AN: English is not my native language and this is my first fanfiction.
"I love cookies" → thoughts
"I love cookies" → speech
"I love cookies" → spell, Martial art
"I love cookies" → Message spell
please review
Chapter 18
→ Near E-Triar / Blue roses and Litzelots group ←
The trip to E-Triar took its time, but Zesshi was happy with herself. She had managed, in her eyes, to get closer to Litzelot and learn more about him. It also showed her how her new company made her more happy and fulfilled than the Slane Theocracy. In the Theocracy she was only allowed to guard the treasure-room. With Litzelot and the other, in her mind beneath her, people she saw more of the world and learned new things.
Zesshi was just sad that she couldn't get Litzelot to sleep in her tent and that he mostly talked with the small wrench, which she learned was Evileye.
"Evil indeed." thought Zesshi, when she learned her name. Lakyus didn't fare much better.
Zesshi also developed a few questions of her own and was waiting for an opportunity to ask Litzelot. Sadly Litzelot stayed awake at night, probably due to him being undead, and talked a lot with Evileye, who Zesshi thought was also an undead.
"She is always awake when I go to sleep and when I wake up." Zesshi remembered. Zesshi also fought with herself to collect herself to ask Litzelot, not because she was shy or anything like that, definitely not because she was shy. She just wanted to not anger her newfound love.
When the camp was erected, Litzelot summoned his "Headless Horsemen" and send them off. Afterwards everyone sat at the fire and talked. Lakyus told a story about Nigun and how he got his scar. It was boring for Zesshi and she gazed at her love, who for some reason seemed to squirm under her gaze. After they ate and the story ended, one by one they went to sleep. While Zesshi felt the tiredness engulf her, her will was law at her own body and she remained awake. After some time only Evileye, Litzelot and herself remained.
"Evileye, would it be possible for me and Litzelot to talk alone, please?" Zesshi pressed through her teeth. Evileye nodded and said that she would need to take a walk.
"Tchah. Now I have my chance" Zesshi high-fived herself mentaly. Litzelot meanwhile looked uncertain. Zesshi knew that her past flirts were not the best tries. She never had a boyfriend and it didn't help that her mind always seemed to fall onto itself when he was near her.
"Lizelot?" Zesshi started.
"Yes Zesshi Zetsumei?" answered Lizelot.
"I know that my last few attempts were a bit, how do I put it, unhelpful for us" Zesshi tried, remembering a few attempts. She had tried a lot. A few bad flirts and pick-up-lines. But also more extreme things.
"Hopefully it will work out," Zesshi thought.
"Yeah. The beheaded orcs were not necessary. I also remember the few bisected bears. Or how you brought back the pelt of a unicorn" Litzelot replied. Zesshi meanwhile felt stupid and embaressed.
"Yeah, I know it was wrong. I also know that you don't have a woman right now." Zesshi spoke, while Litzelot grumbled and looked at the ground between them, slightly sad.
"What did I do? I need to rectify that. ARGH '' Zesshi would have bashed her head, if it wouldn't have been more terrible.
"Nothing wrong with that!" Zesshi jumped up and tried to seem to help.
"Then why mentening it?" Litzelot said.
"Because you are dense, or cruel. You have at least three women here, who like you a lot, plus a few that could still fall for you. But you don't react to anything." Zesshi said sadly.
"Then tell me" Litzelot offered, seemingly shocked.
"I will let the others tell you, when they are ready. But I want you, Litzelot. The day you beat me, I fell for you." Zesshi stated.
"But why? You only accompanied us for a short while." Litzelot said.
"I took an oath, when I was much younger I would marry and carry the child of a man, if he can beat me. I was never beaten in battle, until you defeated me. But I also learned another side of you. While you can act serious, you can also be quite friendly, even naive, to others. It also didn't help that you and your group treated me much better than anyone from my former country." Zesshi rant. Litzelot meanwhile looked and seemingly thought.
"Uff. Your former country must be bad." Litzelot deadpanned.
"I could tell you more, if youcuddlewithmeandletmesleepbesideyou." mumbled Zesshi at the end.
"Please repeat, since I didn't understand the last part." Litzelot asked.
"You can do this. You can do this! You Can Do This!" Zesshi collected her last bit of courage for the day.
"I could tell you, if you cuddle with me and let me sleep beside you." Zesshi said, red cheeks burning like flames. Litzelot now understood and made room for Zesshi under his blanket.
"At least I can cuddle with him tonight." Zesshi thought happily, her happiness seeming to illuminate the night.
"Can someone turn off the forest fire?" the voice of a certain masked girl asked.
"Just get lost." Zesshi stated, cuddled into Litzelots side under his blanket. She told them about her duties in the Theocracy and how she was seen among her former peers. Afterwards Zesshi fell into a deep sleep. She felt safe and happy.
While Zesshi slept, Evileye and Litzelot continued to play games and talked about some plans, and a certain half-elf. Litzelot also thought of his feelings, the same thoughts causing him to lose a few games of chess.
→ Near E-Triar / Blue roses and Litzelots group ←
Evileye thought about much the last few days. She had spent more time with Litzelot than anyone else, had realized that they were quite similar and she realized that she quite liked him. They always spent the night together, since they didn't need sleep. They had also learned quite a lot about each other. She knew that Litzelot got a good amount of information from her stories. Evileye meanwhile got to learn about the world, which the players originated from.
"I would like to know what some of the priests would do to get so much information on their gods. On second thought, better don't even hint on such knowledge." Evileye grinned inwards. Evileye also realized another thing. She felt like her long dead heart started to beat again. She also felt a big amount of jealousy towards Zesshi, when she was "gone" and Zesshi started to talk to Litzelot about her mind. The worst thing was that she got to cuddle into Litzelot, which upsetted Evileye quite a bit.
"I need to step up my game, or I will lose him" Evileye thought and looked at Zesshi with squinted eyes.
The group would wake up one by one. They then prepared their move against a big farm, which produced a large amount of black dust. The Litzelot, Gagaran, Zesshi and Lakyus would clear the area. Afterwards, on an agreed signal, the rest would incinerate the farms. Since there was no storage unit around the farm, they would simply destroy the farms. Afterwards they would move out.
Afterwards the group would split um into two contingents. Blue roses would destroy another farm near E-Rantel while Litzelot, together with the other three, would move towards Re-Cometis. Once there they were going to take out parts of six arms, a sub organization of eight fingers that was responsible for the safety of eight fingers.
Once six arms were gone they could pick up the other profiteers and culprits. Since Litzelot, Zesshi, Opal and Lore were strong to an extreme degree, blue roses hoped that afterwards it would be simple to make a clean two groups would then meet again in Re-Estice.
Evileye thought about it with scorn. She hoped that by then, Litzelot would not forget her. She at least felt lucky that he would most likely succeed at his second objective.
→ Black dust farms / blue roses and group ←
It didn't take long for Litzelot and his group to decimate the fields of black dust. Here and there some thugs realized their impending doom, but were intercepted by Tia and Tina. Afterwards the fields were burned and the group retreated towards their former camp and set off, expecting to meet each other again in roughly four weeks and then taking a break for a short while.
Blue roses was able to travel quite fast towards E-Rantel, while Litzelot and his group reached Re-Cometis within a single week, since they traveled at breakneck speed. This was mostly done because a certain half-elf wanted to impress a certain dullahan.
→ Re-Estice Palace / Renner ←
Princess Renner thought about her progress the last few days. She had many aspects to consider about her operations. But overall she considers her fight against eight fingers a success.
A big destabilizing force was crippling away, improving her standing with Climb, which she liked. She could barely hold herself when he looked at her with stars in his eyes. Or without any stars in his eyes, or if she even was able to see him. Or if she could smell him. Or if she could hear him.
"Focus. Focus. You have to think about the matter at hand" she scolded herself.
She got a good grip on Gazef Stronoff, even if he was still more loyal to her father. This gave her a good chunk of raw power and good protection.
Her friend Lakyus and blue roses were quite happy to help and even gained a good coin. This improved her standing within the normal population and the adventurers.
"Even if I have to force the money onto blue roses". Renner thought. She prefered, if Lakyus would simply accept the money.
Then there was the new warrior, Litzelot, who was still sometimes quite a mystery, but she thought that she was getting a good understanding of his psyche.
"It is just sad that we don't know where he will stand after eight fingers falls." Renner counted.
The last part she thought about was her inability to eradicate eight fingers across the border of Re-Estice and the Baharut Empire. But her brother Zanac had used his connections and was quite a help. This way Renner would be able to use a noble of the empire to hire blue roses and Litzelot. Once they do their quest, they would also be able to decimate the few outposts of eight fingers. It will be clean, even if the connection of Zanac smelled hard like a proxy, to her dismay.
"Bloody Jircniv, trying to steal my tools." shot through Renners head. She didn't dislike the emperor, on the contrary. He gave her small challenges, at least from time to time. He was even smart enough to see her intellect and implement some of her ideas. Those gave his empire quite a big economical and militarily boost.
Sadly he was obviously trying to get her tools under his thumb, so much was obviously.
"Good evening sister." Renner heard. She immediately wanted to vomit. Her oldest brother talked to her. He was the biggest thorn in her side. Insulting Climb and always trying to get her friends into his chambers.
"Good evening brother" Renner said coldly, the cold not getting noticed by Prince Barbo.
"I heard that you employ adventurers?" Barbo stated.
"Why do you ask?" Renner asked.
"I also heard that a certain Lakyus was amongst them." Barbo reiterated.
"She already told you off. Besides, she isnt a noble. You are also promised to a noble. Why do you care?" Renner got curious.
"She is nice looking. Besides, I already heard that you met quite a lot of good looking women. Why?" Barbo asked, visibly getting frustrated.
"Because they help me with a project," Renner answered.
"What project?" Barbo said.
"My project, which doesn't concern you." Renner said, frustration showing through her
"Why can't he leave me alone? I already have to plan the meetings outside of the palace, thanks to his thirst." Renner angrily fumed.
"I also heard that they partially follow a disgusting commoner. Why do you meet a commoner? They are far beneath your station." Barbo still continued to test Renners patience.
"How does he get the information and remember it when he talks to me?" Renner fumed.
"I meet someone, when they can be of help. Since I don't need, or want, your help I will never meet you." Renner stated, Barbo turned red.
"How dare you, little sister?" Barbo shrieked, getting redder and redder.
"I simply speak the truth. If you want, we can go to our dearest father and clear it there. You will realize that he will be on my side in this matter. As for both matters. My project is my thing, not yours. And in terms of me helping you into a woman's undergarment? I recommend that you get yourself straight." Renner deadpanned, increasing Barbos fury.
Afterwards Barbo spoke incoherently and disappeared, while Renner continued her walk through the palace, thinking about her precious Climb.
→ Arwintar Emperors palace / Jircniv and Fluder ←
The Emperor was in quite a good mood. His plans were proceeding well. If everything goes well he could reach quite a good conclusion this year.
His goal to conquer the kingdom of Re-Estice is going well, thanks to the annual war and the stupid nobles of his neighbouring country, which destroyed their backbones.
He was also close to getting a rhetorical foot in the door of multiple strong people. He was eager to get more strong people into his fold, even if it sometimes costs quite a large amount of money. Even if the strong people would never be used by him, they at least don't work against him.
Fluder stood beside him and had given him a report on the progress.
" Litzelot and blue roses will then be here. The noble will pay for their travel. Once Litzelot tries to cleanse Leinas, we have two options. Either he cleanses her of her curse. OR we rehire him a few times, to try other techniques. In both cases, we have a reason to ask him back into our empire. After some time we can ask them to relocate." Fluder reason sounded good to Jircniv. He only thought that it would also be a risky move. Leinas' loyalty was fickle, at best.
"What about the loyalty of Leinas?" Jircniv asked.
"We can use her family. Once she is cured, surely she will reconcile with her family." Fluder argued.
Jircniv thought for a long while. He knew that Leinas curse was quite useful, as with it Litzelot needed to return more, slowly acustom him to the empire. On the other hand it can destroy her dependence on him.
"Do you think that it will work, if we use her family in this way?" Jircniv asked, not quite sure about it.
"I am sure.'' As a saying goes "blood is thicker than water."" Fluder reiterated.
"Then call her here. We will prepare as much as we can, so that we seem sincere with our plea." Jircniv ordered and their ploy began.
→ Re-Estice / Sebas ←
Sebas was walking through the streets, when he had intercepted a fight. He knew that he shouldn't help too many people, but he couldn't stop, since it was what his creator instilled into his very soul. He was happy that he managed to pass the test of Ainz and that Tsuare was alive. When he was walking, he felt a presence following him.
"Whoever you are, get out of the shadows" spoke Sebas.
Behind Sebas walked a teenager. He was blond and wore clothes a more wealthy commoner would wear. He had a pouch and wore the sheath of a sword.
"Good day sir. I wanted to thank you. You helped the boy." He said.
"It is not a problem. Saving someone, who is in trouble, is common sense!" Sebas proclaimed, thinking sadl about his creator Touch Me.
"Sadly not many can, or want, to do that. It was my duty, still I was unable to intervene. I was too scared." The young man stated.
"What is your name? My name is Sebas Tian." Sebas asked.
"My name is Climb. Can you help train me, since I saw your strength?" Climb asked back.
"Stay here." Sebas pointed to the middle of the road. Climb followed and stayed.
"Think about the people that are precious to you. And don't move." Sebas ordered.
Once he saw the resolve showed itself on the face of Climb. He then knocked his Fist back, ready to use his deadly, iron fist. He also didn't suppress his true strength. He saw that Climb felt the strength of Sebas. He saw tears running down his face, he also saw his body shake with fear, the face turning pale. Sebas then let his fist lose, stopping only millimeters before Climb. The gust of the wind fell through the alley and threw a can over.
Climb himself stood there. The fear resolving itself and his face gaining its color back.
"You now faced your fear of death. Once you overcome it, you can get much stronger." Sebas explained.
Climb nodded and followed Sabas a bit, on his still shaking legs.
"Thank you?" Climb said.
"No problem." Sebas replied.
"Can I help you somehow?" Climb asked.
"I only look for a certain Litzelot, but can't find him. My master asked that I give him a message. Do you know of him, by chance?" Sebas said.
"I sometimes meet him, when he and blue roses meet in the royal garden." Climb answered.
"You work for the royalty?" Sebas asked.
"Yes." Climb said.
"Well, do you know where I can find him?" Sebas asked.
"He is on a quest, but he will probably be around here in around three weeks, when he meets with the others again. I might be able to say that you search for him, Sir Sebas Tian." Climb said.
"That would be helpful. Sadly I have to leave you here, since I have to clean the mansion here." Sebas said and moved into a mansion, leaving Climb behind.
Once inside he immediately used a scroll with the spell "Message" and contacted his master, Ainz Ooal Gown.
"Yes?" the voice of Ainz asked in Sebas' head.
"Good day master, I have news about my orders in regards to Litzelot." Sebas begann.
"When do I meet him?" Ainz's voice got a bit higher.
"We didn't meet him, I was able to gether, that he will be in this city in three weeks time" Sebas replied
"Well done Sebas. Please contact me again, if news arises from Litzelot." Ainz ended the spell.
AN: It took some time, but I think we reach the splitt to the canon with good speed. I have planned to get a big divergence in the next chapter and there will also be big, hopefully surprising changes to the canon in the future.
Please review, since I cant read your mind.