God Rising: The Cult of Ainz
Written by: AtheistBasementDragon
Edited by: The Usual Gang of Drunken Perverted Idiots
Chapter 153: A Matter of Perspective
AN: Is this a bit of filler? Well maybe, honestly I CUT like a hundred chapters worth of material that show many different perspectives, other characters, and so on, I'll still have some 'perspective' chapters as we move along to show reactions to the war at large, but they won't become stories unto themselves the way Crossroads did. I've got a lot left to write and revise, but just to answer two questions:
Q1. Will I write similar stories?
A. Yes! Scales of Trust is my own original Isekei series, I'm releasing chapter 5 today on my Patr30n site. You don't 'have' to subscribe to read it though. I also release it for free on my discord. I only ask those who can spare a dollar (or more), to support my effort to become a full time writer. I'm not greedy, and I've been left in 'want' before, so I know what it is to just want to read something as an escape. I won't deprive people of that over something as petty as money... but if you can contribute, well then I'll write for you all till I die of old age in 200 years. ;) I will also be writing other stories, pitch concepts directly to readers and see what works and try out new things.
Q2. Will you write more Overlord fanfiction after this?
A. Not going to lie, I might not. I believe that after this is done, I'll have written all I need to for Overlord, yes I have a sequel outline in the classic 'heroes journey' model, and some other side story notes. And yes I'd still take commissions for charity, but I doubt this will be my focus. Of course when Volume 14 comes out I may create a whole new Author Universe to split from that, we'll see. But if I do that, it'd be under a whole new FFN account just to avoid confusion with the GRAU. (Also, kinda cheated to get to 2900 but... I'm not mad. :D Thought I'd buy myself a few days with that. I was wrong, clearly.)
...Argland Council State...
"Go to hell, you damn monsters!" The man shouted with the noose around his neck, right as the chair was kicked out from under him. The others didn't have the same spirit, they were either broken to silence or broken down crying. It didn't matter, they were all just as dead. Another five were being led up to the scaffold when the dragon lords stopped paying attention.
"How many does that make now?" The Worm Dragon Lord asked with some exasperation.
The Dragon Lords were attending this particular event in their human forms, which made it easy for them to sit on a high dais overlooking the great city square where the hangings took place. Large crowds had been watching at first, but after seeing the five hundredth man hang, people had generally lost interest and the observing crowds were now much, much smaller.
"I don't know, I've lost count, and to be perfectly honest I don't care." The Diamond Dragon Lord replied, "It doesn't matter, what matters is how our people see this."
The Obsidian Dragon Lord let out a deep sigh, "I'm inclined to agree, the Sorcerer King got us to make himself into the defender of all nonhumans, and thanks to the reopening of trade, goods are now flowing into our marketplace, the merchants keep their prices low thanks to the undead labor, and our own merchants are demanding we open up one of their religion's temples here so they can start leasing it as well."
The Platinum Dragon Lord fidgeted uncomfortably, his 'Sir Armoreth' avatar shifting in his seat as another five humans were hanged in the square down below, unnoticed by himself or any of his compatriots. "How many of ours do you think have converted?" He asked thoughtfully.
"Hard to say, we'd need a temple to open and start seeing how popular it is, but our merchants carry word of the economic reforms they've been seeing, the emphasis on education, on fair lending laws that kept people from borrowing more than they could pay back, on the support for the healing arts, two of our merchants were healed at no cost to themselves when they and their escorts were injured during a monster attack on the way through Re-Estize. They've railed against the high costs of doing so here ever since. One has even started demanding that the merchants guilds either start covering the cost as a risk of doing business or he's leaving the country." The Worm Dragon Lord reported unhappily. "He hasn't converted as far as I know but... well, he's the brother of our finance minister and his sister is married to the guildmaster for our entire northern region, he's making waves."
The Diamond Dragon Lord broke the tension by pulling out a set of toy soldiers and setting them on the table between them all. "Not all change is bad, you know. The flourishing trade is enriching our people. OK, yes, he's outmaneuvered us politically. But every time he touches something, the Sorcerer King has improved it, is there one of us who doesn't love this game?" He asked as he started distributing the pieces so they could start playing.
The way they reached eagerly for the pieces gave him all the answer he needed, and that might have been it for conversation, save for the sudden arrival of an orc messenger. "My Lords," the messenger knelt and reached into the bag at his side, he drew out a letter and offered it up with his head bowed, "a message from the Sorcerer King has arrived."
The usual niceties did not apply in that instant as the Blue Sky Dragon Lord tore the document out of the messenger's hands and ripped the document open. He read it for a moment. His peers stared at him expectant eyes.
"A conference." He said abruptly as he lowered the letter and placed it on the table, sliding it over to the Obsidian Dragon Lord.
"A conference?" Several voices asked in a chorus.
"Yes, according to the Sorcerer King, the war is all but over, and we are invited to observe and to participate in a limited capacity as the post war future is settled upon. It will take place in two weeks time, and what is more, he will be drawing his major commands together to discuss the strategy for the final engagement." The Blue Sky Dragon Lord could scarcely believe his own words, only the expressionlessness of his armor avatar kept the others from seeing his dumbfounded face.
"Where will it be? In his home?" The Worm Dragon Lord asked curiously.
"No, a city in the east of the Draconic Kingdom, or what 'was' the Draconic Kingdom, a place called "Forton" it was one of the places that was overrun by the Beastmen some years ago." The Obsidian Dragon Lord said casually as he slid the letter over to the Worm Dragon Lord.
"We're going, I assume?" The Platinum Dragon Lord added without a second thought. A chorus of 'Aye!' Greeted him, and dropped off just in time for him to hear the sound of a human's plea for his life get cut off as a rope snapped taut.
...Kami Miyako...
Raymond sat in his office, severely depressed. "So many..." He whispered as he looked at the recent casualty lists. It was early morning, birds sang outside his window, in the past that had been one of the pleasures of his day, now it felt like every bird sang a death song. He looked away from the cursed document and out the window behind him. He stood, folded his hands behind the small of his back and looked out. He saw his neighbors leave their homes one by one, but they were moving with less vigor than before.
He was so focused on his own thoughts he barely registered when Nua walked in without knocking. As if she read his thoughts she said, "Hunger will do that to you." Her voice was not all that sympathetic, he didn't expect it to be.
"Still thinking about what happened?" She asked as she set a tray down on his desk. He didn't need to look to know what was there, two biscuits, a bit of gravy, some tea, and a glass of wine he pretended to not know she'd watered down.
He gave a barely perceptible nod. "I don't expect you to care, Nua. Why would any elf care for the lives of twenty thousand Theocracy soldiers. But... whatever they were, they were still my people, I had a responsibility to them, and I failed." His voice went hushed as he spoke, he didn't look over at her.
"You say that like there was a chance of success, you saw the same person I did. I thought my hate for your kind ran deeper than the sea, but hers?" Nua shuddered, "She takes rage to a whole other world. But you can't get hung up on it anyway. A lot of people who are still living, elf and human alike, are counting on you." Nua cracked a little smile as she touched his shoulder.
"Aalon is here to see you by the way, the investigation into the murder of Hodge has officially ended and the one he framed has been convicted and will hang today." Nua smiled happily at the extermination of the house of her former owner. Her toes curled in her shoes and her entire body shivered with joy.
"Who did he choose?" Raymond asked in idle curiosity, "and why would he stop by here over that?"
"The last living son of that madam you killed what, about two months ago or so... his brother was found beaten to death in an alley, so Aalon figured since they both fell in with the wrong crowd, it would be easy to set Hodge's death up as a robbery gone wrong. Planting a ring in the right pocket was all it took, well that and a little help from Lady Solution to steal some of the evidence. As to why he's here, he's dropping off the list of slaves and when they're to be auctioned so you can get to buying early. Also, on that note, here." Nua said and took a document out of her pocket and handed it to him.
Raymond took it quickly, glad of these distractions from his current thoughts, "What is this?" He asked as he looked at the untitled document with its undefined list of names.
"That is from Enlaith, slave or not, she's an effective operative, that list is of people she's identified as expressing an antiwar sentiment. 'Our' Thousand Mile Astrologer has been provided a copy, and has gathered them at her mother's home for a meeting. Resistance to Dominic is starting to grow."
"That is something at least, but if he catches them..." Raymond said, he didn't finish that sentence, he didn't need to.
"Then our duplicate will provide cover for them to escape the Agante, and take the fall instead, don't worry, Raymond. Things are always darkest before the dawn." Nua said in a rare tender voice, and she reached out and clasped his hand, "You'll get through this, I have faith in you." She said softly, and then let go and asked professionally, "Shall I send Aalon up, or would you like to eat first?"
"I'm famished so, I'll eat, see him to the dining area and eat with him if you like, I wouldn't want to intrude, and then send him up. I'll be ready before he is." Raymond replied and forced a smile before he sat himself at his desk.
"Alright..." Nua said gently and with a polite inclining of her head, she turned and left the room. Aalon was waiting in the parlor downstairs still, and when he saw her, she could never have missed the lighting up of his eyes, they shone when they looked at her, the way they had over a century ago when she could let herself get lost in his look and she could forget that he was the master of the house, and she could never be other than a slave, no matter what they wanted. She almost tripped as she got lost in the thought, and that little clumsy instant was enough to send him shooting to his feet and to reach out to catch her if she fell.
She caught herself and held up a hand, "No." She said firmly, stopping him in midstep. "I don't need you, I'm fine." His face fell, but he nodded quietly.
"Come with me, we'll eat together and then you can go see Raymond, he likes to... eat alone most of the time, unless he's with myself or one of the children." She said over her shoulder, he didn't say anything to acknowledge her guidance, he just followed quietly a step behind her until she gestured to an expensive table.
"Please, sit." She said, it was not a request, and he did comply. Aalon or 'Dolorem' was quiet at his seat until she returned with a tray of food for them both.
"Have you forgotten, I don't need food, I can still eat it but... it is blood that does me good." He said calmly.
"Here then." She said sharply, and as soon as she'd set the tray down, she stuck out her wrist.
"You offer me your blood? But..." he looked at her with not just surprise and affection, but genuine concern, his eyes sought hers and she held her arm out still, stiff and resolute.
"Yes. Understand Aalon, I can never, ever forgive you. But... even if I can't, I know what you've been doing and as an ally on the same side I can... I can show some trust. That is all this is." She spoke hurriedly as if fearing the power of speech would flee from her, but her arm did not waver.
As if to accept her offer of trust, he gently cradled her upturned wrist in one hand, and placed his other hand beneath her elbow, bracing her, then after a final pause to give her a chance to withdraw, his fangs sank into the vein of her forearm. "Ahhh..." She winced as if she were wiping an alcohol soaked cloth over a wound, she bit her lip against the pain and felt her body growing slightly weaker as he drained her of some of her blood. It lasted for only a minute, perhaps two, and then it was done.
His fangs withdrew and he released her arm. She put her hand over the wound, but it wasn't necessary, the pain was already fading into memory.
"Thank you." He said sincerely. She didn't respond, she only moved to her seat opposite himself and let the soundlessness of the room rule them for a time.
"Things are not looking good for the Theocracy." He said as he tried to put cheer into his voice.
"No, but it's worse than Dominic believes, or even Raymond." She replied, there was little happiness there, much to his surprise.
"How do you know?" He asked as he held his cup out and she reached for the tea.
"Because I met the demon destroyer you see painted on the walls and pictures and whatnot. Raymond took me to attend a meeting with her." Nua shuddered.
"And?" He asked curiously as he took a sip from the teacup.
"You've heard that the undead hate the living?" She asked rhetorically as she drank some herself.
"I have." he answered, raising an eyebrow dubiously. "What of it?"
"She's like that, only for the Theocracy, she talked about exterminating tens of thousands as if she were describing the weather. If it comes down to it, you might have to protect the people you're conquering, from your own side. Speaking of conquering, are your...'mountain elves' ready to go?" She asked, eager to turn the subject away from the recent encounter.
"They are. And the tunnel is almost finished, I bought some of the old mines on the other side too, just to make it easy, and the Sorcerer King sent me some dwarves and quagoa to help out. Between the tunnel doctors and the quagoa diggers, we'll be ready to take Feron in a few days, then that'll be the end for the Theocracy's iron supplies. There is... one other thing." He said, dropping the illusion to reveal the red eyes of a vampire.
"What?" She asked, her muscles tensed and her shoulders tightened, she instinctively felt a welling fear in her breast causing her heart to beat faster.
"I tracked down the Trisk family in Wheaton, planted some evidence and paid for a few rumors, they've 'disappeared' and I bought the estate where you used to... to live." Aalon felt his voice almost disappear as her face went pale.
She shook her head, bouncing her blond hair behind her, "Don't, please don't say it, I don't want to... talk about those times..."
Aalon snatched her hand from across the table and held it tight, "You deserve to know. I had the area dug up, I... I found his body."
She yanked her hand away and covered her mouth as she gasped, she leaned back in horror.
"Our... little boy, you found him, you found him... why, how...?" She asked as tears poured down her cheeks like waterfalls. "Wasn't it enough that I had to mourn him the first time, why are you telling me this now?"
"Because, I wanted you to know that he'll get a proper burial, I'm going to reacquire my old family estate, I'll inter him there, in the place where his parents loved one another. That's how it should be. I wanted... I mean I didn't want to say something to hurt you but... after you're finally free, when all of this is truly over, I wanted you to be able to go and visit him properly. It isn't much, even a luxurious tomb is still a tomb. But it is... something. I can never make up for what I did to you, what you went through! But I can begin to! I can begin to every day until I die!" He exclaimed loudly enough that several heads poked into the room, the pair went quiet, unable to speak or look at one another until they were well and truly alone again.
Nua was shaking and could not stop herself, she tried to wipe her tears away with her sleeves, but they were too many, "I understand, and I should thank you, I know you did the right thing... this time. But, it's still a bit much, excuse me." She stood and rushed out of the room, down the stairs, to the safety of her sleeping space in the dark, where she lay wailing as she mourned the loss a second time.
Aalon sat alone in the room, barely touching his food or his tea, until Lady Solution came and called for him when Raymond was ready.
...Nazarick...
Berenice sat in her room and looked around. "I wonder how long I've been here now? A month, two months? It has to be a few weeks at least." She asked herself as she picked up another book and started to read. "At least it is comfortable, overwhelmingly so." She commented as she lay back down. The meals brought to her had been sumptuous and filling, the drinks of otherworldly quality, the temperature was always just right, the bath never ran out of hot water and the mysterious bubbly liquid was a guilty pleasure, much like the carpet that she'd developed a deep love for as she scrunched her wrinkled but well-cared for toes into the fabric whenever she walked barefoot around the room for one reason or another.
She thought back to her first moment in the tomb, when the nature of things had been explained to her. With nothing else to do, she'd knelt before the head of state that was the Sorcerer King.
"Welcome to my home. You are a fortunate one, you will be my guest here until the end of the war. You will be treated with the honors given to a head of state, until such time as what to do with you must be decided." Ainz had said in an impossibly noble voice.
Grim looks from others in the room told her what fate they favored for her. All of them were the sort her nation would exterminate as a matter of course, so she felt at ease with the understanding of bloodlust in return, yet the knowledge that she was not to die, made her bold enough to speak. "I... will thank you for hosting me." She said as formally as she could, "Under the circumstances, I could be much worse off."
That had actually made some around her laugh, and the Sorcerer King had an air of amusement about him at her words.
"Indeed you could be, for now, you will be given quarters, and I will have books, meals, and drinks delivered to you by one of my maids. Please follow Entoma, she will be responsible for your care for so long as you remain here." He said, and she stood, bowed, and turned around to see a young girl with purple hair and a warm smile in a long, flowing maid outfit standing behind her and waving a hand cheerfully beneath the sleeve.
"How long ago was that... and how has the war been going since?" She wondered aloud again, "And when the hell did I start talking to myself?! Gods above, I need to get out for a bit or I'll go stir crazy." She said to the four walls.
She did some more reading, the book was fascinating at least, this one a fiction about a young girl thrust into a terrible war but gifted with overwhelming power, trying to survive as a god sought to punish her for failing to properly worship or revere him. She lost herself in its wonderful pages before the door opened and she saw Entoma standing there holding a tray.
"Entoma, hello again." Berenice said politely, the maid seemed to like that Berenice made an effort to address her by name, and had repeatedly praised her skills as a maid in the thoroughness of her services. It hadn't been false praise either, it was obvious that the maids of Nazarick were at the peak of their profession.
"Berenice, I've brought you a meal, this one is lobster with butter, a small potato soup, and a gold coated scoop of chocolate ice cream for dessert." Entoma said politely as she carried the tray over to a table and laid the meal out for her.
"Thank you very much, Entoma, but... may I ask a favor?" Berenice asked hesitantly.
"You can always ask, but I can't promise anything." The maid replied in her usual winsome voice.
"I'd... like to go out for a bit, I realize I'm a prisoner and all, but people are... how do I put this...? Ah, we need to converse and socialize with others to remain of sound mind. I'm afraid I'm going a little crazy being all by myself all the time." Berenice asked the question with her eyes downcast, "I don't want to sound ungrateful for my rescue, truly I do not! I realize that as a prisoner I could be far worse treated. But..." She held her hands out with longing, "It gets lonely being like this."
Entoma laughed, she actually covered her mouth with her hand within the sleeve of her outfit and tittered. "Cardinal Berenice, you are not 'that' kind of prisoner. If you want to go out, you can, I just need to let Lord Ainz know and I can take you somewhere, as long as it is within reason. All you'll need is a disguise so you're not recognized as a Cardinal. Or you can tour other places within Nazarick, as long as you don't try to go places that are off limits to others due to safety or military reasons, it'll be alright."
Berenice's mouth fell open. "I could have gone out at any time?" She slapped her hand over her face. "Serves me right for not asking. Yes, I'd like to go out, and if it isn't too much trouble, could I see... E-Rantel?"
"I'll let His Majesty know immediately, enjoy your meal for now. I'll have everything ready to go soon." Entoma said sweetly and exited the room.
"Thank you, Entoma. I'm grateful." Berenice replied as she went to sit down and tried a bite of the lobster. "How... how can anything taste this good?! What have I been eating my whole life?!" She wondered aloud for what felt like the thousandth time, she tore into it like she had every meal in Nazarick...as if she'd just discovered the sense of taste for the first time.