(No difference in T and M versions of this chapter)
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO: Broken Nations and Mended Hearts
Draudillon Oriculus, great-granddaughter of The Bright Dragon Lord. Current Queen of The Dragon Kingdoms, such as it is. She currently takes the form of a very young girl, maybe eight or so. Her long (currently) silver hair reaches all the way to the floor when she stands.
Her features are often referred to as adorable, or cute. She looks out over her city, her only city still standing. She only wears a silk robe more fit for an older woman, but in reality, she is very old, so maybe it's fitting. She sighs heavily looking now at the border of her city, and nothing has changed.
"You're all still waiting, huh?" she said looking at the hoard of Beastmen standing around her city. They had made a Demihuman wall, allowing nobody to enter or leave... effectively starving them out... and as they had all the meat they could eat... why risk an all-out attack? Why? because they are Beastmen. they devour even when full, they rape species that cannot bear them children... they are the vilest of creatures, and yet they show restraint. Playing it "smart".
She scowled at their presence. What really worried her... is that what they are doing now is perfect for her... She could sacrifice over half the city and use her wild magic to drop enough ordinance down on the enemy army that they would all be wiped out. But then she would be left, effectively with a city and country unable to withstand itself... they were already far too in debt to borrow gold from The Baharuth Empire... so even if she used her magic... the result would be the same, she'd lose her country. Plus she thought that's what the enemy commander wanted...
"You want me to use up my one ace so you can walk over their corpses and snatch me up easily?" She spat... it was annoying, die fast and proud... or slow and cowardly. Either way, she had lost long ago.
"That was my idea... yes." A voice said from behind her. She rolled her eyes and turned to see her friend... and enemy, Demiurge.
"Hello Demiurge... how goes the siege of my capital?" She asked looking back out the window. He shrugged and stood next to her smiling.
"Well my Beastmen want to pour in here and eat you all up... but as you noticed... I'm choosing the safe and slow route."
"That wouldn't have anything to do with me now would it?" She snickered. He laughed.
"Alas no, I am not the kind of demon who would "take it easy" on anyone... even a friend." She shook her head.
"Figured as much, anyway, why are you here? Bored again?" He shook his head.
"Never a boring moment when I'm around... I assure you of that! No, I just happen to have some time off... and I thought I'd spend some of it with you." She rolled her eyes again.
"I should be so lucky... I almost wish you'd just take this city and be done with me already." Demiurge clicked his tongue.
"You know better than anyone I like to take my time with things... rushing important tasks is a beginners mistake."
"And why is it again you won't accept my surrender?" She asked, knowing the answer. He smiled and adjusted his glasses.
"That simply wouldn't be any fun... and also we don't have need of you or your nation so..." He shrugged. She laughed.
"Hmm...I see, and when you finally take this city and kick in my door for real, what exactly do you plan to do to me?" She asked, also knowing the answer, as she knew her friend well. he chuckled.
"Oh, I assure you... the most horrible of things!" He promised with a bow. She nodded, expecting as much.
"That's too bad, I enjoy these nice talk of ours..." She said wistfully.
"Oh, I assure you, I plan on keeping you alive... and in pain for a very long time... we'll have lot's of time to talk!" She nodded as she believed every word he said.
"Well... that will be nice at least." She said walking to a table and pouring herself a glass of wine. He looked at her, she wondered what he was thinking.
"Won't it though? So Queen Draudillon Oriculus, how was your week while I was away?" she drank the glass immediately and poured another.
"Everyone is still in a panic because of the beastmen... oh, The children have begun starving to death, as well as the old." She informed the enemy commander who smiled.
"Why not eat them? It would make our siege much longer, my job harder." She shrugged.
"While I'm sure we will turn to cannibalism at some point... dignity is still a luxury we have, I'm afraid." He nodded. looking out over the capital of the Dragon Kingdom.
"So are you really waiting for me to use my Wild Magic? Or do you have other schemes in the works?" She realized what a dumb question that was. He just smiled.
"I wonder..." he snickered. She was already on her fourth of wine and opening a fresh bottle.
"I was thinking... of asking Ainz Ooal Gown for help... how would you fare against them in a fight?" She asked. He thought for a second.
"Well to be honest, and you know I never lie to you... the one called Ji Joe and his pupil Lupu... I could beat them easily... so long as the fight wasn't "fair". As well as Nabe... however, Momon would be more than I could handle, no trick I could think of would work on him... he'd see through it. Indeed asking them for help would be your country's best chance of survival." He said nodding.
"But that would force you to attack me in earnest... and we'd lose these talks, plus that too would just be part of your plan... I already know I've lost... I'm just..."
"...waiting for my death blow?" He asked with a smile. She took a long drink from her wine glass.
"Yeah... something like that..." She said looking at the wagging tail of her friend.
"So, how is that one man... the one who uh..." She laughed.
"Cerabrate? Please... that man long outlived his usefulness to me... I supposed that was that day when you decided to unite the damn Beastmen... ugh, you won't let them rape me will you?" She asked, batting her loli eyes at him.
"No, actually Beastmen are a lot less concerned with rape than you'd think, some are actually very honorable... besides, I wish to save that honor for myself when I take your capital." She laughed.
"You certainly are the worst," She shook her head.
"But fear not, that won't be for some time... and you could always just kill yourself when that time comes." She drank yet another glass of wine and sighed out loud.
"If only you would accept my surrender..."
"Yes... but I won't I'm afraid," Demiurge said shaking his head.
"Alright... so last time you were here... you were saying something about a big war... is it the annual war between the Baharuth Empire and The Re-Estize Kingdom?" he nodded.
"That is the one... one of the reasons I want you alive is I would very much like you to see that day."
"What, the boring war of a few nights beat up a few farmers with spears and then everyone calls it a day? Unless you're telling me this time, it will be different?"
"Well obviously I can't say TOO much... but it should be a day nobody will want to miss... and I'd love for you to be alive to see that day." She smiled at what might happen.
"Well, that's certainly nice of you..."
"No, nice has nothing to do with it... I'm merely... bragging... about the greatness of the man I worship is all... I'd like to show him off as it were."
"Well, whomever you serve must be a truly great man indeed... I envy him, having such a competent follower."
"Oh, Queen Draudillon... saying things like that will make me want to take it easy on you!" He said with a chuckle. She turned to look at Demiurge with a frown.
"And here I thought you said you don't lie to me?" He made no reaction as his bluff was called.
"It would seem you know me too well, I apologize for teasing you... it's just in my nature." He explained.
"It's fine... I think you're just dangling me out there... hoping my great grandfather Brightness Dragon Lord comes to save me?" He smiled.
"Hmm... that would be the "best case scenario" but I am not really holding out hope for that..." He said honestly shrugging. She clicked her tongue hoping she could use that as some kind of leverage in surrender. She tossed the empty bottle of wine out the window, a few seconds later the sound of it hitting the ground broke the night silence and a dog barked... someones food source no doubt.
"Will, I ever get to meet this person you serve?" He thought about it for a while.
"No, as I said, I have no use for you other than these pleasant talks. My Lord will never know you existed. Speaking of which, maybe you can tell me something I've been curious about... will you maintain that form in the face of... pressure?"
"No, I'll revert to my real age when put under enough stress," He frowned.
"That's too bad..." She laughed.
"You really are the worst Demiurge!" Again he just shrugged.
"I am the way my god made me... apologies," he bowed.
On the other side of the continent, as the sun comes up Neia puts some butter on a piece of bread and held it out to the woman sitting across from her.
"Thank you Neia, but I don't feel like eating right now." Neia frowned at this.
"Come on, you have to eat something... it's been two days." The woman smiled at her, but it was forced. Neia just put the bread next to her and got up. It was still very early and if she wanted to get in some roadside storytelling she'd have to leave now.
"Alright mom, listen... My squire duties start in a couple of hours... I need to go now if..."
"Why do you talk about that day?" The look in her mom's face was now stress. Neia sighed.
"Mom, we talked about this... I... I didn't see what you all saw that day... I saw what true greatness was. I saw a man save a nation for only a favor... he, I want to meet him again someday and thank him is all... and I think people need to know what he did for us since nobody seems to talk about it... it's not right," This was a useless argument and one they had every morning.
"You should leave the order like I did Neia... there are things..." Neia sighed ironically she became a paladin because of her mother, now her mother was begging her to leave it.
"I know, I'm not any good at... anything. I still can't shoot dad's bow properly, but I will someday. Anyway, I'm going to be late... I'll be back later to make us dinner." Neia said as she ran out the door to tell the story of how Momonga saved their nation before her shift as a squire. Neia's mother just looked down, tears ran down her eyes as she heard the sound of goats bleating over and over in her head... it's all she would hear... and it would never stop, those goddamn goats...
About this time in the capital of The Holy Kingdom Queen Calca sits uncomfortably at her desk looking over some reports. Her faithful bodyguard and servant Kelart Custodio stands next to her.
"So then, still no word on your sister?" Calca asked Kelart. She shook her head no.
"There is no telling where she went to earn her penance... but we assume she is alright, at least till a body turns up," Kelart said sadly. Calco tapped her finger on the desk. She looked at a name that she remembered from that day... that amazing day.
"Well, we'll keep looking for her... your sister is a tough one."
"Yes, my Queen... if only she were just as smart." she smiled wryly. Calca returned to other business.
"Neia Baraja? Why is she constantly coming up in my reports?" Calca asked furrowing her brow.
"Ah, well Neia has been... very outspoke about her support of the "savior of The Holy Kingdom"... some of the nobles... don't care for her," Kelart said shaking her head. Calca adjusted her sitting position thinking.
"You know I have no issue with this... why are nobles asking me to stop her?"
"Well, some are calling it a cult... as this strange caster comes from nowhere and now has a following of a few people. By following I mean they just recount the day at the wall... the word "cult" is a bit extreme" Calca nodded.
"Again, I am aware... and I also think retelling the events of that day in a public forum hardly counts as "cult worship," Calca said shaking her head.
"You know how the nobles are My Queen... they will use any and all means to undermine you," Suddenly Calca's eyes went wide when she read a piece of news.
"Kelart... did you read this..."
"About the Slane theocracy? Yes... it sounds just like..."
"What happened in Re-Estize..."
"...and The Elf army?"
"Yes My Queen... The elf army was seen in that area... it's assumed they will hit The Dark Elf nation to gain troops and supplies..."
"Do we think he will attack us?"
"We see no reason that he would... unless this is just a campaign of nation conquering... then he will probably march on us at some point... time will tell My Queen." Calca closed both her eyes and rubbed the area between them.
"Well... thanks to Airxeen we have two walls protecting our original borders... I guess send some forward units as scouts... and early warning... if they see The Elf army, we can assume it won't be friendly." Kelart looked worried.
"What is it Kelart?"
"My Queen... if The Elf King is participating in this war... we have no chance of besting them in open combat." Calca frowned... at least it would be some time until they were at that junction.
"Very well... keep looking for..." She was saying when a messenger suddenly burst through her door. Kelart looked angrily at first but the look on the messages face said all too much... "important."
"Queen Calca... we found him! We found where Momonga is!" he said offering her another parchment. her eyes went over the critical details...
"What? Lakyus said one of her friends found his residence... or rather... kingdom? Oh..." her eyes went over the "workers" report.
"What does this mean?" She asked out loud, but Kelart smiled.
"It means... we will have a means of contacting your future husband..." Kelart said with wide eyes. Calca smiled and adjusted her seat again. Kelart looked at her.
"Is...is it too tight My Queen?" Kelart asked in a hushed tone even though they were alone. Calca smiled.
"No... it's just right..."
"Then... should we send message to this "Momonga of Nazarick" that you wish to talk?" Kelart asked but Calca shook her head.
"As it stands I already owe him a favor of his choosing... if we ask for his help again... I may end up owing him our entire country!" She said laughing.
"No... we will wait and see what becomes of this... Momonga and his "Nazarick" now that we know where he is... I feel much better about waiting patiently," Calca answered with a slight smile.
"Of course My Queen..."
Back in Nazarick, Sebas waits with Tuare. The smile on her face made him happy.
"Master Sebas..." She said looking up at him happily. He just nodded and smiled at her... she wanted to know if it would be soon.
"Don't worry, I've been assured she is headed... ah, here they are now!" Sebas said smiling and pointing at the couple who entered. She looked at him and he nodded that she may. Tuare ran at the figures, her long blonde hair flowing behind her. As soon as she began this dash the smaller of the two approaching figures also broke out into a run. The two met halfway and flew into one another's arms.
Tuare and Ninya had been reunited after... uncountable years apart. Sebas looked on pleased at the happy sisters who were just hugging and crying. The other member came over to Sebas, it was Solution.
"Well... Master Sebas... it seems her long road is over..." Solution said looking at the two.
"Oh? And are you happy for them?" he asked. Solution just sighed.
"In truth... I was picturing them hugging and crying... but in my body... as I melt them slowly away." She smiled wickedly at that thought. Sebas paid it no mind... he understood how she was and didn't judge her for it.
"So you will be looking after Ninya?" Solution asked and Sebas nodded.
"Won't it be hard to sleep with her sister around? Oh, unless you're trying that angle?" She just shook his head and rolled his eyes.
"We have yet to reach... that stage of our relationship, um given her...previouse..." Solution shook her head as to how weak humans were. The words "pathetic" almost came out but she kept it in.
"Anyway... I've delivered the human as asked... I'll be headed back," She said turning and walking away. She ignored the thanks of Ninya as she walked past the two sisters. Finally, the sisters ran over to him.
"Ninya... this is Sebas... my um, finance!" Tuare said smiling. Ninya looked up at him with red eyes, she had been crying this whole time.
"Thank you so much for... everything!" Ninya cried throwing her arms around his waist. he was caught slightly off guard as he wan' expecting this but hugged her back as he kept his composure.
"Think nothing of it little one... come, let's go to a more fitting place, I image you must be hungry?" She nodded and smiled at her sister. he led them to a place where Aura and Mare suggested had good food in Nazarick. The sisters would catch up, Ninya told her of her adventures while Tuare mostly stayed silent about her time away from her sister.
"Oh, and that's Aura! She's really nice!" Tuare said as the Dark Elf walked by. Ninya looked at her walk past not paying them too much attention.
"Yeah, um... we've sort of met." Ninya said with a rather sour tone in her voice... there was some bad blood there possibly.
"Hi, Solution!" Aura waved as she walked past Aura. Solution stopped to bow and smiled.
"where are you off to in such a hurry Aura?" Solution asked changing her course to match Auras. Aura blushed slightly.
"Um, Lord Momonga has called me to his office." Just at saying that causally made them both pick up the pace.
"Where is Mare? I haven't seen him around lately." Solution asked. Aura frowned.
"You're not the only one... I barely get any time with him these days," Solution nodded.
"Well, he is trying to sire a child after all and in a new relationship... fear not, when she is with child and the "honeymoon" phase wears off, you'll see Mare more like you used to." Solution told her. Soon they were at the door of their Lords office.
"Well, I'll leave you now... good luck Aura." Solution said as she walked away with a wave. Aura knocked and was asked to come in, they were alone so she simply jumped up on a seat that was slightly too big for her.
Aura sat before her Lord. He had called her to see him but she had no idea why... hopefully, it wasn't to punish her or anything...
"Hello Aura, how are you doing?" he asked... for some reason her Lord was in his Dark Elf form. She smiled at him.
"Fine, um... I am curious why My Lord has called me here." Momonga leaned in crossing his fingers. Aura couldn't help but sneak a glance at her Lords bare chest.
"To be honest... I want to contuine our earlier discussion about... you being my fourth wife." Aura's ears drooped down as her disappointment was evident.
"At the time... I may have been a bit..." he furrowed his brow. he was thinking of something...
"I um... think that maybe..."
"Lord Momonga, it is okay... I understand I am not the kind of woman you desire..."
"Is there really no one else you love?" She shook her head
"Just Jin... but..."
"Yes, I understand... but... I'm just trying to change the subject... simply put. If you really wish to be my fourth... I think that would be okay..." Aura's eyes lit up as she wasn't able to conceal her happiness.
"Oh! I...is that why you are in that form My Lord... so we can um..." Her face turned bright red... this was all so unexpected for her! She... she basically knew what would be expected of her but... she blushed harder the more she thought about it.
"Eh? No, I just remember you saying you like this form" She blinked as she misread the situation and calmed down a bit. There was a twang of disappointment in her heart, however.
"I would like any form Lord Momonga takes... but... if I had to choose..." He just laughed.
"It's okay, I understand, I'm probably easier to relate to in this form." She blushed a bit and nodded.
"But um, no... what I wanted to say was that... the position of "fourth wife" will be yours, for when you get a little older." She looked disappointed.
"Eh? How long My Lord? Mare is married and he'd even younger..."
"I understand but mare's situation is different and he's a boy... it's uh, different for us at that age than it is for girls..." but that explanation didn't work for her.
"Physically speaking... I could have a child... it would just be..." Momonga shook his head as if he was thinking of something that disturbed him.
"Um, well that isn't an issue as Albedo..." she remembered what he was saying, only she would have childbearing rights.
"Then why can we not just marry like normal then?" Momonga tapped his fingers nervously on his desk.
"I just think... at your age you should um... be more concerned with different things," he said smiling, but she had no idea what he was getting at...
"So it's my age again?" In the end that was the only barrier... it's just one she could not get past it would seem. She wished there was a way to age herself so that her Lord would... marry her for real.
"It'll be fine Aura, think of all the years we will have, that we all will have together here at Nazarick? There is no reason to rush things this... important." She smiled and nodded.
"But... I see no reason we can't go on a date right? And I recall owing you a surprise anyway..." Her eyes went wide with joy again.
"A date? Like with just you and me?" He smiled and nodded, why did he not think of this earlier? He could keep their relationship "proper" and not sexual with her for the next um... few decades... well it seems like it will work for now at any rate... he hoped he was right.
"So, when will we have our date Lord Momonga?" He wished he had this more planned out, but it was so spur of the moment... what was a good first date... sadly, he's never been on one...
"Well um, let me get some... things in order. But tomorrow should be okay," Momonga said already wondering just what the hell they should do.
"Okay! I will look forward to my date with Lord Momonga!" Aura said hopping off her chair and running over to him. He was a bit nervous about what she was coming in for but as it was just a hug he was happy to oblige. he just laughed and tussled her hair.
"Okay, well go on then... I have to go meet with Demiurge about something," She shot him a smile like the sun and for a brief second, he indeed saw Hitomi's face in her smile. She bounced out of the room happily. He layed back and yawned... even though he was not tired.
As expected Demiurge came in right on time. He'd never once been late to their meetings.
"Did you enjoy your day off Demiurge?" he nodded with a smile.
"Indeed My Lord I did, I think you for granting each of us a day off... it has allowed me to maintain some intersting relationships." Momonga perked up.
"Oh? Don't tell me you're thinking of taking a wife now!" Momonga laughed at the notion. Demiurge chuckled alongside with him.
"No My Lord... just people I can hold a good conversation with... oh speaking of which. Princess Renner has been in touch, things are moving along as you have laid out.
"I see... that's good, it's comforting to know you always have my wishes realized and prioritized,"
"Oh, corse My Lord!" Demiurge bowed with thanks.
Who the hell is Princess Renner? That one royal that didn't matter for The Re-Estize Kingdom? She was so low on the list...why was she suddenly important?
"Good, then um... what do you suggest we do about her then?" Demiurge thought for a second.
"Well, I believe she will be willing to come to our side, she is a fascinating woman who will no doubt prove very useful to us," Momonga nodded at this information.
"I see, then as you've already glimpsed my use for her, I will suggest you continue on with my goals."
"As you say, My Lord," Demiurge smiled.