displeased tone of voice.
"Demiurge, did not I say that even I make mistakes? I said that during our work in the lizardman villages, and I constantly said it during my seminars. I'm not being modest. I'm being truthful. So don't make the mistake of assuming otherwise."
"A-Ah... Yes, forgive me, Ainz-sama. I misspoke." Demiurge contritely said before Ainz waved it off, wanting to move the topic along before his annoyance resurfaced.
"That's enough, Demiurge. If you at least learned from it, then I am content. Now, there was more you said you wanted to tell me."
"Ahem! Yes, that's correct, Ainz-sama. From the previous points, and numerous smaller details contained in the papers and files, I have reason to believe that it was Zuranon that had acquired the bodies of the humans known as 'Clementine' and 'Khajiit'. If as I suspect they did revive the two humans that so foolishly opposed you, then it is my supposition that they are taking stock of the situation, awaiting for your next move. As an undead worshipping cult, their interest in you would be quite high, Ainz-sama."
"Umu..."
As Ainz thoughtfully cradled his bony chin, he had to admit that what Demiurge said did make perfect sense. After all, an Overlord-class undead like him, as far as he could tell, was unheard of in this new world. So a cult like this would likely be watching out for him was the most logical assumption.
"...You may be right, Demiurge. Now I am very much interested in somehow acquiring them as servants for Nazarick."
"I am pleased to hear that, Ainz-sama. For now, I am having our stealth vassals keeping a close watch for any of Zuranon's movements, and I... Hm?"
Demiurge suddenly cut-off his speech midway, raising his head as if something caught his attention. What it was became apparent as he turned his head, placing his extended right index and middle-fingers upon his temple, indicating his receiving a [Message]. Ainz nodded in understanding when Demiurge gave him a glance, allowing his to receive it.
"Hm... Hm... Yes, I understand. Good work. I shall inform Ainz-sama. Keep them under watch until then."
Concluding his brief conversation, Demiurge turned to give his master his full attention as he spoke with a tinge of urgency in his voice.
"Ainz-sama, one of our stealth vassals has reported that it had spotted the Zuranon spy in Leite Village sneaking away in the night, and is now currently meeting with an Elder Lich whom we can only assume is the master of that operation. I humbly petition that we move on this latest development as soon as possible."
"Umu... Agreed. Send the order to move in, and I'll be joining you in this endeavor, as it has piqued my interest." Ainz calmly and regally declared as he stood up.
"Oh~hoh, nothing would please me more, Ainz-sama~!" Demiurge happily declared as he also stood up, bowing deeply to his master.
"That's enough, Demiurge. Let us go..." Ainz affirmed as he placed a hand on the Arch-Devil, and invoked the power of the [Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown] to make them disappear in blue light.
...
The sun had already set as a feminine figure ran through a pitch-black forest, wearing a plain brown hood and cloak. Her steps were surprisingly light and agile, making nary a sound as she swiftly made her way through the woods as if she could see in the dark. Entering a clearing near the end of her path, it was barely illuminated by the moonlight above as she looked to and fro, as if searching for something...
"You are early..."
Suddenly, a haunting voice echoed from a large boulder near the forest's edge, immediately drawing her attention. As her head snapped to the location, she walked forward in a slow and steady gait as a new figure came into view. At first, it appeared to be merely a hooded, robed, and thin male figure of purple and black, but as he turned to face her, the decayed features of an Elder Lich were illuminated by the moon's light.
Once within 5-feet of him, she stopped and stood erect as she pulled back her own hood, and revealed a beautiful young woman of approximately 19-years-of-age. She beheld the undead before her with green eyes, that held not a speck of fear, but instead recognition, as she took a knee in prostration.
The moonlight glistened off her long black hair, which the breeze briefly revealed to be so long that it went past her waist. Her expression remained stoic and unemotional as she spoke with a matching tone.
"I thought it best to arrive as quickly as possible to deliver my report, master."
"Hmph... Very well, Eskalla. You have lived in that village for over a year now, so I will trust your judgment on such things. Now tell all... What was the 'Order of the New Dawn' doing in Leite Village?"
She then gave an account of her experiences, when she and the other village girls were taken and used by the Evil Deity worshipping cult (A/N:CH.10), now identified as the "Order of the New Dawn". A name that the Elder Lich always found comical at best, given the context of what the Evil Deities did to the world over 200-years ago.
Of course, that was second to the revulsion he felt at the details of the ritual used to quicken the rebirth of the demon in question. Yet again, it illustrated the difference in mindsets and methods between the two organizations, and how their cooperation with them was a mistake. A point he would immediately take back to his superiors, once he was finished here. When she finished her report, which was more detailed than what he would have cared for, he spoke in that same empty, haunting tone.
"Hmm... You have done well, Eskalla. I'll be taking this information back to the 'Executives', and see if we can put an end to any further involvement with them in the future."
"Understood, master. And? What am I to do now?"
"..."
Her voice and expression were empty as she asked that question of her undead master. Indeed, it was one of resignation, for she knew her handler well enough to know what would happen now. She grew too close to a rival cult, and in his eyes, she now appeared "tainted". While she had served him well, having potential as a magic caster herself, and possessed [Talent] that was fairly useful in spying, Eskalla's usefulness seemed to be at an end. Best to end her now.
"I think you know what comes next, my dear... Fare thee well, Eskalla."
There was a tinge of regret within the Elder Lich's haunting voice as he then rose his right-hand towards her. Eskalla lowered her head, resigned to her fate, even if she gritted her teeth at the unfairness of it all. Her entire life she had been used by others, only to be discarded later. She joined Zuranon in the hopes of attaining the power to seize some modicum of control over her life, but in the end, it was all for nothing.
She didn't believe in any gods, and really how could she, after a life of being trampled upon by others? Still, a part of her in the back of her mind screamed. She wanted to live, wanted to continue to see the world, and perhaps it was in that all-too-fleeting moment of desperation that she prayed. She didn't care if it was the gods, or even the demons that were worshipped by the Order, as she silently prayed to whatever power was listening...
'I want to live! Someone, anyone, take whatever I have to give, but please, LET ME LIVE!'
"Oya~! Isn't it a waste to kill such a pretty thing?"
'"...!"'
Much to their mutual shock, a bell-like voice rang out from behind them both. As fast as the Elder Lich was to turn around to use a spell on whoever it was, the blur that grasped his hand was far faster. In that instant, his hand was twisted, and with an earth-shaking stomp, flattened onto the ground. Eskalla was shocked into wide-eyed silence, as the soft moonlight illuminated a beautiful girl in a dark, fine dress, pale skin, and red eyes.
So stunning was the combination of power and beauty which saved her from death, that only one thought came to her mind...
'Is this... an angel?'
The stunning newcomer that so handily subdued Eskalla's undead master ignored her rapt attention as she ground her heel into his squirming back. The Elder Lich howled in impotent anger and confusion as his form flared in an aura of negative energy.
"DAMN YOU! HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS?! ARRGH!"
"Oh, so noisy~ Still can't understand when you're outmatched?"
"You little...! What?!"
"Oya~? Finally noticed, have you?"
The Elder Lich was shocked when he managed to turn his head enough to look back at who had subdued him, and saw the visage of a vampire. The pale skin, red eyes, and brief glimpse of her fangs when she smiled were unmistakable to him. No wonder his negative energy had no effect on her, even as he failed to comprehend just how she could be so strong.
"Ainz-sama~! As ordered, I have restrained the Lich." Shalltear said in loyal reverence.
"Umu... Good work, Shalltear."
'"...!"'
Both Eskalla and the undead were startled by the echo of another's voice as their heads turned in unison towards the clearing's edge, and saw a new pair come into view. The first was a man in a suit and tie, garments known to have originated from the south. Although the metallic tail, pointed ears, and unsettling smile marked him as anything but human. The second stunned them both, as they saw the visage of an undead, but clearly one far above the one restrained on the ground.
His marble-white skull was immaculate, and his robes were of such superlative quality that they glistened in the moonlight. It only took a one glance to tell how fearsome of an undead he was, and in the eyes of both new worlders, he was as far above them, as they were the worms in the earth. Eskalla in particular could not help but notice how the beautiful vampiress addressed and bowed to this mysterious undead. If one such as her recognized it as superior, then...
"Good evening. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ainz Ooal Gown."
The tone of this newly emerged undead was strong and dignified, with a regal poise that froze the pair in place. Before they could mull further however, their pause in introductions agitated the suited/tailed one next to him who, despite speaking calmly and cordially, carried a hint of distain in his voice.
"The Supreme One has introduced himself. If you value your lives, you will follow proper etiquette and respond in kind."
"A-Ah, yes! My name is Eskalla, my lord."
"I am called, Denaldis."
As the Elder Lich identifying himself as "Denaldis" looked upon the scene, he was still reeling his situation. This was supposed to be a routine mission after all, but now it has taken a turn for the truly surreal, and the only thing that made any sense at all is that the activities of the Evil Deity worshipping cult calling themselves the "Order of the New Dawn", had attracted more attention than even he bargained for.
For Eskalla, she gazed upon Ainz with eyes filled with awe, admiration, and borderline worship. In her most desperate of hours, her prayers were answered, and her life saved. In her heart of hearts, she knew that she would devote her utmost to repay that debt, by whatever means she could. Zuranon be damned.
Both Demiurge and Shalltear could not help but notice this, and each in their own way admired how with such little effort, their master won over the loyalty of this pitiful human girl that he found a measure of pity for. No, perhaps it was simply as expected for the Supreme One, even if the inferior undead beneath Shalltear's metaphorical boot had yet to realize its situation.
Ainz himself felt rather uncomfortable by Eskalla's raptured gaze, so reminiscent of the NPCs, that she herself could have been one. Still, he kept latest developments foremost in his mind as he pushed on ahead.
"Ahem! Glad to make your acquaintance. Now, let us get down to business. I am aware that the two of you are part of the undead worshipping cult of Zuranon, and that you were investigating the activities of another cult that worships the Evil Deities. I already heard everything the two of you discussed before we made our presence known, so there is no need to go over that. But first thing's first... [Undead Domination]." Ainz said as he directed his hand towards Denaldis.
"Shalltear, you can release him now."
"As you wish, Ainz-sama~!"
As the one named Shalltear coquettishly replied, she let go of her hold on the Elder Lich and dutifully stood to the side, awaiting further instructions. Denaldis meanwhile was struggling to make sense of what just happened. He felt as if a part of himself had been shackled. As if he could not think or move for himself any longer.
He even questioned the simple act of sitting up on his knees and looking at his desiccated hands in bewilderment. Noticing this and sensing his confusion, Ainz plainly spoke up.
"I have used a special [Skill] that binds you to my will. You are effectively under my control. That is why you must feel strangely right now."
"In... incredible..."
The Elder Lich Denaldis was at a complete loss for words at this. While domination spells to put wild undead under thrall were common knowledge to the necromancers of Zuranon, something powerful enough to do the same to an Elder Lich was unheard of to him. If he held any doubts to the puissance of this mysterious undead whose presence dwarfed his by leaps and bounds, then they were quite squashed.
"Then... How might this one serve you, my master?" Denaldis said with a reverential bow.
There was a cunning chuckle from Demiurge, and a pleased, yet disturbingly aroused smile from Shalltear as this happened. While Ainz held back the urge to sigh at this sign of subservience, he held back on that, since what he and Demiurge had discussed had been proven correct. If one of Zuranon's own undead agents, a cult which worshipped undead no less, reacted to him like this, what did that say of those humans who served in their ranks?
As that thought crossed his mind, he turned his gaze Eskalla, who's eyes were filled with awe and wonder. Noticing this, Demiurge pushed up his glasses as he spoke in his usual confident, and frankly smug tone that somehow unnerved the Overlord.
"As expected of Ainz-sama... Now, before we start questioning this inferior Elder Lich, what shall be done with this young lady?"
"Umu... What indeed..."
Ainz's tone was even and neutral as he replied. A common delaying tactic he used with the NPCs when he was unsure of something. Indeed, he had honestly not thought of anything to do with this girl. Although, after hearing what happened to her during her assignment for Zuranon, and how she was going to be discarded because of it, strangely enough a part of him was angry.
That was the part that confused him. She was a total stranger with no connection to him whatsoever, yet something about the whole situation offended him on some level. As he began to think on this, the girl in question spoke up in a calm, yet awed tone.
"Lord Ainz, if I may speak?"
"Hm... Please do." Ainz cordially replied, hoping that whatever she had to say would help him to understand this oddity that confused him, as well as decide her fate.
"I joined Zuranon in the hopes of changing the powerlessness of my life... A life spent being used by others, only to be thrown away as if I was nothing. Your Magnificence and your servant Shalltear showed me a kindness by saving such a sad life, and I would repay that debt."
"..."
For a moment, Ainz was frankly moved by her words, and finally understood why he was briefly angry earlier; she reminded him of his old life as a human. Back in his old world, he was cast aside easily. First by a society that neglected an orphan boy whose mother died via "karoshi", or death by overwork, and many others like her. Then by his own bosses who would build their successes upon the backs of salarymen like him.
Back then, he deeply buried his resentment and anger, as there was nothing he could do, but now things were different. He was no longer a powerless human, but he well understood her feelings, and felt a tinge of pity for her as he spoke with a tone that was oddly soft to the NPCs present.
"Umu... I acknowledge your feelings, Eskalla. I would welcome you into our ranks, provided that you have an idea as to how you would repay that debt."
"Yes, my lord. If you would allow it, I would like to become like her." Eskalla resolutely said as she pointed towards a stunned, and then incensed Shalltear.
"Wha-?! How dare you think you can just...!"
Shalltear rant was stopped dead in its tracks as Ainz calmly lifted a hand towards her for silence, to which she dutifully complied with a bow. As much as Ainz felt for her situation, he also knew that he still had an image to maintain as the Overlord. After all, this was a different situation from Tsuare and Sebas. Despite being a Zuranon spy, if Shalltear's galled reaction was anything to go by, he could not just grant such requests.
"What skills do you possess that makes you believe you're worthy of such a request?" Ainz matter-of-factly asked.
"A-Ah~! M-My apologies, my lord... Ahem... I can read and write about four different languages, I am a 2nd-tier magic caster, and I possess an empathic-type [Talent] that allows me to read the feelings and emotions of living subjects within 3-meters of my person. That has allowed me to work more effectively as a spy for Zuranon, and I would put such skills at your disposal. If given the chance, I know that my abilities can be strengthened in your service."
"Hmm... I see..."
As he cradled his marble-white chin, Ainz was silently thankful that she possessed some useful skills that could help justify granting her bold request. At least, bold in the eyes of the NPCs that would likely be predisposed to judging her negatively as an outsider. Of course, since they knew of his interest in those with [Talents], and learning how those of this world learned spells, the fact that Eskalla had both, made it an easy choice as he turned to petite True Vampire.
"Shalltear?"
"Y-Yes, Ainz-sama~?"
"I want you to grant Eskalla's request. Turn her into the strongest vampire that you are capable of with your ability. She will prove useful."
"Wha-? I-I mean, as you wish, Ainz-sama~!" Shalltear acknowledged, despite being taken aback by her master's order.
"Thank you, my lord. I swear I will repay this kindness." Eskalla happily said with a deep bow.
"Umu... I know you will." Ainz replied, once again in that soft, almost fatherly tone that surprised all present.
In that moment, Shalltear's hostility shifted from outraged, to jealous, then to envious, as this girl stood up and followed after her to the side. Of course, the Supreme One's orders took precedence, and if he acknowledged this girl as useful, then that was good enough for her. She was also curious to see the results, wanting to know just how much more beautiful this already delicious young lady would become after her transformation.
This thought made her smile as she beckoned Eskalla to follow her to the treeline, not wanting to disturb her master's questioning of the Elder Lich. Demiurge for his part smiled deviously at this development. He half-expected his master to assign the girl to his farm, given her "experience" in being "mated" with other species in that demon cult's rituals. Making him even more proud to serve such an inscrutable master...
'As expected of the Supreme One. Ainz-sama's foresight truly is formidable. Once the others of Zuranon see that Eskalla girl's conversion, it will serve as a good example of what rewards their service will bring. Truly, I was foolish in thinking that Ainz-sama would rely on only one method of gaining them as useful pawns.' Demiurge thought to himself in pleased admiration.
"Now then, Denaldis, was it? You and I will now have a nice long conversation." Ainz firmly said as he stared down the still kneeling Elder Lich.
"O-Of course, master! What is it that you wish to know?" Denaldis hurriedly replied, shaking himself out of the shock of Eskalla being converted into a vampire only a few meters away.
"Umu... A good attitude to have. Well, let's start with, everything you know about Zuranon, and leave nothing out, or I will know." Ainz menacingly said, as two red lights brightly flared in his skull.
...
As the Re-Estize Kingdom and Baharuth Empire slept in blissful ignorance, a conquest unknown and unseen took place all throughout the long night. The Elder Lich Denaldis was truly a treasure trove of information, being a manager for Zuranon's spies and information gathering activities throughout the two nations. The fact that the cult had such a wide-reaching presence was truly a surprise for Ainz Ooal Gown, and one he embraced as he used the information to great effect.
Demiurge, Albedo, and surprisingly enough, even Pandora's Actor had been collectively tasked with one mission; taking over the entirety of Zuranon. It was here that Ainz, despite his still present embarrassment of his personal NPC and Treasury Guardian, was glad he utilized the Greater Doppelgänger. His intelligence, adaptability, organizational abilities, and cunning was easily a match for Nazarick's two other finest minds.
Furthermore, his ability to transform into Ainz himself allowing for the use of [Undead Domination], was quite useful when they encountered even more like Denaldis. A few were "High Disciples" like himself, while others were part of Zuranon's "Twelve Executives", the ruling body of the cult as a whole.
Apparently, they operated autonomously from each other, each fulfilling their own goals and missions, but still collaborating in the pursuit of knowledge and other goals. Through this common thread, Zuranon's leadership hierarchy was targeted and subdued first, and with each one, they drew ever closer to the top of the cult itself; Zuranon's Grand Master.
Individually, neither the High Disciples, nor the Twelve Executives knew where or how to find him, as each held only a piece of useful information pointing to his whereabouts. Once again, Ainz was glad he tasked all three of Nazarick's best minds to the death cult's subjugation. They deduced this puzzle was done deliberately to ensure no single person within the organization could find the leader, until such time as he wanted to be found.
As their shadow campaign to subdue Zuranon continued all throughout the night, Ainz could not help but admire this setup. Unless all the Disciples and Executives were brought together at a particular time and place, their leader was virtually untouchable. Well, through conventional means at least. For whom from this world would be able to account for Nazarick's capabilities that are so far beyond them, as to be almost godlike?
Once Nazarick was set upon Zuranon's trail, it was all over for them, as most of their holdings were already under their control before dawn. Holdings which included agents and bases within both the Kingdom and the Empire. A turn of events making Demiurge smile throughout the night, as it placed them in an even more favorable position to manipulate Baharuth when the time came to make their move in that country.
Then it was just down to a few stragglers and the Grand Master himself, when they had finally ascertained his position. Underneath a small city west of the coastal port-city of Re-Uroval, an ancient series of maze-like catacombs served as their leader's main base of operations. An advantageous position to be sure, since it allowed free access to the sea route for quick evacuation if the need ever arose.
Of course, such precautions were meaningless in the face of Nazarick. As their forces infiltrated their compound, they never knew what hit them as Ainz himself teleported in with Shalltear and the newly remade Eskalla behind him. The latter differed greatly from her former self, with red eyes, pale skin, and her long black hair flowing freely down her back as she was now garbed in the same attire as Shalltear's Vampire Bride POPs.
While the garments were provided out of quick convenience, Shalltear's had to admit that the results were most pleasing as she gazed lasciviously at Nazarick's newest addition. Licking her lips, she made to grope the newly made vampiress, who winced at her touch, clearly not appreciating the attention.
Turning his head in their direction, he saw a pleading look on Eskalla's face, and inwardly sighed at his friend's creation. It reminded him of Shalltear's reaction when he used her as a chair, wondering just how perverted Peroroncino made her. Making a mental note to review her written lore when the opportunity presented itself, Ainz firmly spoke up.
"Shalltear, that's enough of that. We're here on business. Not to sate your desires."
"O-Oh~! My apologies, Ainz-sama." Shalltear contritely acknowledged with a bow.
"Umu... So long as you understand. Also, she clearly does not appreciate your type of 'attention', so hands off. Eskalla is now part of Nazarick, and is deserving of the same respect as any of its inhabitants. If she doesn't want to be touched, respect that. And Eskalla? If she does that again, let me know and I'll discipline her."
"T-Thank you, my lord." Eskalla said in relief as she too bowed.
"Hmm... Good. Now then, let us see what Zuranon's 'Grand Master' looks like." Ainz said in a neutral tone as he turned back to the corridor, ignoring Shalltear's surprised and nervous looks from his latest declaration.
As he walked down the corridor with the two female vampires behind him, Ainz used a number of spells and Shadow Demon summons to perform reconnaissance on the path being used to reach Zuranon's leader. The information they obtained from those in this compound indicated he would be here, but something didn't feel right.
'Why the hell is Zuranon's top figure here without so much as a boobytrap to protect him?'
Indeed, this was too bizarre for the Overlord. If it were him, he would protect himself with a layer of traps and minions so intricate that no one would escape. Even with this world's limited means, there were still ways to make that happen, despite such things being of little consequence for him and those of Nazarick. So it was only natural that it would make him wonder.
'Is he simply counting on the secrecy of this location? If so, it seems a rather flawed way to go about it.'
Just as Ainz mused on this, they came upon a set of double-doors with an engraved design very reminiscent of the "Grim Reaper" back in his old world. An odd coincidence to be sure, but given the evidence that Players had arrived in this world before, he then set such things to the side in mind as he turned to Shalltear.
"Open it."
"As you command, Ainz-sama~!"
Happily acknowledging his orders, Shalltear stepped forward to open the double-doors with a flick of her right index-finger. Ainz purposely did that to test if there would be one more trap of some kind, even though the Shadow Demons reported to him that there were none. While it still confused him, Ainz entered after Shalltear, who had donned her full panoply in a flash the moment she entered.
The chamber they entered was spacious, with desks, cabinets, and benches of all types filled with all manner of apparatuses used for magical and alchemical experiments. This alone impressed Ainz, since this implied that their leader might be useful beyond his initial capture. After all, there was still much about how this world worked that they had yet to understand, like the exact process of how they learned magic.
Just as he mused on this, he turned to his left; at the far side of the room where, in-front of a shrine dedicated to death itself, were three robed figures. Two were on either side of a third in the middle, who stood to his back to them with skeletal hands held behind his back. The others had their hoods up, so Ainz couldn't quite make out their faces, but something about them seemed familiar to his senses as they visibly cowered in place.
His passives also detected that all three of them were undead, and just as he mused on this, the third figure stirred, and then calmly spoke in a relaxed tone.
"Ah, I see you have arrived at last. I must say I am somewhat disappointed in your progress. I imagined you to be here sooner, Ainz Ooal Gown. Or, would you prefer, 'Momon of Darkness'?"
"Wha-?! How dare you speak to Ainz-sama in such a manner-!"
Shalltear began in an enraged voice, before being calmed by Ainz placing his right-hand on her left-shoulder. With a nod from her master, she understood the signal as she then remained silent. While he had a fair idea that this was Zuranon's leader, his words made him wonder if this was all planned somehow. Not to mention him knowing Momon's secret all but confirming his suspicions. As he pondered this, Ainz himself calmly spoke.
"First meetings usually warrant proper introductions."
"Ah, yes of course. Forgive me my lack of manners..." The third cloaked figure said in a surprisingly apologetic tone as he slowly turned around.
Doing this, Ainz got a good look at Zuranon's undead leader, who wore a much more intricate version of the red robes that he remembered Khajiit wore back during the E-Rantel cemetery incident. One with gold-etched designs and ornaments that were magical in nature. Of course, the real surprise was that the leader was an undead that looked more like a less evolved version of an Overlord than an Elder Lich.
Before Ainz could mull further on this surprise, Zuranon's leader courteously took a bow as he spoke.
"I am the Night Lich and Grand Master of Zuranon, Sedefkar Matius. It is a pleasure to formally make your acquaintance."
'A Night Lich? What the heck is that? He almost looks like an Overlord, but from what my spells can tell, he's no stronger than a level-50. Is a "Night Lich" like a half-way point between an Elder Lich and an Overlord in this world? I suppose that would make sense... Ah! Got to save that for later. I must reply now.'
Ainz quickly adjusted as he finished his musings and replied in a cordial tone.
"Likewise. Now, answer me this; what did you mean earlier? It almost sounds like you were expecting our arrival."
"Ah, yes. I suppose I do need to explain that. Pray, forgive me..."
Shalltear was rather taken aback by this exchange as it took place. She was enraged by the manner in which this inferior undead spoke to her master. However, her ever-wise and benevolent master easily brushed it off, and now it seemed in her eyes that these two were as cordial as old friends. Leaving her in awe of her master's charisma.
"...Now, to answer your query, I am sure that you are aware of the disappearance of a certain pair of corpses from the E-Rantel morgue?"
"Umu... I see... So it was your people that retrieved them..." Ainz pensively said as he folded his arms.
"Quite so." Sedefkar said as he pulled back on his hood, fully revealing his skull.
'Still, something's not quite right... Virtually none of those we questioned knew anything beyond the retrieval of the bodies... That means, he kept any information gleaned from them to himself. But that makes no sense! Not to mention...' Ainz briefly mused to himself before continuing.
"So you knew of me from them. That explains how you know Momon's secret. And as an undead cult, you must have been waiting for me to catch up to you, or failing that, watching for the right time approach or be approached by myself or 'Momon'."
"Again correct." Sedefkar said in a pleased tone as he bowed his head.
"Umu... So then, you resurrected those two?" Ainz asked firmly as the lights in his eye sockets brightly flared.
"Oh, in a manner of speaking. Kufufu... Come now, don't be shy you two. Reveal yourselves."
"Hm? Wait..."
Ainz began to speak in confusion before stopping and watched as the other two cloaked figures hesitantly pulled back their hoods, fully revealing their faces. His jaw slacked open as he realized why they seemed so familiar, as they were Clementine and Khajiit themselves!
However, their features were not as they were before. Their skin was a dark, ashen gray, and their eyes bore a ghostly orange color and glow. That same color pulsed in their veins, making them likewise glow in that ghostly orange color that would be more than unsettling to the average individual.
They registered as undead to Ainz's senses, but were not any kind of undead that he had seen before, either in YGGDRASIL or this new world. They weren't zombies or undead thralls; he saw real fear and awareness in their expressions. It's like they were "reborn" as undead entities, and if he had to be honest, whatever anger he had for them before was gone. Now he was fascinated to know more about this.
"Go on, you two. You may as well reacquaint yourselves." Sedefkar said in an oddly relaxed and amused tone.
"Tch! Damn you..." Clementine mumbled under her breath, her anger and fear of Ainz plain as she turned to face him.
"That's enough, Clementine. We were fools who knew not what we brought upon ourselves, and paid the price for it. Although in your case, you were the biggest fool of them all." Khajiit said in dry annoyance.
"Oh, shut it, Khajiit! I...! Urk!"
Their voices had an almost haunting echo to it as they spoke, and as Clementine clearly lost her composure and was about to loudly give voice to her discontent, the Night Lich Sedefkar raised his right-hand in a choking motion. Clementine visibly reacted to this, being silenced with her teeth gritting in indignation.
"Your voice... It is too loud. And your manners still leave much to be desired my foolish little girl. Now, take a knee and reflect upon your stupidity while the adults discuss matters." Sedefkar chastised in a mocking tone.
Clementine, she did as instructed without visible signs of struggle, although anger, fear, hatred, and frustration were plain as day on her face. Once again, Ainz was filled with fascination as he bore witness to this scene, and as Sedefkar once again turned his attention back to Ainz, he resumed speaking in a placating tone.
"My apologies for her uncouth behavior. As you may know from your previous encounter, she is sorely lacking in any manners."
"Umu... Indeed she did. Or does, rather. Although I must confess, I am curious as to how you achieved this. I am unfamiliar with whatever type of undead she has become. Your handiwork?" Ainz asked in a dignified and curious tone.
"That it is, and I would be more than happy to share my knowledge, o' Great Lord of Death."
"Hoh?"
As Ainz exclaimed in mild surprise, he became intrigued by this Night Lich, who then stepped forward. While Shalltear defensively reacted, Ainz signaled for her to be at ease with a placating hand on her left-shoulder. Sedefkar then stopped 6-feet to Ainz's front and took a knee in a show of subservience, and bowed with his skeletal right-hand over his chest, speaking in reverence.
"O' Great Lord of Death, the pinnacle of all that Zuranon stands for, I have watched and waited for one such as you. A legend spoken of in the few obscure texts I managed to pry from the dust of time itself; the Overlord. I hereby relinquish all claims to the leadership of Zuranon, and pledge myself, my knowledge, and all that I have to your cause."
"..."
Ainz was silent for a moment as he took in Sedefkar's proclamation, suddenly realizing why there were no guards or traps here; this "Night Lich" had every intention of submitting to him. While this in itself was only a mild surprise, his words were more shocking, since until now he had yet to discover any evidence that an Overlord like him was known by anyone.
There were the implications from Sedefkar's statement that Overlords had been seen in this world before in the distant past, and in all probability it was another Player like him. As much as he wanted to dive into that mystery, more immediate concerns demanded his attention, now that Zuranon's leader had submitted to him.
'From what we now learned of Zuranon, maybe I should've expected this. Still, as useful as he seems to be, I'd be foolish just to take his word for it...'
Ainz then nodded as he raised his right-hand towards the kneeling Sedefkar and silently used [Undead Domination] upon him as he firmly spoke.
"Do you truly swear to submit and serve me?"
"Ah, yes. I swear truly and faithfully, my lord. I am yours to command however you see fit."
"Umu... Then rise, Sedefkar. As of now, you and yours are part of Nazarick."
"My eternal thanks, my lord."
As Sedefkar rose, Shalltear quietly watched and smiled at the results as pride and awe swelled within her. Truly, the Supreme One was deserving of all their loyalty and adoration, and now more than ever, was overjoyed to be serving him. Eskalla had similar thoughts, as she displayed her own awe and reverence with her expression, telling all who saw it as much.
Meanwhile, Ainz's mind was filled with a swirl of thoughts from this latest development, questioning how all it came about.
'I know Demiurge and I talked about this being a possibility, but it's still such a surprise to see it happening! Now we've subdued a death cult with access to both the Kingdom and the Empire, I can't help but wonder if it would've happened if it wasn't for all the setbacks we suffered first... I was simply going with flow of things, so I kind of doubt it... Bah! Whatever. It doesn't matter. What matters is the here and now...'
As Ainz finished his musings, Sedefkar turned towards the undead versions of Clementine and Khajiit, firmly speaking to them.
"Step forward you two, and bow to our new master. And no speaking unless spoken to."
The named paired obeyed the command without hesitation, even if Clementine looked as if she chewed a bitter worm, and Khajiit looked resigned to this fate. Also, Ainz noticed that while he was still "connected" to Sedefkar via [Undead Domination], he could also feel the pair's presence as if he himself had tethered them. An interesting sensation to be sure, and now more than ever he was curious to know more.
"Umu... What you have done is interesting Sedefkar. Tell me, what kind of undead are they, and how did you create them?"
"Ah, yes, of course. Forgive me my late explanations, my lord. These two have become the first type of undead I was able to create called, Revenants." Sedefkar proudly answered.
'Revenants? Hmm... Wait... I think I've heard that term from somewhere before. I think it was in YGGDRASIL's in-game lore somewhere. One of my guildmates spoke about it once, but since they weren't a type of undead I had encountered or could even summon, I lost interest. Oh, but now I'm interested!'
Ainz learned shortly after the Transfer that, while it was weaker than Nazarick, this new world's magic had a great deal more versatility than that of YGGDRASIL. Allowing for the creation of entirely new spells. With Zuranon under their control, now being able to thoroughly research that became a reality.
"Then as my first order as your master, tell me about the process. I am very much intrigued by what you have accomplished here." Ainz said with a tinge of excitement that did not go entirely unnoticed by him, Shalltear, and Eskalla.
"Certainly, my master. If you would please follow me." Sedefkar dutifully replied with a bow, as he motioned towards another set of double-doors to the far side of the chamber.
"Hold a moment." Ainz suddenly said to an already walking Sedefkar, who replied in confusion.
"My lord?"
"You two, come with us." Ainz said firmly whilst motioning to himself.
"Eh?"
"W-What?"
Both Clementine and Khajiit were visibly shocked when they complied to Ainz's order to follow them since, as far as they knew, only Sedefkar could issue orders to them.
'Hooooh~! I thought that might work. I don't really understand why, but so long as I've got Sedefkar under the effect of [Undead Domination], I can issue commands to these 'Revenant' versions of Clementine and Khajiit. I'm curious if that can work with any other undead, but I can wait for another time to test that.'
"Kufufu~... How fascinating. Well, right this way, my lord."
Sedefkar seemed to realize the same, but like his master tabled it for another time as he walked to the double-doors, and opened them to reveal a new chamber. As they walked in, wall torches spontaneous lit to illuminate a specious chamber. A circular depression in the center was large enough for someone to bathe in, and was surrounded by thirteen raised pedestals obviously used to take a seat for ceremonial purposes.
Behind them were thirteen additional platforms that bore bloody marks and the subtle scent of death. Just as Ainz noted this, Sedefkar began speaking in a pedagogical manner, with his arms gesturing about in a semi-dramatic fashion.
"I bid you welcome to the 'Chamber of Rebirth', my master. It is here that our dear Clementine and Khajiit were returned to us as Revenants. Now, to effect this particular return, requires my colleagues among the Twelve and I to cast a ritual-type spell upon the remains of the deceased, placed in this receptacle before you. For the sake of brevity, I shall refrain from overly detailed specifics, unless of course you wish me to do otherwise, my lord?"
"No, that is fine. Continue as you are, Sedefkar. You have my undivided attention." Ainz promptly replied as he thoughtly stroke his marble-white chin.
"As you wish, my lord... Now then, the ritual operates under similar principles as that of the [Raise Dead] spell of the Divine School of [Tier Magic]. In this, the soul is "recalled" to its body. But this method requires living sacrifices to provide that 'spark' necessary to reanimate the body and bind the soul to it, without having them devolve into a mindless husk of a zombie..."
Ainz contemplatively looked upon the platforms as he was told this, and all the pieces fit into place, explaining their bloody nature. Of course, he wondered why so many were needed, but felt that it would be more productive to allow Zuranon's former-leader to continue his presentation uninterrupted.
"...As you have likely surmised master, since a conventional resurrection spell like [Raise Dead] drains the target's lifeforce, that power must come from somewhere. Hence the sacrifices. However, revival as 'Revenants' requires sacrifices with enough power to do so. A single human or demihuman wouldn't be enough to reconstitute the likes of either Clementine or Khajiit. Especially if their bodies aren't in particularly good condition. To which was true of the latter. In exchange, they keep the strength and knowledge they had at the time of their death."
As Khajiit visibly shuddered from recalling his death, Ainz was briefly introspective as he considered Sedefkar's words. He had already learned that resurrection magic did exist in this world, and while he had yet to see it performed, he knew that the raised target was brought back in a weakened state, both in a physical sense, and levels-wise.
In Ainz's mind, the term "lifeforce" began to equate to "EXP" from his YGGDRASIL days, and if that was the case, then raising a target as a Revenant, fueled by sacrifices' "EXP", ensured they returned at full strength. Depending on who or what was brought back, the benefits became plain for him.
"Umu... Most impressive, Sedefkar. This will be most useful to me. However, I must say that this sounds too good to be true. Surely there are downsides of some kind, beyond the obvious issue of having sacrifices of adequate quality and quantity." Ainz pensively said.
"Ah, quite right, my lord. And you would be correct. You see, since this method is largely based off the principles resurrection magic, unfortunately a subject has the protentional of refusing the summons that calls forth and binds their souls to their flesh. This can lead to a regrettable waste in time and sacrifices. Although we have found ways to mitigate this somewhat."
"Oh? How so?" Ainz questioned in interest.
"Many a tale has been said about restless spirits who long to return to the world of the living, due to grudges or regrets from their lives. So another spell is layered on top of the one cast to bring them back that preys upon this. Should they harbor any grudges or regrets from their lives, they can be enticed back to the land of the living. These strong feelings of having unfinished business can then be used to bind them to a reconstituted, undying body. Restless souls that have left the mortal plain without fulfilling a purpose or their heart's desire are most vulnerable. But if the target left this mortal coil feeling contented or fulfilled, then I'm afraid even this method won't work."
"Umu... I see. That makes sense I suppose..." Ainz replied in rumination.
Indeed, from all the information they had gathered thus far, what Sedefkar said made sense. Of course, he would have all of this Night Lich's findings be reviewed by the 9th-floor librarians, but as far as he could tell, everything seemed to fit together.
"...Still, you are to be commended, Sedefkar. Taking magic principles of one school of magic, and then adapting it to another is quite a feat." Ainz continued with conservative praise.
"Oooh, it would have been an honor to receive such praise from the pinnacle of undead, but alas I merely adapted a method from texts left behind and translated from an ancient tome we discovered from a compound that once belong to another Night Lich such as myself." Sedefkar humbly replied with a bow.
"Truly? You mean that there have been others like you?"
"Quite so, my lord. Where they have gone, I cannot say. However, what I can say is that the works they left behind helped to lay the foundation of what Zuranon became today. Their research into 'Revenants' included. In fact, there have been other scholars among the living races who postulated that Divine Magic and Necromancy were merely two sides of the same coin, occupying different ends of the same spectrum. Of course, such notions were decried as heresy and the authors of such theories banish or killed, but their works were preserved and handed down through the ages to us." Sedefkar replied in an oddly enthusiastic manner.
Of course, Ainz could not help but relate to his excitement, since he was oddly feeling the same way. In YGGDRASIL he accomplished the feat of memorizing thousands of the known and discovered spells in the game, so he could anticipate and counter them in his PvP matches when needed. So learning about new ones was always exciting for him. Not to mention the fascination he felt at this theory that Divine Magic and Necromancy might have common threads linking them.
Despite it sounding like incomprehensible occult nonsense to him, what really mattered was being presented with an opportunity to learn new spells. There were still potential ways to add to his already massive 700+ pool of spells, and this sounded like a prime candidate. He just needed Nazarick's librarians to compile this knowledge into a usable form for him.
"Umu... Thank you for your presentation, Sedefkar. It was most enlightening. Now, some of my subordinates will be along to collect you and your materials. I will expect you to cooperate with them." Ainz matter-of-factly instructed.
"Of course, my master. It will be done, and I promise you, there will be much and more that I can provide for you." The Night Lich dutifully replied.
"Hmm... I will hold you to that. Now, as for these two..." Ainz said in a menacing tone as he turned to Clementine and Khajiit, sending a chill down both their spines.
"...They will be invaluable in further research on 'Revenants', so I expect them to be made use of."
"Kufufufu... I understand. It will be done." Sedefkar chuckled in a grimly amused way, seemingly understanding his master's intentions.
"Very good... Shalltear? Eskalla? Let us be off." Ainz instructed as he turned to leave the chamber.
"Yes, Ainz-sama~!"
"As you command, my lord."
As the pair of vampiric ladies acknowledged Ainz's orders and followed him, Sedefkar stroked his bony chin in rapt fascination. He thought he recognized that girl Eskalla, but kept it to himself, as he wanted to focus on leaving as favorable an impression on the Overlord of Death as possible. The fact a lowly spy was granted the "gift" of vampirism only helped to solidify his decision to watch, wait, and submit to Ainz Ooal Gown.
A decision he made after reviving the terrified pair of Revenants before him, whom he pumped for as much information about E-Rantel's cemetery incident as he could. An event that fascinated him to no end to be sure, but then the real crux of his decision was made after his agents scouted and surveyed the devastation left upon the land in the wake of the battle between "Momon"with the vampire "Honyopenyoko".
He truly grasped the titanic nature of the powers needed to cause such wide-sweeping devastation, even if those fools in E-Rantel could not. Knowing Momon's true nature as an undead, and with Clementine's description of him, was enough information for him to fully realize its significance. After meeting with and being subjugated by the Overlord, he felt that a new game would be afoot, and was exhilarated by its prospects.
...
*A/N: Hey folks~! Sorry for the delays, but dammit if IRL didn't conspire to keep me from finishing this. I won't get into details. I'll just say that the last couple of months have been a migraine of epic proportions. I even had to cut this one short of everything I had planned for it. Well, hopefully the next one will come out sooner, but we'll see what happens. Later~!*