[Volume 2: Foolish Nobles and Noble Fools]
[Prologue]
The carriage that arrived in front of the castle was of a brilliant ebony colour, as if it absorbed light itself. Golden engravings covered it, but they were still tasteful, rather than gaudy. The carriage's craftsmanship seemed to be superb as well, the uneven streets of the capital not fazing it in the slightest.
At the head of it was an equally brilliant ground dragon, its scales the colour of midnight. The faithful beast was evidently one of stout physique, the massive carriage behind it apparently a simple burden to bear, though the glint of magic that came off the carriage may have had something to do with it.
To enchant a carriage was simply unheard of. In fact, magical gear was limited mostly to metias and to have not only the funds, but the time and skill to develop such prowess was simply unfathomable.
There was perhaps only one who could manage such a feat, and if one were to look carefully, the hawk of the Mathers lineage was indeed on the carriage, next to a much more curious and alien emblem.
But what truly would have attracted the eyes of those nearby was the maid seated at the head of the carriage. The one seated in the driver's seat was wearing a maid's outfit, one that revealed more skin than was typically considered appropriate.
Her beautiful, sapphire blue hair obscured half of her face, leaving only one sky-blue eye revealed. The frame of the girl was small, making her have a charm composed of a mixture of beauty and cuteness. Alas, it seemed that her driving skill matched her loveliness, parking ahead of the gate with ease.
She hopped off of the seat, which was quite high up for someone of her stature, and landed gracefully. With practised form, she moved towards the door of the carriage and held it open for those within. The door swung open and revealed the brilliant furnishings therein, which were quickly obscured by another figure.
It appeared to be yet another girl bestowed with divine beauty, though many would have called hers unholy or cursed. Her long, silver hair went almost all the way down her back. The skin of the girl was pale, white as fresh snow, seemingly unblemished by the sun.
Her violet eyes were bewitching, though the local populace would have avoided them at all costs. The clothing of the girl matched her white and purple colour scheme. Grabbing onto the extended hand of the maid, she exited the carriage, briefly making sure that the white flower in her hair was still in place.
She turned back, seemingly looking into the carriage for another figure. Many would have recognized this young lady as Emilia, the one sponsored by Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers, but it wasn't his symbol that dominated the carriage. It was an abstract image painted in gold, but any warriors seeing it could recognize curious looking weapons, such as axes and a sword.
Yet such musings would surely be short lived, as the mysterious benefactor revealed himself. His face was covered by a mask of green and red, the eyes made of priceless sapphires. It displayed a mocking grin, assured of its victory.
The rest of the man's clothes were no less impressive. His robe's mantle seemed to be made of a majestic beast's bones and fitted with orbs akin to rubies, filled with magic as though they were to burst. Billowing in the wind, the fabric seemed to be like a void, attempting to consume all the colour that reality offered.
However, the one who wore it apparently could suppress the hunger of the beast hidden within. With a single tap of the golden staff in his hand, which appeared to be made of several snakes intertwined with one another, the wind stopped.
Was it a trick of the mind or a display of power? One could only wonder, for the dread that radiated from the figure was the primal fear of prey facing an apex predator. A halo of black, forbidden power hung behind the man, as if he was a messenger of the end of all existence.
The violet accents of his robe were not the light violet of his companion, but instead a deeper, darker one that spoke of a deeper power. His hands, covered by ebony gloves, undoubtedly were adorned with jewellery that beffitted someone of his status.
Simply him looking around was a gesture so majestic that a common man would have been forced to kneel, royal power and divinity radiating off the man.
Finally, the mysterious stranger spoke to his companions, his voice as deep as the abyss outside of the Great Waterfall, yet equally as majestic as the sight itself, "I hope we are not late, though I have heard of such a thing being fashionable."
Emilia shook her head, "I believe we're on time, Ainz." She then turned to the maid and said, "In that case, we'll see you at the hotel later. Bye, Rem!"
The maid bowed saying, "Good luck, Lady Emilia, Lord Ainz. I will eagerly await your return." Ainz simply waved her goodbye as Rem got back into the driver's seat and took the carriage away."
Ainz briefly looked at the staff in his hand, 'Man, I'm glad that I had the designer copy. Makes looking majestic a whole lot easier, and I don't have to risk it getting destroyed.'
The [Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown] was borderline a World Item and was the strongest guild weapon in all of YGGDRASIL. Of course, with that power came a cost, a cost of the guild disbanding should it ever be destroyed. Naturally, Ainz and his guild had at first created a copy just to test the design. It looked equally impressive, but didn't have even a fraction of the power of the actual weapon.
He extended his hand to Emilia, who took it without hesitation, and they proceeded to make their way through the castle. Emilia, naturally, took the lead. She wasn't intimately familiar with the surroundings, but she knew her way around.
Ainz, on the other hand, had absolutely no clue where they were going and was just hoping to look cool with his passive effects. Naturally, he couldn't help but scrutinise the interior of the castle. The green, gold and red of the area seemed distasteful, but then again, who was he to judge royal taste?
What he really compared it to, was Nazarick, and he found the castle of Lugnica lacking. Of course, even if his skull could show his sense of superiority, it would have been hidden by his mask. His appearance could have caused quite a ruckus, so it was best to hide it until an opportune moment presented itself.
The golden dragons portrayed on the entrance to the Sage Council's room were simplistic in nature and hardly as impressive as the gate that led from Lemegeton to the throne room of Nazarick.
Alas, how could one compare the construction done by mortals via physical means to the wondrous abilities of the technology of the 22nd century?
In front of the door stood an impressive, green-haired man. His armour was made of simple iron, but if someone told Ainz that the man's physique was made of steel as well then he wouldn't have been surprised. His impressive height and chiselled jaw certainly made his appearance imposing.
He turned to them and said, "Ah, Lady Emilia. Perfectly on time, perhaps even a bit early. Lord Roswaal is already inside and awaiting the beginning of the selection. I presume this one is your knight?"
The quizzical and intimidating glare from the man did nothing to Ainz, both due to his now undead nature and work experience. 'Those augmented bouncers were much scarier.' he thought, taking a step forward and offering a small bow.
"Ainz Ooal Gown, knight of Lady Emilia. I do specialise in magic, but I trust that will not be a problem?" he said, remembering that the knight of Duchess Karsten was a healer first and foremost.
"Indeed. I'm Marcos Gildark, captain of the Royal Guard. Please head in, we're still waiting for one of the candidates." the man answered, opening the door slightly, which was in and of itself an impressive feat of strength, given the door's size.
After offering their thanks, the two stepped through. On the left were evidently the knights, clad in the white uniform Ainz had come to expect. He immediately spotted the trio belonging to various candidates.
There was the youth with the flaming red hair, Reinhard, chatting to the one Ainz recognized as Julius. Next to them stood the comparatively short Felix.
"Remember, Emilia. Do not lie, but do not tell them the whole truth either." he said, pointing towards the two candidates that stood at the centre of the room.
Roswaal, who stood on the right side along with the various nobles, offered them both a nod, before returning to his position.
Determination filled Emilia's face and she went off to introduce herself. Ainz, deciding that such a course of action was indeed appropriate, made his way to the knights' side.
"A pleasure to meet my fellow knights, even if we are on different sides for this selection." Ainz said once he approached them. The three turned to him.
A flash of distaste appeared on Julius' face, but he quickly concealed it.
Reinhard offered him a good-natured smile.
Lastly, Felix gave him an energetic wave.
"Likewise. I presume you are Lady Emilia's knight, Sir…?" began Reinhard.
"Ah, how rude of me not to offer my name first. I am Ainz Ooal Gown. I was a travelling mage up until this point, so I doubt any of you have heard of me. On the other hand, it is hard not to have heard of you gentlemen. Sir Astrea, Sir Juukulius and Sir Argyle."
"How'd you know Ferri is a boy? Ah, doesn't matter! Nice to meet ya!" the catboy enthusiastically said, grabbing Ainz's hand and shaking it.
"As Reinhard said, a pleasure to meet you. However, I can't help but notice that you wear a mask despite calling yourself a knight. One's like us should not hide ourselves, it's a mark of dishonour after all." Julius said, and Ainz could almost feel pride dripping off of his tongue.
'So he really is the poster boy for knights. This Reinhard guy seems much nicer.'
"As far as I know, there is no rule against it. My manner of dress, given that I haven't been officially given a knightly title and only hold it due to Lady Emilia, is entirely appropriate. The captain had no problems with it. Unless the sages deem that I should take it off, I believe I will keep it on."
"And, if I may ask, why would you hide your face? It isn't because of shame, is it?"
"My appearance can… cause discomfort for those not used to it." Ainz said, and Julius at least had the good graces to look slightly ashamed of his probing.
Felix, however, seemed to have no such qualms, reaching up for Ainz's mask and saying, "Ferris can fix anything, no problem! Ferris is the best healer in the land after all!"
Ainz took a step back, saying, "This is not something that magic can fix I'm afraid. Besides, I have had this all my life. There is no need for your help, though I appreciate it."
Thankfully, Reinhard came to the rescue, slapping away Felix's hand and bowing, "I apologise for the actions of my two colleagues. They have been insensitive. Please, forgive them for their idle curiosity."
"Yes, of course. This is not the first time I have dealt with such a scenario, though I hope it doesn't repeat itself." he said, looking at the healer who was rubbing the spot where Reinhard hit his hand.
Ainz took the moment of silence that followed to scan the room. The gold, green, and red themes from the corridor continued. In the centre was a gold and red throne, flanked by benches with 5 seats each. Naturally, the furnishings of the room were nothing compared to the fake staff in Ainz's hand, but it was impressive enough.
The flag that was behind the throne reminded the undead mage of Nazarick, albeit very vaguely, where the guild's symbol also hung on a red banner behind the [Throne of Kings].
He also saw that Emilia was apparently holding her own against the candidates well-enough, having a good-natured chat and offering him a wink.
So all was going well. Naturally, Ainz registered that the only threat in the room was Reinhard, though it was hard to estimate his level, as it kept fluctuating erratically. It was however safe to say that fighting the Sword Saint without a plan was inadvisable.
Alas, the youth seemed well-adjusted and kind. He could be a useful ally, and having someone else to talk to was always a plus. But putting the Sword Saint aside, wasn't it about time for this thing to start?
"Gentlemen, where are Lady Priscilla and Lady Felt? We are still waiting for them, are we not?" Ainz asked, looking around just to make sure he didn't miss them.
"How did you know Lady Felt is a candidate?" Reinhard asked, looking at Ainz with curiosity, more so than suspicion.
'Ah, so she didn't tell him? Even better.'
"A woman named Elsa, who called herself the bowel hunter, attacked myself and Lady Emilia when we were searching for her insignia. Lady Felt was caught up in the fight and suffered a mortal wound. Though I am not as proficient at healing as Sir Argyle, I had a few items in my possession that I used to heal her."
"Truly?" Reinhard asked, his eyes wide, to which Ainz nodded. The knight bowed low and said, "Thank you, for saving my Lady. I am in your debt."
Ainz put his hand on the knight's shoulder and motioned for him to straighten himself once more, "Please, there is no need for such things. There is no need for debt. Instead, why do we not simply be friends and call it a favour? It truly was a simple coincidence."
Reinhard offered him a bright smile, saying, "Yes, of course. And once more, thank you."
"Do not worry about it." Ainz said, but internally his thought process was much different, 'This is almost too easy… I mean… I heard he's a nice guy, but he's a bit too nice. I'll take the favour though.'
Alas, his confusion at the Sword Saint's seeming kindness and naivete was interrupted by the door to the throne room opening once more, revealing one of the late candidates.
"You're late." said Crusch, turning to the newcomer.
Priscilla, who wore a rather revealing red and black dress, took out a fan from in between her… assets, which stunned Ainz as if it was a Super Tier spell, and said, "It's my right to keep the masses waiting. After all, the selection is already destined to end in my favour."
"We'll see about that." answered the Duchess, turning back to the other two candidates.
The man who walked in alongside the entitled woman made his way towards the group, raising his only arm in greeting, "Hey." he simply said, his voice sounding odd due to the helmet he kept on his head.
This time around, it seemed that Julius had learned his lesson and he refrained from prying about the man's outfit. Ainz was the first to answer, "Hello, a pleasure to see another join our little group."
"Yea, sorry about being late. My lady is a bit moody sometimes. Oh, I'm Al by the way." he said, shaking his head.
"That much I can notice. Though, given her reputation, I have to ask why you would be in her service." Ainz said, looking at Priscilla once more. She fanned herself and tapped her foot on the floor, apparently already impatient, despite being late herself.
"It's a, um, long story. I could tell you if I ever get a day off." the man said, and Ainz finished the unsaid part in his own mind, 'So never. Ah, poor man. Just like back on Earth with those black companies…'
The door opened once more, the captain from before stepping in and announcing, "Take your positions! The council of sages will now enter!"
All the knights and nobles fell into formation, and Ainz mimicked their movements, though he still stood out thanks to his height and robes. He observed as the so-called sages entered. There was one who looked like a typical wizard, with a white beard and glasses, one with no hair except very bushy eyebrows and so on.
Truly, they appeared to be a group of old and tired men, the perfect sort for politicians. They took their seats at the benches which flanked the throne, and the one with the long, white beard began, "Sir Astrea, step forward."
The Sword Saint did so as ordered, kneeling in front of the council.
"You have sent word to us that you have completed your mission to find the final candidate, is that right?" the man asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Yes! During my patrol, I have found the fifth candidate to become Dragon Maiden and monarch! Please, bring her in!" he called out, and the door opened once more.
As expected, Ainz saw the blonde girl with the red eyes, this time dressed in a dress that matched her hair.
"My lady's name is Felt, and is the one who I will lend my support to!" he said. The councillor nodded, and the knight returned to his position.
Felt walked towards her loyal knight and then proceeded to try and land a kick at the side of his head, one which Reinhard caught with ease. "My lady, please do not try and kick me like this, especially in the current setting."
'This guy would make the perfect babysitter. To have this much patience…' Ainz thought to himself, applauding the man's tenacity.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!? Blocking my kick and signing me up for this!? Do I look like I want to rule!?" she yelled.
Ainz cleared his throat, trying to stop the tirade from the girl, "Good to see you again, Lady Felt." he said, raising his hand in greeting.
"And what are you doing here?" she asked, before shaking her head and saying, "I should've known by the way you dress that someone like you would end up among these bastards. Still, thanks for the healing potion."
"Ah, pay no mind to that. It was simply the right thing to do. Now then, I know you may not wish to rule, but this may be a valuable occasion to gain some information for future heists, is it not? I mean, look at all the nobles here." he said, gesturing to the other side of the room.
Felt followed his gesture and eyed the nobles, before turning back and giving him an enthusiastic nod, "You know what? You may be onto something. And you're not too bad. Alright, I'll stay for a bit." she said, walking off towards the other candidates.
"Thank you, once again, Sir Gown. My lady can be difficult at times." Reinhard said. Al offered the Sword Saint a nod full of sympathy that seemed to embody the pain he himself felt dealing with Priscilla.
"No problem, I've dealt with types like that before." Ainz said, remembering Nishikienrai's kleptomania, "And please, Ainz is plenty."
"Then do call me Reinhard."
Their friendly chat was however interrupted by the sound of metal being hit as the captain of the Royal Guard hit his chestplate three times. "Silence! Given that all the candidates have now gathered, the Royal Selection will now commence!"
The room immediately became tense and Ainz could tell that this meeting would not proceed smoothly…
(AN from Aterro: Greetings dear readers from far and wide ! This prologue marks the beginning of the second volume of this fanfic. I hope you will enjoy it just as much as you enjoyed the first one ! As always, feed us reviews and enjoy !)
(AN from Edgy: I have returned from the void and I bring with me the prologue to volume 2! Now hand over the reviews! Well, not much to say this time around! As always, more to come and I hope you've enjoyed the story so far!)
Now to reply to some reviews:
I agree with Solidorex, Ainz's revealing that he was once mortal and vulnerable could hurt his reputation as the avatar of Death. Especially, if Roswaal was spying on Ainz with [Mirror of Remote Viewing]. Sorry if I sound like I'm nitpicking your story, but that line did raise some red flags for Ainz's reputation and strategies
Aterro: If it wasn't fully obvious, Ainz was roleplaying to intimidate the witches and Roswaal. Roswaal will not betray Ainz since he promised to resurrect Echidna. And it seems pretty normal that Ainz would not keep up the Death persona in intimate interactions. And if Roswaal did try to spy on Ainz with the mirror, he'd be blasted into bits by Ainz's scrying counter measures.
Edgy: Yea, what my co-author said. No reason to betray Ainz, and the difference between Ainz RP to intimidate people and Ainz in intimate situations is deliberate. The only ones who may actually believe Ainz is Death or something of the sort, are the Witches, and Echidna in particular.
Which of the 41 Supreme Beings (that we know of) and Floor Guardians do you think Beatrice would admire or be horrified the most from her readings of Ainz Ooal Gown (Guild) and Nazarick?
Aterro: Interesting question! I'd say she would equally admire Touch Me and Ulbert if measured by strength but would probably fear Ulbert a lot more due to his evil persona.
Edgy: Scared of? Ulbert, Demi, Punitto Moe and Nigredo, due to the way they are portrayed in the book, both in the text and in the images of them. Admire? Touch Me, Warrior Takemikazuchi, Tabula, Aura and Mare.