AN: Thank You for reading
Jircniv had concluded, or to be more accurate with terms, hoped that a loan to bring about a new academy to further literacy, allowing more people to climb to more affluent positions in Baharuth society which would in turn, then allow for a stronger internal economy. One cannot say that a merchant that is bad at moving goods around is equal to a merchant that does so with ease. It is the same concept to specialized industries and allowing those who are good at a specific field to do what they do best is a necessity; this was seen as one of the world's 'laws' by Jircniv.
'Hopefully allowing a basic education for the non-martial will lead to less bastardized jobs.' The emperor of Baharuth thought to himself as he waited to see what would come of his risk.
The Empire wasn't in debt, or losing money, its growth was just too slow for Jircniv at the moment; but he prayed that Ainz Ooal Gown would see the benefits of his idea. He was trying to build a better vision of his empire and in succession, the Sorcerer King's now vassal state.
While tapping his fingers at the desk he was stationed, Jircniv let his mind wander, and it made its's way to the abyss where he keeps the memories of Ainz Ooal Gown buried beneath his own ego as if trying to protect his mind from the manifestation of death. He looked away but instead there was Demiurge, the foul demon of a frog's likeness. He could feel his mind loosen, as if his brain was tired of holding itself up and was starting to deflate , Jircniv was tired of the cat and mouse he played with his thoughts.
He wondered if Loune might have felt similar, he was send as Jircniv's ambassador to Nazarick afterall... Jircniv tried to distract himself with these that however, didn't cease his internal discord, only allowing the thought that Loune himself could be compromised to resurface. Unfortunately, this seemed to serve as a rabbit-hole for Jircniv, not only remembering Loune's state, but Fluder's as well.
'Gramps.. Is the abyss of magic so tempting that you would throw away everything?' Jircniv asked himself, but he knew that if he were to be Fluder, he probably would have done the same, but it didn't make the betrayal hurt any less.
Jircniv recalled the mages that he stationed to "look after" Fluder, wondering if they, too had made some backroom deal with Ainz Ooal Gown. He decided to shut his thinking processes off for a moment to recollect himself, were he to keep his momentum, he wouldn't be able to stop until he fell through the floor of his own mind. Jircniv pulled himself to the matter at hand, his request of a loan from the Sorcerer's Kingdom, he needed to fully organize his thoughts. As it felt like he was becoming more and more tunnel-visioned whenever something decided to happen.
Sadly for Jircniv, fate, once again had different plans.
It started with a petite beauty with an unusual bust for her stature, donned in a fabulous red gown fit for a ballroom, her skin, pale enough to make one think she was carved of snow both delicate and vibrant, with eyes burning a blood red, which only embellished the inhuman enchantchess' charm. Jircniv recalled the dark elves that showed upon a mighty dragon on behest of an angry Ainz Ooal Gown, but something told him that he would much rather be in that situation again than to be in front of this monster.
Jircniv was on his knee, enacting the expected behavior of a subordinate while waiting for a response when he heard a yawn.
"The undead units being leased will arrive shortly, arinsu. Take this ledger of the expected summons and make sure everything is in order when they arrive, arinsu." The monster in a girls skin, Shalltear Bloodfallen spoke pompously.
Jircniv could feel the pride in her tone, such self-granduer wasn't new to him, in fact it was such self-importance that usually led to the sealing of one's fate. However, as if gods of the world, Jircniv could scarcely imagine any barrier to the insatiable Ainz Ooal Gown. Jircniv felt a question swell from the depths of his mind and so he asked,
" Yes, my lady Shalltear, it will be done as expectations permit. However, I cant help wondering why someone of your station would have to personally inform myself of such matters." Jircniv asked genuinely, still on his knee.
"Its simple arinsu, because Ainz-Sama wills it." She said while puffing out her chest, this time exuding a different kind of pride, one that Jircniv couldn't place.
The monster with crimson eyes then looked decidedly confused for a moment, tilting her head with her index finger on her chin. Jircniv wasn't pleased, such a face could swoon even the hardest of men, but now he had to keep any emotions underwater, as he couldn't be sure if a break in etiquette would result in his end with this unreadable spectacle before him.
Jircniv found himself at his desk, almost feeling like he was about to wake up from a dream.
'So thats your "will" Ainz Ooal Gown?' Jircniv thought, as he studied the ledger he had received from Shalltear.
The ledger labelled each undead as a specific amount of 'units', where as one regular skeleton would be one unit and a death knight would be marked as 100 units. Jircniv concluded that these 'Units' were a measure in the ratio of labor value to cost. He felt this was needlessly complicated but he didn't know what went into the monetary value of undead from Ainz Ooal Gown's perspective.
So his lease of 1,250 'units' of undead were in reality only seven death knights, three souleaters and 250 skeletons...
The reality that this amount of undead could devour his empire many times over didn't escape him, he just needed to figure out what exactly to do with them.
Twenty pairs of tired claws dug at the dirt, this had become their routine. They dug for hours until they couldnt anymore and then the next group took over, everyone except the children did what they could. A certain quagoa hasn't stopped; his usually pristine golden fur caked in mud and debris. His claws, although many times stronger than steel, felt as if they were about to shatter into dust. As his arms mindlessly repeated the movement that they have been for the past 42 hours, his mind went elsewhere, into the memories he was trying to leave behind.
Pe Riyuro stopped for a moment and looked around at his clan's new home, his eyes; far better at seeing inside caves than outside spotted his fellow clan members digging alongside him. He complimented them on their endurance as he walked up to the entrance of their new home. So far there has been a room to gather and rest that had been excavated, acting as a interim group bedroom, the area was large enough to fit all 7,500 quagoa so it wasnt small by any means but it didn't mean they had the space they wished for yet. They left pillars of stone to act as support so it wouldn't cave in.
On another note they had even found a vein of iron ore, while not the best metal, usually where there is one metal deposit, there are more, but it would take until they found other ore to know for sure. Pe Riyuro exited the mouth of the cave and decided to wash himself in the creek that ran around the mountain he now called his "home". He waddled tiredly, dragging his fatigued legs through the grass that he has grown accustomed to smelling, slowly entering the water until he was waist deep. Quagoa weren't known for their swimming capabilities, and Pe Riyuro would rather not find out if he could swim.
It was darker outside than he thought so he could see better than usual. The water was also colder than he expected, it took him a minute to get used to it as he scrubbed off the grime on his fur. While doing so, he caught a glimpse of what he could only call a being of the abomnible winter, even colder than the frost dragons which used to hold his life in their jaws.
A being fit to be made of ice, radiating cold as if the sun in reverse. His towering frame was that of an insectoid, the pair of sizable mandables clacked threateningly as he used his exquisite halberd which seemed to be molded from the will of the gods, like nothing more than a walking stick.
'Was this the final messenger? The one to send him and the rest of his clan to the Land of Deray?' The quagoa lord thought distantly while looking up at the creature standing across the creek.
"My name is Cocytus. Lord Ainz has, assigned you under me." The being said succinctly, even by the simple act of stating its name and intent, Pe Riyuro felt the cold emanate from the beings breath.
Before his brain had registered the creature's words, Pe Riyuro wasn't sure to play dead or accept death, so when he didnt have to do either he was glad. If he had been left to wonder what such a creature was doing here his fur would probably retreat from his body.
"Lead. We have, work to do." Cocytus said, just as bluntly as before.
"Y-yes, my l-lord." the quagoa shivered out.
So that he did, Pe Riyuro started to walk to the entrance of his new home, fur still wet, although he never took his eyes off of Cocytus, who from Pe Riyuro's perspective was just so cold he froze the water while walking on top of it. In reality, it was just Cocytus' passive ability [Frost Aura]. Nevertheless, Pe Riyuro who had no idea was made even more aware of the invisible shackles placed on his people. He immediately worried that he would be frozen like that if Cocytus got too close.
Cocytus reached the mouth of the cave next to the quagoa lord, the insectoid's numerous eyes made it impossible to discern the direction of Cocytus's vision, until he turned exoskeletal body somewhat to the South-east. This confused Pe Riyuro but he knew better than to speak without being spoken to, the coldness of Cocytus caused Pe Riyuro to have a flashback when the Frost dragon lord ate one of his best subordinates as punishment and then lashed him with its tail. All because there wasn't what the dragon lord wanted in one of the offer's of tribute.
The quagoa lord was snapped from his flashback by Cocytus.
"Nearest human city, is South-East. Baharuth." The cold emitting creature said.
Pe Riyuro brushed off the ice that had formed on his fur as he addressed Cocytus
An amorphous substance seeped around bones, seemingly taking take to be as gentle as possible. It searched for dust and other such debris that tainted the perfect form of its master.
"Ahhhh.. "
'I forgot how nice it is to be in the bath and not around stacks of paperwork while somehow maintaining the spotless image of 'Ainz Ooal Gown' He thought as he submerged his head.
He had somehow managed to escape the situation by the skin of his teeth. Somehow he was able to "Delegate" Albedo to his station of paperwork simply because Demiurge and for some reason Shalltear decided to join the party in his office. At first Demiurge went on and on about a "Plan" but that's all the Overlord could remember of that, then came whatever happened next.
Becoming distracted by each other Sebas and Demiurge took turns poking at each other, and that in turn caused Albedo's rivalry to act up against Shalltear there had been enough words flying around for Ainz to go full circle and activate his emotional suppressor. Allowing him to regain control of the circus that had manifested.
He never imagined his luck would be so aptly timed but he knew he can't count on random events like that forever.
Ainz was finally where he wanted to be, at least for the moment. Away from expectations, away from responsibility. The Overlord relaxed his imaginary muscles as he lay underneath the amorphous slime, Miyoshi that serves as his bath "attendant".
Sadly, his overactive mind decided to remind him of how he cant do paperwork in the way it was expected of him, instead half-guessing all the time and hoping it worked out. He knew he would need to understand his actual work eventually, but it just seemed like too much for him to chew as his hands were already filled perfecting his Overlord act, trying to juggle both is almost too much. He knew what he needed to do.
The Overlord's skeleton figure rose out of the bath, bits of the slime held onto Ainz as if not wanting to let go, but Miyoshi knew it couldn't disrespect a Supreme Being and returned as Ainz fixed his robe around and sent a [Message],
"Demiurge, let us reconvene and go over the plan once more."
Ainz had a feeling like he was committing to something even more troublesome than paperwork and acting in the mirror.
