Chapter 8: King of Fools Part 1

The marble in the office room illuminated bright and full of the essence of Nazarick, while on some spots, changes and slight deformations on the walls could be seen. These were the Eight Edge Assassins, insectoid-like beings guarding Ainz at the current moment. Nothing was as clean as this room in the world. It was made perfect, cleaned every hour only for the Supreme Being to sit in it and look at some papers once in a while. It would seem like nothing to an outsider, but the maids of Nazarick found this to be a tremendous honor they could have.

"Did you come up with something, Demiurge?" A regal voice asked the Guardian standing before him, who bowed at the question with elegancy only befitting by a creation of the Supreme Beings

"Indeed. I have studied long enough to surmise it all. Still, it might be only a fraction of what you had in mind, Lord Ainz." Demiurge said in a submissive tone. He knew with all his wisdom and intelligence that the Supreme One had much more than he had to offer. And every day, he would be reminded of it in some way.

"I know that whatever you came up with isn't near my imagination!" He knew the Guardians praised him as an all-knowing god, but he relied more on them than they on him to be, frankly. "Then do tell, Demiurge." He said, on which the devil began saying a chant.

"Very well. First, I thought, how dare these lesser lifeforms claim land that has Nazarick upon it, and so conquering our surroundings by force would be the first thought. But that wouldn't be very wise, as more problems would arise after that and diminish Nazaricks resources at a higher price. Nations would reject us and send their armies to get back the territory we claimed. And we would be seen as the villains, and in some way, we are. So I made a new plan, one that I made out of two. Not only will we send envoys to the Re Estize kingdom on our west, but also the Baharut Empire to our east. We tell the kingdom to release their lands to us, as it is rightfully ours. Suppose they accept, of course, something that they certainly won't do. They will amass a small army, thinking of us as nothing more than some mercenaries holding their land in our hands. But before that, we will ask the Emperor of the Baharut Empire for an alliance and would promise to help him in the upcoming war which the two nations have each year. He will not trust us that we can change the flow of battle, so he will need some proof. We will send an envoy with force, showing him we are not to be laughed at. By my reports, he is an intelligent man, a man that overthinks many things over and over again. The easiest of targets to read for me. Then, with his alliance in our back, the Re Estize kingdom will be warier of us but still think of us the same way. They will think we are puppets of the Empire and try to force us out of here. Yet the first army they send will be decimated, with only one survivor to tell the tale. This will show them our true power. There will also be an emissary from the Empire witnessing the events. Further on, the-"

"Demiurge, that is enough!" Ainz stopped the devil, who was thought to have made a mistake somewhere. He quickly rethought everything, but to his logic, there were none. Yet the Supreme One acted this way, which meant he had done something wrong. He cursed his low intelligence for not scaling the fracture of a plan his master had made. Sometimes he would be like this, depressing and despising himself. He thought he was smart and could at least perceive his lord's plan a little, but this reaction from Ainz proved him wrong.

"He just kept on talking. I couldn't take it anymore!" His mind couldn't bear the force of his words any longer. He had to intervene. "Demiurge, we will send envoys to the Re Estize kingdom first. We will even offer compensation for these lands. And if that fails, we will implement the rest of your plan." Ainz commented to a somewhat devastated Demiurge. Yet he seemed to keep his composure as long as he was in the presence of the highest being in the world.

"You mean your plan, my lord," Demiurge replied.

"Of course, my plan…" He said, lying but to keep the happiness of his subordinates safe. "Now, if that is all, we should send the envoy as quickly as possible. Before this war between them begins."

"Yes, my lord." The demon replied with a sickening smile, thinking of who Ainz would send to them. "But I bear a question, my lord."

"What is it?" Ainz waved at the demon, signalizing he should shout out what was on his heart.

"Who will you send to represent yourself?" Demiurge asked Ainz, who didn't even truly know what he would do today afternoon.

"Ah, yes. Who will I send? Good question. I will send…Sebas! He has experience with the kingdom, as he is still there. So he will know how to act and all that. Please, wait a minute, Demiurge." Ainz was lucky to remember the one he sent as a spy in the kingdom. And chose him to do the job.

"Of course, my lord." The devil replied, waiting patiently before the office table of his master.

"[Message]"

{Sebas? Are you free?}

{Yes, my lord. What do you require of me?}

{You will be assigned a new mission. Make yourself ready with the others to go through a gate.}

{As you wish, my lord.}

Ainz ended the [Message] and focused back on Demiurge. He was just standing there, looking at him with his crystal eyes without making any kind of motions.

"Well, Demiurge. It seems Sebas will be taking over that part." He told him, and his expression shortly changed.

"Yes, of course. He would be most fitting. He quite understands humans very well. So it would be wise to choose him." Demiurge replied, not showing that he wanted to be the emissary. But whatever Ainz said must be the better plan. But he knew he would be the better choice, as he looked like a human, unlike him, who would be seen as an elf perhaps by the simple people.

Soon, a gate appeared in the mansion Sebas was staying in. He didn't know if he would return, but nothing was holding him down. It was just a place to live, nothing more. Solution and himself passed into the gate, leaving the kingdom and returning to Nazarick.

"Welcome back, Sebas, Solution." As they heard their masters greet them, they quickly went into position and bowed accordingly.

"My Lord." In unison, they said, and Ainz dismissed them with a hand gesture, letting them know they could look upon him and stand straight.

"Solution you may leave. I need to talk with Sebas." Ainz said, and the maid followed his order the instant he said it.

"As you wish, my lord." She hurriedly left the office, leaving only Demiurge, Sebas, and Ainz in the room.

"Sebas, you will be our envoy for this mission. You will be sent to the kingdom again, officially this time." Ainz explained to the butler, who listened to every word.

"Of course, my lord."

"Good, then we may do preparations until then."

Days passed, and on the surface of Nazarick was a carriage made out of the finest materials. Pitch black colored with golden linings on the edges. It had a symbol, the one of Ainz Ooal Gown, on the side doors printed on with shining golden foliage. At the front, two golem horses pulled the wagon, made out of terracotta and were quite big compared to normal ones. They were helpful creatures, and Ainz didn't want to use other, more monster-like horses to pull the carriage. He didn't want to scare the kingdom's people, or they would probably treat them as enemies. Yet surrounding the carriage at the front and the back were 4 Death Cavaliers each. They were undead of a relatively high level, perfect for protection missions. They had black-plated armor that pulsated as if alive. The armor looked sharp at every edge, and three spikes went from the bottom of their helmet to the top, standing proud in the air. Out of their eyesockets glowed a red fire, showing that this was not a human at all. Their horses were one-horned bycorns, armored as well, and with glowing red eyes like their riders. These horses would help in battle instead of regular ones. They wouldn't get scared by things normal horses would rather anger. If their rider fell, they would attack the enemy nonetheless, using their one horn to pierce everything that came their way.

"And Sebas, be polite. I know you will, but we want to start as peaceful as possible." Ainz explained to the Iron Butler, who listened with an iron visage.

"I will fulfill this mission with the best I can do, Lord Ainz." He bowed before Ainz for a second until he returned to his usual position.

"Very well, then, farewell, Sebas," Ainz said, and the butler only bowed once again to show his leave.

"Thank you, my lord." The butler stepped into the carriage and travelled off towards the vast plains of the grasslands. They travelled, going all the way to the capital of Re Estize. They passed E-Rantel but didn't enter for a stop. It wasn't their goal to go there. It would only cause more problems. And the horses were golems. They didn't need rest neither did the bycorns of the Death Cavaliers.

Soon hours passed, and Sebas found it somewhat troublesome to do nothing at all, to just sit in the wagon with nothing to do. He was a butler at heart and would love to fulfill this duty every hour of the day. But Lord Ainz commanded that he go to the kingdom to establish friendly relations with them. Still, Sebas doubted that the kingdom would accept from things he experienced there. Everything was corrupt, even the government. He wondered what Lord Ainz would do if they disobeyed his orders and his wishes. He knew he was even willing to offer compensation to them. What a forgiving master he had. Still, having his creator by his side would be great. There wasn't a day he didn't think of him, the World Champion himself. He didn't know what that meant, but out of his knowledge, it would be the strongest warrior in a world. What a fantastic feat to achieve^, Sebas thought. This was truly his creator, the most powerful out of the forty-one!

Then, after a long time of traveling, a wall appeared on the horizon, clinging from left to right. The carriage slowed in speed to approach the gate carefully, so the guards could get a look at the wagon.

"Captain! Do you see that?" A guard on top of the wall called out.

"Yeah! Seems weird! Can't really guess from this distance! Looks to be a carriage and some companions!" They weren't sure what it was, but they had a weird feeling about it.

The carriage neared the gate now more than ever, the Death Cavaliers at the front, and soon the weather changed behind them to a dark, clouded, and storm-filled environment. It was the coming of a disaster. But the guards did not know it yet.

"Greetin-" A guard spoke until the Captain of the Death Cavalier's eyes met his. They were pure red, glowing and letting some red smoke leave their eye slits. Their armor was pristine, something, not even the kingdom's knights had. It was covering their entire body, not leaving any openings to abuse. Yet it moved unnaturally, something the guards became aware of. They knew these knights were not their standard knights. "W-What brings yo-" The guard wanted to continue until the one in charge of these knights began to talk. Its voice was twisted as if multiple voices were laid on another.

"We are emissaries of Ainz Ooal Gown! We have come to meet with your king! Now make way." It said, its pure voice filling the fear in each of the three guards standing there. Emissaries were not allowed to be attacked, but these here were more of a special case. They seemed otherworldly, nothing these mortal guards ever encountered. Their Captain still tried to think of what to do, let them through and live, or probably die by these knights. They seemed dark in every aspect, unholy perhaps. Only their gaze frightened each and every one of them.

"G-Go through t-to the palace." The guard finally spoke, and the caravan went past them as he allowed them to do so. Every step their horses made gave them more dread. The horns these creatures had truly told them that these were not mere horses but something else. Maybe the guards would know what to have done if they had called a superior, but the strangers didn't seem patient enough to wait until one arrived. Maybe they would be executed for this, maybe not. But they could only watch as the carriage made its way into town, drawing the looks of every commoner to it. Kids were pulled back by their parents, and adventurers looked at the newcomers with fierce eyes, not knowing what these knights truly were doing here. But nothing put themselves in their way until.

"Stop right there, undead!" A childish voice called out before them, somewhat dulled but still of an age under 18. It was a masked girl in a red cape. Behind her, a pair of adventurers of Adamantite-ranked women. A huge one clad in violet armor made of adamantium, two ninja twins with barely any armor on, and the group leader, a holy paladin with a Sword of Darkness in her hand. "We won't let you come any further!" They took a stand, making themselves ready to fight the undead knights.

"Do you truly wish to do this? We are emissaries to meet your king!" The more outstanding undead knight said, still not convincing the Blue Roses, which the public soon recognized. They were cheered, and soon other adventurers joined them to fight the undead cavaliers. They all lined up against them from every corner, circling them.

"You think you can just walk in here saying that shit! Don't make us laugh!" The more muscular woman declared, swinging her giant hammer in the direction of the dark knights. The crowd seemed to agree, forming around the Death Cavaliers, ready to purge them at any moment. They threw rocks, potatoes even tomatoes at the Death Cavaliers, and they were lucky to have orders from their master not to engage until the last resort.

"Gagaran, you take the lead. You two sneak behind the ones fighting and try to distract them. Evileye and I will follow behind Gagaran!" Lakyus said to her team, her eyes not leaving the enemy out of sight. She pulled her sword out, which once belonged to a member of the thirteen heroes. It was black, pure black. Quite the contrast to herself. The blade was decorated with what seemed to be blurred stars, a feature unique to a sword.

"You dare to defy our master! In his glory, he sent emissaries to this nation. Now get out of the way!" The Death Cavalier spoke, this probably being his last warning. But he didn't quite know what to do. Their lord told them to be as friendly as possible and get situations like these out of the way. Yet these humans wouldn't stop.

"What seems to be the problem?" Suddenly a deep, charming old voice filled with wisdom entered the conversation. Blue Rose looked toward the newcomer to see a man clad in a black suit with grey hair and a beard. His face was genuinely handsome for his age, and he also seemed quite muscular. But the important thing was that he was a human, or at least he looked like one. Evileye couldn't detect any undead nature from him.

"The problem is these undead, coming in here! But who are you?" Lakyus asked the stranger, trying to figure out what his deal was. Now the situation got even more complicated.

"I am Sebas Tian, the emissary sent by my master to meet with your king. Would you be so kind as to step out of the way? It would be terrible if we would depart knowing the kingdom attacked us." He replied in a casual and neutral tone with no sign of hostility. It somewhat even calmed the people around him.

"I'm sorry, but we can't let any undead near the castle!" Evileye told the man, but he seemed somewhat more disappointed than angry. As if he didn't wish this would happen. Maybe he was a prisoner of this undead, so they could enter the city without notice. But she felt them being undead, even when she never saw one of them herself. They looked strong, how strong she didn't know.

"What is the commotion out here!" Suddenly, behind Blue Rose, the crowd opened and split, revealing a troop of Re Estize soldiers led by none other than Gazef Stronoff. The man scanned the happenings with his eyes, trying to see what had happened here before asking someone. He heard something was happening at the front of the city and went on to see what it was. He had to ensure the safety of the king and his subjects.

"Warrior-Captain, I see you have joined us as well. We found these undead here posing as emissaries of some lord of theirs, trying to sneak into the city unnoticed. But we still found them out." Evileye reported to the Warrior-Captain. He was still somewhat unsure about what truly happened.

"Long time no see. What brings you to the kingdom, Sebas Tian?" Stronoff asked the one in front of him. It was an elderly man guarded by some mysterious knights.

"We have come here by the command of my master. Ainz Ooal Gown." Sebas said, his face unmoving as his fear. He didn't want to harm anyone, but if they attacked him, he would have to defend himself.

"We have to attack them, or they might plan an escape!" Evileye said worryingly. Time was of the essence, but the following words from Gazef would break her mind.

"Let them through," Gazef said, stunning everyone around. They expected him to descend like a hero and stand with the people behind his back against these undead that dared to enter the capital of Re Estize. But that didn't happen. To their surprise, he told everyone to let them go further into the heart of the capital. Their mouths were agape, and most were confused, almost outraged by that motion. Even his soldiers looked at Gazef with worry.

"But Lord Gazef! These are undead!" Lakyus said in a sorrowful but fearful tone. She didn't have any real authority here, but the Warrior-Captain did. If it were for her, she would attack them on the spot. All her instincts told her to do so, but she could not disobey his command in his own country.

"Let them through." Again he repeated his last words, finally bringing the people to split the way in two and let the emissaries through. Blue Rose stood still for the moment, but as Lakyus looked into Stronoff's eyes, she saw that he wasn't joking.

"Blue Rose, disband." They also looked at her for a moment until they went out of the way, allowing passage for the envoys.

"Forgive me for these troubles, Sebas. I didn't know it was you that came here." Gazef came closer to the man called Sebas with a warm smile.

"A pleasure to meet you again, Master Stronoff," Sebas replied, getting a smile out of the Warrior-Captain.

"I didn't think we would see each other again. Please, continue with your caravan further to the castle grounds. I will escort your troop." With that, he looked at the knights behind Sebas, whom he eyed carefully. But knowing these were servants of the man that saved him reminded him that they wouldn't do any harm in the city.

"Very well, Master Stronoff." Sebas replied with a bow.

"You may call me Stronoff. It's enough." Gazef replied with a humble gesture, which the surrounding commoners found astounding. They knew he was just like them, but still, he kept his heritage in the high towers of the king.

"Then you may call me Sebas," Sebas answered equally honorable. Gazef smiled, for it wasn't common for people like Sebas or Ainz to exist. He then took off to guide the emissary to the castle. Still, Blue Rose eyed the undead suspiciously.

"Evileye, what were those?" Lakyus asked.

"I…I don't really know. I've never seen undead like that." They all looked at the caravan that went on to distance itself from them, leaving them on the spot, confused and frustrated.

On the way, many looks passed Gazef and the knights behind him. But nothing else was to be said. And as they arrived, all the guards in the perimeter hesitated to move forward and greet the envoys accordingly, but Sebas didn't mind.

"Let us be going then," Sebas said as soon as he exited his carriage. He liked the sense of walking again. Finally, not sitting was a thing he missed.

"Follow me. I will bring you to the throne room." Gazef said, and the butler obliged. And as they wandered the castle hallways, Gazef began to ask Sebas a question. "Tell me, the last time we met was in Carne Village. Did you move on with Lord Ainz? Or why has he decided to send you here to the king instead?"

"That is something I am not sure I will be able to tell. But you will soon know more if I speak with the king. Things will be clearer after that."

"Mmh, at least I know he is still around." He laughed. Sebas joined him but just for a short time. He couldn't act unprofessional in the service of lord Ainz, especially not if he was to make a good example before the kingdom next to Nazarick.

Soon the hallway changed, and the decorations seemed to stack up, increasing in beauty and quantity. Still, nothing compared to the interiors of Nazarick. It was just the best humans could master, but gods could create something on a whole other level. And Sebas knew that.

"Past this door is the throne room. I will not stand by your side but by the kings. Forgive me for that." Gazef told the Iron Butler, but he didn't seem pressured.

"No worries. I will survive it." Sebas said while gently chuckling. They stopped before a double door, on each side a guard. It was made out of fine wood, still nothing to Nazarick. Behind the door could be heard the rumbling of nobles, laughter, and whatever sound the high class made. Sebas knew this was the moment he mustn't let his lord down. Even if he could murder every being in that room with one move, he needed to rather talk with them. Something he could do but just wasn't his specialty. It was more one of Demiurge's quirks, but he wouldn't be welcomed by the kingdom, let alone let into the castle so quickly. Sebas could.

"Open the doors!" Gazef commanded the guards, who each reached for the handle and opened the door simultaneously, revealing a huge room decorated with golden chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. It was painted gold onto dark blue with a bit of purple. The style seemed to follow everywhere in the room, with blue walls and golden markings on every edge. It was a space fit to be used as a throne room, yet nothing compared to the great throne room Ainz possessed. It would put anything to shame, as his throne was literally called [Throne of Kings]. Meaning the one who sits upon it would be the king of all kings.

"Gazef. What brings you here?" The king said the moment he saw his Warrior-Captian entering the room. It was a moment he sought after, as the talk of nobles weakened him somewhat. Soon his gaze landed on the man beside him as well. He was a rather fine gentleman about his age but somewhat looked like Gazef in stature. The nobles surrounding the king upon his throne looked back, some in disgust and some with intriguing and curious gazes. Most looked at Sebas, soon talking and chattering about who this person was.

"My King. I bring envoys of the one named Ainz Ooal Gown."

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Rather short but a second part to this chapter will follow soon.