(No difference of T or M versions of this chapter)
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN: Travel
"Is that the place there?" Zesshi pointed out at the beginnings of a forest. Peroroncino peered at where she ws pointing from ontop the flying Kilistran. Queen Rodusk nodded.
"When we enter, they will approach you for questioning... the small the group the better," Rodusk said. Peroroncino thought for a bit and patted Kilistran.
"Land next to that outcropping of trees there," She dipped down and guided till they reached where he had pointed out and finally landed. They jumped off the back of Kilistran and Peroroncino cast [POLYMORPH] to make Kilistran a human again.
"Alright, as this is a diplomatic mission I will have Mare and Zesshi accompany me as well as Rodusk and Kilistran. Shalltear, I'll have you wait here, if I call for you use [GREATER TELEPOTATION] so arrive to my spot. She bowed with a somewhat disappointed look.
"I'm just not sure how they would react to a vampire walking into their forest is all..." Peroroncino tried to explain. Shalltear nodded.
"I understand my Lord." Peroroncino turned to the rest of the group and pointed to the forest, there was a clear trail and path that was fairly large leading into the forest. As they walked up Peroroncino really hoped they would be frequently... if they tried to fight them Mare alone would be enough, fighting a Druid in a forest was crazy hard to do.
The forest was old, the was evident by the massive trees. They towered above one's head and cut off most of the sunlight, giving the path they walked on an almost romantic feeling. Leaves fell every so often and the far off distance of wildlife could be heard.
"This forest od so much different than Tob..." Mare causally remarked as his head swiveled up and around looking at the trees and path. Peroroncino knew what he meant... walking through Tob Forrest dangerous before Aura and her legion killed off the threats... this forest seemed alive... but not too dangerous, like it also had been tamed, but long ago.
"When will these Kitsune approach us?" Zesshi asked nervously and taking Mare's hand.
"They are watching us already I am sure, so it shouldn't be too long..." Rodusk said loudly, to let her watchers know she knew they were there.
As expected when they continued further in a female voice called out to stop them.
"Alright, that's far enough..." the voice directed. From behind some tree stepped out a dozen or so female looking women with fox ears and tails. The group stopped to show they would comply.
"Who are you? And why have you entered our domain?" One of the Kitsune asked. She had black hair and held a staff in her hands her tail and ears were silver. They all wore matching blue and yellow trimmed robes that looked magically enchanted.
"Um, we're representatives of The Sorcerer Kingdom... we heard about your tribe and merely wish to make friendly contact," Peroroncino said out loud. Two Kitsune in the back whispered something to each other and one ran off intot he trees.
Peroroncino used this time to scan them all... it was true they all looked female. Luckily their robes were reveling enough to show cleavage or lack thereof.
"I wonder if flat chested Kitsune get mistakes for men? Maybe there's no such thing?" the more he thought about it the more questions he had.
The one that ran off came back and whispered something. The Kitsune looked at them suspiciously.
"Come with us..." The returning one said and they were lead deeper into the forest.
The village was made mostly of well made wooden huts and treehouses. It looks tribal but not primitive due to the artist nature of the various decoration. Peroroncino noticed the liberal use of weird gems in the jewelry of the Kitsune and the use of them in the village's decorations.
The group from Nazarick were taken to a prominent looking house. It was well built using wood and other forest materials, and looked to be where the most important person in this village would reside. It was adorned with flags and other ceremonial flairs.
"Pick one to enter, out leader will see what you have to say..." A beautiful kitsune said. Her expression was seriouse and the ones behind here shared it. Peroroncino looked to his group and shrugged. He went inside the house to meet their leader.
Meanwhile back at Nazarick, Aura was riding on the back of Fenrir, her most powerful magical beast. There was no real reason to be riding him, it was just one of the ways she passed the time when Mare was gone. And the last time they spoke had been a fight...
It seemed the gap between her brother and herself was still widening. She frowned and increased the speed of Fenrir.
"Hello? Aura?" It was a voice in her head and it was the only other voice she would ever hope to hear.
"Yes, Suzuki... what did you need?"
"I'm feeling bored, you feel like going out with me for a bit?" Her heart fluttered at that statement and she smiled bashfully.
"O...Of course Suzuki! Where are you?"
"Oh, I'm currently in my personal office but..."
"Rodger, I'll meet you there right away!" Aura then activated her Ring of Ainz Ooal Gown and teleported to her lord. She appeared in front of him, yet he was not expecting her and his cloak was open. In his Dark Elf body, Aura was suddenly staring down an exposed Momonga.
"AH! I... wasn't ready yet..." Momonga cried, pulling closed his road. A disappointed look appeared on Aura's face but she smiled with a giggle.
"It's okay Suzuki, it's nothing I haven't seen before... or get to see again..." Her eyes drifted to gis waist again, this actually made Momonga blush and become a tad flustered.
"Um well, right uh..." He began to stammer a bit but she playfully slapped his arm and gave him a huge grin from ear to ear. At that moment Suzuki could swear it was Hitomi smiling up at him.
"So will it be just us?" Aura asked hoping to have her Lord to herself. Momonga scratched the back of his head.
"Um, well Albedo also wanted to come along," Momonga said.
There came a knock from the other side of Momonga's door. It was light and polite.
"My Love, is everything alright, I hear voices..." She opened the door and looked surprised to see Aura with Momonga, alone.
"Oh my? I... what are you doing here Aura?" Albedo looked at the two of them who were standing relatively close. Momonga took a step back and shook his hands.
"Aura just teleported here is all..." Albedo seemed to calm down. Momonga wasn't sure why but Albedo never showed any jealousy with Yuri or Narberal.
"We were just talking about... anyway, since we're all here i guess we can get on with it."
"Get on with it? Aura will be joining us?" Albedo asked innocently. Momonga just nodded but froze, along with Aura as Albedo disrobed.
"Well, whatever you wish My Lord... shall we start then?" Albedo asked walking to him. Aura looked back and forth in near panic, was this why she was summoned here after all? She could feel her face burning red with blush.
"What? Wait... no Albedo! I... I thought we could go out together not um..." he said picking up the dress and handing it back to her. She simply nodded and threw it back on.
"Forgive me My Love, it's just that in that body..." Albedo looked at him hungrily. Even Aura seemed tempted by this prospect now.
"I mean, I'd be fine..." But Momonga cut her off.
"No, I just figured we could go to the Arena together," Aura looked at him puzzled.
"The Arena? I was just there, nothing is going on there Suzuki," There was a flash of something in Albedos eye's but it was gone before wither could catch it.
"No I mean the Arena in The Baharuth Empire, I heard they schedule fights there, might be worth checking out?" He explained.
"Oh, yeah that does sound neat actually!" Aura cried and clapped. Albedo nodded with a smile.
"Does Emperor Jircniv know you are coming? A visit froma neighboring Kingdoms Monarch is big deal, they will need time to plan the fanfare and a welcome recession..." Albedo said thinking out loud.
"Yeah, that is why I wasn't to uh, surprise him! If I enter with no announcment he would be relieved of such duties right? And we could simply talk as Kings..."
"My Love is so kind! Do you wish to impart your wisdom as a ruler to the Emperor? he will be wise to listen to anything you could suggest to him, how gracious My Love is!" Albedo cried as she threw her arms around Momonga and gave him a huge hug as she giggled.
"Uh, y... yeah, I uh... well an exchange of information is important isn't it?" Albedo and Aura both nodded in agreement.
"But still, I imagine he will be surprised to see you, how do you plan to enter the borders?" Albedo asked. Momonga shrugged.
"We could use [GATE], or just enter by way of carriage," he also suggested.
"Oh, if we're headed that way I can talk to the Guild Leader for that city... hmm, maybe I should take Ainzach with me?" Momonga thought. He had many dealings with this man as Momon the Adventure for Ainz Ooal Gown.
"I do not wish some hu... another person along for this trip my love, as it's already so many..." Albedo said and looked at Aura quickly. Momonga nodded.
"Fair enough, but I'll still need to talk to him about it at some point... I'll just consider this "laying the groundwork" for later." Momonga said, mostly to himself.
"Alright, we'll go by carriage, but please have the one prepared nothing to fancy," He asked. Albedo thought for a second or two.
"I believe we have such a carriage already prepared. It can even be drawn with a Soul Eater that will appear like a normal horse and driver, through an illusion of course, does that please my love?" Albedo asked. Momonga nodded with a smile.
"Indeed, is there anything either of you need before we leave?" He asked but both girls said they were set.
"Hmm, won't Nazarick be a little empty? Only two-floor guardians will be on duty, and this trip could take a bit of time..." Albedo handed him a scroll.
"I have already anticipated this, my Love, when Lord Peroroncino left earlier in the week. I have taken the liberty of summoning some of the most powerful mercenaries available to act as stand-in guards... they will at least be enough to hold off any attack until the real guards [GATE] back, and I have more than enough summoned to account for all the floors, as both parties have [GATE] casters they are essential 'tank class' mercenaries... does that please you?"
"Inpecible planning as always Albedo, thank you," Momonga praised her with a smile. She blushed.
"Well, naturally My Love. As The Queen of Nazarick, I mustn't fail in the smallest of ways!" Momonga embraced her then the three went to the stables where the carriage was being prepared.
"I will [GATE] us and the carriage to our borders, then we will cross naturally," he informed his group. Momonga opened his hands and cast the spell [GATE]. He got in and they were off.
Several miles to the west another couple of travelers are getting ever closer. Kelart and Neia were making better time now that they got a couple of horses from the village Kelart knew about. It was run by peaceful Demihumans and now they were well on their way to the Re-Estize capital.
"So um, Lady Kelart, what do we do if The Sorcerer King refused to help?" Neia asked. In truth, she was just trying to break the silence. kelart hadn't said more than a word to her other than "Let's go" in the past week ever since that night by the campfire.
"Then we return and report our failure," Kelart said quickly, keeping her eyes forward as they traveled.
"Do you think he would turn us down?" Neia asked. Kelart just glared.
"I'm sure he will be happy to have the Queen owe him another favor..." she said bitterly. Neia frowned, she wasn't sure why Kelart did not like The Sorcerer King. They continued on in silence until at last the capital of Re-Estize came into view. Neia's eyes open on the welcoming sight.
"I can't wait to sleep in a real bed tonight... we've been on the road for weeks now..." Neia said. Kelart nodded. They were both dirty and bug-bitten... the thought of a room was indeed a good thought. As they arrived Neia thought it odd they had not encountered a single road check, or seen much of anybody.
"I don't get it, we're so close to a main city but... I don't see many people..." neia remarked as she scouted the roads. there was the solo person waling slowly here and there with one or two carts in transit, but there should be so much more.
"You'll see when we get deeper in..." Kelart said. It wasn't long till Neia saw what her superior meant. the city... all of it looked to be in disarray. Refuse was piling up in the corners of the alleyways, and a general foul smell permeated the streets. As Neia walked by a sickly woman reached out.
"Please... you're from the Holy kingdom? You must have some coin? Please, we're..."
"Don't give her a thing squire. these people are lost causes..." Kelart said gruffly. Neia wanted to protest but saw why Kelart was saying this. These were not simply poor starving people. They all had black traces in the corner of their mouths and their eyes were bloodshot. The hands they reached out with also had a black stain to them.
"These... these are all black powder addicts?" Neia said in shock. Kelart nodded, keeping her sword at the ready.
"Wait, so did we enter through the slums?" Neia asked in confusion but Kelart explained.
"No, the entire city is like this... I heard after they were rescued from the prison Airxeen put this city in... many did not take release well. They were in a literal paradise, and having to return to this terrible world broke them. Many simply killed themselves, others ended up like this."
"then there was the Katze plain massacre... the Sorcer King you are so fond of mercilessly killed hundreds of thousands of men... many jobs could not be finished and since most killed were innocent farmers, this country does not have the grain it needs to sustain itself any longer. These back to back blows sent this nation into a downward spiral that it will not recover from." Neia simply looked on in shock as Kelart spoke.
"That isn't to say everyone is like this... the sector we are headed to now, the one now run by Princess Renner is better, I heard all the nobles and people of influence banded together to keep sections of the capital healthy, but I wonder how long they can hold out..."
Neia could see the area Kelart spoke of as they kept on. A newly-erected wall divided the city and there were now guards at the ready and heavily armed.
"HALT! By order of the Golden princess, no one lower merit go beyond this point!" The guard shouted out and others readied crossbows from sniper perches along with the houses. A man whispered to the guard
"Sir, they are on horses and look well dressed I don't think..." but the guard whispered back.
"I know that but i got to say it, they told me I have to!" the man complained.
"Um, we are Royal messengers from the Holy Kingdom, we only wish room and board... of which we can easily pay," Kelart announced loudly. It was beginning to get dark so she wanted to get lodged as soon as possible. The man looked at the other and shrugged. In a bit, the door was opened so they could enter.
"Those aren't real guards..."
"Nope, just people that were given weapons and told to act like guards..." she muttered
"Where can we go to find a room?" Neia asked the young guard as they passed.
"Oh, yea... go there, like three blocks down, the old Adventures guild is the new hotel of choice round these parts." He said in an unrefined accent.
"I know where to go squire," kelart coldly said. neia thanked the man anyway and they made it to the Hotel easily. Behind the desk was a grump looking man, he looked at them and tried to seem presentable as they approached. he was a man in his mid-thirties brown hair and seemed rather stupid from just appearances.
"We'd like a room with a bath, please," Kelart said the man at the desk. Neia was going to get her own room but kelart ordered her to follow.
"Um, I don't mind... getting my own room and... bath..." Neia quietly said. Kelart grabbed Neia by the wrist, leading her to the single room.
"We'll share..." Was all she said and did not let go. Neia suspected another situation like that one night in camp.
"It's really no trouble I can afford..." Neia tried to say but kelart stopped and turn, he beautiful eyes meeting Neia's glaring ones.
"Neia Baraja, you are my squire, you are to assist me... and I have need of your assistance, understood?" Kelart said firmly, not breaking eye contact. Neia nervously nodded. Kelart smiled slightly.
"Good, now... come," Kelart moved her hand from Neia's wrist and instead took Neia by her hand gently. Before they disappeared into the room kelart turned back to the wide-eyed receptionist who had heard their conversation.
"Oh, please have our clothes cleaned and ready by morning... and also have six feet of rope sent to my room please," She said with a smile. the man just blinked in confusion.
"Rope?" But she said nothing more as they entered the room and closed the door.
The room was nice, big and spacious with one large bed... it had a single bathing room. neia simply stood awkwardly as kelart undressed. She stopped and looked at the nervous Neia.
"Squire Baraja, please undress, you don't plan to bathe me like that, do you?" She asked with a soft tone that Neia had not heard in her voice before.
"Uh, no... right, um..." was all she could think to say and slowly undressed. After taking off her father's magical leather armor and placing it with the rest of her passed down equipment. Neia was now down to just her undergarments. Kelart walked past her to the bath. Neia couldn't help but notice how much more 'formed' kelart was than her.
Kelart's long brown hair hung midway to her shapely hips. In comparison, Neia's hips were much more narrow. While not voluptuous, Kelarts breasts, which she was not hiding were bigger and nicer looking. Neia looked to her own chest and frowned. there was not much to compare herself to her boss. She dropped off her undergarments with her clothes that were set out to be washed by the door.
Kelart was sitting patiently on a bench, waiting for Neia's help. Despite her worries, the bath was just that and they turned in for sleep, planning to get up early, they could be in E-Rantel in a little under a week if they really pushed it.