[Chapter 1: Matters of Honour]
"If I may interrupt, honourable sage, I was told by my knight that this meeting was supposed to be one meant for meeting our competitors over drinks and bonding. After all, we all want what's best for Lugnica. It'd only make sense." said Crusch, stopping the proceedings in their tracks.
Before the stunned wise man could answer, Felix spoke up, "All I said was that it may be a drinking party…"
"I see. I apologise for the misunderstanding, please continue." Crusch said, her face betraying no hint of amusement.
'This is the one I thought would be competent!?' Ainz yelled in his mind. Thankfully, the limiter didn't activate and no green light engulfed him, which might have been taken as an aggressive action by those around him, 'Maybe Roswaal isn't the only noble clown and he's just the one who is self aware?'
The man with the long beard cleared his throat and attempted to dispel the awkward atmosphere, saying, "In that case, I, Miklotov McMahon, officially begin the Royal Selection. Lady Karsten, you seemed eager to go first; take the stand and introduce yourself alongside your knight."
'Miklotov? Sounds vaguely Russian, I think. Aren't places like this generally vaguely like that old island? What was it called before the accords… Britain?' Ainz thought, observing the man.
'He certainly has the "wise man" appearance.' Ainz could spy a frightening glint of intelligence in the man's eyes, one that was similar to that of Roswaal, 'I'd rather not antagonise him if I can help it.'
Ainz's silent appraisal spell only registered Reinhard as a threat of any sort, though one hard to pinpoint. But the knight seemed like an upstanding man, so perhaps he wouldn't antagonise Ainz even if he saw his appearance.
[Life Essence] similarly proved to be of little use, though it revealed a curious anomaly he could use. Here power was of second standing to intelligence, something that so far seemed to be lacking, except for a few characters in the room. If this was the calibre of political foe, then Emilia would have been fine even without Ainz.
But it seemed that the rug was swept out from under the Duchess once more, as Priscilla stepped forth and loudly announced, "I will not be upstaged by some lowly noble!"
"Al, shouldn't you be up there with her?" whispered Ainz, to which the knight shook his head.
"If I want to keep my last arm, or my head, attached to my body then it's better not to steal her thunder." Evidently, such a conclusion was reached via experience, and judging by the multitude of scars on the man's body, it was not pleasant.
"I will be brief, for you common rabble do not deserve to enjoy the sound of divine voice. Fate has chosen me as its master and it is I who will sit on the throne. Dragon, wise men, witch-like half-elves," Emilia didn't budge against the jab and Ainz gave her a barely perceptible nod, "none can stand in my way."
"As long as you filth obey me and amuse me, then you will thrive. Such is the nature of my divinity. Your petty jeers and jests are nothing in the face of my magnificence!" With that she stepped back into line.
'There's something to say for her confidence, but her voice is simply grating on the ears, and I don't have ears!' Naturally, the girl's voice was very beautiful, but the confidence and narcissism that was embedded in it made the listening experience less than enjoyable.
"Al, is anything that she says true, or is it just bravado?" Ainz whispered to the man, hoping for an unbiased opinion, or at least an honest one from someone who presumably hated the abusive woman.
"It's all true. Whatever Princess wants, she gets. Hell, I'm glad I'm on her side. As long as I amuse her, I get to do whatever I want." the man answered, the confidence in his voice outmatched only by the one in his lady's.
"But I have heard she is abusive, is she not?" Ainz inquired further, hoping to draw some details out of the man.
"A bit, but you get used to it. It's all good unless you marry her, there's a reason she's called "The Bloody Bride." Seems Princess' luck doesn't extend to that position. Besides, it's a decent life, better than the one I had from before I came here."
"Ah, and where have you come from?" Ainz asked, while his thought process deciphered the man's previous answer, 'So he's into it. Of course he is. Why did I think that it was only the people in Roswaal's mansion who are weird? I pray other countries aren't like this. Though Kadomon seemed reasonable. Is it like a noble thing? Caused perhaps by inbreeding between bloodlines? I think Ancient One told me about that once.'
However, his recollections were interrupted by Al speaking up once more, "Well, I was a Sword Slave in Vollachia for around a decade. Before then, you might not believe me, but I came from a place called Japan. Can't find it anywhere on the maps around here. Still, I can't believe I missed out on "Saving Private Ryan.""
'Isn't that movie from more than two centuries ago? I suppose world hopping doesn't account for time… That movie was sometime before the 21st century, or something like that. Touch Me said it was pretty good.'
"Ah, Japan? I spent a while there, though I believe the areas we envision vary widely." Ainz answered, unwilling to give away the whole truth.
"Did you also come from Earth?" Al asked nonchalantly, as if travelling from world to world was just a thing that happened.
Ainz shook his head, "I spent time there, but I did not come from there." It wasn't entirely a lie. He came here from Helheim, not Earth.
"Ooh, you've gotta tell me all about it sometime." Al said, concluding the conversation and turning back to the candidates, just in time for Crusch to take the stage, alongside Felix.
She looked over the crowd and stayed silent for a moment, eyeing them carefully. Then, she announced herself, "Duchess Crusch Karsten, Head of House Karsten."
Felix followed up with his own introduction, "Felix Argyle, loyal knight to Crusch Karsten of House Karsten."
Silence lorded over the room once more, everyone anticipating the announcement of basic policy that wouldn't bring much change. The militaristic nature of Crusch herself was certainly noted, but her house was an old one, one that had supported the kingdom throughout generations. No one expected an uproar.
Yet the young duchess seemed keen on shattering expectations, dropping a verbal bomb, "The Covenant is obsolete." she simply stated. All the nobles, with the exception of Roswaal, recoiled as one, and so did many of the knights.
Cries of "What is the meaning of this?!" and "Take that back!" resounded from many shocked faces, but Crusch didn't falter, meeting their gazes and curses head on.
'Perhaps I misjudged her. She is a threat.' Ainz thought, overlooking the girl. Of course, his eyes were drawn to her crisp military uniform, one that should the colours have been changed, reminded him vaguely of his own creation back in Nazarick. 'She certainly has a sense of style that's much better than Roswaal's. Or maybe my cringe phase is back. Please let it be the former.'
"Our prosperity has in part been brought on by the Covenant, but it is hardly the sole reason for it. It is the power of the people of this nation that propelled us forward, yet it is still the Dragon that dominates our history and our culture."
"Plagues, wars, famines. Nothing can seemingly touch our nation. Perhaps for the average man that is great, but the honour of our people has been erased alongside our hardships. To have a country built on the back of another… It is not joy that that should bring, but overwhelming shame. How can we call ourselves mighty, when it is another's might that protects us? How can we call ourselves prosperous, when the prosperity is brought about by another's power?"
"Lady Crusch!" interrupted Miklotov, "Candidate or not, I cannot permit you to speak of the Covenant in such a manner! What do you propose should be done then? Should we forsake our Covenant simply for the idea of honour?!"
"Yes. Exactly that. Without the Dragon, this country is weak. The Great Subjugation has failed, we take no measures against famines or plagues, and you all look at the Dragon Tablet in hopes of being saved. If we cannot exist without the Dragon, then we evidently need change and to become and surpass what the Dragon can offer. Such safety inspires only weakness."
"The Kingdom of Lugnica belongs to its people, but they have become weak, fragile. When I rule, we shall become glorious once more! The Lion Kings of old brought with them prosperity and power, and I will bring their lineage into the modern era! Life in a way so shameful as to rely on the Dragon is no life at all! When I become king, the name of our kingdom will make traitors and enemies alike tremble with fear."
Miklotov composed himself as the whispers caused by the speech slowly quieted down, "I-I see. Spoken like one of Vollachia. Sir Argyle, is there anything you would like to add?"
"Yes, simply that there is a reason the Vollachian Empire has held an upper hand in our skirmishes. My Lady is right, as always, and history shall prove that. Undoubtedly, Lady Karsten will become the king." he said.
The two stepped off the stage and Ainz turned to his introspections, 'She certainly knows how to hold an audience captive. I suppose her points make sense as well, though there exists no real reason to break the Covenant. Giving up comfort and safety for something like honour is idiotic… But it might work with the masses.'
"That was… quite a speech. Moving on, Lady Anastasia Hoshin." Miklotov announced, covertly wiping the sweat from his brow. So far the candidates proved to be explosive. Would this one be any different?
The girl with the purple hair and clad in white furs took the stage alongside Julius.
"Presenting Lady Anastasia Hoshin, head of the Hoshin Trading Company, the largest and most prosperous company in all of Karagi!" said Julius, gesturing to the short girl next to him.
"Thanks for the introduction, but you see, I actually wasn't always this successful." she began, Miklotov raising a white eyebrow at the beginning of the curious tale, "I actually started from the bottom of the social hierarchy. But it turned out that I had a real knack for making gold." she said, her presence rather soothing after the storm that was Crusch.
"Indeed, I believe even Hoshin himself would cower before my lady's unparalleled financial prowess. In all honesty, I am quite envious of her divine talent for commerce." said Julius, his words having a theatrical flair to them.
'Hmm, a good knight and an equally good actor it seems. Her and Crusch will definitely be the problems. Though if Julius is so righteous…'
"Next thing I knew, I was the richest woman in Karagi. But that probably doesn't answer the question of why I'm here." Several nods met her statement, "You see, I'm very greedy."
"So greedy actually, that a company isn't enough. I need a whole country. But the more I get, the more I want. So I will want this country to be bigger, better. Once something is mine, I keep it and make it perfect. So why not give in?" she asked, extending her hands towards the crowd.
'Sure seems like a kind young lady, but Roswaal wasn't lying when he said she was greedy.' Ainz thought, watching as Julius opened his mouth once more, 'Ah, here comes the twenty minute rant about how great she is.'
The undead caster's foresight indeed proved itself to be right, although the rant was only half the expected length. Thankfully, Ainz could tune it out and instead remind himself of the story of Hoshin after whom the girl apparently named herself, 'He seems like another guy kidnapped from Japan. When from though?'
Finally, Julius seemed to run out of praise, or realised that nobody was listening by now, and stepped back into formation, with Anastasia herself returning to the other candidates.
"Next, Sir Astrea, and his candidate." said Miklotov, not even bothering to name the girl in the yellow dress.
Reinhard, with his very impressive speed, was next to Felt immediately. Unfortunately for him, his power was useless in this circumstance.
Felt overlooked the nobles and said, "I don't want to rule and you bastards are only good as walking safes! I am not going to do this dumb selection thing!"
"So you are withdrawing?" asked Miklotov, giving the Sword Saint a quick glance. To spend years finding someone who the dragon insignia chose and have them withdraw immediately; it was nothing short of disappointing. Though, given her background, the nobles probably saw it as a turn of good fortune.
"Duh! Of course I am!" she answered, storming back next to the other candidates. She moved slightly closer to Emilia, the other candidates either giving her serious side eye or a smile that was just a bit too kind.
"My lady, I urge you to reconsider." said Reinhard, reaching out for her, only to have his hand slapped away.
"Shut it!" she yelled, "You're supposed to be my knight, right? So shut it and let me be!"
"As my lady wishes." Reinhard answered, returning to his own spot next to Ainz.
The undead caster offered him a pat on the back, saying, "I'm sure she'll change her mind. You've just got to know the angle from which to argue."
"In that case, although I am already in your debt, I hope I can ask for your help in the matter." Reinhard answered, sighing as even his patience had its limits.
"Please, no need for a debt. Doing such a service for a friend is but a trifling matter." Ainz said, trying to make his voice sound as friendly as possible.
Reinhard of course seemed to be someone Ainz could get along with, but there were further machinations in play. First, making the Sword Saint feel further indebted, even though said otherwise to the youth to further the feeling, could prove very beneficial.
Secondly, Felt could stir up a storm with the other candidates that could create great opportunities. It would take only a slight nudge to make the young thief fight and argue with the likes of Priscilla or Crusch.
"To have the prestigious Astrea family bring forth a rat from the slums of the capital as a candidate. What have I lived to see?" lamented one of the wise men. This one was entirely bald, with extremely bushy eyebrows.
"Mister Bordeaux, I believe we should hold off on our assessment and let the young lady decide whether she wants to re-join in the future. After all, the Astrea family has been a great boon to the kingdom ever since it has been in service to it." countered Miklotov.
He continued on after receiving a sharp glare from his colleague, "Lastly, we have Lady Emilia and her knight. Please step forth."
Ainz activated his cosmetic passives once more, earning "oohs" and "aahs" from the crowd as he walked by, his halo and golden staff amazing the onlookers.
He stood to the side of Emilia as she introduced herself, "Emilia, simply Emilia. I have no family name." she said. A hint of pride appeared in Ainz's chest as Emilia's expression remained firm and proud despite the loathsome stares she received from the crowd.
'I suppose it's time to wow them a bit.'
If one were to boast of titles, Ainz had everyone here beat a hundred times over. After all, earning impressive titles was a cornerstone of any MMORPG.
His dark halo expanded and his robes moved in an invisible wind as he spoke, "Ainz Ooal Gown of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Conqueror of Helheim, killer of the Devourer of the Nine Worlds, Death, God's Bane." He then turned to Emilia and said, "And a loyal knight to Lady Emilia."
So far, everyone stared at the Ainz with varied emotions. Some of the nobles wore an expression of awe, some of disdain, with Roswaal of course having an unreadable smirk consisting only of a smirk.
The knights likewise had mixed reactions. Julius raised an eyebrow and seemingly questioned the veracity of those titles. Reinhard looked on with a kind smile, nudging Felix, who wasn't paying attention, with his elbow.
"Those are quite a few impressive titles, Sir Gown. But, I don't believe any of us have heard of your exploits?" said Miklotov, looking at Ainz with curiosity blazing in his eyes.
"There is a very simple explanation for that." Ainz said, leading the wise man to ask what it was.
"Oh? Please, do elaborate."
"For one such as myself, travel between worlds is a simple endeavour and so I have arrived here from beyond the Great Waterfall, drawn to my lady's greatness."
Ainz spun the tale with such speed that even Ulbert's jaw would have dropped. The cringey RP experience of his past came in handy, causing gasps to erupt from nearly everyone in the room.
"Truly? Such a tale would surely be enthralling, if you care to share that is." Evidently the man was curious about Ainz's background, no doubt impressed by the mere thought of it.
"Were it my place to speak, I would be glad to. Alas, I am here merely to accompany my lady, rather than to boast of my own deeds." Ainz said, gesturing to Emilia.
"Yes, my apologies. Please, continue." said Miklotov, clearing his throat and returning to his position of a passive observer.
Emilia cleared her throat and took a step forward, "I will be straightforward. I, like my predecessors, have a vested interest in the throne. I wish to use the dragon's blood to thaw the Elior Forest. But I wish for something beyond that."
She pointed towards her ears and continued, "As you can see, I am a half-elf, one that you would say resembles the Witch. But I am nothing like her! I wish for a world where things like the prejudice I experience don't exist! A world and country where all are equal!"
But before she could continue, Bordeaux interrupted her, "Bah! A half-elf demon with silver hair is brought before the throne?! This must be some sick joke! And now the thing speaks of making demons like it equal! Someone get rid of it!" he called out, looking towards the captain of the Royal Guard.
The temperature in the room plummeted in an instant and Ainz turned to the bold man, who now began sweating. "I would suggest you retract those words, Mister Bordeaux. I have seen demons and devils, but I assure you that my lady is more lovely than any in this world."
Magic blazed into life around Ainz's hand, "In fact, why do I simply not show you a demon? Captain," he said, turning to the green-haired man, "the creature will be entirely under my command and harm no one. May I?"
The man closed his eyes for a few seconds, thinking the matter over, "Fine then. But make sure it doesn't lash out."
"My thanks, captain. [Summon High Tier Demon: Succubus]." A fiery portal appeared from thin air and a bewitching woman exited it. Her bust was more than generous and barely covered, the girl having only light armour that left little to the imagination.
Her long, midnight black hair and cat-like eyes reminded him of Albedo who was still in the tomb, but she was shorter and her skin was much more tanned than the snow-white of the Guardian Overseer.
Black, feathered wings sprouted from her back, alongside a tail ending in a heart. Her pearly horns were also rather notable, though not detracting from her beauty.
She knelt in front of Ainz and her silky smooth voice rang out, "You called for me, master?" she asked.
"Yes, but your purpose is to be a demonstration rather than to battle." Ainz answered.
"I do not mind being objectified, master." she said, licking her lips.
"Silence." Ainz's voice rang out and his words hung over her like the blade of a guillotine, prompting her to put her head to the floor in a wordless apology.
"As you can see," Ainz said, pointing at the kneeling demon, "this is the vile creature you compare my lady to. While this one has the charms one would expect of their kind, it is a vile being, unlike Lady Emilia, whose heart is pure."
"And I do not believe you can be a proper judge of who is and isn't a demon or devil." Ainz said, pointing at the wise man, who seemed entirely enraptured by the presence of the demoness. He dismissed his summon and the man recoiled back, returning to his senses.
Naturally, it was simply a mental command he had sent to his summon to charm the man, but the rest didn't need to know that. "In fact, you seemed entirely charmed by my servant. I dare question your judgement and ability to sit on the council. Perhaps you would lean towards the Witch Cult as well, should they employ a honey trap or two."
"What?! You dare accuse me of even thinking of working with the servants of that devil!?" yelled Bordeaux, anger blazing on his face as the greatest of offences was thrown at him.
"I do, in fact, dare. Sir Miklotov, with all due respect to your esteemed colleague, that demon didn't even utilise its supernatural charm. The man was simply enraptured by a being of pure evil, and he was the only one to feel as such. This, at the very least, requires an investigation." said Ainz.
Miklotov ran his hand through his long, white beard, before sighing, "I suppose you are right. Especially during such tumultuous times, it is better to be safe rather than sorry. Captain, take Mister Bordeaux away until an investigation can be conducted. Put him on house arrest for now, as imbued to me with the powers granted as the leader of the council."
'This politics thing is almost too easy.' Ainz said as the man was dragged kicking and screaming out of the room, 'The main anti-Emilia councilman gone already. I wonder if Punitto Moe is proud.'
"Sir Gown, I appreciate that you brought this to the attention of those gathered here today, but it makes a man such as myself wonder: what does a man who can summon demons and holds such titles look like?" said Miklotov, leaning forward and staring intently at Ainz.
"Are you sure you wish to see? My condition can cause discomfort to many. I am simply making sure everyone feels comfortable by keeping my mask on." said Ainz, staring back at the man. This could make or break this meeting, and judging by Emilia's worried expression, she knew that as well.
"I insist." pressed the wise man, "We are all stout of heart, and I assure you that after such a display of magical prowess, to summon a creature that none of us have ever seen before, you will be shown due respect."
Roswaal found this to be the opportune moment to chime in, "Indeeeed, it should be sooo. For Sir Ainz far surpasseses even meeee as a mage."
Shocked gasps echoed out once more and Miklotov felt the need to get a confirmation, "Is this true, Sir Gown? You seem to be a man of many talents if even the esteemed Margrave says so."
Ainz turned to Roswaal, who gave him a small nod, "Yes. Sir Roswaal, during my stay in his mansion for which I am still thankful, proposed a friendly duel. With all due respect to my benefactor, I found it to be disappointing."
"In that case I truly must see the face of the man who surpasses even the court wizard!"
"As you wish…" He reached for his mask as his gloves dematerialised, revealing his skeletal hands. With a grand motion, he took the mask off of his face and revealed his pristine skull.
"Monster!"
"Skeleton!"
"Abomination!"
Screams and upon screams echoed out from both nobles and knights alike, but Ainz stood calmly amidst this storm. Some recoiled in horror, others looked on with a morbid curiosity.
The only ones to have controlled reactions were Roswaal, Milklotov, and surprisingly, Reinhard, who only put a hand on the hilt of his sword.
In contrast, many of the knights were brandishing their blades, including Julius. One of the knights, however, seemed to take Ainz's undead nature especially badly.
Felix rushed at Ainz, sword in hand, and threw a sloppy strike at him once he was at the appropriate distance. His position of knight certainly wasn't obtained due to physical prowess.
Even to Ainz, who by no means had expertise wielding bladed weaponry, the attack was of poor quality. He grabbed the blade that was aimed at him in his hand, saying, "Sir Argyle, I do not remember wronging you in the past. Lady Karsten, would you mind?"
He squeezed the blade and it shattered, the shards of it hitting the floor. Before Ainz would have to undertake further action, Crusch moved forward and pulled Felix back by the collar of his uniform.
"What the hell are you thinking?! To attack the knight of another candidate unprovoked?! Are you trying to embarrass me?!" she hissed, staring at the knight.
"B-but he's a monster! He needs to die!" cried out Felix, his voice shaking.
"He's not like the ones from back then! Control yourself!" she yelled, throwing him backwards in an act that simply looked cruel, though one could still notice that the Duchess could have flung him much further were she to use all her strength. She bowed to Ainz, "I apologise for the behaviour of my subordinate and hope you forgive him."
Ainz dusted off his robes and sighed, "Under normal circumstances I would, Lady Karsten, but attacking me here is the equivalent of attacking Lady Emilia. I'm afraid I must insist on a duel, perhaps not to the death, but a duel nonetheless."
'Not exactly the person I wanted to provoke, but humiliating her knight is still worth the effort.'
Emilia evidently wanted to say something, but Ainz silently sent her a [Message] instead.
{Emilia, trust me. You did your part perfectly, now let me do mine.}
{But is this really necessary?}
{Don't worry, I won't kill him. But attacking the reputation of Karsten through her knight is too good of an opportunity.}
"Hmph! As expected of a monster, to try to fight a weak knight who specialises in healing! If you wish to duel, then I will be glad to take you on!" interjected Julius, his chivalry propelling him to defend the poor knight from the dangerous monster.
Anastasia turned to him with a smile wider than usual, but whether it was because of her belief in the strength of the "Finest of Knights" or because she knew that stopping this duel would undermine his reputation, she remained silent. How could a champion like Julius back down from a challenger of no renown?
"Very well. I have no qualms with you, Sir Juukulius, though calling me a monster is rather ignorant of you.." Ainz said, opening his robe and revealing the scarlet orb within his ribs.
"I have to ask, what are you, Sir Gown? I've dealt with various undead in the past, but you are… unique." said Miklotov, in his eyes a burning curiosity.
"A natural question to ask. I am an Overlord, the highest variety of undead, and the only one of my kind in this world." Ainz answered, watching as the Captain of the Royal Guard sheathed his blade and motioned for the others to do the same, seeing that the conversation was still on friendly terms between the two.
"Ah, a monster born of sin and a monster as ugly as sin! What a match made in the deepest reaches of hell! If you think your little charade can fool me then you are sorely mistaken, skeleton!" said Priscilla, pointing her fan at Ainz.
The undead caster didn't react in any noticeable way, just gazing at her with the flames that served as eyes. "I have heard you are called the "Sun Princess?" Well," The previously brightly lit room seemed to dim, the light being sucked away, with Ainz at the centre of it all, "I assure you that your sun is no match for me."
Yet the confidence of Priscilla persisted, "Does the monster want to learn who's the real master of this place? Very well." She raised her hand and a brilliant red sword appeared in it, "Try me."
"Do you truly wish to have your luck cut so short?" Ainz asked, a torrent of hellish, black flame appearing in his own hand, "I applaud your confidence, to face the flames of hell, but I assure you it won't end well for you."
"You dare try to use fire against me? Hah!" Her own blade burnt brighter, but it suddenly dimmed and disappeared. "What?!" she called out, looking at her hand.
"It appears the blade had a more appropriate reaction than its wielder. Truly, it is a shame to see such a beautiful weapon be used by someone who isn't sharp enough to use it." Ainz said, extinguishing the flame in his hand.
Of course, the sword didn't just disappear on its own. A silent and clever use of [Greater Rejection] however instilled that illusion into the minds of the audience.
She tried to summon it once more, but nothing came of it. Once a summon was rejected, it couldn't be summoned again for a while, unless Ainz cancelled the effect. In this case, given Ainz's power and the low tier of the sword that she tried to summon, which must have had at least a semblance of a will of its own for the spell to work, it could take weeks for her to get it back.
Once the summoning failed again and again, she pointed her fan at Ainz and said, "This isn't over, monster! You'll see who will truly rule over you soon enough!" But, despite the grandiose statement, she took a step back and withdrew her fan.
'As expected, she's too easy to provoke. Frankly, her luck seems to be a bit outmatched here. I would have had to think fast if my spell didn't work. But hey, everything's working out! Even Julius is being too knighty for his own good!'
"While I am sure that Sir Roswaal can attest to my trustworthiness, despite how some may say otherwise purely based on my appearance, let me demonstrate my loyalty to Lugnica in a more practical manner." he said, brushing past Priscilla and stepping forward and into the centre of the room.
He raised his hand and hit the stone floor, piercing through it with ease. The momentary alarm was quickly replaced by shock as Ainz lifted the anomaly he had detected with [Life Essence] earlier.
"My, I did not expect to see you here." he said, lifting the old giant into the air by his neck, "Felt, I believe this one belongs to you." He threw Rom towards the girl, and the giant was swiftly surrounded by guards.
"Rom!? What are you doing here?!" she yelled, then turning to the guards, "Let him go! He's with me!"
Alas, neither the captain nor his men withdrew their weapons. "Given your withdrawal from the selection, I have no obligation to follow your orders." said Marcos, his blade inching towards Rom's neck.
"Wait!" she called out, moving to face the council and Miklotov, "I'm re-joining!" Many of the nobles in the audience sighed or twisted their faces in disgust, evidently unhappy about the return of this so-called slum rat.
"Under normal circumstances, I would hardly allow such a thing. But these circumstances are far from regular, " Miklotov said, gazing at Ainz, "and I've already said I will let you do so. Welcome back into the selection, Miss Felt."
The guards stood down and Felt ran up to the old giant, but the attention quickly shifted back to Ainz as he walked towards the door, "With introductions out of the way, I believe Sir Julius would like to settle this outside…"
ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ
The arena Ainz found himself in was of decent size. It was nothing compared to the one located on the 6th floor of Nazarick, but it was not bad by any means. He wouldn't be able to use his most destructive spells, but he doubted it would come down to that.
He was still garbed in his majestic robes, with the fake staff of Ainz Ooal Gown in hand. His opponent simply took off his coat and stood at the ready. Emilia and the other important figures were watching the show from a secluded area above the arena, while the knight looked on from the seats on the sides.
"Are you ready, monster?" asked Julius, straightening his back and pointing his blade at the undead mage. To a lesser opponent, he would have been intimidating, but to Ainz he was hardly an imposing figure.
"I do not understand why you insist on referring to me as such. Sir Argyle is the one who attacked me and I believe I handled him in a civil manner. A duel to defend one's honour should be applauded, rather than vilified, no?" asked Ainz, his robes swaying from the light breezer that filled the arena.
"Were you to be a true knight, then indeed. But a monster prowling in the court cannot be let to live, no matter how polite a skin it wears." answered the knight.
"I will overlook the fact that I am not wearing skin, but I see no reason for you to antagonise me. Reinhard has no qualms with me, why do you?"
"Reinhard is too kind for his own good. One holding our position must know when to put something down."
'This is going nowhere, and it seems he's planning to kill me. I guess him being called the "Finest of All Knights" also referred to his supreme stubbornness. Well. I've got to make this decisive.'
"In that case, enough talk. Would you count us down, Sir Miklotov?" yelled Ainz towards the overlooking sage.
Naturally, despite Roswaal's earlier statement, the rounds of betting were in Julius' favour. There were a few who bet big on the undead newcomer, but most believed those people would end up broke.
The wise man nodded and called out, "3! 2! 1! Begin!"
Immediately, six lights begin to spin around Julius and Ainz sighed in his head once more, 'These people rely way too much on summons. It's such a simple thing to deal with.'
As the elemental spirits gathered around Julius, Ainz held out his hand and said "[Greater Rejection]." The lights faded and Julius was left standing with his mouth agape.
"What did you do?!" he called out, getting into a defensive stance. His six quasi spirits appeared to be gone, a turn in the battle that was extraordinarily alarming for him.
"Summoning spirits is a very easy strategy to counter if you know what you're doing. Any half-decent mage from where I come from could do the same. Don't tell me you are nothing without your little friends?" Ainz taunted, looking entirely too relaxed.
The knight gritted his teeth and rushed forward, but Ainz was once more quicker on the draw.
"Without your spirits, let me pit you against another melee fighter. [Summon Mid Tier Undead: Death Duelist]." A figure materialised from the black sludge that fell on the ground.
It was the pale, decomposed flesh of what may have appeared to be a young man in life. Only a few strands of hair were left on his head, and bone and muscles could be seen through the cuts on his body. His light armour provided no protection, but made him agile.
Where death knights specialised in defence and death warriors were all-rounders, the death duelist, as the name implied, was built for one on one fights. It also happened to be on the higher end of mid tier summons, with its level in the 50s.
A rapier made of bone appeared in its decayed hand and it intercepted Julius' strike with nearly lethal precision, leaving a nasty mark near the wrist of the knight's hand.
"So you can summon more of your ilk." said Julius as he jumped back and made sure his artery wasn't cut. Thankfully, while the wound stung, it was by no means lethal.
"I am a mage after all. You, without your spirits, do not seem impressive enough for me to fight you myself. Please, have fun with my servant." Ainz said, creating an obsidian throne beneath himself. He put his skull on his hand, looking like a bored ruler gazing at a man about to be executed.
The undead summon obeyed its initial command and lunged at Julius, its form the very pinnacle of a fencer's finesse. But Julius was no weakling as to have his heart pierced by the first blow.
His spirits may have been locked away by Ainz's magic, however, he could still use mana to enhance himself. The muscles of the young knight burst with energy as the mana surged through him, and he sidestepped the first blow.
Yet his opponent was not bound by conventional wisdom and limitations of the human body. The arm of the undead monster turned in the direction of his adversary, the ligaments snapping and reshaping to facilitate such a manoeuvre.
Bone met steel and sparks flew. Instead of relying on its superior physical capabilities, the undead preferred to pull back and slash at the man anew. The blades met on and on, the valiant knight being pushed back by the untiring onslaught.
Should his spirits have been here, the tune would have changed yet no such grace seemed to be in sight. His most powerful abilities were locked away. While his swordsmanship was still extremely impressive, he was still a spirit knight rather than a raw, physical combatant.
The audience looked on, gasping each time the two exchanged blows. Julius managed to slice at the creature's abdominal flesh, but it was just an artificial flesh wound. The second the situation allowed him to jump back, he did so, narrowly escaping with just a slash on his cheek that would have severed his neck should he had gotten greedy and tried to continue his assault.
The second he landed on his feet, three quick jabs were sent at him. He deflected one and avoided the second, but the third hit his shoulder and pierced muscle and bone alike. The force sent him flying back and Julius' blood hit the sand.
Once more, the creature stood in front of him. It seemed to be proud of the show it had been putting on, occasionally glancing at the audience with its glassy eyes. The showmanship it would have displayed in life certainly shined through even in undeath.
"To be taken lightly by an abomination like you…" Julius mumbled, rushing forward. However, this time his rashness would reap a nearly deadly toll. It seemed to have been waiting for such an attack. With speed that surprised everyone in the audience, it narrowly moved past Julius, avoiding his blow in the process.
He gritted his teeth as the burning pain of three distinct slashes hit his back, followed by a kick that threw him on his chest. As quickly as he could, he turned to face the creature once more after rolling away.
It looked towards the crowd, giving the audience a friendly wave, followed by a bow. Then, to Julius' and the audience's chagrin, it disappeared into a cloud of black smoke.
Confusion appeared on the faces of the audience and of Julius. To have his adversary simply… disappear. It was a rather novel experience. But as soon as he tried to catch a breath, he found he no longer needed to do so. A green light enveloped him and his wounds closed, his breath stabilised.
"Healing magic?" he mumbled, touching his cheek and finding not even a drop of blood or a piece of scar tissue. Only the likes of Felix would be able to perform such a feat in such a short amount of time.
A slow clap rang out to the side of him. Just the sound of it oozed with confidence and Julius turned to see that Ainz was now on his feet, his throne gone. A robed, skeletal figure that was next to him disappeared.
Ainz caught him gazing at it and said, "Do not worry, I do not plan to have a death priest intervene. Judging by your performance, I will hardly need to use my undead in this bout."
"Why did you heal me?! Do you want to know defeat so badly?" asked Julius, pointing his sword at the mage.
"Defeat would be a new experience for me, yes, but I am not eager to know it. Indeed, it seems you have forgotten that I am your adversary, rather than that death duelist. It did seem to take it easy on you, but I applaud your ability to stand against it for a few minutes."
"If I recall correctly, it was your servant who disappeared, not me." countered Julius, his verbal strike finding an opening.
But Ainz's verbal riposte deflected the jab with ease, "Because I ordered it to spare you. It seems that a knight's pride is not so far from pure foolishness." he said, shaking his head.
Julius' eyebrow twitched, "You dare insult knighthood?"
"Yes, indeed I do. If you are its pinnacle, then perhaps it is a curse. In fact," he waved his hand and the spirits surrounding Julius appeared once more, "to show you how outmatched you are, I will let you have your little toys back."
"That will be your last mistake, monster." said Julius, the six quasi spirits spinning around his blade and beginning to form a rainbow beam of light.
He suddenly felt something touch his shoulder, "Oh but who said anything about letting you use them? [Energy Drain]." said Ainz, all of a sudden appearing behind Julius.
A collective shout of disbelief came from the onlookers as Julius rolled away, only to find his movements to be terribly sluggish. The glowing spirits around him seemed to dim, blinking in and out of existence, and he felt as if a part of his very being was missing.
"Hmm, you are in luck that I didn't maximize it, or you would have died. But, I suppose it's time to put on a real show." He snapped his fingers and pillars of black flame burst seemingly at random in the arena.
The very air grew heavy and Julius felt his knees shake, his eyes locked onto Ainz, who now seemed to loom over him. It was as if the skeletal frame grew three times over, towering over the knight and crushing him with just his presence.
Everyone looked above as the clouds shifted, gasps of awe coming from those who realised just what kind of feat was performed. Roswaal could alter the weather, yes, but it was typically a long ritual, rather than a simple silent cast.
Strikes of brilliant lighting scorched the sands, coming down as if it was the wrath of a mad deity, turning parts of the arena into glass. Horrid mayhem which would have made the mages of old shiver was unleashed, though Ainz took care to not actually harm anyone in the audience.
He silently cast spell after spell around his target, who slowly tried to back away, Julius' knees almost buckling due to the unseen pressure of Ainz's [Aura of Despair I]. It appeared he was not able to fully resist it, and Ainz decided that ramping his aura up to the second stage would have been a poor idea.
As the mage, no, the monster in front of him summoned more horrid spells, Julius backed off, trying to find any opening. The spirals of black fire screamed of death and each strike of lighting came closer and closer to him, his hair standing on end.
His opponent took slow, measured steps. He had no stance and seemed to be as defenceless as any other mage would be in physical combat, but his instincts screamed of death when he looked upon Ainz.
The white, unblemished skull of his opponent almost seemed to sneer at him. Julius took a deep breath, meeting the flaming eyes of his adversary, and steeled his resolve.
He took a step forward, forcing his knees to steady themselves, and began his desperate charge. A knight was supposed to overcome fear, and he would show everyone here that he deserved his title of the finest of knights.
Ainz gazed at him curiously, and, in an instant so quick Julius' mind couldn't even perceive it, appeared in front of the knight. Julius' blade fell to the ground as Ainz grabbed the throat of his opponent, lifting him off of the ground.
Julius gasped for air as the cold grip of death solidified around his neck, hitting the skeletal hand to no avail. Ainz's hand didn't budge, tightening his grip and slowly but surely suffocating the knight in front of him.
His eyes became bloodshot and the primordial fear of suffocation took over. He punched and kicked and struggled, but Death's grasp did not loosen.
'No! Not like this!' he yelled within his own mind, the fear of death erasing the proud knight and leaving only a man struggling to survive against the impossible.
"I could toss you into hellfire, strike you with lightning, freeze you to your very core. There's an endless way for me to kill you with just a fraction of my power. But I prefer something more elegant." An obsidian dagger appeared in Ainz's free hand and he put it to the chin of his opponent.
"Well fought. I respect your resolve, and that you would fight in place of your friend. But you still have a long way to go." He left a small cut on the chin of Julius, tossing him away and cancelling his spells. The sky cleared and the pillars of hellfire disappeared, letting many in the audience let out the breaths they had been unknowingly holding in.
Ainz turned to Miklotov who had been observing the duel, "I believe the battle is over?" he called out, throwing the knife away and having it dissipate into mana in midair.
The wise man looked at Julius, who seemed to be coughing his lungs out and desperately trying to stand up, "I-Indeed. The winner is Sir Ainz Ooal Gown, knight of Lady Emilia!"
Applause erupted from the stands and the knights cheered. Some due to the fact that Ainz had just secured them massive wins on the betting tables, some because of Ainz's magical prowess, and some out of reluctant admiration.
Julius may have been the favourite to win, but nothing is more exhilarating than a legendary and unexpected result…
ᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷᘛ⁐̤ᕐᐷ
"Quiiite good, isn't heee?" asked Roswaal as the battle reached its peak, "I cannot fathooom how well he can controool his mana to do such a thiiing." he continued, gazing at the pillars of hellflame.
The 9th Tier spell [Hellish Tornadoes] was a very good and impressive area of effect spell, even back in YGGDRASIL. In this new world, Ainz could also control the movement of the tornadoes with just a thought. An added bonus was that it directly burnt the soul and thus left the arena untouched.
"He certainly is. His magic is very… curious." answered Miklotov, his eyes wide as he watched the spectacle unfold. "To so easily battle against Sir Juukulius is no easy feat. I will have to ask about that creature he summoned. It certainly appeared to be more than a match for most of our knights. Sir Roswaal, would those creatures be able to be utilised for warfare?"
The court mage put a finger to his chin, uttering a long and less than dignified "Hmmmmmmm" before answering, "Yeees. As long as Lady Emilia is ooon the throne, then I'm sure Sir Aiiinz can figure somethiiing out. From what I know, that summon wasn't even particularly impressive."
Judging by the shine in the wise man's eyes, the offer was certainly a tempting one. He gazed on at the duel, which was more reminiscent of a predator toying with its meal, and thought of the sheer possibilities of an undead army.
To the side, Crusch moved next to Felix, whose ears were twitching and tail drooped. She leaned over the railing and gazed at the battle below, the torrents of flames reflected in her amber eyes.
"Felix." she began, her eyes glued to the spectacle below. She knew that should it have been either her or her knight down there, they would fare even worse than Julius. The undead monster would probably see her wind magic as a parlour trick rather than the impressive magic it was meant to be.
"Yes?" answered the knight, his voice weak and usually joyful mannerisms turned timid.
"Control yourself next time. Were it not for Julius' intervention, it would be you down there. I'd much rather not have to worry about you being turned to ash." she said, Felix simply nodding as his terrified eyes followed the undead monster below.
'Not to mention now I'm indebted to Hoshin since her knight saved mine. Tch. This skeleton played his cards too well, and he predicted everyone's behaviour to the letter. Priscilla's humiliated, Felix came off as unhinged, and now Julius is having his reputation tarnished.'
She shivered as the master plan unfolded in front of her, 'And here I thought it would be Roswaal that posed a challenge… What has this monster planned for us still?' Crusch thought, desperately trying to come up with countermeasures and failing.
'An alliance is the most I can hope for, up until I figure out a weak point.' She looked on as sand turned to glass and the very wrath of the underworld was unleashed, 'If he has one, since it seems his mind matches his might.'
But the young duchess wasn't the only one deep in thought. Anastasia watched the show unfold with a small smile on her face. Showing emotions when around rivals was a foolish and amatuer move, something she had long gotten rid of.
It took many years to perfect her kind and warm expression, but the monster that now toyed with her knight seemed to have an emotionless expression just like her own, except filled with malice.
His mask, his robes and his staff all triggered her merchant's instincts to their absolute limit. Every single piece of equipment he had screamed of value to the high heavens and beyond. But fancy gear didn't always translate to power and prowess.
How was she supposed to predict that her knight, the finest of knights, would lose to some monster. Her confidence was evidently misplaced and Julius turned out to hardly be a match for their newest adversary.
'He evidently heard of Julius' reputation and planned accordingly. To even take in his appearance as part of the plan… Quite scary, this one. I've gotta stay sharp. Everyone's played right into his hands so far. Hmm. I doubt I can trade anything with him if all his things are like his robes. Though, maybe he needs information?' she thought, scheming like the seasoned merchant she was.
Of course, there was major heartache involved in watching the spectacle. It was only by sheer force of will that she didn't flinch or cry out each time he had been hurt. And, as the skeleton lifted Julius off the ground, she nearly called out to her loyal knight.
But mercantile expertise came first. Julius wouldn't be killed here, the monster was too smart to do something like that. Yet the reputation of her knight as the virtuous one who can hardly lose, the reputation she was in part hoping to base her campaign off of, would no longer be able to be the backbone of her plan.
'There's nothing I can offer to him without coming off as desperate as well. Damn. I'm in quite a bind, aren't I? Tactician, mage, monster. What the hell are you, Ainz Ooal Gown?' she asked herself.
Back next to Roswaal, Emilia looked on as Ainz established his superiority. Of course, she had faith in his victory, but the pillars of black flame and changing weather were still a bit much to take in.
"He's quite something." said the voice of Reinhard from her right, "Not many could defeat Julius so handily."
Emilia nodded, "Ainz is really nice when he's, um, not fighting. Still, he can be a bit…" she said, trailing off
"Protective?" Reinhard finished her sentence. Of course, such a quality was to be expected of a knight, and even applauded, but when two such characters met, it most often ended in a display such as the one in the arena.
"Yes. Sir Julius and Sir Felix may have overstepped their boundaries a bit, at least by Ainz's standards." she said, glancing at the Sword Saint standing next to her.
"I agree. Felix has a history with undead, so I suppose his reaction can be understood, but maybe I should have stopped Julius. Then again, he did need to get slightly grounded. He'd rush off to the other side of the country to find someone who insulted us knights otherwise." said Reinhard, shaking his head.
Julius was always a good friend of his, one of his best, but his almost obsessive defence of knighthood and honour could be a bit much at times.
"Oh, I almost forgot to ask. Lady Emilia, I heard from Ainz that during your encounter with my lady before the selection, and that he managed to heal her from a lethal wound. Not that I do not trust him, but I would like to ask, how did he do it? He mentioned some items, but I do not know of any metias that can heal with such efficiency." continued the Sword Saint.
"Well, Ainz has a lot of things. That time he used some weird, red potions that healed them instantly. He seems to have quite a few of them." answered Emilia, seeing no harm in the question.
"I wonder if he would be willing to sell some of them. My lady is not bad at combat, but she has quite the attitude. I doubt she'd accept healing from me should she get hurt and Ainz seems to know how to deal with her." he sighed, "What a piece of work she is."
As they chatted, the battle was called and Ainz flew up to Emilia, landing in between the two. "Ah, Reinhard. I apologise for the display of violence, but I'm sure you understand how vital defending the honour of one's liege is."
"I do, Ainz, I do. By the way, I was just discussing the matter of you saving my Lady with Lady Emilia. I'd like to ask whether I could purchase some of these potions from you. A miraculous source of healing like that could be invaluable, and I assure you I will pay a fair price." said Reinhard.
Ainz, after a moment of hesitation, put his hand into his inventory and pulled out four ornate bottles filled with a red liquid, "My, my. I didn't take you for a merchant, Reinhard. But you should take these for free. They are a trivial thing compared to our friendship, are they not?"
Reinhard took the potions and bowed, "Thank you, I'll be sure to repay you somehow, even if it's not with gold." he heard a distinct yell in the background, followed by someone screaming for guards, "Now if you'll excuse me, it appears my lady has found herself in trouble once more."
"I look forward to when we meet again, Reinhard." Ainz said, waving the Sword Saint goodbye. Once the knight was off, Ainz quickly turned to Emilia, saying, "Emilia, please don't reveal such information. It's more valuable than gold."
"Sorry." she said, looking down at the ground in shame.
Ainz sighed and patted her head, "Come now. I could never be mad at you, you know? Just don't repeat that mistake in the future. Besides, it worked out. Now give me a minute, I've some business with the others."
He looked for the other candidates gathered here, and spied both Crusch and Anastasia, but Priscilla seemed to be missing. 'I guess she didn't even stick around for the duel. Bit of a shame.'
First, he walked up towards Crusch. Felix immediately hid behind his lady as his ears twitched. Instead of being confrontational, Ainz bowed, "Sir Argyle, I'd like to apologise for any discomfort my appearance has caused you. I hope we may have a cooperative relationship in the future."
Crusch tapped Felix with her elbow and he managed to stutter out a "L-likewise."
Ainz then turned to the duchess and said, "And Lady Karsten, I've heard that the Sword Devil is in your employ?" he asked, meeting her gaze with his own.
"Indeed, he is. Why do you ask?" she questioned, crossing her arms and looking up at the towering undead mage.
"My lady is an adept mage, but she requires formal training in swordsmanship. I would like to have him as a trainer. In exchange, I believe I have an offer that would interest you both, but we can discuss that in private." Ainz said, gesturing vaguely to their surroundings.
She looked at him for a moment, evidently in thought, and then nodded. "Fine, I will send an invitation in a few days. I look forward to your response."
'So he's deciphered my thoughts already?! What a terrifying being.' Crusch thought, 'But if he has something to offer, then I can't decline. Besides, a bit of training is hardly the price I was expecting.'
'I have no idea what I'll offer, but I'll figure something out. What do nobles like nowadays? Jewels? She's the military type, so maybe a decent weapon or something?' Ainz thought internally. On the outside, however, he looked the part of the all-knowing undead wise man and nodded sagely.
Next, he approached Anastasia. "I hope there are no harsh feelings between us, Lady Hoshin." Ainz began.
She offered him her typical smile, "Nah, not at all. It was my knight who wanted the duel anyway."
"Still," Ainz said, "as a token of apology, I'd like you to have this." He took out two minor potions of healing. 'Word will spread from Reinhard anyway, so might as well advertise while I can.' Who knew that being a salesman would help even now?
"These potions will heal most, if not all, wounds almost instantly. As far as I know, only I possess these. One is to heal him now, and the other is for when he gets into trouble again. Please give him my regards."
"Will do!" the girl answered, grabbing the potions from Ainz's skeletal hands, "And please say hi to Emilia from me!" With that, the girl made her exit.
'He's given me these to appraise, so that I know just what I'm dealing with, huh? Clever, very clever. Throughout all those worlds he's supposedly travelled, he must've been a merchant at some point.' she thought as she made her way down the stairs.
'I sure hope he doesn't hate me after all this. It was his idea to fight me anyway! At least Reinhard seems to understand that it was just circumstance…' Ainz thought as he walked back to Emilia.
But the matter of the purple-haired knight could wait to be dealt with another day. He offered her his hand the way a proper knight should and said, "Shall we? I'm sure Rem is already getting impatient."
"Indeed, let's go." she said, grabbing his skeletal hand. And, in a flash of light, the two disappeared…
(AN from Edgy: Sorry this took so long, but I've been rather busy nowadays. Then again, I say it's been a long time, but it's only been 5 days. You guys can get rather impatient, you know? Now hand over the reviews so that I can give more to you faster! As always, more to come and I hope you've enjoyed the story so far!)
(AN from Aterro: Sorry for keeping you waiting, but I hope you'll enjoy this chapter, it's just a taste of what's to come in V2, prepare yourselves, because I assure you, it'll keep getting better. Thanks for all the reviews and keep them coming !)
Review Answers:
Chapter?: Here - Edgy
Ainz vs Reinhard debate?: I've no clue why you people are still arguing about this. I've said my thoughts on the matter, but feel free to pump the review numbers while you argue. - Edgy
Perfect Warrior?: Personally, I'm not a fan of Ainz using it as he would simply get clowned by the knights for his lack of technique like he did with Clementine. Though maybe a new found friend of his could teach him? - Edgy