Chapter 11.
The construction of the coliseum finally began. Ainz-sama and Wololo-sama both approved of their plans of carving a coliseum out of the caldera, and requested for inns and hotels to be added at the sides for some potential guests, perhaps humans. The supreme beings explained that in their current process of establishing a nation, they needed a testament to their might, a "wonder". So, it needed to be a kind of a venue for events that transcends nations, so accommodating people from all species and races is an important part of that project.
It's a massive engineering project, and Wololo summoned three Lvl 40 Dwarven Great Architect to assist the guardians in the management of the construction. Large number of golems were called from Nazarick to assist in the clearing of the necessary land, and construction of the areas. The construction of coliseum itself was broken up into a few parts, for each guardian to handle them independently.
Mare would be responsible for the landscaping and building the various terrain challenges for the horse race, and to have some variety in the battlefield options. Shalltear, with her taste for opulence, was tasked to oversee the design of the stands for the heteromorphs. Demiurge, on top of being the chief of the entire construction, devoted his personal talent for building to make furniture for the supreme being's viewing area and their rest quarters.
Sebas is made responsible for the human and elven stands and their accommodation. He too would work with the dwarven architects on the roads to be built towards the human lands. There needed to be rest stops along the way, for human visitors and tourists. And since Ainz-sama's project comprised mostly of Elves, there needed to be sufficient accommodation for them as well. The battle maids and others would be tasked
Cocytus is in charge of the armory, and the lizardmen quarters. He too would manage the stables and aviary. He would also train the lizardmen to form the security forces during the event, to prevent scuffles and maintain public order amongst the crowd. The coliseum can fit 100,000 men, so organisation and order of high importance. Proper order during the games was necessary.
The division of responsibilities though, had one item lacking.
Demiurge gathered all the guardians, and asked.
"Does anyone know where we can get entertainment?"
"Entertainment? Isn't the games the entertainment?" Mare asked.
"No… I mean like singers, performers. During off hours, we will need bars and taverns to keep the visitors delighted. We are running an event for the supreme beings. We must be top notch on all fronts."
"How about women?" Shalltear asked. "I can provide my vampire brides as… entertainment."
"Ah! Brothels! Yes, we need that too."
Sebas felt uncomfortable. Was that something the supreme beings approved of?
"Sebas, in your time at the capital, do you see the sort of entertainment humans frequently indulged in?"
"Alcohol. Perhaps illegal gambling. And women."
"Gambling…" Demiurge had a epiphany. "Do you think… the supreme beings would be open to betting? On the games."
Lida, then added. "I think Wololo would approve, as long as we're the ones making money out of it."
Sebas was not very convinced. "Surely the objective of this combat is for the participants to demonstrate their battle prowess..."
"Yes, but letting everyone have a stake in the team they support improves their engagement and attention to the battle."
Demiurge's response was a fascinating one, and Sebas pondered on in a while, before reluctantly agreeing with the devil.
"Good point. I'm fine with some gambling, but we should not let them be gambling excessively. Perhaps we can limit the bet size." Sebas added.
Demiurge looked at Sebas. Sebas probably expected a rebuke about him being controlling and dictating others financial choices, but Demiurge was more interested in other matters.
"Sebas, are you acquainted with any of these… gambling dens?"
"No, but wouldn't be too hard to find them."
"Can you capture some of these gambling den managers?"
"Oh… Wololo-sama has a mole in the underworld that manages this sort of seedy business in Re-Estize. I'll speak to him for some help."
"Great, hopefully that doesn't trouble Wololo-sama too much. Then let's talk about alcohol supplies. We currently have special alcohol made from the harvests of Nazarick, but if we are to host an event this large, we would need a whole lot more alcohol. And a whole lot more food."
"I. will. get. the. lizardmen. to. produce. more. food."
Demiurge nodded, though the lizardmen's food choices generally revolve around fish. He made a mental note to explore supplemental sources of meat and fruits, perhaps a more personal conversation with Mare later on.
Shalltear volunteered, eager to prove herself after her prior screwups. "I'll get the alcohol."
"From where? And you don't handle alcohol well."
Shalltear blushed, but was insisted on taking on the role anyway.
"No idea, but I'll figure it out."
"Very well. Perhaps the battle maids can assist you with it."
The King read the document a few times. He read it whilst Gazef was around, and asked Gazef to re-read the document, confirming their understanding of the demands. Recognition of the town as a sovereign nation on it's own is probably not too difficult to understand, but horses, and getting Gazef to participate in some games? That was strange. Then again, many countries, such as Baharuth, had asked for more absurd things.
Releasing of the demi-human slaves would be resisted by some nobles, but won't be hard for them to understand that they face the wrath of skeletal dragons if they fail to comply. The lands that Necropolis claimed were not officially under Re-Estize anyway, since they were fringe territories that the minor nobles ruled by proximity. So letting this Necropolis claim it wasn't exactly that bad.
Taking the demands as a whole, it isn't very taxing on the Kingdom.
So, to prevent further bloodshed, King Lamposa would accept the terms.
More importantly, would this 'Ainz Ooal Gown' hold up his end of the bargain, and follow through with the ceasefire?
Gazef though, convinced him that accepting the ceasefire is the logical outcome, as the opponent is so powerful that if they wanted to attack, what could stop them? So, even if it was a ruse, they lose nothing by following through with it.
So, that shifts the thoughts move towards internal forces in the Kingdom.
How would the nobles view the ceasefire proposal? Those on the royalist faction would probably lean towards ceasefire, since they gain nothing by going to war, whereas Lytton, Blumlash, Boullope and perhaps Raeven would resist the ceasefire, viewing it as an insult to their dignity.
Boullope, the King expected, would mount the fiercest criticism of the ceasefire, since he is knee-deep in this entire conflict. The only way the King could reasonably convince the nobles to accept the ceasefire, was if it was Raeven, Blumlash and Lytton agreed to the proposal, leaving Boullope alone. If none of them agreed, the ceasefire proposal will fail, and war will continue.
King Lamposa needed to give a convincing answer as to why was Gazef and Brain chosen to represent the enemy as well. Is Gazef somehow collaborating with the enemy? The nobility would surely strike at such a clause, claiming Gazef has betrayed Re-Estize, and this ceasefire offer is nothing more than Gazef sucking up to his new master.
The King sighed.
So many questions, and he pondered the possible outcomes for two nights, taking little short rests in between.
Gazef could only look on in sympathy, to the King that's now forced to either send Gazef into the pits of the noble's politics, or risk spurning Necropolis' ceasefire terms, and cause an escalation into all out war. Politics is a mess.
It didn't help the ceasefire case, that Prince Barbro came to make his case for why significant military forces needed to be gathered for a full scale invasion. Between the right decision for the country and King Lamposa's feeling as a father, Gazef could not imagine how torn and conflicted he must feel. Prince Barbro made a case, that the enemy that had skeletal dragons, and the Kingdom should not be allowed to have such monsters so near to their territories, and the citizens would live in fear. Prince Barbro didn't really believe or cared for the citizens, but when speaking to his father, he knew which strings to pull, and he would put up a front that he considers the people in his decisions.
To the prince, he had to get the full strength of Re-Estize's army, and overturn this failure. It was the only way he could save his fading chances to be the next king.
For the King Lamposa though, even after the two days of deep thought, he couldn't quite decide what was the best way to approach the ceasefire, whilst still protecting both Gazef, and Prince Barbro.
Deciding to leave it to the nobles, rather than to remain stuck in an endless loop of deliberation, he decided to summon the great nobles to discuss the ceasefire.
The meeting is held at the great war room of the palace, an old, almost historic room, where kings past has made many great and many terrible decisions, some of which has costed them large chunks of their kingdom. The fact that this meeting is going to be held in the war room, had special significance. It meant the King regarded the opponent as a country, and what they faced, was nothing less significant than war.
If anything, the King hoped the decisions of life and death that has been made in the room, reminds the noblemen to think carefully of their decision, that death of many may soon follow, from pride, and from ignorance.
The day of meeting came soon enough, 3 days after the summons was sent. Everyone was present, except Boullope himself. He is late, and it was very much unlike him to be late.
The king, wondering whether it was his good fortune, began anyway.
"Anyway, Boullope's not here. We will began anyway."
Count Lytton and Marquis Blumlash looked a little uncomfortable, but most of the nobles are already present to form the necessary quorum, and so there was no reason to delay it further.
"So… let us begin. We… are here to discuss the ceasefire proposal, that we received from Necropolis, as they call themselves."
But before King Lamposa could make his case further, Boullope arrived.
The guards yelled. "Announcing the arrival of Marquis Boullope."
In came a man clad in a dark enchanted armor, unlike the usual comfortable luxury clothes Boullope would wear for such an occasion. He looked a whole lot more imposing than he normally did, and with the enchanted armor, he radiated a fearsome aura, of a man ready for war.
Count Lytton, happy to see his comrade in the nobility faction, "Ah, our Marquis Boullope. Ready for war, eh?"
The Marquis didn't reply. His face stern and stoic, and a little tired.
"Ah, war is serious after all. Anyway, your majesty?"
King Lamposa mentally sighed, but smiled, pretending to be happy to see Marquis Boullope.
"Ah, you came just in time, Marquis Boullope. We now have in our hands, a cease fire proposal from the undead lich of Necropolis."
There was a strange silence in the room.
"Ah! The elves and the undead lich must fear us then. Well done, Marquis Boullope and Prince Barbro!" Marquis Blumlash grinned.
Count Lytton then added, "So, that's why Marquis Boullope is in armor. The Marquis will rush back and crush them with the regrouped forces. With a large army of adventurers hired to destroy the undead monsters, surely those skeletal dragons do not stand a chance."
"Let's hear the terms first." Marquis Raeven asked, the typical voice of reason.
The King sighed, "The terms as follows." The King laid out the parchment written on the table for the 6 nobles to look at it. Count Lytton and Marquis Blumlash laughed.
"These terms are preposterous. Who do they think they are, to demand us so?"
"I hear those two skeletal dragons are fearsome. They can crush the wall easily." Marquis Pespea said. "It seems even seasoned adventurers would have a tough time against them."
"Then why haven't they? The wall still remains. Prince Barbro's forces are bravely defending the border." Marquis Blumlash replied.
"Why would they honor the peace treaty?" Count Lytton added.
"Because we are the aggressor? They have not invaded us. It seems their acts so far, has been to rescue their enslaved brethren. That is reasonable as nations go." Marquis Urovona added.
"Are we seriously going to consider peace with them? Your Majesty, is this really your idea? I cannot imagine how the populace will accept their king accepting peace with some undead necromancer." Marquis Blumlash was fuming. "Those are valuable lands, and the nobles nearby depend on them."
"We are not in the position to fight a long war against them. Not with those massive dragons." The King replied, and looked over to Marquis Boullope's somewhat pale face. "Marquis Boullope… what do you think of our chances of victory?"
Count Lytton and Marquis Blumlash replied. "100 percent. The fact that they are offering a peace treaty means they are weak!"
Marquis Raeven tried to calm the meeting, "Perhaps Marquis Boullope can answer first."
Everyone looked over to Boullope.
But he didn't react.
It was unlike the usual, firey Boullope. It was as if he transformed into a calm but angry sea. Quiet, but frightening.
The King expected a stern objection to peace, and wondered what would Boullope say. And how would he convince Boullope to swallow his pride and accept the ceasefire proposal.
He raised his hand on the table, stared at the other nobles and kings, and then said.
"We should…"
Everyone waited.
…
…
...
"Accept the ceasefire."
"HUH?!"
…
...
Everyone was shocked.
The King could not believe his ears. Did the warmonger just say they should accept the terms of this city of Necropolis?
Count Lytton and Marquis Blumlash looked over, and Marquis Blumlash grabbed Boullope's armor. "Accept the ceasefire?! Marquis Boullope, what has gotten into you!"
Boullope looked at Blumlash, his eyes distant.
"An undead god."
Everyone was silent. Boullope's eyes were those that seen some terror.
"Death to all that oppose him. We must not stand in the way of the gods."
A few days ago...
The adventurers, some 30 of them were gathered in the room booked by Marquis Boullope. It was meant to be a briefing, for the Marquis to explain their circumstances, and the opponent that they faced. There were 3 teams of Orihalcum ranked adventurers, so it was quite a respectable force.
The room was noisy, everyone was talking about how this is a windfall. And how the Blue Rose or Red Drop surprisingly did not take up such a generous job, and so now the spoils go to them.
"Everyone. Silence. The Marquis will start the briefing now." There was no actual adventurer's guild in this small town, so the mayor was usually the representative and coordinator.
"We face two skeletal dragons. They are more resistant to fire than the normal skeletal dragons, seem to have far higher physical abilities. So, any suggestions?"
One of the orihalcum ranked adventurer then suggested, "Did holy magic work in your prior encounter?"
"We had no priests with us at the time. We were expecting low level undead that could be managed by conventional troops." A captain in Boullope's army replied. "So we have no idea how effective holy magic would work. What we do know, is throwing heavy rocks at them still hurt them quite a bit, but they had high regeneration so we couldn't land a decisive kill."
The captain was probably ashamed to say the rocks hurt them a little, and they were no where near killing them.
"Ah…"
"So holy magic should still work then."
"Probably. But best we have a few alternatives."
"We are facing two of them, you say? No other creatures?"
"Wraiths."
"That's not too difficult to handle." One confident Orihalcum ranked adventurer responded.
"The troops will support from afar, or if we face any elven forces, we will engage them. The adventurers' force will be tasked with the skeletal dragons and wraiths. Count Lytton and Marquis Blumlash has sent over heavy artillery and bowmen to assist with the support, so it'll be a purely professional army this time."
The adventurers were in positive spirits. With 30 of them, they could take on the dragons, they felt. It's a challenge, but they have a chance to win.
"So, once the dragon is slain, and the army marches onto Necropolis, we will reward everyone with 300 gold coins."
That's quite a fortune for many adventurers. But of course, they have to slay the dragon, and survive to collect it.
"No deposit?"
"No. Only on victory."
There was some idle chatter as some of them wondered what they would do with that much money.
Their further discussion though, was suddenly interrupted. The room, suddenly got dark. And a dark shadow emerged from the floor.
And within seconds the shadows covered the entire room.
The doors were suddenly locked shut, the windows closed. It's the typical beginnings of any horror movie. It was as if everyone was transported into a haunted house.
From the shadows two imposing figures emerged, one an imposing elder lich in luxurious robes, the other a beautiful horned lady, with wings from her back.
However, there was no time to admire the beauty of the lady. Everyone instinctively tried to draw their weapons, sensing the danger that came visiting, but Ainz's Despair Aura activated, quickly crushed them as it spreads out like a shockwave and they all collapsed to the floor. They were unable to move, and felt their life force and energy being drained away.
"Oh, what a surprise, Marquis Boullope. Did I catch you at a bad time?"
The room was eerily quiet. No one responded to Ainz.
Marquis, the only one spared from the crushing Despair Aura, shivered. He seemed to have mustered all his willpower, before he could reply.
"Uh… who are you?"
"Ah yes, we've never met, my bad. My name is Ainz Ooal Gown, of the Necropolis and Nazarick. And I'm here to kill you."
He had heard of the name before, during Gazef's previous briefings. He had previously dismissed Gazef's praises as the delusions of a man grateful to be saved from death. But now, he instantly felt regret for not listening to him more attentively when he spoke of Ainz Ooal Gown.
The Marquis's face turned pale instantly. He sensed the overwhelming power that emanated from Ainz's body, and he stared at Ainz's glowing eyes and shivered even more. His aura seemed to take physical form reaching out and pressing on each and every one of them like tentacles, pushing them all to the ground with immense strength.
"Uh… I'm… I'm the Marquis. One of the six great nobles of the Kingdom. And you cannot.. You cannot kill me." Boullope could barely speak, he felt his spirit waver in his presence.
Ainz stepped closer and grabbed his neck easily. Boullope struggled, trying to free himself but unable to shake Ainz's incredibly strong grip.
"Whether you live or you die, is for me to decide."
Ainz's eyes seemed to glow before him, and Boullope shivered.
The Marquis felt his life flashed before his eyes. All those wars, all those political struggles, seem meaningless and petty before the power that now was before him. It was not adrenaline from battle. It is outright fear. Fear.
"There is no revival for you, if I kill you."
Drops of liquid flowed out of his pants. In fear, the Marquis peed in his pants. Ainz lifted the Marquis easily and tightened his grip a little, not enough to kill him, but enough to send primal fear into the core of his being.
He flailed.
"Please…. Spare me…Let me live... I beg you. Anything you want. Anything!"
"Should I?" Ainz grinned. It looked to Marquis as if the grim reaper smiled at him, and the noble's face became almost white. Death felt so close.
The Marquis's flailing hands stopped, as Ainz tightened his grip a little, squeezing the chainmail around the noble's chest lightly. The Marquis felt his breathing become difficult, and he panted.
Ainz turned to look at the other adventurers, all collapsed on the floor. They were still conscious, but their body drained of all their strength to move. The orihalcum ranked adventurers fared slightly better, and they were trying to stand. But still, they had no strength to wield any weapons.
"If I kill you before these adventurers, do you think they'll get their money?" Ainz asked, turning to face the pale Boullope.
"No…." The Marquis struggled. "Please don't kill me..."
"Call off your invasion and I'll let you live. Raise a single sword against me and Necropolis, and I'll come back and get you." He then allowed the full strength of Despair Aura to affect the Marquis.
Ainz let go of his grip, and dropped the Marquis. And at that very moment, Ainz appeared like some 100 foot tall titan, and he stared down on him.
He felt tiny. So tiny. So, so tiny.
And he couldn't react to Ainz's offer.
"Ainz-sama's offer of mercy won't last forever, human." Albedo seemed like the angel of death, the beauty that accompanied death as his goes about claiming the souls of the living. Never in Boullope's life did he feel so much fear for a beautiful lady. But her voice snapped him out of his shock and stunned silence.
The Marquis kneeled, his forehead on the ground. "Yes. Yes. I'll call it off! Thank you! Thank you!" Pride and arrogance had vanished, all because of his near-death experience.
"And give me 100 of your best horses and 1,000 of your best weapons. And all your slaves."
"Yes. Yes. Anything you say my good lord." Marquis Boullope said, still kneeling. Ainz's overwhelming Despair Aura still placed an immense pressure on him. The Marquis felt as if he had met the grim reaper himself, and was awed into absolute submission. "Anything else, my lord?"
Albedo laughed loudly. This was quite fitting for her master. "Before the leader of the Supreme Beings, Ainz-sama, all you nobles and adventurers are just ants. It is best you stupid humans remember that." Surely humans should always kneel before her master. She wondered why Ainz didn't intimidate Gazef earlier, but perhaps that was because Ainz-sama considered Gazef a friend.
"Yes. Yes. Thank you for your mercy, oh great Ainz Ooal Gown."
"Remember what you said, Marquis Boullope, and fulfill your end of the bargain. I am always just a teleport away." Ainz smiled, but to Boullope, it was the smile of the devil himself.
Ainz and Albedo vanished into the dark shadows, and the overwhelming pressure in the room vanished. The locked doors and the dark windows somehow restored to their original state.
It was almost as if they were never here.
Yet, their vanishing brought only a slight relief. The Marquis Boullope remained kneeling. Somehow, he cried. Perhaps it was long suppressed emotions, of frustration, of fear, of awe, of joy to have lived another day.
The adventurers felt their strength gradually return to them, but all of them had changed that day.
"Get out...all of you. Leave!" Boullope ordered, still kneeling.
The adventurers all left, as fast as they could, as fast as their bodies would let them. They knew they were lucky to be spared, and they now met the great evil, the one not to be messed with. They looked at the kneeling Boullope, frozen in place and his pants, wet in a bit of his own pee, and were thankful that they did not become the focus of that Ainz Ooal Gown's power.
Boullope was still kneeling, unmoved.
But inside, he knew what he saw. Death himself paid him a visit.
END
Notes : Thanks for reading!
I've actually haven't figured out a role for Lida. Was too happy to start writing... XD
Wololo hasn't had much screentime, cause I'm trying to finish this little story arc for Ainz and Necropolis. We'll move onto Wololo and the Blue Roses soon! (and what happens with Erik)
Questions for readers :
Would it be a cop out if I introduced a 3rd player, but not from the guild?
How'd you take it if I did a x-over an brought in some characters from other games/mangas?
How'd you take it if I tweaked the rules on WCI a little?