XI-II
"Moving upwards in this world is possible by simple means. Commoners yearn for a peaceful, repetitive lifestyle. Give it to them, and you have accomplished your first task. Then, suppose that your peers have greater influence than you... still, they cannot obtain the object of their deepest desires. Appeal to it, the innermost part of their fetid selves, and gain leverage until their primal needs meet your palm. With that, you will have succeeded in your second task. Do not call it corruption either: it is simply a means to an end, a strategy to fulfill your destiny".
With these words, one of the politicians spectating the passionate discourse of miss Cledna, the city's protector and legendary warrior figure, had greeted his most intimate friends and colleagues. The halls of the municipal college were very busy, for at the end of the ceremony everyone would have finally been able to cast their votes. 8 candidates, only one mayor. The trepidation felt palpable as the occasion was not only rare but also good for any kind of secret meeting and lascivious machination. It was easy to tell that not many were actually interested in what Cledna had to say; for one, her absence from the public scene for well over 50 years did not inspire the younger generations, despite their elders recounting of her heroic deeds towards the people. And moreover the fact that so many factions were now involved in ballot manipulations and fraudulent solicitations had rendered any kind of patriotism inside the building irrelevant, a sad vestige of a past long gone. In this climate, lord Flannar was supposed to appear as a savior, a figure of greatness and a protector of the people. A shield against Ainz Ooal Gown. Yet even Cledna herself had understood, as early as her first appearance in public a few days prior, that things had changed for the worse.
That wasnt the city she remembered. The status quo could hardly be considered as such and an ever increasing tension between those who wanted to reject the gods and embrace their own definition of freedom, and the current ruling class of devout conservative noblemen and clergymen, would soon make the situation intolerable. One way or the other, the powder keg would explode and it was her duty to protect the government. That meant... giving her all to shield her brother.
She entered the election hall with the gait of a stoic soldier, already in full armor to display her total commitment to the cause. Her breastplate was heavily embroidered with strikingly beautiful images of winged beings descending from the sky. The two glowing orbs attached to her chest were emitting a tenuous aquamarine light, which her large youthful irises reflected. Her long twintails were the only oddity to an otherwise very powerful and imposing figure. Bormeliar had made her dress that way to make a statement: lady Hilda and the gods were there to stay.
She carried on till the hall's center where she stopped. Her gaze passed on each and every corner, looking at the electors with determination. Despite her strong resolve, her lips quivered lightly under the unique circumstances of her appearance there.
"Citizens! Representatives of the people and adjutants of our nation's forces! I am here to greet you all equally in the name of lady Hilda's grace and our benefactor lord Flannar. You are here today to do your part for the city as a whole; whoever becomes mayor has to be responsible and wise for us to take in an even greater duty which befalls us all in these trying times: to clash with the Sorcerer King's ideals of prosperity and be prepared for unambiguous assimilation".
She inhaled deeply, observing everyone's reaction. Many seemed to be talking among themselves and whispering in a panic.
"Fear not, we will not be slaves. However, the truth of the matter is that our city may not take in the blunt of a heavy assault. Therefore whoever becomes mayor will have to act swiftly and find a resolution before the integrity of our society is corrupted. We will remain united... we need to prevent this from happening at all costs. I appeal to your hearts as well as your wit. The citizenry has given you the right to vote and decide what is best for them, do not disappoint!".
She took a brief moment to recollect what Bormeliar had instructed her to say and do. Then she started enumerating the reforms that had been enacted to better their society, trying to instill as much passion as she could in these cold rotting hearts. However, despite taking her words at face value, very few seemed keen on listening further than a few seconds. They knew what would happen was inevitable and no amount of sugarcoating could change that fact.
Slowly but surely as the speech went on, some started conspiring. Bormeliar kept watch from a large stand up above and scanned the hall for any possible ways out. Next to him, the Judge could be barely seen from behind a curtain, feverishly gazing at a particular door.
"Hmm. This plan of yours may backfire pretty badly. Are you sure everything is going to be fine?"
"I told you countless times that there is no need to concern yourself with it. Let me handle the strategy behind it. Patience is a virtue that not many can master''. Bormeliar did not look preoccupied in the slightest, however his very soul was telling him that this could be a disaster. Still, his iron will and devotion to lord Flannar and the nation kept his mind in check. "Nothing is going to be wrong with it. Patrol the perimeter and assemble the squads. I need everyone at their marked locations before the speech is over''.
"You dont have to tell me twice, old man. I got you covered. Who do you take me for anyway!'' The Judge seemed about ready to crack up a joke, however he himself was not in the mood for it and soon gave up. The following hour would mark the end of the government, one way or the other. And to think that he too was to be involved in treason and disruption of democracy was a great blow to his ego. Yet he kept hanging on, clinging to the notion that the greater good needed this to happen. He moved away briefly to check in on his troops; a handful of militiamen, regular soldiers and city patrols were slowly entering the premises, some circling the building from behind closed gates, others directly from the main entrance but still maintaining an aura of order and stoic determination. The militiamen were wearing civilian clothes to not raise suspicion, while the city patrols had been entering under the pretense of checking for any irregularity with the elections, which the Judge considered ironic due to the circumstances.
The door that he was obsessively looking at however, contained the one mystery that nobody else could predict. At some point, it had to open, and all hell would be let loose. Whether the situation could improve or not, was left entirely at the mercy of their "guest".
Cledna finally concluded her speech, satisfied. Bormeliar had moved the blinding lights of the torches and ceremonial lamps very close to the center of the hall so that she would not be able to look directly at the crowd. He believed that if Cledna could see everyone clearly, at some point she would get discouraged and lose focus. In truth, she never had a choice: her attention was fixated on her brother's wishes alone. She could not care about these men whose lives were as valuable as a lizard in the hot summer. Politicians can be replaced after all, so she had always thought. The greater good can be achieved by many means and anyone can be substituted at the right time. Her residual evil alignment in that regard had helped her remain unwavering towards anyone but her brother and Bormeliar himself.
"With this, I hope that we can all get along and remain steadfast, for the hard times are coming and we will need to resist change. To that end... lord Flannar has presented us all with a solution. Or rather, the Solution". That innocent play on words did not go unnoticed. Several bystanders recoiled in disgust and even tried reaching some of the doors leading outside, moved by a deep sense of discomfort. And who to blame them, for in a couple seconds the unthinkable happened.
The door that the Judge was constantly monitoring suddenly opened wide, and a plethora of city guards emerged. They were all armed to the teeth and their muskets were already loaded and ready to fire. Forming two files, they kept marching inside the hall to the dismay and shocked curiosity of almost everyone.
In between the two files, a large cage with several locks and runic symbols could be seen slowly advancing, transported by a large number of soldiers. Inside, Solution Epsilon was comfortably sitting on a makeshift armchair. Despite being very faintly perceivable, an aura of unknown malice engulfed her body. The magic shield that supposedly prevented her from escaping was still up.
"...hello. My my such gloomy atmosphere" she commented with mischievous eyes and an almost bored expression on her face.
The initial shock faded little by little and a mixture of panic, anger and disdain replaced it. The politicians seemed to get increasingly agitated, but also much less cohesive in their conspiratorial ramblings.
"Its time. Is everyone ready?" Bormeliar asked as he saw the Judge reaching out to the ground floor.
"Ha, of course they are. Checked every exit. I'll give the signal right away".
Cledna took a deep breath and proceeded to end her speech with the additions that her brother had provided.
"Apologies for not getting to the point sooner, this is going to be our first and last talk with the enemy. We have reached an agreement and Solution Epsilon will therefore be freed. No one will ever forget the tragedy she brought to us all. Rest assured that this matter is not over. But for the sake of our future, her case will be handled by the Sorcerer King himself".
The crowd was not pleased by these words, however a considerably large amount of people did not complain as loudly as they would have normally. Bormeliar seemed extremely satisfied. On one hand, her presence alone froze anyone who was trying to steer the election in a different way, and on the other the confusion had made it possible for the militia, as well as regular soldiers, to enter the hall unquestioned and occupy key locations unmolested.
There was no time to appeal to the numerous factions present in the premises, as soon as the speech was concluded Solution's cage got opened and the magic shield protecting it dissolved. Everyone even remotely near it took several steps backwards, effectively getting the whole crowd into a conveniently freed corner void of furniture.
Bormeliar smiled and immediately proceeded to grab Solution's hand as stoically as possible.
"This is our pledge of allegiance and mutual respect. The Sorcerer King has nothing to worry about, and we in turn will have no regrets. Sergeants, please proceed with the summoning of the candidates".
"Sergeants? What the hell is happening?" one of the more resolute politicians noted.
"Agreed, this is new... dont they usually get summoned by us electors?"
There was no reply. Nobody left for them to appeal to. Matters were being handled by the militia now, who were starting to form several rows in and around the corner where the crowd had backed away to. Several officers went on to retrieve the 8 candidates, who had been previously summoned in Bormeliar's office just as planned. They came into the hall with gloomy eyes and a defeated expression depicted on their visages.
"Phrax, please escort miss Solution outside. We have much to do now" Bormeliar ordered as he prepared himself to monitor the electoral procedures.
The Judge complied without so much as a sigh, eager to get it over with. In his mind this was really outrageous, yet he dared not disobey. Solution was escorted out and accompanied away from the building, the courtyard and then the main street.
"This is as far as we go, but we will keep watch. Thank you for cooperating with us. I hope we will never see each other again" he grunted while desperately looking for an excuse to turn away.
"Likewise. ...I cant seem to come to terms with what just happened, but I am pleased that your leaders dont seem to be as inept as I thought.. Lord Ainz will receive a united and uncompromised territory... and I'll gladly be the one bringing forth the good news. Releasing me is the smartest thing you could have done. Oh, one more thing, tell your boss... that Flannar, that I am still irritated by his attitude. I wish to speak to him as soon as lord Ainz takes over. We still have a score to settle". Solution seemed very aggressive while speaking of Flannar, yet a slight hint of genuine curiosity could be spotted even after what he had done during her time as a captive. Perhaps he would not die immediately, she thought to herself. Maybe there was more value in a specimen like him, and if she herself could give him to lord Ainz then her chances for praise and attention would double.
In this climate of extreme tension between both parties and an uneasy agreement entirely forged thanks to Bormeliar's far-sightedness, she walked away from the city under strict surveillance. As a parting gift, Bormeliar had arranged for her to take one of the guild base's amulets that still had some value in it. The amulet in question would give a few thousand experience points in return for a small amount of money. Nothing usable in the current environment, he had thought, and even if it could have been used it would have made no difference. What mattered was the symbolic importance of it all. Solution seemed content with it and if it could buy them even a single day, that would have been enough.
"...let's get back inside. I have had enough of this charade" the Judge finally relaxed and immediately turned away as soon as her silhouette was far enough from his sight. His deep disgust would not stop so easily, but his stomach wasnt weak. Enduring was part of the job, and while painfully unpleasant it had to be done.
"...Huh? Who are these guys?" one of the city guards who came along to escort Solution spotted a group of men walking rapidly towards the municipal college. They looked like rabble from the suburbs but among them there were also tall and menacing individuals with scars and bruises, as if they had been engaged in several fights before then.
"I have no idea. They dont look friendly that's for damn sure" the Judge commented "circle the perimeter and report to lord Bormeliar. I want to check it for myself".
He came in closer and it took but a few seconds for him to understand that the crowd that was gathering outside wasnt there to attend the election. Several men jumped over the fences around the courtyard and formed a large block of human shields. Among their ranks, two individuals stood atop the others as if they could naturally distinguish themselves from the mass of rejects and misfits gathered there.
A young city guard moved to intercept them, spreading their arms to prevent passage "Halt! The building cannot be accessed by civilians right now. I urge you to-"
Someone from among the crowd slapped the guard as hard as they could, sending them face first into the ground. Several others chimed in to expel any other potential assailants.
"That's a Drykven lord! No... THE Drykven lord who threatened Plurimo back then. What the hell is he doing here?!" the Judge started sprinting in their general direction, moved by a sense of urgency and anger.
"You! Disperse at once! The electors are in session, you need to get your asses out of here right now!"
Upon hearing these words, Rokkan bursted out laughing just long enough for him to draw his grandfather's sword. The tenuous blue light around it immediately grew tenfold. He turned to face the Judge like a kid eagerly awaiting for candy.
"Ha! The session shall be invalidated immediately then. There is another candidate for you to choose from".
"Another candidate? Dont be ridiculous!" the Judge stopped in front of the crowd with a stern look, his hand ready on the hilt of his own sword. Several city guards gathered in a hurry around him "Who would that candidate even be?! ...No matter. Your crusade ends here".
"What's taking Phrax so long, I wonder? Did Solution Epsilon betray our agreement? No, that wouldnt be reasonable. She is a monster yet precedents indicate that her respect towards Ainz Ooal Gown is too great for her to disregard a pact like that" Bormeliar was considering all the possibilities, still gathering the remaining candidates while making sure that the upcoming election could go on smoothly. There was no reason for him to doubt: all exits were locked, military personnel was distributing illicit ballots and the candidates themselves had been threatened at gunpoint in his office. Every little detail had been studied, there was no way any of it could go wrong.
"Sir, there's been a report of suspicious activity just outside the premises. Should we barricade the main entrance as well?" one of the officers assigned to the building's security informed him with an anxious look.
"Suspicious activity? How suspicious exactly?" His sentence could not be heard as the hinges of the sturdy double doors leading inside exploded and both of them flew violently towards the ground. Bormeliar looked shocked as he realized that the force that had destroyed the main entrance's doors was none other than the Judge himself, who had been beaten and thrown against them like a battering ram.
"Gah! That bastard is… nngh I'm going to make him pay dearly!" he growled in pain while getting up with the help of two city guards.
"Good day gentlemen. Do not worry, I'm not here to interrupt your machinations. Please do go on" a deep voice could be heard echoing in the hall. Bormeliar squinted his eyes to try and recognize who had spoken. Rokkan entered with the gait of a confident gangster, several goons joined shortly behind him.
"I see you have decided to start the election without the old mayor's consent. Tsk tsk tsk, what a disgraceful display. Shameful even. Don't you follow procedures to the letter anymore? By law new elections cannot be started unless the previous mayor has approved of the candidates. I'm very concerned about this nation's future. With leaders like you, lord Bormeliar, we may actually be steering the course of History towards an endless precipice".
"And who might you be?"
"Your ninth candidate" Rokkan bowed politely, his visage sparkling with joy as his gaze looked at the crowd of politicians with a mixture of disdain and reverence "you dont mind, do you? I see there is still quite a bit of work before you can actually start the election. What are all those ballots over there anyway? Should we simply take a look? And how about the methodology employed? Why dont you let me in on your little secrets, as a candidate I have the right to know all about it".
"That is none of your concern, young man. The game has been set. You cannot participate in this election I'm afraid. But, you are free to stand and watch. You see, we already have a ninth candidate.".
"Oh? You do now? Why do I have the feeling that it is just a bluff? At any rate I am not here to simply watch, afterall my backing is pretty solid, to say the least". That said Rokkan snapped his fingers and two of his men moved aside to make room for a new mysterious figure. Bormeliar's eyes widened as he approached.
"What is the meaning of this?"
"Hohoho, it has been a while esteemed colleagues. How have you been?" the old mayor came forth, unsteady on his feet. His weak smile was unmistakable.
"I vouch for this young lad, lord Bormeliar. There is no need to be so hasty. Please let me explain the situation".
"That's impossible... What in the world is going on right now?!" none of the bystanders had any clue. Many swore that the old mayor had died, others believed he had simply retired to private life. His physical presence at that very moment invalidated any and all assumptions including Bormeliar's own plans.
"You see, I have been held captive by the Sorcerer King's forces. However, this brave warrior rescued me, putting his life on the line for the greater good of the nation. And even managed to strike a pact with the Sorcerer King himself. Our nation will be part of Nazarick and we will all live a life of prosperity and integrity. All we have to do is put marquis Drykven in his rightful place!"
"You cant be serious... there's no way this is even remotely acceptable" "What? A Drykven lord as mayor?" nobody seemed to expect these words coming from the old mayor's mouth. Their astonished gazes soon left room for an endless wave of panic and despair.
"Well no matter how brave you have been and whoever vouches for you, I'm afraid that my answer must still be negative" Bormeliar knew something sinister was going on behind that facade. He would not give up without a fight. On the contrary, the mere fact that the old mayor was standing right there despite his own tireless search for weeks all around town and the region as a whole reinforced his belief that it must have been a plot against the institutions.
He called his own forces ever closer to the hall "Besides as I have mentioned already, we have a ninth candidate. Mayor, if it really is you then you must know the rules. There is no way that you'd allow such a person to undermine our election. You would put procedure above merit as you have always done. Now… ninth candidate please come forward".
"Hmph. Whoever that is, they are no match for me. I am a true hero, a savior of this poorly handled nation, and I am here to prove my valor to the last second! Show yourself, fake candidate! I'll be eager to take your place right this instant!" Rokkan was absolutely livid, determined to not let that chance go. He had come way too far. His hands began to tremble slightly, almost possessed by an unseen rage. Cledna kept watch from afar, her gaze fixated on the young Drykven lord from the second he sat foot inside. She had remained perfectly calm and collected, not moving a single muscle. The situation was entirely under Bormeliar's command, he was the one that needed to defuse it. But it became soon apparent that the mere presence of the ninth candidate was enough.
From the shadows a young man emerged, his visage slightly frightened, his features unkempt and pale. His eyes met Rokkan and, for the briefest moment, it almost seemed as though time had frozen. His heart ached with a sense of uneasiness and it felt like his very soul would precipitate into an endless abyss.
"...Fratherickus? You, of all people...!"
"Brother, please dont be mad".
"Oh? Your brother, ey? Now that is a surprise. A pleasant one at that. How ironic... a Drykven lord you may be, yet you still are a gullible child at heart it seems". Bormeliar was very pleased by that turn of events, very unexpected yet deeply fortunate.
A few days earlier...
"Hmm, for how long do we have to watch this incompetent fool? It's freezing out here".
"I know, but you heard the boss. We need to keep tabs on his little brother for the time being. He doesnt want him to get back into town".
"Okay but who cares honestly... all he does is pray. This horrible monastery is void of life anyways. Who in their right mind would even try to find him in this place?"
The duo was indeed freezing. They were professionals, trained assassins. Yet they served no purpose other than merely spying a coward, unwilling and witless young adult who just happened to have found his personal epiphany. Fratherickus was the youngest of the Drykven lords, the most inept and perhaps also the most unfortunate. Fate had not been kind to him; his intellect was devoted entirely to his own fanatical scriptures, his soul torn between total, incestuous love for his own brother, and an unrelenting will to chastise himself for his lustful thoughts. One day he would write letters till nightfall, scribbling poetic yet delirious ramblings at the wall until his fingertips started to bleed, and the day after he would flagellate himself until his flesh became bright pink and his mortified body could barely stand up straight by itself. A broken man, a misinformed shell full of redundancy and loneliness. Even so, Rokkan was afraid of him. His erratic behavior and unpredictable mood shifts would render him a potential enemy and he was very keen on the idea of letting him rot in his own world.
For several weeks now he had been wandering from monastery to monastery, seeking refuge from his mental breakdowns in the woods. Visions of angels and demonic apparitions related to the Sorcerer King kept him awake at night; no matter how tired he looked, he also seemed very eager to scream his heart out as soon as he saw an animal approaching since he believed that all animals were emissaries of evil and the most innocent squirrel could become a monstrous demonic spawn.
The watch period had been exhausting. Though they were safe from harm, the duo of assassins turned spies felt abandoned, deeply undervalued and extremely frustrated. For several weeks they had witnessed their target doing nothing but self flagellation. delirious walks in the woods and sudden rides through the region with his horse. The carriage that had previously taken him in these desolate lands outside the city walls had gone back to the Drykven manor. If he had suddenly died, not a soul would have mourned Fratherickus' death.
"Oh, brother... What shall I do now to atone for my sins? But is it a sin, even? Love is so complex!" he screamed while brutally slashing his own flesh, blood dripping all over the floorboards "this pain is such a relief. Yet I cannot stop thinking about you... relief from what I wonder? Why does it feel so good, brother? Who am I to defy the gods like this? Lady Hilda please forgive this shameless sinner!"
"What is he on about now?" the closest watcher averted his gaze in shock.
"I dont know man... just let it go. Hopefully we will get out of here as soon as Rokkan becomes mayor".
"Oh, you are right! Election day is going to happen soon... hopefully this torture will end by then".
Several hours passed by, dusk was fast approaching. Immersed as he was in his fanatical lectures, Fratherickus did not notice anything unusual. For all he knew, the world outside could dissolve and he would not have cared in the slightest.
An unannounced figure wandering in the woods caught him in one of his frequent moments of epiphany. The mysterious individual approached, at first silently, then vocalizing their presence with a small, innocent tone.
"Oh... I didnt think anyone would be here. Are you lost?" the voice sounded feminine and soothing.
"Ah! No, I am not lost, child. In fact it's the opposite. I have found myself yet again. My will is stronger, my resolve is greater than it ever was and all my problems have been washed away like a river in a stormy night. I am my own master now, not my father!" Fratherickus spoke with his delirious demeanor, waving his hands at his interlocutor with unrelenting passion.
"You seem agitated. Well um, nevermind. I dont think I care either way. You're so skinny... too bad" the voice continued, this time slightly less friendly. It emerged from the shadows with grace and careful step, it looked like a kid with bloody eyes, pale skin and an elegant maid outfit.
"Who the hell is that?"
"I have no idea. But it seems dangerous. Should we intervene?"
The mysterious child had a strange aura about them; a faint greenish gooey drool was leaking beneath their mouth, and claws could be seen emerging from the sides of their visage.
"I was going to get some wood for lord Ainz's guests, but I guess a little appetizer could do just fine" she said while preparing to launch a swift attack. Fratherickus ignored her completely, intent as he was screaming and crying at the sky.
The duo of assassins finally had their chance to demonstrate their valour. They jumped out of their hiding places and ran towards the assailant, revealing the gatling guns and large equipment donated by lady Albedo to aid Rokkan in his quest. A hail of bullets rained through the roots and branches. Several penetrated the mysterious assailant's maid outfit, some hit her shoulders.
"Hmm, annoying. Really annoying. So this was an ambush all along... Fine. I'll play with you" she stated while jumping in the air, completely unfazed.
"Watch out-" one of the assassins was about to speak, but his voice was cut off by a large claw-like arm. It penetrated his throat and mercilessly dragged his body towards the maid, who immediately began to chew on its neck with a set of sharp teeth barely visible under her chin.
"That's a mask...!"
"Oh? You figured it out just now? Not bad, you have been promoted to ant status!" the maid commented while eagerly eating her victim's flesh "dont worry I'll come for you too. Give me a minute I'm kind of hungry".
"You bastard!" the remaining assassin didnt wait for her next move despite it all, his training had forged his mind so that he would not waver even under the most extreme circumstances. He casted a low tier invisibility spell, then ran towards Fratherickus' location and grabbed him roughly by the waist.
"Young lord! We need to get away!"
"Who are you people? Let me be! I need to repent! Repent I say!" Fratherickus wasnt at all displeased to be handled so roughly, on the contrary he felt quite good about it. But he still wished to remain there, slave to his own obsessions and desires.
The assassin quickly reached his horse and mounted on it with his protegee, then they rode as far away as possible. Despite everything, he knew that Rokkan would have wanted his brother alive.
That was of course a useless move, for in a few more minutes the mysterious maid assailant reached them; she moved faster than a horse with her multiple arms coming out of her sides, they looked remarkably similar to spider's appendages.
"Faster dammit! Faster!" the assassin looked more like a panicked kid. But even at the peak of his fear, he tried to shoot down the maid with yet another hail of bullets coming from his guns. To his credit, some of these hit the mark and even managed to hurt the maid slightly. However none dealt any significant damage. She reached out with one of her arms and immediately sliced the horse's rear leg off. Fratherickus jumped off and rolled several meters away till his body stopped. He had no will nor care left in him. His defenders' fate was none of his concern: his only thought at the time was devoted entirely to his sacred scriptures and his own obsessive idea of repentance.
"Oooh wow, I'm rather full" the maid thought to herself after a while "humans and horses are great as a side dish but main course? Nah... I should probably get back to work. Next time I'll make a longer trip!" she sighed with satisfaction, then she went on to complete her task.
Dizzy, frustrated, delirious and tired, Fratherickus walked aimlessly for several hours until he reached the city walls. A patrol that was scouting the area for bandits caught him bashing his head against it, desperate to find solace in a religious frenzy.
They took him inside and offered him shelter, as was customary for the militia, who had been composed mostly by immigrants from the regions conquered by the Sorcerer King and thus knew that any outsider could hide a past of trials and tribulations. However, he did not give them any personal information. For all they knew, that was just a shameless fanatic seeking attention. And that was exactly what lord Bormeliar wanted.
"We need a candidate. Someone stupid enough to follow orders and apply them to the letter. A conservative, better yet a defender of our faith". he had been pondering for several hours right after talking to Hendrickvor about it. Who would take the blame, who would serve their purpose?
Among many possible candidates, his name came about. Bormeliar was no fool: he knew who that was, a Drykven lord of minor importance, a reject to all but his closest followers the majority of which were themselves fanatics.
"Just the right amount of importance... a nobleman in name only, a recognizable family name, prone to stupidity and fanaticism and better still, nobody knows about him. Yes, he will do nicely". Bormeliar smiled as he shifted his gaze towards his target. There had been no better occasion to pick a candidate than that.
And so, the two brothers were now confronting each other. One on the verge of a nervous breakdown, the other ready to embrace his sibling with all his might, completely clueless. Both were fools in Bormeliar's eyes, but only one of them would be the perfect puppet to the status quo.
.
Demiurge was waiting with a sly smirk. He had made up his mind long before then; to think that Mare had even considered not supporting his plan was deeply hurtful, but it did not change the ultimate outcome: he would level the city and get rid of any who dared interfere with Nazarick's expansion, willingly or not. In time, the growing restlessness of the nations surrounding lord Ainz Ooal Gown's empire had made the strategist increasingly more aware of how insignificant the average technological level of these primitive governments was. Declaring war had been nothing but a formality at that point. In his personal view of things none had the potential to raise against Nazarick and those who did had been dealt with swiftly. Oppositions were mostly internal. One nation would often times turn against the other inside of their deeply nested web of allegiances.
In actuality however none were real alliances. Their armies were nominally large yet nobody was actively drafted anymore and the few militias set in place had become shadows of their former selves. With the ever increasing proficiency of the undead armies provided by lord Ainz, whose generosity knew no bounds, the few still having a standing army were considered openly defiant of his government and thus marked as potential insubordinates by Demiurge. The demon was viewed by all as the ultimate minister of war.
"Lord Ainz seems to have reservations about the validity of my plan. But I will make sure to meet his expectations this time as well. I shall make all the necessary concessions before launching the attack" he thought to himself while reviewing his actions thus far "Perhaps I have been a little too rash while dealing with Mare's requests. However I'm sure that what I have devised is more than adequate. I am not concerned in the slightest now that the bigger picture is in my grasp".
His gaze finally set on a target: a carriage was fast approaching the encampment. Someone was driving it with a stare that seemed to promise challenge and resentment.
"Oh. It would appear that the enemy is finally moving towards our location. Took them long enough I suppose".
The carriage was now just a few paces away. It looked like a regular vehicle, yet he knew who was handling the reins. A small vampire, insignificant to his plan but strong enough to match an NPC. Demiurge had encountered him while scouting the area around the city walls. Despite the fact that the two of them had just briefly exchanged words through telepathy, Demiurge was certain that the young vampire was part of Flannar's entourage.
"Greetings lord Demiurge" the enemy started speaking first, "I come on behalf of the citizenry as a whole. I am here to offer you a gift".
"A ...gift? How curious. Perhaps you wish for your city to be spared? Are you willing to give us the keys to your treasury without a fight?" Demiurge's smirk turned into a genuine smile "Know that Nazarick's will cannot be bought with pleasantries".
"We are well aware of that. But we are not at war still, arent we?" the small vampire smirked back at him, then he jumped off of the carriage with an acrobatic flip "and what I have here might sway your judgment".
"Oh? Now that would be an impossibility. But I am willing to listen" Demiurge's soothing voice started invading his interlocutor's mind. But this time his defenses were up and thus he was unable to penetrate his thoughts. The strategist was pleased by this as it was indication that he had prepared himself for that encounter.
"W-Well! Listen carefully then! I am Cyrus Benningard, herald of the guild! I am here to seal a pact... with my master's blood!"
"It's not working. Another failure... but no more. This time, it truly is the last of my experiments".
Lord Ainz had had enough. The gasses from the supposedly miraculous hot springs near the Star City were effectively deemed unsuitable to his ultimate goal. There were no more miracles left for him to hope for. His skeletal hand moved away from the ampoule he had been so eagerly holding in front of Narberal's nose for quite a while. She blushed slightly while averting her gaze.
"I'm sorry lord Ainz. It could be my fault after all".
"No, please dont look so apologetic. It's not you who's at fault here. You have been a great help, Narberal. There may have been a miscalculation on my part. Perhaps this time I truly have nothing else to try".
Ainz finally exhaled a frustrated breath. His mind had been made up; he needed to confront Demiurge about the plan and get it over with. They had been staying in these lands long enough, if he wanted to settle the matter he had to act now. That was largely due to the need for him to satisfy Mare's wishes. He felt eager to enter the city as a benefactor. As far as he knew, there was nothing for him to gain at that point other than offering Demiurge another batch of exotic creatures to experiment on and knowing more about the mysterious negation of teleportation magic. The deaths of the homunculi maids inside Nazarick's walls were much more of a concern to him, as well as the upcoming meeting with the delegations coming to seek audience.
"I dont wish to burden Albedo more than necessary. This has to be settled smoothly and painlessly for everyone involved. One way or the other we will go back home".
"Understood my lord. Shall I accompany you?"
"Indeed, let us meet with Demiurge. I think its time".
Ainz and Narberal moved to the center of the encampment where Demiurge used to pass most of his time scheming and directing the preemptive war efforts. The cannons had been finally set up properly in anticipation of the coming bombing. That was the extent of what Demiurge intended to do before storming the city with legions of demihumans. However Ainz was keen on dissuading him from doing so. "Come to think of it, this is the first time that I see Demiurge employ such methods to get rid of an enemy. Did he develop a new taste for warfare proper? I guess I should have paid more attention to his war escapades".
Ainz's gaze scouted the area; there were several people he did not recognize, most likely Mare's friends. They seemed a lively bunch, chitchatting and gesticulating as if they had a desperate need for mutual attention. Ainz's mind immediately made the connection and his inner self smiled "How precious. To have friends so passionate is a gift. Perhaps there has been merit in my visit to these lands after all. That Mare managed to make new friends, in truth is a victory for Nazarick as a whole".
He paid no mind to them as he passed by. Ainz's gaze spotted Demiurge a bit far from his location, he seemed to be dealing with someone he didnt know.
"Hmm? That's a carriage. A rather expensive one at that. And who might that be I wonder... his traits are rather familiar. Could he be... no, that's not possible. It would mean that-" Ainz's train of thought stopped abruptly. There were two possibilities: either his sixth sense was wrong, or that was indeed an NPC. And his race appeared to be similar or equal to Shalltear's. A vampire to be sure but which level? And what kind of racial traits? Ainz needed to know. For the first time in decades, his human side felt a tingling sensation very similar to what mere mortals call "hope".