CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE: The Dawn of Death
Draudillon Oriculus, no longer "Queen" Draudillon Oriculus. She looked down from her tower drinking the last of her wine. She was no longer Queen because she no longer had people to call her such. She looked on in regret as The Beastmen ran rampant throughout her capital. People were either being killed and consumed on the spot, or dragged away to be cooked at a later date.
"So this is how it ends..." She clicked her tongue at the sight of two young girls getting carried off by some Bafolk. Her heart went out to those two women that she could not help. The final day that she would know a life without constant pain and torture.
"A fitting punishment..." she remarked, tossing her glass out the window and awaiting her ultimate fate at the hands of her friend and enemy. Expectedly, he soon arrived.
"I was wondering when you would arrive," she said sadly. He had no smile on his face today, however. It was the first time she'd really seen him this visually put off.
"What will happen to them? The ones you are taking away?" She asked seeing the thousands upon thousands of humans getting transported out of her city.
"Most will go to my skinning fields, others will serve my demons and myself as some worthy experimentation material, yet some will find their ways into the bellies of my Beastmen." He explained calmly.
"I see... so this 'skinning field' as you call it. I assume this will be my final destination?" she asked ready for whatever torment he had in store for her.
"No, that place is business. But you'll find out what I have in store for you..." He said offering his hand. She took it without hesitation and the two were gone.
They appeared in a weird room. It overlooked a large floor. Draudillon Oriculus eyes went wide with horror when she saw what was happening on that floor.
"My... What... is..." She asked in dismay... she had expected terrible things but even this...
"This? This is my attempt at biology. I am a man of many questions, and when I get a question that could also benefit Nazarick as well as remain interesting to me... I tend to really put my foot into it, so to speak." He smiled as she took in the horror of what was happening.
"So one question I thought up one day was... what species can and cannot conceive a child. So, here we have my experimentation floor where I attempt to breed... well everything! Lizardman with elf, Minotaur with human, dragon with... well you get the idea. She said nothing just looked on in silence, slowly understanding what her fate would be.
"Anyway... one thing I do not have here is... The blood of a wild magic-user." He grinned wickedly.
"Well, I certainly see what you meant by you would be saving me for yourself... but this..." She closed her eyes... to be physically defiled like this was one of the things she detested most... just the thought of being forced to breed with something less than human, like all those poor women she saw below her...
"Just so you know... my Wild Magic is weak and flawed... any offspring I could give you would not inherit that power..." She said honestly. He turned and walked toward a door, she followed him. They passed more rooms like they saw each with different pairings of species. Some pairings made her want to vomit at the sight of them.
"And here we are..." He said as they walked into another room. What or rather who she saw shocked her.
"You can't be seriouse! You have him here?" Her jaw hung open. He laughed, satisfied he'd properly surprised her.
"I collect many things, and now... I have you as well!"
Back in Nazarick, after some alone time with Albedo and some advice from her, Momomga decided to finally have the talk he was dreading...
Momonga sent a [MESSAGE] to Jin saying they needed to talk. Before long they were in Momonga's office, alone.
"What's up Suzuki?" Jin asked. Momonga put his hands together.
"Jin, about the upcoming war with the Re-Estize Kingdom that the Baharuth Empire is having..."
"Yeah, this is our big announcement, right? I know this is a really big deal."
"It's not that um... I've been asked to start off the battle, with a spell of my choosing... but to make the proper impact we need... I pretty much need to kill them all," Momonga said, throwing it out there. Jin contemplated what he said.
"But, these are farmers... not soldiers. They don't even want to be there..."
"Which is why I'm talking to you about this know... to see what you... will do," Momonga said worriedly. He could tell Jin wasn't happy by the look on his face.
"There... will be close to 200,000 "troops" there... you're going to orphan half the godamn city you plan to rule over! And the crops will suffer as you will be eliminating a good share fo the manpower... again... of the country, you plan to rule... the people will starve Suzuki!" He stood up throwing his hands in the air, but calmed down and sat back sown thinking.
"Yet... I do get where you're coming from... The Re-Estize don't take you or us seriously... and this would do that..." Jin frowned in thought.
"To be honest, I don't WANT to kill them Jin, this is just..."
"A bad idea... there has to be another one then just outright slaughter, yes?"
"If you have one Jin, I'm open to suggestions." Jin folded his arms.
"I'm not saying... "you must not do this" Suzuki... I'm not so dumb as to not see what hinges on this, I care more about you losing your humanity than their love... thats what this has been about!" Jin exclaimed. Suzuki looked at him curiously.
"Why is my humanity so important? I am in fact, no longer human... neither are you," Suzuki reminded him.
"It's just a term... I, I honestly believe you when you say you want to rule the world for it's own benefit... this world is terrible... but you might be going about it the wrong way... no matter how great a nation you build... it will always start with "the slaughter of innocence was the beginning of it" is this the kind of legacy you wish to leave Nazarick with?" Jin asked.
"I know I didn't "stay" here like you did and only "came back" on the last day it mattered... I'm reminded of this every time the NPCs look at you just a little bit more fondly than they do me... so maybe I have no right to speak here... but I don't think this is right, and forgive me for playing dirty here Suzuki but how would you think Hitomi and Touch-Me would respond if they heard you do this?... I won't stand in your way if you truly want to kill all those men so you can prove a point."
"What do you mean about Hitomi and Touch-Me? what does that have to do with this?" Momonga asked seriously annoyed Jin would go that route.
"We still don't know if they are out there or not!... and if either of them learned you committed wholesale slaughter, to make your point... you think they would approve? Hell, I could see Touch-Me standing against you with them at his back! Is this the kind of ruler you want to be Suzuki? The kind that Touch-Me would fight against?" those words sent Suzuki reeling. Jin was right... regardless of what he was accomplishing in the long run... his friends, well most of them, would not condone this.
"You... think he would?"
"Right now you are the strong stepping on the weak... you have a good reason, fine... tell that to the families that will not have a father or brother returning... or both."
"He would recognize these people need help like how we saved Carne! That was something he would have loved... we helped the weak from the strong! And again in The Holy Kingdom... I screwed up there, but you managed to save an entire country that was on the brink of getting taken over sooner or later, whether or not if I lead them to do so or not... again you were a protector! But now you want to kill all these people who pose no threat to you?... My sister would not support this... we lost both of our parents at a young age, I barely remember what my dad looks like... but she knew him well enough to care when he died... and Touch-Me would outright stop you by force if he saw you ready to so this..." Momonga thought long about what Jin had told him.
"What about the rest? Not many people shared your..."
"Yeah, Ulbert would encourage you to incinerate the whole lot of them. I could think of more that would love it, more that would not... my point is... if you want to attach this kind of action to Nazarick... be ready for the consequences if there are more us out there... that's all. I just don't want to see Touch-Me kicking down our door one day... I know I couldn't beat him... not once." Jin finished shrugging.
"Making a potential enemy of..." Suzuki thought about it and Jin was right... if Touch-Me were standing here, he would probably do "what was right" by his moral code. There were many instances of him "leaving" the guild due to the "evil nature" of the Role Playing the players did, but the compassionate ones like Hitomi would always bring him back.
"I'll support your play, whatever it may be Suzuki... but I hope you consider what I've said," Jin said shrugging.
"So... if I kill the whole army?" Jin just shook his head.
"I won't be happy about it, but I have learned that maybe... I don't see the whole picture sometimes... I'll trust in the fact that you do... so it's fine, don't let my feeling sway you... just my advise, we're in this till the end after all." Jin said in a serious tone. Momonga nodded in thought.
"I owe you at least that I guess... I'll think about what you said but tomorrow is the "big day"... will you stand beside me?"
"Well, I think I should be off out the side ready to snipe any... "unforeseen problems" so I won't be there literally but you can count me in... I will do what's needed to benefit us and Nazarick, and to keep you safe" Jin said nodding. Momonga smiled.
"You've grown up a lot in these past few months, you know that?" Momonga honestly praised his sometimes trouble making friend.
"Have I? Well, that can't be a good thing," He said laughing.
"But this is it... isn't?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well after this we will know... if we make this big ruckus and none of our friends or my sister steps forth..."
"I see, I guess you're right... once "Nazarick" becomes a household name... if no one comes forth..."
"Then we have to assume no one else from Ainz Ooal Gown made the jump here."
"I didn't really even think of that... but..." Momonga frowned. He knew the hope of seeing his sister again was one of the main things Jin wanted to accomplish. If she never shows up...
"Anyway... this is because of the work you've done... I'm glad it's you I'm stuck here with,"
"Eh? You wouldn't choose Hitomi?"
"What? Are you kidding? I want to see her again like... but if it were just me and her? She would have kicked me out of Nazarick a long time ago!" Jin said honestly.
"Not to mention I'd never beat her in a fight, at least with you I know I'd win!" Momonga laughed, but it was true... ever since Jin got that "resurrection once a day" item, Momonga could never beat him in a duel.
"Didn't she make her character specifically to beat you?" Momonga asked.
"Yup, it's why she went slime tank... if I hit her from range she gets a free teleport, and since I don't know [DELAY TELEPORTATION]... as soon as I did any damage to her I'd be covered in her as she would just teleport onto me and slowly wear me down as I couldn't move... really it's such a shitty build, but I could never beat it," Jin shook his head.
"She managed to be our main tank with that "shitty build" of hers," Momonga reminded Jin. He nodded.
"Yeah, she was good at the game... I wonder what she'd playing these days?" Jin thought and smiled. The memory of her could also make him happy as well.
"I'm going to get ready, guess I'll see you on the Katze Plain, though you won't see me, I'll be very far away looking over you," Jin said getting up and putting out his fist. Suzuki looked at it for a second then cocked his eyebrow at Jin.
"A fist bump? Really?" Suzuki said laughing but he did do it with a small roll of his eyes.
And before anyone even knew it they were sitting in a fort made by The Baharuth Empire to house their forces. Momonga, Shalltear, and Aura were together in a tent as they discussed the battleplan. Momonga cast [MESSAGE] to tell Jin what he'd decided to do.
"I see... well, this will be a memorable day for everyone then I suppose. Well, I'm in position... good luck Suzuki," Jin said.
"Thanks, you too Jin," Momonga then turned his attention to Aura and Shalltear.
"Why are you wearing 'Avarice and Generosity'?" Shalltear asked, noting Momonga had the world Items usually reserved for Mare.
"Well, thanks to my test with these in The Holy Kingdom we know, in this world at least, killing anything beyond a certain level will give you 1 exp. This is very fortunate for us as I can raise Jin's level one more if I store all the experience gained from this battle." Momonga explained, had this still been the game of YGGDRASIL he would not even gain a single exp for killing such low level "mobs".
"So you plan to kill them all?" Shalltear asked, smiling. Momonga nodded.
"Yes, Jin won't like it but he's promised to trust me... in truth leveling him up is the main reason I chose not to spare this army, please do not tell him this." The two girls nodded. Momonga was in his Dark Elf body so he was able to wink at Aura who blushed slightly.
"Well then, should we go meet our friends?" Momonga asked. Aura nodded. Shalltear stayed in the tent as a back up only. As Momonga and Aura exited together the whole Baharuth army stood at attention.
"The Sorcerer King is here! Show proper respect!" A General yelled out to his men, who all turned to face Momonga and stand at attention in such a way to show their respect and readiness to help. Then all at once, they bowed as he walked through their ranks.
A knight in brown Adamntite armor stood ready to meet him.
"Master Momonga! I am Nimble Arc Dale Anoch, I humbly welcome you to this fort and this battle we hold in your honor!" The blonde haired knight said. He was well kept and beamed with professionalism.
"Thank you Sir Nimble for your warm welcome," Momonga said smiling. Nimble looked quickly at Aura.
"Then this is Lady Aura! I remember you from the meeting in Nazarick." Nimble said bowing to Aura who smiled back at his respect.
"I am sorry if my presence here causes you any trouble, but I am in your care Sir Nimble. Another blonde haired man with a mustache rose from his bow.
"I am a general from the Imperial Army, Carvain. It is truly a great honor to have you assisting my unit in this battle." The general said respectfully.
"It was a request by Emperor Jircniv, I am happy to work with you. I was told you wish to use one of my spells to start off the battle... in that case, may I bring a portion of my army here?" Nimble looked slightly confused.
"That would be a great honor, but we plan to attack early tomorrow, I fear there isn't enough time..." Nimble said with a frown.
"That will not be a problem," Momonga said as he cast [GATE]. A giant black portal appeared and 300 Death Knights and 100 Soul Eaters, Skeletal horses that emitted pale green and yellow smoke or mist from their evil bodies. Just one of these things could be a reason to spark a national disaster and state of emergency, and here stood enough to overrun the world if they so chose.
The gasps and squelched cries of fear from the human Knights could be heard. Even their training could not prepare them to be standing this close to death. Momonga noticed their growing fear and rose his hand.
"Fear not, my... necromancy... is unflawed. You may consider each one of this undead a simple tool for you to use in battle, nothing more." His words seemed to have an immediate soothing effect on them. Because they thought he was living, like them, there was less reservation about the living controlling the dead. He rose his arms.
"Yes, this is my army! Do welcome them as you would me!" Momonga announced. The soldiers all nervously bowed.
But to the west. Unknown to Nazarick was a strong military unit consisting of 5,000 elite Re-Estize soldiers. They are lead by Prince Barbro, first in line to the Re-Estize crown. They march on Carne village as a was to gain information about this mysterious caster named Momonga that is helping their enemy.
"That stupid Gazef Stronoff... because of his stupid warning about fighting Momonga I was sent here on some kids errand..." The Prince spat. He was hoping to win glory on the battlefield, maybe even bring down this Dark Elf caster with his own blade! He could picture it easily. He was a well-built man, and knew his way with a blade. He was not only blessed with position but also looks, and ambition. So when he was told to "investigate" he only grew more and more irritant at the fact he was missing out of the battle.
"Have our men double the marching pace... I want to get this village done with so we can go support my father in the war." The prince ordered the commander assigned to him from The baron's forces.
"Um, My Prince... that will drastically deprive the men of their stamina... should there be an alteration at the village... fighting would be..."
"Really? A few tired soldiers can't beat a bunch of farmers who will probably throw potatoes at you? No, they will acknowledge my banner and name and let us in... at that point, you will destroy the village from the inside out."
"Um, forgive me my prince... but I was told we should only attack the village if they show outright disobedience... to attack them like that would be..." The commander seemed bothered by this breach of honor and trust.
"My orders! Are you saying you refuse to obey me? I told you i want this over with as fast as possible, and this is how we do this!" The prince barked. the man looked toward his unit commanders and issued an increase in marching speed.
"What about that undead knight Gazef Stronoff told us guards the village... should we not be concerned with that if it is still there?" The commander asked but the Prince was too busy planning his flanking attack to the Sorcerer Kings army.
"Just do as i say and we will be fine, losing a few troops to one undead knight won't hinder my strategy that much Baron Cheneko." Prince Barbro said. The Baron frowned but didn't say much else.
"Besides, that's why we brought those clerics, so it will be fine." But still, the Baron looked worried.
"I...If you say so..." The Baron said before falling back. With the increased marching order the 5,000 plus troop managed to arrive at Carne village's doorstep in record time, though the men were all exhausted and weary from the relentless travel pace they were forced to endure.
Carne village had a somewhat nice wall built around it. It wasn't impressive and did not sport anything more than 2 entrances and could easily be broken down within an hour The Prince guessed. The Baron commanded approached The prince.
"The village chief stands ready to meet us, they have also opened the gates willingly... I do not..."
"Good! Then as soon as our units enter have the men attack, try to take as many prisoners as you can, I intend to use them against The Sorcerer King Momonga... if he kills them we can show the world how shitty he really is, his clout fill fall drastically!" the prince laughed.
"But... the Death Knight is with him and..."
"Then, have our best men overwhelm it while the rest attack the villagers... do I have to do everything for you?" The prince barked.
"I...If that is your official order My prince..." The BAron seemed bothered by this brilliant strategy, proof that he didn't have what it takes to lead like I can, the prince thought to himself smugly. But high above The prince floats an invisible Maid. Lupusrgina, who was ordered to watch over Carne during the battle, sends a [MESSAGE] to Momonga relaying the troops and their intent.
"It looks like the village chief is going to let the soldiers in... but they plan to attack as soon as that happens... My Lord, what are your orders?" Lupusregina asked. The village chief did not only have The Death Knight by him but also an invisible Hanzo that was the usually posted guard of Carne Village.
"What an underhanded tactic... Lupusrgina, if possible let the Death Knight Deal with them, it may take some time but I think he will be able to do it. I will also have the Hanzo help kill anyone who manages to escape his range of influence. BUt I want the villagers to think it was only The death knight that saved them, so try to only reveal yourself if Nfirea is about to get hurt. Keep him alive at all costs, and Enri Emmott as well, as she is important to him." Momonga ordered her.
"Understood, Lord Momonga... may I asked to be able to deal with The Prince personally?" Lupusregina asked hoping she could have alone time with the prince.
"Hmm, if you keep Nfirea and Enri safe, then yes. You can consider that, your reward." He told her sand a sadist smile swept across her face. She looked down and could see Nfirea, Nemu and Enri together running into Nfirea's potion making shack.
"Good, so long as they stay there nothign should happen to them..." she muttered. Then turned her attention to the show that was about to unfold below her...