Chapter 7
Gazef was surprised to see him. He was on his way home for the evening, from the tiresome matters of the court that he often accompanies his liege on. The sky is dark, and it's slightly drizzling too, signalling a heavy rain was about to start in a while more.
It's been so long since they last met. Perhaps it was during the tournament a few years ago. That brilliant, incredibly talented swordsman. Their fight that day has since been a thing that is spoken of, as a contest of legends.
Seeing him wrecked like this, losing all will to fight, and crying, was something he didn't know how to react to, or even what to say. At first, he wasn't even sure the silhouette he saw that that of Brain Unglaus. That genius with the sword during the tournament many years back. That broken posture was a far cry of the calm, confident man that crossed swords with him.
"Unglaus! Is that you, Unglaus?" Gazef grabbed him in the rain. He looked beaten, his spirit weak.
"Stronoff? Gazef Stronoff?"
"Yes, yes. It's me." He grabbed Brain who looked like he was going to trip. He seemed like he didn't eat for days.
"The world is playing tricks on me, to see you now." Brain chuckled, like a madman.
"What are you talking about…"
"I'm exhausted, Stronoff. I hate running from shadows. It's still chasing me."
"Stop that rubbish."
"You know, I thought we were pretty good. But we are deluded. Humans are weak. Weak, you hear me?" Brain grabbed Stronoff, his eyes was one that has seen true terror.
Stronoff met his gaze, and they looked at each other for a few seconds.
"You look like you could use some food. And shelter. And some clean clothes." Gazef's eyes was one of compassion, of care. He never expected to look at him this way. Brain tried to deflect it, but in the end he relented, and followed him home. He showed him around his simple home, and forced him to take a shower and change his rain-drenched clothes.
A while later...
"You know… I meant what I said, we really aren't much." Brain emerged from the bathroom.
Gazef chuckled. "That's really strange coming from you." Brain looked slightly better after a hot bath. Color was starting to return slightly to his face, no longer the pale, drained face he had earlier.
"I thought I was at the pinnacle of swordsmanship. How wrong I was."
Gazef understood that feeling.
"I met a vampire! Not just any vampire. The kind with power that is so unfathomable, that just being in their presence…." Brain couldn't continue, and looked like he is having a relapse of the fear he felt.
He ran like hell that day.
He thought he was going to die. But he didn't, as somehow... the vampire did not give chase. Though its been many days of running since then, but that ominous shadow, the haunting screams. It feels ever present.
"Brain Unglaus. Get a grip of yourself."
He held Brain with both his arms, and somehow understood what he felt. If Ainz Oown Goal directed his power against him, surely he would feel helpless as well.
"Please go to sleep and rest your mind a little."
Somehow Brain felt a little at ease to hear those words from Gazef. It was reassuring in a strange way.
In face of injustice, Sebas felt a push within him to intervene where he could. It was, and still is, the right thing to do.
The defenseless child being attacked by drunkards was one such occasion.
He was merely passing by, but he intervened as no one else would. Perhaps the assailants looked intimidating, but it wasn't right. The poor boy was already bleeding, and was apologising for whatever that happened. Still, it did not justify such beatings. The strong should protect the weak, not harass them.
And so he blocked the drunkard's punch. The boy was barely conscious, and if that punch landed, he could possibly die.
"Get out of the way, old man."
"I'm afraid I can't. In fact, I'd like it better if you all got out of my sight." He gave a deathly stare.
"Then I'll beat you up too!" The drunkard tries to punch Sebas, but it didn't land, as Sebas ably dodged it.
The drunkard staggers backward, and draws his short sword.
"You stupid old man-"
Enough of this harassment.
Sebas landed a swift hit to the head. It was sharp, silent, and effective. The drunkard collapsed onto the market floor, alive, but unconscious. His friends, shocked at their brutish friend collapsing, quickly went to assist him.
Sebas turned to the boy, "Are you okay, young one? Can someone take him to the temple?"
The little boy nodded, his voice weak from the beating. A city guard that passes by witnessed the commotion and helped to carry the boy off.
But Climb and Brain both saw what happened.
That swift strike, the clean hit.
And so they followed him to the alley. Perhaps he knew his was being followed.
"Tsuare, is it?"
Solution, fearing a potential rebellion or betrayal of Sebas as a result of the conflicts that saving this girl has brought, reported it to Wololo who came over to visit.
"Yes, milord." She was still weak, but his healing magics has significantly improved her condition. He touched her head softly, sensing her hesitation still at the strange man in front of him.
"Do you know who did this to you?"
"Them. I don't know their names…"
"Wolo- Wolf-san." Solution called out, "I think someone is coming."
"Yes, yes. I know."
It seems some of them had trailed Sebas to this mansion. No matter, there's no one in the city that should pose a threat. They were probably part of the organisation that enslaved Tsuare earlier.
"Ah. the owners are here." Wololo opened the door to the mansion.
Wololo, pretending to be the mansion's attendant, showed the two persons in. The two appeared to be some kind of city patrol authority, and also the enforcer that radiated an unusual aura, which Wololo believed to be called Succulent.
They faced Solution who was sat on the chair as the aloof mistress of the mansion, accompanied by Sebas at her side, and Wolf.
The purpose of the visit was quickly made clear. Their initial intent was to extort money out of Sebas, who went under the guise of a butler of a wealthy lord, but seeing Solution, lust too quickly mixed in, and they did not hesitate to threaten Sebas, and Solution
"So, our investigations shown that you've purchased a slave, who was an employee of this man's organisation." The city official referred to the enforcer, and they seemed smug. "And the Kingdom outlaws the trading of slaves. As such, what our investigation showed that you are the prime suspect of this illegal slavery transaction."
The two looked at Solution with lustful eyes, their minds enchanted by her beauty, and so they repeated again. "So, per our interrogation, the person we captured handed you this man's employee after he received payment from your butler. If found guilty, you may have to be held responsible."
Wololo was amused. Sebas was clearly not suited for this sort of conversations, and he had read enough into the two's intentions. Sebas was in a way too straightforward, and too honest in his dealings. It's a reflection of Touch-Me's personality after all.
"Sebas, I'll handle this." Wololo on the other hand, has none of the inhibitions, so he had more options..
The 2 turned to face the other middle aged man waiting in the room. And instantly they felt a fear that they did not know the words to describe.
They instinctively wanted to flee, but they're trapped. Dark green vines had crawled out of the floor that held them tightly, and it bit into them, draining them of their magics.
Wololo then walked closer to them, and smirked. "Criminals."
The city official who identified himself as Stafan, replied. "No. You are the criminal. Attempting to assault a public official is a crime."
Wololo grinned. "The weak and wicked, should keep their mouth shut before the righteous and mighty."
He reached his hands into his inventory and pulled out two small glass bottles, each filled with a tube-like worm.
"Oh sorry, I totally don't mean to do this." Wololo grinned, and his somewhat dirty teeth revealed itself. "I'm not righteous, either."
Both Succulent and Stafan, the patrol officer struggled as the vines gripped the entirety of their body. Wololo's [Life-sucking Vines] had the effect of draining both HP and MPs from trapped enemies, but he had set them to reduce the damage and weakened the effect so that it only dealt minimal HP damage.
Alive is better than dead.
He opened the bottles, and pulled out one of the worms with a scalpel that somehow magically appeared. The worm was about a foot in length, and about 1 centimeter in width. It's pink in color, with little hairs all over it.
Wololo placed the worm right at Succulent's cheek. The worm then crawled and forced itself into the left ear of Succulent, and he screamed.
He screamed, and struggled. The worm forced itself into its ear, wiggling itself in an inch every time. He kept screaming, but he was unable to stop the worm, as his arms has been trapped by the vines.
Sebas grit his teeth. It was an ugly sight.
But the room has been silenced beforehand. So his silence was only for the enjoyment of Wololo who looked at him with an evil grin.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt."
And after about 30 seconds the screaming stopped. The worm was fully inside.
Stafan looked like he was going to vomit, but Wololo merely found his expression cute. That wasn't going to save him, unfortunately. So, the second worm went into his ear too. He struggled, and screamed, begged to be freed. He offered money, women, pretty much everything he could think of.
"You're dealing with the wrong person, mortal." Wololo was fully in character as the evil supervillain's sidekick.
The screaming stopped after 30 seconds too. Both Succulent and Stafan looked lifeless.
"Did you kill them?"
"No." Wololo faced them. "Raise your heads."
The two raised their heads, their eyes had a strange yellow glow, that faded.
"Tell me everything about your organisation."
"Yes, Master." Both of the trapped men said in unison.
Wololo had used the [Mind-Control Worm] on them. It's one of those items that was created back in Yggdrasil that was used to temporarily control NPCs and monsters. As it did not work on players, it was pretty useless in Yggdrasil since NPC and monster control was pretty gimmicky and useful only at lower levels. Higher leveled NPC/creatures all had some kind of mind control resistance and the worm would be melted from their defenses. Yet, this is not so for the New World, from a few earlier tests he conducted, the worms last at least a few months, since the first victim of the mind control is still alive and under control.
Succulent went at length talking about Eight Fingers, the sort of crimes they did, and where they were based in. He also went on about his participation in the combat wing of the Eight Fingers, how the leader of the team is the strongest warrior.
Once he completed his interrogation, he let them go.
"Succulent, Stafan. Nothing happened today, and this whole kidnapping/slavery deal did not happen. Leave."
The two then left after bowing to Wololo, and called off the thugs that were waiting outside the mansion. It seemed their subordinates asked why they left without getting anything, but after a fierce rebuke from Succulent about not asking stupid questions, they all kept their mouth afterwards.
"There, problem solved. We now know there's a criminal organisation in this city, and how they operate." Wololo laughed. "And we have a mole."
Sebas nodded, and Solution who appeared from the walls like a blob, laughed. "That's amazing, Wololo-sama. Can I have that worm too?"
Wololo smiled, and nodded. "Next time."
It's a really beautiful beach. White sands, great expanses of blue and emerald seas. It's the kind of place people go for holidays. There are coconut trees all over, and they swayed and rustled when the sea breeze picked up.
But the beach was not why Ainz, Albedo and Shizu was here. They were here to start off the city plan, and here, far to the east of the Re-Estize kingdom, was a small demi-human settlement of elves. The settlement has about only 100 to 150 people, about 30 families of dark elves, that mostly got by fishing in the lagoon, and harvesting coconuts.
It's really quite idyllic.
But their lives are far less idyllic, as they have been under threat of the human nobles nearby who've constantly harassed them and attacked them, for whatever goods they could offer. Overwhelmed by their numbers and lacking the equipment the Re-Estize kingdom had, they surrendered every time, and young elves were often taken away to be servants and workers in mines as slaves.
It's been outlawed, but the enforcement of the slave trade has not really been effective throughout the country. There are still nobles in the fringes that still wanted slave laborers to supplement their smaller population.
So naturally, the presence of the 3 in the village was a cause for worry. Their elder was sent out to negotiate.
"Hello, Elves." Ainz spoke authoritatively, a tone that he practiced for weeks. Ainz was really getting into the whole ruler of the universe thing.
"Hello, visitors. What can our humble village do for you?"
"Our master, Ainz-sama, has decided your village is suitable for annexation. We are here to compel you to submit to Ainz-sama as your new Emperor." Albedo spoke, and was dressed in heavy armor, similar to the one she wore previously during the little scuffle with the Slane Theocracy. In a way, it was a message, that she came here prepared for war.
The village elder, white haired elf that looked like he lived quite a few years, was visibly shocked. But he did not doubt the strength of the 3 that came to visit them, as he could sense the immense powers that came out of Ainz and Albedo.
"That…. We'll need to discuss that." The Elder hesitantly replied. He hadn't even gotten an introduction in.
"Sure. We will return in 3 days."
The 3 then teleported away, to the next village that was about 10 kilometers north of the dark elves. This too was another elven village, a similarly sized elves village.
"Ainz-sama, they may choose to fight, like how the lizardmen did." Albedo was referencing Cocytus's earlier adventures with the lizard villages, which ultimately bowed before the might of Nazarick.
"No matter. So long as some survive and bow before us, we will have the numbers and labor necessary for the beginning of a new country."
Some of the other guild members wrote books on city-building games and empire-conquest strategy games, and so he had arranged to borrow them for this part of the adventure. Punitto Moe loved strategy games and imported many books on war and strategy, and there was another member who loved the technical, mathematical aspect of optimising cities. Somehow that was imported into Yggdrasil over the years.. Perhaps they felt their guild base was lacking such information.
Ainz teleported right into the middle of the Elven Village, appearing as if he emerged from a dark cloud of shadows. It was clearly aimed to be a visible spectacle to impress them.
"Hello, Elves." He spoke authoritatively, and his immense aura petrified the elves who were going about their daily affairs. "I would like to speak to your elders. Summon them immediately."
Some of the elves quickly dashed into the nearby buildings and screamed.
Panic.
Albedo appeared next to Ainz, and noticed some of the Elves were running.
"Well, mortals who are in fear of the great Ainz-sama, surely they would run."
Ainz sighed. "Elves. If you run I will kill you for sure, so it is best you submit peacefully." It was a threat that Ainz practiced.
The elves ran though.
"I don't want to do this." Ainz raised his hand and magic arrows flew out and hit the fleeing elves. It was not lethal, but enough to disable them.
One of the older looking elf appeared.
"Oh great and mighty one, please spare us!"
"Ah!" Ainz exclaimed, noticing the elder that came.
"This is Ainz Ooal Gown-sama, your new Emperor." Albedo said, as if the whole Emperor thing was already a fact.
"It's a mouthful, so you may refer to me as Ainz." Ainz approached the elder. "I intend to annex the elves that live along these shores. I do not intend to slaughter you and your fellow friends and family."
The elder bowed, not yet ready to reply.
"If you obey and acknowledge me as your new ruler, you will be protected from the human kingdoms."
A few more elders appeared from the shabby houses, and one of them said, "May we discuss this, Ainz-sama?" He wasn't sure the elder's trembling was from fear, or from age.
"Yes. We will return in 3 days." Ainz replied, and then teleported to the next village another 10-15 kilometers away.
They visited a total of 5 elven villages that day, all along the shoreline. All of them appear somewhat malnourished, and most had very little men left. It seems most have been captured by the nearby nobles for hard labor.
Life is hard, and that was a bargaining point.
When a being close to the gods descend upon you, would you fight, or would you kneel?
Anna arrived at the nearest Slane Theocracy city after more than 2 weeks of travelling, by accompanying merchant travellers who were headed in the same direction, offering her skills and protection as a mage, and adventurer.
The moment she stepped past the city gates...
She heard a 'kaching', a sound from a cash register settling payments.
"Your debt has been reduced by 40 points. Your remaining balance is 760."
"You may select a new mission once you find somewhere quiet, just let me know."
Anna nodded. Over the course of the travels, she found it strange that the shadow did not speak to her, and pretty much let her be. It was a rather peaceful trip for her, with her sleep free of the nightmares she once had, when she first gotten her ring.
She headed straight for the temple of that Slane Theocracy city. If she was not mistaken, the city is referred to as Basrah, and the temple of Basrah was the largest in the region. The template is a vast stone and marble construct, and outside was the statues of the 6 gods that they worship. As she walked in, a guard stopped her.
"Stop. State your business."
"I'm possessed." Anna said, nonchalantly. Perhaps she's come to terms to that reality.
The guard was taken a little aback, and called over the other guards. "This lady says she's possessed." They quickly grabbed her, but she didn't resist.
"Can the theocracy help me?"
"We'll see about that." She was then pulled into a small room at the side of the temple by 2 guards, each one holding one of her arms.
The room she was in was a simple room, with bare walls and stone tiles for a floor. Inside there was one wooden chair, and they sat her down on it.
"The priest will be with you shortly."
She waited for some time, about 3 hours alone in that room before a lone priest came to see her. He was an old man, about 60s in age, and needed a thick wooden cane to assist his walking. He was bald on top, but had a 3 inch long white beard, and was dressed in the priesthood's standard attire.
"So you say you are possessed, young one?"
"Yes. By a shadow."
"I see. I am Diseria, the High Priest of Basrah. It is not every day a young lady comes in and admits she is possessed."
He stared at Anna, and grinned.
"But I can help you."
The priest took out a golden colored staff that shone brightly, and started chanting. She felt herself shake violently, as her body started to glow.
[HOLY PURGE]
A brilliant flash of light was emitted from her.
The old priest then held her, and said, "That should do." Feeling unchanged, Anna was still doubtful. But the priest had already motioned the guards to escort her out of the temple, confident his spells have done the trick.
"Don't worry young lady, no ghost can stand my holy wrath." And his mad laughter could be heard even as she was escorted away.
As she left the temple, she heard that familiar voice in her head.
"A Tier 3 purge is not sufficient, Anna."
"I knew it." Anna shook her head, and her right fist hit her left palm.
Back in the inn, she resigned herself to her fate of serving this shadows to free herself.
"So what are my missions?"
Assassinate the head priest of this city. 200 points
Assassinate the slave trade leader of this city. 200 points
Collect 500 gold. 100 points.
"Those are impossible tasks!"
The shadow appeared to shrug it's shoulders. "Too bad. Let's see whether the master wants anything else…."
Anna looked at the shadow intensely.
"Ah. how about this one."
Intercept the slave convoy arriving 1 week from now, and free the slaves. 80 points.
Uhhhhhh…
"That's still really difficult. I'll probably die before I get anywhere near the slaves." The slave trade is often heavily guarded, as it has intense links to the underworld. Therefore, any attempt to cut off the lucrative trade will usually invite retaliation. Slane Theocracy was where the slaves would be secretly exported to the other 2 human kingdoms.
The shadow shrugged again.
"Hmmm…" The shadow put its fingers to its chin as if it was thinking. "How about this."
Infiltrate the Slane Theocracy's army.
"You're back. Wanna go get a drink, Unglaus?"
"Oh, Stronoff. Yeah, a drink is good. Actually, can I call you Gazef?"
"I don't mind, Brain."
"Heh."
The two went to a pub. It's a rather quiet place, but served good quality beer and food, so Gazef and his group of Warrior Troops did frequently come here to unwind. More than anything, Gazef recognised Brain's better mood than before, and so he decided that was worth a celebration. He wasn't going to ask though.
"Today's been really interesting."
"Oh?"
Brain thought about how Sebas had emitted a fearsome bloodlust comparable to Shalltear, and yet Climb was able to stand and react to him. It was a scene that really spoke to the weakness he felt, and it is etched into his heart. More than anything, it gave him a realisation that all is not lost.
"Heh, never mind it. Cheers." Brain tapped his mug against Gazef, and downed his mug of beer. "I think I plan to stay around a bit more."
"Sure. The Kingdom could really use your skills."
Brain grinned a little that statement, but didn't tease him further.
"I met this boy called Climb today. He looked like someone from the palace guards or the army. Is he one of yours?"
"Oh? That's the princess's guard."
"He's not really talented with the sword, but in some ways, he is better than me…"
"Really?"
It's an unfamiliar place. The weather's cold, and her surroundings seemed to be on some kind of snow covered mountains.
She was under-dressed for the weather, so she felt a little chill. But more importantly, she's alone, without her teammates. She quickly draw her sword, Kirineiram, and casted a few battle buffs on herself. No matter how she got here, the fact that someone wanted her here was a sign of danger in itself. So combat is highly likely.
"I see you noticed."
Lakyus turned to see a squirrel, perched on top of a stone statue with the angry face of an oriental lion.
"What?"
Though what she saw was a squirrel, she felt an incredibly intimidating aura, of someone way more powerful than her. It radiated from the squirrel like a huge shadow, and she felt her legs weaken.
But still she held on. "Who are you?!"
"Your worst nightmare."
"Is this a joke?" Lakyus channelled some magical power into her sword and attempted to slash the squirrel, but her sword was stopped by a stone arm that appeared from the ground. Then she found her feet trapped by some kind of black ice.
The black ice was spreading up from her legs, and in about a minute, the ice covered her up till her waist. She felt her energy and willpower getting drained away.
"Tell me your name."
Lakyus' sword was still stuck with the stone arm, and she only had her hands free. She tried to cast magic, but somehow it failed.
"It's not good to resist." The squirrel's eyes glowed red. Lakyus felt some kind of pressure on her legs, as if the ice was going to crush her, but it stopped short of actually doing it.
"I am Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra, leader of the Blue Roses."
The squirrel's red glow vanished. "That isn't too bad." The stone arm yanked the sword off her hands, and brought it close to Wololo. "Hmm… a relic class sword. Interesting."
Lakyus was fully drained of magic energy now, and she was barely conscious. "Give… that.. Back."
"Ah yes, sure." The stone arm brought the sword back to Lakyus, and she grabbed it weakly. Then the sword started radiating dark energy, and Lakyus looked like she was being possessed.
"Oh.. No…" Lakyus, in her weakness, overlooked that her sword may attempt to control her. She grit her teeth, trying to will herself together, but her resistance is weak without much magic. The sword's dark energy slowly radiated around her, and wrapped her like a tentacle monster.
"Uhhhhhh..." Lakyus screamed, struggling to resist the effects of the possessed sword.
And it all went dark for her then.
AN : Thanks for reading. This chapter was hard to write, because I still couldn't figure out where I wanted to lead this story.