Breeding Issues

by The Ruff Pusher

Momon the Dark Hero encounters Zesshi Zetsumei. mature content/smut

17. Chapter 17

Note: This story is a work of fiction. It has many content of adult nature. If you do not want to read such content, please close your browser window or press the convenient back button.

This story uses the same setting as my other story "Momon, Big Black Changeling". Essentially, Ainz Ooal Gown is the same type of creature as in that story, although this and that story happen in different worlds.

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It was always fascinating to watch the Master's schemes unfold from start to finish; and watching everything falling neatly into place one by one, one after the other, with little to no deviations, until the circle is completed, the shadow has fallen over all, and everything has been clutched in the palm of His mighty hand.

This latest affair with the Re-Estize Kingdom was no different from all that Nazarick had done before. In fact, one could say it was the pinnacle of their previous works in that human kingdom, from the very first time that Lord Ainz had visited E-Rantel as an "adventurer". Slowly but surely, he had spread his influence wide, creeping like invisible, choking vines all over the nation, infiltrating to even its darkest roots, until there was no more chance to escape. And the majority of its denizens were unaware of all that had occurred, of the length and breadth of the Master's influence over their worthless lives. They knew him as the one who had ended thousands of lives at Katze Plain, nothing more.

Accordingly, there should be no reason to doubt the Master's mind when it came to the greater parts of His plan. It was not their place to doubt Him should something happen outside expectations; for even that was assuredly just another facet of His grand, unfathomable intellect. Still, for an accomplished schemer such as her, gifted this brilliant, infallible mind by one of the Forty-One, it was sometimes difficult to merely stand back and watch. Unlike the majority of Nazarick who were not similarly blessed like her, it was hard to dismiss such glaring flaws in the grand plan that they had orchestrated; to not see it as a potential danger that could risk the unraveling of this great tapestry that was just on the verge of being completed.

And it was Albedo's duty to ensure that it did not happen.

She sighed to herself. Currently, she was on her way to a certain meeting. It was only shortly after Ainz's grand proclamation, when the Guardians had since been dismissed. They were to stand by in anticipation of what the Re-Estize Kingdom would do next. Albedo in particular, being a mother who was also pregnant, was ordered to really stand by and do as little as possible.

Mentally, she ran through the plan, from start to finish, in an ordered sequence, one event succeeding the next, in a brief mental exercise that took no time at all to complete inside her head.

At first, Demiurge had been a major contributing factor to the plan, as it had been on the heels of his major assault on the capital city that had jumpstarted the whole process of slowly dominating the human nations near Nazarick into their control. Of course, it was obvious to anyone with the least bit of sense that Ainz-sama had already laid the initial foundations as a lowly "adventurer", which He had definitely used as a front to veil his true intentions. That was why it had been remarkably easy to subvert the human nations to their will, like the Baharuth Empire that had capitulated to Nazarick at just a snap of Ainz-sama's finger.

It was during the Holy Kingdom campaign that the first definite stirrings of a concrete plan for the Re-Estize Kingdom had taken root. By then, the puny humans were already in awe of the Master, particularly after He showed His might at the Katze Plains. Nazarick had established an embassy in the defeated nation, the powerful criminal organization known as the Eight Fingers had been subverted as their personal cats' paws, and they had even begun to employ turncoats as their own spies and minions in the highest levels of their government.

To use a term commonly used in the Mother's Hall, the dining table had already been set, and all the food was there and ready to be consumed. It then only needed the Master's explicit permission to proceed, which he had not for several months. This allowed herself and Demiurge to refine the plan again and again; adding and removing prime actors as it was needed.

Such was the situation a few weeks ago. Through various proxies and minions, they had pushed the Re-Estize Kingdom to a desperate point, though holding back just enough to prevent them from collapsing entirely. Being squeezed in this way, it was logical to expect these frail humans to commit something drastic, something desperate, that would only tighten the noose that had already been slipped around their necks.

Admittedly, in that time, Albedo had not been as focused on her tasks as she was supposed to be, owing to the many recent issues of concern to her, like her ongoing conflict with the rest of the mothers that Ainz-sama had gathered around him.

The subsequent declaration of war had surprised her, but since Ainz-sama had not said anything, she realized it was another part of his unfathomable plans; and so took it in stride. After consulting with Demiurge, they were able to conclude that this meant that the jaws of the trap were about to slam shut over their next prey, and that Ainz-sama was already pushing the plan forward without outright giving permission for Nazarick to act.

So far so good. They were able to observe the conflict with the Holy Kingdom from a safe distance, which also allowed them to rework their plans by minute degrees. This had even allowed their minions on both sides to acquire new assets of their own, which in turn bolstered Nazarick indirectly. The only question that concerned Albedo then was the end of the war: which way did Ainz-sama prefer? Would the Re-Estize triumph, or would Roble win the day? She had no doubts at all that the Master already had his hidden machinations in play, and she only needed to wait and see how it would end.

That had been her belief, which she had confidently told Princess Renner, one of their most valuable spies inside the Re-Estize Kingdom. The human had willingly betrayed her own for a minor trifle, and yet possessed an intellect that surpassed her fellows. She told Renner to keep Nazarick apprised of the war situation on her end, and to simply observe—as it was difficult to influence things one way or another without knowing if it would subvert the Master's plan.

But her confidence had then been shattered completely when the Re-Estize Kingdom, beyond all good sense and logic, had gone and invaded them.

She had recovered quickly, and fortunately enough she was inside Nazarick at the time, which allowed her the needed privacy to ruminate on what had occurred. At this point, she had not even been able to consult Demiurge yet, though she was sure the other minion was thinking the same as her. She was going to have to talk to the other demon as soon as she could, so they could compare notes about the current developments. There were various issues that needed to be addressed, particularly with the finer details about the conquest—should there be an actual conquest. But in this case, she was still more than 100% certain that this was all as Ainz-sama had intended.

For there was no doubt that this latest development, as surprising and sudden as it seemed, was yet another facade of the Master's plans. Therefore, though the event so destabilized their plans that it would take a long time to recover, Albedo was still ready to accede to the greater wisdom that it presented. And so, rather than look for ways on "fixing it", her mind swiftly adjusted its perception. By looking at the entire situation as a mere continuation of the plan as Ainz-sama desired, she was able to start thinking on adjustments to the plan.

She could also now see the possible consequences of the alternate path that had been so brutally forced open. With the foolish humans now pushed to the brink, it would now be far easier than ever to crush them beneath their boots—and in a "legitimate" and "peaceful" way as Ainz-sama desired. She saw no reason to pander to those assorted vermin that were yet outside their sphere of influence—if they wished to contend against Ainz-sama's ambition then they were free to break themselves futilely against His indomitable might.

"Haaah…" she sighed presently. "Ainz-sama, you really are a brilliant man…"

She was still very much confused about the matter of the ultimatum. Ainz-sama's words spoke plenty of peace and reconciliation, which was a laughable thing to even consider. Even if Ainz-sama was genuinely pushing for a peaceful transition to vassalage as had happened with the Baharuth Empire, the terms were far too generous than the vermin deserved for trampling on their sovereignty.

Then again, she also knew full well those unworthy insects would rather disembowel themselves rather than bow down to Master. Judging from the reports handed to her by their network of spies, it seemed a rather foregone conclusion that they would seek to undermine the terms of the ultimatum as they pleased. In that case, they were then far more likely to seek a course of action that could be considered unwise.

Was that it then? She wondered. Was it so simple? Ainz-sama had entirely predicted the minds of these lesser creatures, and had prepared this ultimatum not out of the "goodness" of his heart—of which she knew he had none. If, in the unlikeliest of scenarios they actually agreed to Ainz-sama's terms, then that was pushing the Re-Estize Kingdom closer to their orbit, ready for vassalage.

And on the other hand, if they strove to deny the ultimatum and defy Ainz-sama to their peril, then they would be crushed, unequivocally, with no one to mourn them. No one would come to their rescue, nor remember them as sheep that had been devoured by a ravenous wolf. Rather, they were a rabid dog that had to be put down for the "good of the realm", as Ainz-sama so eloquently put it. It was a brilliant plan, and she wondered why she had even doubted it in the first place.

She would keep her faith in the Master. That was her obligation as a member of Nazarick.

She stopped in her tracks, and narrowed her eyes when she heard voices in the distance.

Right. This little "meeting" was something of a mass farewell from all the mothers of Nazarick. It was organized for the sake Ainz-sama, whom they knew was going to be absent to manage the oncoming troubles with the Re-Estize Kingdom in his capacity as the "Sorcerer-King". It was reasonable to assume that he wouldn't be able to have time to spend with them for a certain amount of time, even if he had the capability of teleporting back as he wished. But all of them, even the ones not as gifted intellectually as Albedo, knew that sometimes Ainz-sama did not wish to be distracted, and this seemed the case now. As such, that meant a disruption to the scheduled orgies, and lesser chances for an impromptu visit by him as well.

She would not have minded the little farewell group, if it had not been organized by the one woman she detested most out of all the mothers there. And that was on top of her disdain for every other mother, who had dared to take away Ainz-sama's attentions.

Zesshi Zetsumei was an ever-present thorn on her side, one that she could do nothing about—yet. Back at the Mother's Hall, she had been the one to propose the farewell in a tone that would fool lesser minds into thinking was genuine and innocuous. But that bitch never acted without an agenda, which meant that even this small, sweet gesture for the Master was laced with sure hints of the half-elf's ambition.

She could not bear to trust the woman, even when they were nominal "allies" under the table. They had each agreed to work together to advance their own selfish aims at the expense of the rest—until they were the only ones left, by which time they would focus on eliminating the other in some fashion. There was something vile and repugnant about her intelligence, as befit someone who was a native to this world, filled with so much flaws. And yet because she had done something more for Ainz-sama, there were few who could contravene her, because she had the Master's explicit blessing, like some sort of magical enchantment that warded off any hostility. And then she had extended that very same protection to the other outsiders who had been unworthily added, bringing them under her fold like a mother hen and its chicks.

Frankly it felt reasonable for Albedo to refuse or oppose the organization of the farewell on any number of grounds. They were ostensibly to be rivals after all, and it would only look weaker for her, in the long run, to accept something that Zesshi had organized.

But the "bait" in this case was too enticing that she had no choice but to accept. The damned woman had pinned her in this position so suddenly, like an ambush attack; and her only alternative was to make up something better in the small amount of time they had. And while she did have a number of ideas on that front, it would have revealed her own hand too prematurely; and would also be seen by the other mothers as an all-too obvious, spiteful attempt at eclipsing Zesshi's proposal. (Which it was, she would not deny that)

"Ah, it's Albedo-sama!"

"Greetings, Albedo-sama!"

She blinked; her stormy thoughts interrupted by the voices of the Nazarick maids who greeted her. The greetings had come from the homunculi maids who were present there at the meeting spot, each of whom bowed respectfully to her.

She was surprised; as she hadn't expected any of them to be present at all. But, upon seeing the other mothers near them, it was easy enough to surmise that they had accompanied their assigned mothers here; and would also aid and accompany them afterwards. She felt a little leery of that—while the Pleiades were certainly "worthy" of Ainz's love (disregarding her own feelings about that), the lesser, weaker maids were another thing entirely. She did not know how she'd feel if Ainz-sama thought to add even one of them to his collection of mothers as well.

In response to their greeting, she inclined her head with pompous, royal majesty, making sure to give off that sort of inflexible impression on the gathered mothers. She was the Overseer, and she would be afforded the respect she wholly deserved, no matter what the others thought.

She cast a glance at the other mothers who were all assembled here. It did not take long for her to discover that almost every other mother was here, from those in Nazarick to the lesser outsiders—with the exception of Keeno and Zesshi Zetsumei. That sent a small surge of satisfaction through her body, even if she knew it was a hollow sort of victory.

The Pleiades were the next to greet her after the maids, each greeting her appearance with the appropriate respect. Yuri Alpha, Solution Epsilon, Lupusregina Beta and Narberal Gamma each curtsied or bowed towards her in their own ways. Each of them bore the clear marks of the Master's favor: from Nabe's thick, hanging breasts to the significant baby bump that her older sister Yuri was carrying. To these she returned another nod. She still begrudged them for taking away Ainz-sama's attention, but as they were fellow members of Nazarick, she could afford to be magnanimous. Though it still rankled that Lupusregina Beta, a mere Pleiades had gotten to love Ainz-sama before her.

Then there were the other mothers, but she didn't pay them the benefit of a second glance. She only recognized that not all of them were present, and that they were, quite infuriatingly, still alive and well. Beyond that cursory glance she saw no reason to give them any more attention.

Her primary concern now was the sole figure standing in the middle of the group, wearing her growing belly proudly for all to see. The vampire Shalltear Bloodfallen was always a sight for sore eyes, but at the very least this was a fellow mother for which she had to take extra special care. Though sorely lacking in wits like herself, the vampire possessed a strength, even in her pregnancy, that rivaled all the Guardians, and she had also been bestowed Ainz's love.

That made her a clear danger, added on to the fact she already hated the bitch on principle. And she knew the other felt pretty much the same way about her. Eternal enemies thrown together under extraordinary circumstances. What a farce.

As Albedo walked close, she could see the vampire's expression twist as it regarded her approach, her face half-obscured by the fan it was pressing against it. The look of scorn and disdain was quite unmistakable; bizarrely they were emotions with which she could empathize.

Luckily, it was easy to deal with Shalltear in a situation like this. The vampire's bite was dangerous, but never used against fellow members of Nazarick, for obvious reasons. She often preferred to use her acerbic tongue to bark instead, delivering scathing remarks with the same ease as remarking on the weather. So, all Albedo had to do was wait for the woman to fire off her opening salvo, and then she would take it from there.

Her prediction was correct, as the vampire was then quick to say: "And now we have the Overseer herself to join us. With this our sordid little party is completed; though it is clear it has not necessarily been brightened by your appearance, Albedo."

Albedo stopped and sneered. "My apologies, but you see, if I were any 'brighter' I could all but burn your stench from existence." She placed her hand under her chin and rolled her eyes. "But of course, we are not always blessed with such miracles, even today."

"You seem in a bad mood, Albedo," Shalltear rejoined without missing a beat. She fanned herself rigorously. "Are you quite sure the pregnancy's not affected you overmuch? Perhaps you need not join this gathering. I'm sure the Master will understand."

"On the contrary, I am still as fit and healthy as ever," Albedo replied smoothly. "And rest assured, this mood has nothing to do with you; it never does. And yet…" She glanced around, her eyes sweeping over the forms of the other mothers with haughty superiority. The maids and the Pleiades did not react, but the humans certainly did. Half quailed before her eyes, while the others stood there defiantly; if impotently, as they said nothing.

Shalltear seemed to have sensed the direction of her remarks, perhaps realizing Albedo was no longer attacking her. She lowered her small fan from her face, exposing her grimace.

"It surely is most unusual, is it not?" she said, half to herself, though Albedo could tell the question was directed at her.

"What is?"

"Surely Master would be most perplexed at this unusual formation of ours? It is a most uncommon performance; with an aim one might see as dubious. It is an idea that could only have come from a mind of lesser cunning."

"If that is your belief," Albedo drawled, "Then surely you would be better served by leaving this instant? After all, in your own words this formation is very perplexing. And the mastermind, as you say, is quite suspect."

Shalltear glanced at the front of her fan intently, as if she were reading some book. "We were certainly intending to, before we sensed your presence approaching. Now, our hesitation has been utterly spoiled. Whichever way the wind will blow, we now intend to be there. Come what may. Yes…"

Albedo snorted. It was very much in character for the harpy to always seek out the best ways to usurp her position, to become her superior in Ainz-sama's eyes unequivocally. The sheer gall enraged her, but not as much as the thought of—

"Ah, here you all are! Perfect!"

Eyes narrowing, a bestial growl all but stuck in her throat, Albedo's eyes turned to face the source of the new voice that had arrived. Here was the hated enemy, whose very presence was an affront to her on every single level.

The Bane of Nazarick, the Half-breed Bitch, the Irreverent Hussy—there were as many terms she could call Zesshi Zetsumei that she could muster in her mind. And yet, she could not utter them all, not even to the woman herself. They had an alliance of sorts, a delicate thing that needed to be maintained with some finesse. Ainz-sama's disapproval still rang loud and clear in her memory, that great humiliation of being forced to play second fiddleto a mortal outsider and one of the Pleiades. The honored, expected place of the Overseer herself, usurped by unworthy, impudent cunts!

Zesshi Zetsumei swaggered in from the side corridor, her expression bright and smiling, utterly oblivious (or so it seemed) to all the stares of hostility directed her way. The Three Firstborn, as the rest of Nazarick now called her babes, grew large and heavy inside her belly, which swayed saucily as she walked despite the near-rigid firmness of their shapes. If Ainz had been there to witness the sight, he would have been rightly enthralled.

Beside her strode the other hitherto missing member of the mother's delegation: the slight, diminutive slip of a girl named Keeno who possessed the same, starkly crimson eyes as Shalltear. She was the same as all the rest of them: proudly carrying within her rotund belly the proof of Ainz-sama's love. And just like Shalltear, the size of her belly was a lopsided contrast to her small body. Albedo paid that lesser creature no mind as she had done the rest, choosing to focus her ire elsewhere.

Zesshi presently beamed, pressing her hands together as she looked around the room. "It is heartening to see that everyone is present here," she said. "I'm sure Ainz-sama will be very much happy to see you all." Albedo noticed the other, weak outsiders slowly gather around her like mongrels greeting their master; with the exception of Clementine, who stood aloof by herself. The rabble curtsied and bid their greetings in hushed, excited murmurs, which only served to enrage the Overseer even further.

Filled with rage, Albedo marched right up to the half-elf. The surrounding mob scattered like baby chicks frightened by a rampaging ox. Only Zesshi stood poised, maddeningly smug as she stood her ground against her approach.

"Once more, I will present my question, deceitful creature," Albedo said. "And you will answer, damn you. What on earth put this foolish notion in your head? Don't you know this will only be burdening Ainz-sama even more? One good-bye is delay enough—now here's all of us arrayed here, all ready to take up even more of his time!" She snorted, and crossed her arms. "I'd thought you'd be more aware of what's going on inside the Master's head. The struggles he has to put up with everyday… This whole idea of yours comes from a good place," she took a deep breath, "I do admit… But it is fundamentally flawed." Now everyone's eyes were on the two of them, and Albedo relished the chance to publicly put the half-breed mongrel in her place.

"My dear Albedo," Zesshi replied, her expression never shifting once during her tirade. "Let me admit that I am aware of what this entails for the Master. I do know of the vast burden on his shoulders. But do you not see?" she spread her arms wide, as if to encompass all of them. "We are all simply here out of the goodness of our hearts, not out of any other form of obligation. This is the fervent expression of our love, by which we can communicate to Ainz-sama more than simple well-wishes and farewells can accomplish. Who among us here would actually pass up the chance to express our fondest emotions towards the Master? To surprise him with a little, humble expression of our affections, in our own ways." She looked around, still smiling. "I dare say we could have expected his displeasure, as you say, if we were doing this piecemeal." Then she raised her forefinger in the air. "But this is the cunning at the very heart of the plan. With all of us gathered here, pooling all our love and affection towards the Master, he won't be displeased! We shall employ strength in numbers to simply smother him and his grumpy self in our boundless love! So he shan't be angry at us, and furthermore, we would be able to say goodbye to him as all of us want to do. It's a win-win situation all around, in my opinion. Don't you all agree?" she asked, looking around.

There were several murmurs of agreement to that, though Albedo paid no mind as to their source. Her eyes remained fixed on Zesshi.

"Of all the stupid, hair-brained decisions that come springing into your pathetic head-!" Albedo all but cried. "Do you think the Master some roving army, to be defeated by your paltry attempt at a 'stratagem'? Don't make me laugh, human. You will accomplish nothing more but raise the Master's ire, maybe even give him a literal head-ache for your foolishness!" She snapped her fingers. "That for your surprise. But don't expect me to defend you when the time comes to point fingers."

Zesshi tilted her head, her expression shifting to something akin to pity. Seeing it only served to fan Albedo's fury. "Why are you so afraid to admit I might have a point? That I might actually be right about this? Wouldn't you of all people wish to see Ainz-sama happy?"

"You aren't right. Ainz-sama won't be pleased about it," Albedo said through gritted teeth. She shook her head. "But fine. Let this be on your head, then. Whatever happens, we shall gleefully point to you as the inspiration, no, the architect of this farce."

"Well, I should be glad for it," Zesshi said with a curtsy. "It is quite a large responsibility you are placing on my shoulders, but it is not as if I don't understand. I am honored that you would consent to put me on this pedestal. I may be inexperienced, but I am confident that I can perform the duties imposed upon myself with sufficient results."

Was the woman mocking her? Zesshi looked unfazed, and even looked more as if she was pleased by what Albedo had said. Was there no end to the woman's ability to infuriate her?

Shalltear appeared at her side, though the vampire was tactfully just outside punching range. An equally wrathful expression was on her face, and she was at the point before actually baring her fangs at the half-breed.

"Mayhap you can save your frivolousness for when you're about to be chastised by the Master for your inexcusable conduct? We have it on good authority that the Master will always extend the most appropriate punishments even for those like us… It would be fascinating to see what he will think for you." It seemed that even for Shalltear, the memory of that particular humiliation was still fresh and raw.

"Don't be absurd, Shalltear," Albedo said, rolling her eyes. "Don't you see she is quite fat with child? The Master is many things, but you know He is not completely merciless. The punishments, such as they are, will certainly be coming later… Perhaps."

"Ah, my apologies for making that assumption." Shalltear put her fan to her mouth, hiding the wide smirk on her face. "But you of all people should be aware: the Master can be cruel to even his playthings if the mood is on him."

"Is that so? I always thought myself as a benevolent Master, but perhaps I made too much of an impression on the both of you."

The sudden, booming voice rocked into her head as if a ballista bolt had smashed into it. She suddenly felt as if a great hole had opened up beneath her, dragging her to the deepest abyss. With her entire body trembling, her heart rumbling in her chest, she turned to face her Master. She was only vaguely aware of Shalltear beside her.

"Ah, Ainz-sama!" came Zesshi's voice.

When she saw his stalwart form standing there, she quickly averted her eyes in a bow. The words instantly came to her mouth without needing to think about it. "M-My sincerest apologies, Ainz-sama!"

He was transformed into the form of a man, or as the mothers knew it: the form of the Father. This form of the Master was the one who had mated with them the most, which had perhaps spearheaded their impregnations with his magnificent cock. But it was rare for him to use it outside of those moments—and an orgy out here in the corridor seemed quite inappropriate. Rather, he was even staring at them all with some bemusement on his rugged features, his chin cupped in his hand.

After a beat, Ainz-sama exhaled a long, drawn-out sigh. He uncrossed his arms before his chest and stepped forward.

---

It had been a great surprise to see them all there, standing around as if he had summoned them. Ainz felt like scratching the back of his head—were they all here to beg something of him? If so, this audience location seemed ill-advised.

He turned his head to address Demiurge and Sebas, who had accompanied him here. "You wait there. I have things to speak with these lot."

"By your leave, Master," Sebas said.

"Of course, Ainz-sama," Demiurge said. The two of them bowed and withdrew back to the corridor, ostensibly out of earshot.

It had been quite a busy time for Ainz. All of a sudden, he had gone from idle to overworked in a manner of hours, and it was all thanks to the Re-Estize Kingdom.

He had been walking leisurely to the Mother's Hall, debating with himself if he should start an impromptu orgy with whoever was in there. It didn't seem proper to do something like that in the middle of a tense situation. He was still waiting on the response to the ultimatum. It was not as if orgies were forbidden from being interrupted, but to hear news about anything related to it while he was in the middle of sex would be an instant buzzkill. It also would not only disappoint him, it would also probably frustrate his lovers: like if they were taking turns with him and they were interrupted before this one's turn came and such. It was rather like sneaking in a quickie before getting to work—would he risk ruining his office uniform to get his rocks off or would he rather put off sex for later? (The "he" from the original world had only ever heard his co-workers lament about this dilemma)

Then, just as he was warming to the idea of getting his beautiful lovers to give him a little oral service instead, a messenger had come from the Kingdom—delivered directly from Nazarick's embassy.

It read that they had just been informed of King Ramposa III's abdication from the throne, and of his proclaiming his son, Prince Zanac, as the next, rightful King.

It took Ainz a good moment to realize the implications of the message he had heard. For suddenly, he now possessed an actual King as a prisoner-of-war, and that made everything all the more awkward. He knew that there were protocols and guidelines to follow, but didn't this make things easier? As the new ruler of the nation, Zanac would be well-placed to begin negotiations immediately.

Accordingly, he summoned both Demiurge and Sebas, to oversee the transport of all the prisoners that had been captured. It was now more important than ever for them to be kept safe, as a way to bargain better with Zanac as a show of good faith. He had then resolved to head to E-Rantel together with them, in order to meet up personally with both Cocytus and Pandora's Actor for the next stage of the plan.

And then, along the way, he encountered this.

He glanced back at the assembly of mothers, who were each watching him intently in their own ways. He bowed gracefully towards them all. "My ladies," he said. They each bowed or curtsied in turn, carrying out a chorus of "Greetings again, Ainz-sama," and other similar words.

"You're all here," he remarked, though perhaps a little unnecessarily. "Why… What is…?"

"It was Zesshi," Nabe said suddenly. All eyes, including his own, went to the half-elf. "Zesshi told us that we should be here."

"I… see. Well, Zesshi?" He looked into the half-elf's beautiful eyes.

He decided to cut to the heart of the matter, and addressed Zesshi first. It did feel rather odd to learn she was the one who had arranged this entire assembly. But it did make sense, in a way, as it had been she who had invited him to this particular place. He didn't know why exactly she had specified this particular place, as there was nothing here that seemed relevant to what he was about to do. He had only come here with Demiurge and Sebas because Zesshi had asked him to be there at this specific time.

He had correctly surmised that she was trying to monopolize him by arranging a rendezvous before he left. But this unique assembly clearly outnumbered his expectations.

"Ainz-sama," Zesshi said in acknowledgement, as he approached her. "'Thank you for being here. Thank you for accepting my selfish request. Allow me to present…" she spread her arms dramatically to the side, indicating the other mothers. "All of us who wish to bid you goodbye."

"Ah, is that so, Zesshi…" He hummed to himself, and looked around at all the rest of them. "So this is what you were planning is it?" His eyes fell on Albedo and Shalltear, who were still bowing as deep as they could with their pregnant bellies. "Oh, raise your heads, you two. This isn't a formal affair." The two Guardians tentatively lifted their heads as directed, though their eyes wandered around, as if they didn't want to look at him.

"There's one thing I don't understand, though," Ainz said, scratching his chin. "Why did you do this at all? This all seems… erm…" He cast around for the right word in his head. "Too grand a spectacle, or something. As far as I can tell there's no big event to commemorate, nor is there something to celebrate."

"Indeed there is not, Ainz-sama," Zesshi smoothly replied. "However, it is true that you will be off to do what you must do, right?"

He blinked at her earnest expression. He shrugged. "Well, yes, of course. These current developments do require me to be a little more 'hands-on'… but…"

"Well, there's your answer!" Zesshi said cheerfully. "It's like you're going off to some important duty, and as such it is our duty as your lovers to see you off properly. To bid you farewell, to leave you with a memory of us, after which we shall be earnestly praying for your success—and your safe return. I only asked all of them to be here because it seemed unfair to exclude any of us from being able to say goodbye to you."

Ainz chuckled. "Well, well. Indeed, you have a point." He felt something odd and warm in his chest, after hearing Zesshi's words, and after looking out at all of these women, these pregnant mothers who had each showed them their own love and affection. It did feel rather appropriate for them all to say goodbye to him. In a way he felt more like a man of the house than ever before. It was not just Nazarick, not just these mothers, but the children in their bellies which needed to be protected and nurtured. They were his future. And he would move heaven and earth to see it realized.

"Well then, it appears that thanks are in order," he said a little more loudly. "To all of you who have gathered here—I thank you for the kind gesture. The sight of you all here gives me more joy than you could possibly know."

He could see them all smile to that, with their faces flushed, their eyes wet with unshed tears. He spread his arms wide, as wide as his transformation could allow, and then said, "Come then. Let me embrace you all at once. You are, after all, my precious things."

Before he had even finished, Zesshi Zetsumei was already there, charging right into his chest and snuggling close. Then not even a second later, both Albedo and Shalltear collided with him with great force, so strong that it was as if they were assaulting him. It took a bit to balance himself, to stop his body from being bowled over. Then the rest of the mothers followed suit, sidling close and sticking together to fit into the space set by his open arms.

When they were all there, he closed his arms together, but found that he couldn't even make his two hands meet. Chuckling in amusement, he settled for just laying the weight of his arms on those outside, putting a slight squeezing pressure so he could press all of them closer to himself. He looked out from the circle and saw that the homunculi maids were standing clear, as if it wasn't "proper" for them. His eyes went to one maid in particular, who caught his eye and flushed. Only time would tell if that one would actually gain the right to join in on gatherings like this, he thought to himself.

He looked back down. It was clear by the look of their faces that they appreciated this grand gesture, judging from the way they each looked like kittens being groomed, with closed eyes, puckered mouths, and bright red flushes. Their combined warmth was remarkable to feel so close to him, and the various scents that reached his nose turned into a potent cocktail of their familiar musk.

"Ainz-sama…"

"Ainz-sama…"

"Ainz-sama…"

They each murmured to varying degrees. The feeling of superiority from before returned as he beheld them all, collected within the reach of his arms, with every one of them carrying his child. This wasn't a family as he knew of it, but it was close. Albedo apparently disliked Zesshi, and perhaps others hated each other as well. But by the end of the day he hoped they remained as a "family".

Finally, after a long moment he let go and stepped back, allowing them to separate from the mass, and thereby giving them some breathing space. All the mothers were looking down, blushing, looking quite bashful at what had just occurred. For that moment he had completely forgotten all about the Re-Estize Kingdom, or about ultimatums, or about Kings.

"Ainz-sama, if it's not too much trouble to ask…" said Kelart suddenly, breaking the silence of the post-embrace moment. "Will you be gone long?"

Her question seemed to spark something powerful in the eyes of the other mothers, and it was as if he was staring down a pack of literal wild beasts. He had seen those motes of desire before, and it was usually when he stepped into the room designated for orgies. He smirked. All these women were insatiable in their own ways.

"Hummm… let's see…" Ainz said in reply, while glancing up at the ceiling. Unfortunately the question had brought back thoughts of business. "Well… Our recent trouble with the Re-Estize Kingdom is something serious, as I will need to handle the delicate situation carefully." He looked around at them, and glanced at Keeno in particular, who was once from that Kingdom. "Personally, I would hope that the Kingdom will not be fools and will submit to the terms of the ultimatum completely. That is the only way that I can see where we can achieve peace without further bloodshed." He shook his head. He hoped that the newly crowned King Zanac would be able to see things with the proper manner. He didn't want to threaten him, and instead appeal to his noble nature to prevent more bloodshed from happening.

But if it came to a choice between the King's people and his own… "If, however, they do not see sense, then I will have no choice but to send in the legions of Nazarick."

"As is your right, of course, as the Wise King who Rules over All," Albedo proclaimed.

"Yes, indeed, for thine is the Might that Overshadows All," Shalltear was quick to follow. For some reason there were some giggles from the maids.

"And if war really is on the table," Ainz continued. "I shall do all that is in my power to ensure it is led to a safe, proper conclusion. For the Re-Estize Kingdom does not know that in starting hostilities with me, then they have also declared war on all of you here who are under my protection. And that also includes those babes growing inside you. I will show no mercy to those that threaten all that I care for. This I swear, to all of you. I will keep you safe."

They all stared at him in wide-eyed, worshipful silence. He coughed and cleared his throat. "So then, please do expect me to be busy for that time. But that does not mean I will take long to return here to Nazarick. I do have the luxury of returning any time I wish, after all. So don't worry; I won't be gone for too long."

"My lord," Albedo then asked. For some reason she looked anxious. "If things do indeed head to war, then what will happen to the Re-Estize Kingdom?"

He shrugged. "I don't think I can rightly tell you that, at this point. Plans can change quickly." Then, something stirred in his memories, as he then glanced at Zesshi. "However, when I return there is something that I will need to—Zesshi, please be minded that I will need to see you once I return."

She bowed. "I am ever in your service." She seemed to glance at something to the side for a brief moment. "But what is it, my lord?"

"Oh it's just…" Ainz sighed. "Just a trifling thing. I'll elaborate later." He walked over to her and placed a hand on her large, distended belly. He could feel the pulsing, warm presence of the triplets within, having grown so much over the past months to this point. The healers told him they were almost ready to greet the world properly. But the timing was bad, what with this new development with the Re-Estize Kingdom. It was not only her—some others were also likely to pop out in the unlikeliest of circumstances. Clementine and Lupusregina were just as likely to give birth first, though it was not considered ideal for them and their babies.

But he was determined that no matter what, he would be present for the birth of his first children, the Firstborn. He was going to have to make arrangements, even in spite of whatever would happen with the Re-Estize Kingdom.

"I know you're already used to hearing this again and again for me," Ainz said. "But in my opinion it will always bear repeating. Each and every one of you must take care. Every. One. Of. You. Bear that in mind whether I am here or if I'm out there, seeing to business. The safety of mother and child is to be considered sacrosanct inside Nazarick, and I hope that none of you ever does anything to jeopardize that. Am I clear?"

"As you wish, Ainz-sama."

"Yes, Ainz-sama."

He smiled at them. "Now, thanks to Zesshi, I've been given an opportunity to greet you all farewell."

Then he turned and embraced Zesshi first, whose body jerked for a moment, as if she was surprised by his sudden action. Then she relaxed into his arms, and he felt her own arms snake around his back to give him a return squeeze.

"I will see you soon," he said, as he disengaged from her embrace. She looked sad to be separated from him, and he felt much the same. He turned to repeat similar gestures of affection to the rest of his lovers.

The closest were the Pleiades. A blushing Yuri Alpha greeted him with none of her usual reservation, and as they kissed, she pushed her body against his front fervently as if she was afflicted by an all-consuming cold that only he could ever warm. "I shall ever be your faithful Servant, my lord," she said, after they stopped.

After the long kiss, Lupusregina Beta kept on biting at his earlobes and scratching at his back with her sharp claws. She kept on sniffling, as if she was soaking in his scent. "Crush them beneath your feet, Ainz-sama," she all but growled.

In contrast, her sister Solution Epsilon was a lot demurer, and surprisingly did not even speak. But after kissing him with her long, almost prehensile-like tongue, she shifted a part of her body, pressing a small pseudopod—an arm of her other form—on top of his skin. He transformed that part just a bit to receive it, and the effect was akin to a full-bodied embrace, an exchange of feelings spread throughout his body that just couldn't be put rightly into words.

Narberal Gamma was a fervent kisser. She stuck her tongue bravely inside his, jousting against his own without abandon. He was pleased by her apparent zeal to please him, and he spent a little more time basking in her embrace. Still, he pulled back just in time, and watched her face turn into almost a slushy mess, before being able to reform back into her normal, flushed face. "Please! Come back soon! Ainz-sama!" she all but squealed.

Next, from the Pleiades he moved on to those he had taken from the outside. First was Clementine, whose sly face betrayed little of the woman he had seen before, on that brief excursion outside. She looked cold and standoffish at first, but when he kissed her, her mouth was certainly quite insistent on revealing her passion towards him. "You give 'em hell, Ainz-sama," she said, giving him a small punch.

Next was Neia Baraja, another blonde, who quivered as he approached her. She still had not reached the stage where she could be comfortable with the others in the group, but at least at this moment she seemed as brave and confident as she usually was when it was only the two of them. After breaking from the kiss, he felt her press something into his hand.

"Hm?"

He looked down at the object in his hand. It was something small and tiny, that made jingling sounds. "What is this?" he asked.

"Oh, it's just a good luck charm," Neia whispered bashfully. "To help protect you, my lord."

"Ahh…" He smiled, and pocketed the item. "I am honored by the gift, Neia. I feel safer knowing I keep a part of you with me." She said nothing more to that, as she'd turned away with a face as bright as a tomato.

The next were Calca Bessarez and Kelart Custodio, who came together. They each bowed formally to him, before running into his arms, with one woman tucked under each of his. Accordingly, he kissed each of them in turn, leaving a fine thread of saliva to linger between their lips.

"My lord, I wish you the best of luck with negotiations," Kelart said, in a dreamy voice.

"If you wish for my counsel, then please ask," Calca said, coiling a finger idly through her hair. "As a former Queen, I do have some experience in the art of negotiations."

While that seemed a tempting offer, he could not risk Calca or any one of his wives outside of Nazarick. So, he said instead, "I will think on it. Your advice would be much appreciated." The two women flushed, and after another murmured farewell, stepped back.

Keeno was next, and she quietly made her presence known to him by literally pulling down the front of his clothes so she could mash his lips on hers. It was what she had done many times before as she asserted her full rights as his lover, and now she did it under the watchful eyes of the rest of the assembly. After the long, sloppy kiss, she buried her forehead into his chest.

"Please don't be too harsh on them," she said in a hushed voice. He knew that by "them" she was referring to the Re-Estize Kingdom.

"Hm, I will consider it," he said. "But as I said, I must take steps to protect all of you."

After her was Shalltear, who tried to one-up Keeno by enforcing a long probing kiss with her mouth. Unfortunately, she missed the mark, as she was yet again doing it in a way that would seduce, which would have worked—had his mind not been fixed onto his duties for that moment. And so, after breaking off the kiss, he saw Shalltear look wide-eyed at him, surprised, as if she had expected him to take off her clothes and breed her then and there.

"Thank you, Shalltear," he said, smiling at her.

"Um, um, um," she stammered.

"Please take care of yourself," he warned. "That's an order."

The last mother he went to was the only real one left: Albedo. The Overseer swooned into his arms as he kissed her goodbye. It was almost like she was mimicking Shalltear in enticing him to fall for her precious body, presented so easily. But he was obstinate; in particular because he did have some words to say to her.

"Remember, none of this foolishness while I'm gone," he said.

"Yes, my lord."

"Technically, you are still the Overseer, and thus you are in charge with my departure. But circumstances are different. You are not to exert yourself too much in the work, let alone resume your duties as you normally do."

He could tell she wanted to protest, but she recognized the futility.

"Demiurge will take over," he continued. "He will take over the bulk, and will assign you certain pieces of work that you can handle. It bears repeating again, you must not go over his head in this. You will only strain yourself, and I do not want that for you, nor for the children." Then his voice softened. "But let me just say, Albedo, that I am indeed proud of all that you have accomplished. I know that you will succeed in this task," he said pointedly, rubbing at her belly, "As also with the rest."

"… Very well, Ainz-sama."

"And when I come back, we should certainly start by thinking up of names for the babe. How's that?"

Her face suddenly bloomed. "Oh… yes! Yes!"

He kissed her again, to affirm their feelings. Strangely enough, before he'd even disengaged, he could sense the tears all but rolling down her cheeks. She was actively sniffling, as if some cat were just nearby to trigger her. He wiped away her tears. That the Overseer was crying was a completely unexpected development—so it was indeed true that the secret hormones were doing their work, as the healers declared.

He bid goodbye to the maids as well, but obviously not in an intimate fashion. Once again his gaze lingered on one of the maids in particular, who smiled serenely at his attention. He glanced down at her navel before thanking all the maids for a job well done.

"With that done," he announced later. "I would like to bid you all goodbye for now." He spread his arms wide towards the gathered mothers. "Come into my embrace, one more time."

This time Zesshi was yet again as fast as ever, securing a spot right close to his beating heart.

"Be mindful of what I've said," he announced. "All of you."

After the second large embrace was done, Ainz summoned Demiurge and Sebas, and they both walked past the group to the other side, where a portal was ready to take them all to E-Rantel. He transformed, and this time he was the powerful skull-faced Lich Ainz Ooal Gown—which this world knew as the Sorcerer-King.

---

They all watched him disappear, and when he did walk through the portal together with the other two, she could feel a collective sigh of relief from the gathered group. It was as if the farewell itself to Ainz-sama had been tainted by an unknown, invisible, intense pressure, which did not leave until Ainz-sama himself had already disappeared. Paradoxically, Albedo knew all of them also felt the keen sense of longing and affection for the Master, a warm afterglow from when he bestowed his favor upon them separately.

Upon Ainz's disappearance, the cohesion that kept the mothers together seemed to just dissipate like morning fog. After a few lingering glances at each other, and in particular one long searching glance at Zesshi Zetsumei, the rest of the gathered flock turned about with hardly a murmur and went their separate ways.

The diminutive outsider, Keeno, went in the direction of the bed chambers, ostensibly to rest. After a quick, nervous glance around at the rest of them, Neia Baraja followed after her, skulking back to the privacy she seemed to crave.

All the pregnant Pleiades went off in another direction, perhaps intent on a private meeting of their own. Much of the homunculi maids followed after them, each giggling and chattering excitedly among themselves. It seemed as if the maids of Nazarick were wont to stick together.

The two humans, Calca and Kelart, were the next to leave with their own maid entourage. She observed them heading in the direction of the bathing area, which did explain the presence of their maids close by.

She almost missed Clementine slipping away, but her eyes would not be fooled. The insolent girl went where no one did, perhaps to find some hole to bury herself in. That would be a welcome improvement, in her opinion.

Only Shalltear was the other mother left. The vampire looked as if she was off in her own world, utterly oblivious to anything. Then she frowned, her eyes looking like they had returned to the present. She glanced at Albedo, then at Zesshi.

"What a lovely little farce," she proclaimed, snapping her fan against the palm of her hand. "Though the entertainment did provide a sliver of value." She huffed. "But we grow tired. The Master requires that I tend to my young. And so I bid you two adieu, for now. But mark my words…" She narrowed her eyes. "This isn't over." It was clear from just a glance that the vampire was distracted by something, which made her seemingly forget her previous animosity.

Albedo touched her lips. The lingering sensations of his kiss were still present there, and the tingling wavs of pleasure still coursed through her body, making her feel as if she were burning from the inside out. She wanted nothing more at the moment but to pounce on Ainz-sama, to rip away his clothes, and then…

She took another breath. She turned to face Zesshi Zetsumei, who was still right next to her after everything was done.

When the Master had told the bitch that he would be coming for her personally afterwards, something seemed to snap inside Albedo's mind. Though the Master was still there, she wanted nothing more than to reach over and ruin the half-elf's face with all the power she could muster as a Guardian. Her rage had only softened when the Master had gotten around to kissing him. The burning fire in her heart was replaced by the simmering heat of passion—even for a small moment.

Now the dragon lurking within the embers arose once more. She looked at Zesshi, who also looked like she was content to stay in the beautiful little world inside her head, and said to her, "Heartwarming though it might have been, anyone with sense could see that it was a very big farce. Everything that has happened has played directly into your hands."

Zesshi blinked, her eyes focusing back on her. Albedo shrugged. "I must say, it was a masterful plot. Now you cannot even say that anyone among us, not even the Pleiades, would claim this idea to have been a bad one. Your plot was a rousing success, and even Ainz-sama thinks so."

Zesshi bowed, as if to acknowledge Albedo's praise. "Your words are always so kind."

"But one does wonder—" Albedo continued, with chin raised, her eyes boring right into the offending half-breed's, "If there is something more to your plan than meets the eye. Allow me to speculate, if you can spare the time."

Zesshi tilted her head. "By all means, Albedo."

"By successfully executing this plan you have managed to win a great coup, earning a surge of popularity among all the mothers in this group. You secured the loyalty of those who were already favorable to you. You will also glean a varying amount of respect from those who once viewed you with hostility or suspicion."

"My lady, you are entirely free to speculate."

"Regardless of your 'true' intentions, the results speak for themselves. It is clear enough to see the main thrust of your planning. You wish to garner popularity here, is that it? How facile. Not even the most brilliant of plans will ever change who you really are."

"And what," Zesshi said, flashing a smile of her own. "Pray tell, is that?"

"An outsider."

Zesshi scoffed. After a moment she said, "Would you care to join me for a meal? I find myself rather starving after today's excitement. And we both know our precious babies need all they can get. We can talk more about what you think my intentions are."

Instead of answering, Albedo turned on her heels and left, the dark rage seething inside her heart. She fought to keep her emotions down, as the healers said that hysteria was ill-advised for the baby's sake.

Her wrathful steps eventually led her to the communications room. It was a relay established inside one of the secure areas in Nazarick. It housed one subordinate Lich who had been re-tasked by Ainz-sama to oversee several powerful enchantments. In this case, the spells present allowed them to contact their embassy at the faraway Re-Estize Kingdom, without needing to resort to opening a Gate. As the embassy was also the nexus for the spy network established there, it was also a place to gather new information from informants directly.

The Lich's spells could also allow instantaneous communication through means more secure than Message to other individuals. Albedo had not been built by her Creator to be specialized in magic, so she could not imagine what sort of spells were involved. But apparently, the Master had taught his own spells to the Liches in these rooms, which enabled the usage of a potent communication spell.

At her command, the lich bowed its skull head and pointed silently to one of the chairs. In front of it was a table, and on top of the latter's surface was a small, shiny gem. Albedo impatiently picked it up and held it out in front of her. She nodded towards the Lich, saying, "I'm ready."

The Lich pointed at the small gem, and the light within it flared for a brief second. Albedo settled in the chair; her brows furrowed as she tried to master the wrathful thoughts that swirled within her mind.

As she clutched the gem, various images flashed in her mind, one after another, as if she was viewing it through her own eyes. At first, she was inside a certain city, at a particular street, where filthy humans were walking. Then she was inside a filthy house, with many humans lying around like corpses. Then she stood in the middle of a sumptuous garden, where a young couple was fornicating behind the bushes. Then the image blurred, and she was walking inside the corridor of some important-looking place, with red, embroidered carpets, where men in plate armor marched importantly from place to place.

Then, the image shifted once more, and she was floating high above some chamber, a lounge of some sort, with various chairs and tables below. Her gaze instantly focused on a figure seated alone on one of the chairs—a beautiful young girl dressed in royal finery, sipping a cup of tea.

Albedo cleared her throat. "Princess Renner."

The girl's shoulder shook, her eyes widening in surprise, before it instinctively looked up at the ceiling. The girl seemed to be looking directly at Albedo, but she was not actually there.

After a brief second, the girl's look of surprise disappeared. She inclined her head in what seemed like a respectful manner. "I greet you, my lady. How may I serve once more?"

"Are you alone?" Albedo demanded.

Renner glanced to the side. "I am alone, but I fear there are ears here in the Palace."

"Then relocate yourself." The shadow demons that acted as the Princess' bodyguards would be able to alert them to any eavesdroppers, of course, but they were forbidden from doing anything about them. They need only report their presence so nothing important was ever divulged, and then, if possible, the eavesdroppers would then in turn be observed.

"As you wish, my lady."

Albedo observed as the young woman rose from her seat and started busying herself with dainty movements. The Princess walked outside the room, where she issued instructions to a pair of servants waiting outside. Then she started walking, navigating through the corridors of the massive palace she was in towards a new destination.

And that destination seemed to be in her own bedroom. After going inside, she locked the door behind her. Then, she went to her vanity and sat next to it.

"I am ready, my lady," she said, after a brief pause.

"Very good," she said. "It has come to our attention that the matter of the invasion has concluded in accordance to what was already predicted. What is the situation on your end?"

Renner bowed her head. "As I have stated in my most recent report, my lady, the King has already decided to abandon his claim to the Throne, abdicating it in favor of my brother, who remains captured under your banner."

"A most unexpected outcome, is it not?"

Renner shook her head. "It was among the least likely according to my independent analysis. Though judging from your tone, my lady, you had already expected it all?"

"Perhaps," Albedo demurred. There was no need to inform this insignificant mortal that the sudden abdication had raised eyebrows, and had indeed changed the plan that was still in the process of being enacted. Suddenly, Ainz-sama was in possession of the monarch of a foreign monarchy as a prisoner of war inside his own nation, which utterly complicated matters. That was probably why he was so intent on departing just now.

Renner continued to speak. "Understandably, the King's sudden decision has been a great shock to the entire nation. But it has affected the nobility most of all. Well, those who still remain loyal to the Crown, that is."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Since the announcement at the Capital City, there has been something of an exodus of the nobles who had initially been here at the start of the war. Rumors about them have already begun to circulate, and by my analysis, there is no question about it. They've returned to their estates and it is a good chance they are arming themselves to become Marchers."

"I seem to recall your previous report stating that all the nobles had been recalled to the Capital by royal decree."

"Yes, my lady, but the Capital is now in chaos. It is an unfortunate result of the weak, undisciplined minds of normal humans when faced with sudden adversity. With the King's abdication, and the news that my brother—a prisoner of a foreign enemy—has been named successor… Well, confidence in the Throne is lower than it has ever been. The people are confused, and chaos is brewing down among the commoners… And among the nobles, a definite fracture has formed. There are the few truly loyal to the Kingdom, then there are the 'loyalists', and then those who have already fled. Nothing and no one barred their flight."

"The explanation is sound. Pray continue."

"As I had said, there are those who still profess loyalty and remained at the Capital. But unlike those I know who are utterly loyal to the King's last directive before his abdication, they now plot to take control over everything."

"A hostile takeover? A coup?" Albedo wondered.

"Yes."

"How have you acquired this information?" She narrowed her eyes. Though she didn't much care for the mortal's fate, if she were to be captured by hostile forces, there was a chance she would reveal Nazarick's involvement with her. Of course, contingencies had been in place from the start, but Ainz-sama always emphasized the importance of being thorough with everything.

The Princess chuckled. "It is simple. Some of them have approached me."

Albedo made a hum of understanding. "They intend to use you?"

"As a woman, I may never inherit," said Renner. "But I have the blood. I am yet unmarried, as well, which makes it easy for them to see me as a possible pawn to use. They will raise up one among their own to be King, founder of a new dynasty in opposition to my brother. And in marrying me, they will secure some legitimacy."

"And what did you tell them?"

"I have said nothing definite yet." She paused, as if she were thinking on something. "Truth be told, I wished to wait for your instructions. Thus far I have been acting as my brother's ally, and so therefore it would be strange for me to accept becoming a figurehead without something in return. In fact, it would be more in character for 'the Princess' to report this to Father. He still has some influence left, after all. But then again, with the situation so fluid, I thought it best to go with whichever goals you had in mind for me."

"To answer that question, you may first need to answer one yourself. Let us assume then, that they have taken over the Kingdom, in name at least. What do you think they would do with regard to the Master's ultimatum?"

Renner smiled. "I know for a fact, My Lady, that this group of nobles have only formed for this purpose precisely because of the ultimatum. In their words, they will not bow to any foreign aggressor, and they will preserve the honor of the Kingdom, by any means necessary. They have seen the King's abdication as betrayal, of my brother's ascension as weakness, and the Master as a definite threat that needs to be defied. And so they will reject the ultimatum utterly."

"Even if it jeopardizes their current war with the Holy Kingdom? I don't imagine that all those who left will be good for the Kingdom's stability in the long run."

"Indeed not, My Lady. But I am sure that the commander of the army, Pespea, is part of this conspiracy. I believe that is why they were confident in approaching me. They already possessed the important people who would be instrumental to their cause. If they did not have the Marquis's support, then he would be obliged to turn the army around and besiege the Capital instead."

Albedo snorted. "So they fully intend to remain fools. Very well. At the least they can be useful for something—to further the Master's grand ambitions."

"My Lady?"

"You ask me what your role should be. I will tell you." The idea had been forming in her mind ever since the report on these conspirators had come. With these mortal idiots on the helm, no possible peace would be possible, and Ainz-sama would be allowed to crush those fools underfoot as much as he pleased.

"You will allow this conspiracy to take root. No, you will allow them to succeed. Can you do that quickly?"

For a moment, Renner just stared at her reflection in the mirror. Then she said, "Yes… I see…. I understand, My Lady. If that is your wish…"

"Do understand that in all likelihood you will not even need to marry," Albedo said, cutting in. "So if that is your concern…"

"Oh no no! I do understand. Yes, it can be done. I can certainly do it."

"The sooner it is done, the better," said Albedo. "And the sooner you will be rewarded for your work."

At that, something like a genuine smile came over the princess' face. "Oh my, yes. I do look forward to it. If My Lady wills it, then it shall be done. Everything… Everyone… must go."

"We will get to that part," Albedo said dismissively. "In due time."

"Then by your leave, My Lady," Renner said. "I go now to contact the conspirators again. With any luck I can persuade them to act quickly."

"Very good." She terminated the connection and leaned back on the chair. She smiled. Though there were many bumps and distractions along the way, everything was still proceeding as He had envisioned. She was pleased by how quickly her pawn had accepted its role; perhaps she would indeed reward it handsomely as it so desperately desired. It would only be right to feed a loyal dog for performing its duties admirably.

---

The hours bled slowly like sand falling through the hourglass. He watched the sun's descent through the nearby window, watched the rays move across the room inexorably, until the orange shade of sunset filled the room.

Though he be a prisoner, Prinze Zanac appreciated that the Sorcerer-King was a better gaoler than most. He and his men were sequestered in an area that resembled a barracks more than the dungeons in his own home, with dank, moldy walls dimly lit by a few torches, mixed with the ever-present sound of rats scurrying underfoot. He had woken up from a dreamless sleep to find himself inside this room. In here there were several beds of unusual design, like two small beds stacked on top of each other like building blocks; with just enough room between them for people. All told, there were five beds here, which made for ten people including himself, confined inside this small chamber.

Food and water were readily available. Stacks of bread were delivered to their room daily, still warm and soft as if they had still been taken fresh from the baker's oven. Their room also possessed a pump-like device that allowed one to drink off the small spout, bringing fresh cool water to soothe their thirst as needed. It was far better treatment than one expected as a prisoner of war, as the men around him attested. They had each been captured in the past for some reason or other, and the necessity of the times did not allow for this sort of luxury to be afforded to captured enemies. It was frankly unbelievable, to a frightening degree.

Many even wondered if this was not just an elaborate illusion cast by the Sorcerer-King, making them believe they were eating fresh bread and drinking clean water; when in fact they were being made to eat dead rats and drink raw sewage. Yet no one had become sick.

Zanac himself thought he was still trapped in a dream; or at worse some sort of afterlife. How else could he explain—on top of all the things that he had already experienced—the very fact that he could plainly see his hands still attached to his arms? The last thing he remembered before falling to darkness were the stumps where his hands had been, severed cleanly by his foe and its overwhelming strength. And yet when he'd woken he'd felt his hands still there, and the sensation of actually feeling was there. They were all complete—all ten fingers, two palms.

Still, it was difficult to simply dismiss everything as some dread nightmare, or a hallucination. The memory of the blood, the agonizing, searing pain, the sensation of dripping blood and the sheer emptiness on his arms could never be quite erased. As he lay down on the bed and drifted off to sleep, he would ever be awakened by the awful keening sound of a blade swinging through the air, the pain that had exploded in his wrists, and the great fountain of blood that had poured from the wound. Sleep was hard for the Prince.

By the soldiers' count that had been a day ago now. Before that he had been unconscious for some two days, as the soldiers had attested that he had been the last to be taken to this room; and that was after the soldiers had been in there themselves for a full day. In total that must have been three days since the disastrous ride, yet to Zanac it felt as if it was a full eternity ago.

Fortunately for Zanac, the soldiers here didn't seem to blame him for the fiasco. They all agreed, from their perspective at least, that the Prince had not been wrong in setting up the plan, nor had he been mistaken in giving out the orders for that battle. Mostly they talked of how fearsome the forces of Nazarick were, and of how no matter what they could have done, nothing would have saved them from defeat.

"It is a miracle we're alive," said one of the soldiers. "I thought we would all be cut down to a man, like the poor souls at Katze."

A shudder had run through the room at that, revealing their true nature through their shared fears. While these men were hardened veterans of many battles, who courted death as part of their bread and butter, they yet feared the senseless death; as if it somehow went against their warrior instincts. To be crushed underfoot by a powerful spell seemed worse than being overwhelmed instead by a superior warrior, which had happened on that disastrous ride. They had fought well, but in the end, they had been defeated.

It was fortunate that the men who were here with him also seemed to regard him highly, even offering up the majority of the bread to him. This had forced him to put his foot down and proclaim that as of this moment they were all equals as prisoners—none were princes or lords, but mere men who had to find a way to survive. And thus they must share equally, and fairly. For that the men had cheered, and had even raised their bread (in lieu of tankards of liquor) in praise of his clear nobility.

He did not, of course, have any sort of noble feelings of generosity in his heart. But it was prudent for them to remain on his side, as he was indeed genuinely powerless here in their midst. Every single one of them looked like they could break him in two with their bare hands. While they professed loyalty to him, he knew full well how such things could easily break. In fact, a paranoid part of him wondered if these men had not already been turned by the enemy; and that they were even now tasked with breaking down his resolve for some malicious end.

Presently, with there nothing to do in this prison chamber other than listen to the soldiers talk about something or other, and with sleep being the last thing he wanted to do on his bed, Zanac instead started bending his mind towards thoughts of escape. He began analyzing the walls discreetly, wondering if the walls really were the only things that surrounded them, or if some hidden enchantment had been bound into the masonry. It was far more realistic to expect something like that from the one calling himself a Sorcerer-King, but perhaps they had been careless and this was just a normal prison.

If he followed that assumption, then what could be done to escape? The only door to the chamber was small and made of iron. It looked strong and thick and impenetrable. A small slit on the bottom half of the door allowed food to be pushed in from the outside, but it could not be opened from their side (several soldiers had already tried). And even if they could contrive to breach that particular opening, it was too small for anyone to squeeze through.

His next thought went to the water source, which was fed from a pipe that was buried into the wall. That was another alternate path they could try to access, as the presence of the pipe implied that there was a space that could be breached. However, the soldiers didn't try to test the pipe for too long, remarking that the thing was tough like punching stone.

Finally, there was the window, the only other opening present. Yet again it was small enough to allow just a slight breeze to waft in from inside. And even if some slim, skinny human could chance the opening, the ferocious-looking grills just out of reach of any of their hands were barbed with spikes and ready to skewer them. Yet again, as with the pipe, the window would need to be broken before any of them could chance an escape that way.

Zanac's next thought was to gather all these men together and tell them his intentions. Together they would devise a plan that would take advantage of any perceived openings to help secure an escape. For example, if their jailers were foolish enough to leave them tools, then they would immediately jump to secure that advantage.

He was just in the middle of mentally preparing his speech to the men when the door to the prison opened. He blinked, as the rest of the men stared at the door that was rapidly creaking open.

Inside strode a creature in black armor, its helmeted face looking like a grotesque mimicry of a noble beast. "Prince come," they said, pointing directly at him. Behind the armored figure were two more of its kind, each looking equally as menacing. For a moment, he was paralyzed, not knowing immediately what to do. This was exactly the opening that could be exploited, and yet seeing those armored figures, knowing they were the minions of the Sorcerer-King, meant that death was the only certainty if they attempted something here.

Then the soldiers moved—though not to attack. They all stood in a formation in front of him, like a barricade of sorts, blocking the armored figure's way.

"You will not take him!" they shouted.

"Over our dead body!"

At this point, Zanac was really quite touched by their actions. His earlier misgivings about their true loyalties were swept away. These were the sort of men you led into battle, fully confident that they would never betray you; that they would either follow you into death, or dutifully obey when the horn of retreat was sounded. At that moment, Zanac was equally ready to die for them in turn. It was his duty as a member of the nobility—as one who rules, he must also be the one to protect when all was said and done.

"You dare?" rumbled the figure, in a coarse voice unlike any Zanac had ever heard before. It was like thunder itself was speaking, roaring through the clouds.

"Don't!" Zanac was then forced to shout. "Cease this foolishness all of you!"

"My prince?" The soldiers looked around at him in confusion and fear.

He chuckled, and shook his head. "I am very much grateful for your devotion, and your aid. But it's alright. This is something that is to be expected. I've already resigned myself to it. But know this. I will do my best to petition on your behalf. You will be free. I promise."

"Prince!"

As the leader of the troops that had "invaded" the Sorcerous Kingdom (in their words), he knew he would be forced to take responsibility. Being executed for this was not too far out of the question. He was ready for even that reality.

Yet at the very least he could do something still.

"Thank you, my comrades," he said. "It has been an honor." He walked forward, resolutely. Though his heart seemed to be pounding in his head, he took one step after another, to his inevitable fate. This was as it should be. This was right.

"Come." The armored figure retreated back out the door, allowing him to pass through outside. Yet just as he passed the threshold Zanac saw movement from the corner of his eyes. The soldiers were rushing forward!

Before anything truly tragic could happen, he said, "Stop!" The soldiers all stopped in their tracks, eyes wide, surprised. "I pray you, go no further. Do nothing, please. Do me this favor, at least." And as they watched, the armored figure thrust out its arm and slammed the iron door shut behind him.

Now he was surrounded by all three of the armored figures, each dwarfing him completely with their sizes.

"Move," they said, and he did as they ordered. He walked down the corridor, his mind still buzzing with questions.

As he looked around, he was yet again amazed by the fact that this looked to be no ordinary prison. The furnishings, the walls, even the presence of many lamps to ensure the passages were well-lit—this spoke of some mighty extravagance that he couldn't quite explain. He was able to spot other similar iron doors as he passed by, meaning that the rest of his men were interned there. So many stuffed into a prison that was unlike any he had known—was this some sort of secret message by the Sorcerer-King? That he was so far above them that even his prisons defied common sense?

After he had walked for what seemed like the entirety of the Royal Re-Estize Palace, he finally arrived before a door that was different from what he had seen here before. It was an ordinary-looking wooden door, so this was obviously not meant to be some sort of prison. He wondered if this was somewhere more special. Perhaps the site of his execution.

However, when the door opened, what greeted him was a simple room, where there was a table and a chair for him to sit.

"In," said the armored figure behind him.

"Very well," he replied. He mustered up all the noble dignity he had left and stepped forward into the room. He looked around, expecting some monster to jump out from the corners, but the room was completely empty.

And so he went to the chair, but before he sat on it, he looked down at it with narrowed eyes. It was also possible that this innocuous-looking thing was a front for some terrible torture (or execution) device. He wouldn't put it past the malice of a powerful undead caster to taunt him with something like this before slipping the dagger neatly into his back.

Balls to that, he thought to himself. If they were really going to kill him in the end, then he wouldn't give them the satisfaction of being a scared, quivering man. He would go to his death while remaining completely as himself—as Prince Zanac, Crown Prince of the Re-Estize Kingdom.

And so, he sat. When nothing happened after a few moments, he allowed himself to relax. And then he waited, for his inevitable fate.

He didn't have to wait long.

In the next moment, the door behind him opened, causing him to jump up in surprise. Despite his resolve, his body's instincts were to recoil from what it perceived as an incoming attack from behind. He was just about to scramble over the table when he heard a deep, rumbling voice, that filled his ears like a powerful gong:

"Ah, my deepest apologies, Prince Zanac. Please, sit. We have much to talk about."

A shadow loomed over his body, and something about it made him quail in fear. Then it passed, and his eyes finally beheld that which had come from behind.

There stood before him, aura resplendent with might and unbridled mystical power: Ainz Ooal Gown, the undead Sorcerer-King. His skull face leered down at him as it loomed over the table, its black robes pitch as night, and swirling through the air like smoke. Between his eye sockets burned a hidden fire, filling him with dread. An icy-cold feeling came through his body, paralyzing him where he was slumped, helpless like a fish caught on the line.

"Really now, please sit," Ainz said. "It would be rude, would it not, to refuse hospitality? Prince Zanac."

"P-prince…" So they had really figured him out? He had heard what those armored figures had said, but he had dismissed it—yet now here was the ironclad proof: Ainz Ooal Gown himself standing before him, and addressing him as Prince.

"M-my apologies," he said faintly, plopping himself back on the chair. "I—I—" His voice faltered when he realized there was someone there behind him. He yelped and looked over his shoulder, and saw that his enemy, the tall, insectoid warrior in white armor was there. Flanking the door beside him was the silver-armored warrior from before, his face obscured by a plated helm.

"My apologies for being rude. These are my lieutenants, my subordinates if you will. Pay them no mind—I swear on my honor that they are not to strike you or attack you until you give them a reason. And of course, I am confident that you would never give them that reason."

"Y-Yes of course," Zanac said. He licked his lips. "Very well, my lord, pray forgive my own rude manners." He bowed his head slightly.

"Please, please, do not bow too much," Ainz said. "After all, we are both monarchs in our own way are we not? On the world stage, in particular, one might consider us equals in the banquet of nations."

"I—of course—" He nodded along. "If you say so, my lord."

There was silence for a brief moment. Ainz then said, "Now we must move on to talk about more serious things."

"Very well."

"Let me ask you first: whyever did you insist on invading us, Prince Zanac? You must have known the consequences of your actions. Did you really think that such a tactic would have worked against one such as I?" Ainz started to pace the room. "Such a tactic is known to me. Intimately. And that is why I had set my soldiers to keep watch on the border day and night."

"Were you… already anticipating an invasion?" Zanac asked in wonder.

"No. But it was the prudent thing to do," Ainz said, tapping his skull head. "Many eyes have been set on our borders, to keep watch for unwanted guests. While we do espouse an open border that is free for any small group to enter, we draw the line at a large armed group. When you came, we were rightfully alarmed, and moved to stop what seemed like an imminent invasion. Surely you cannot fault us for being pragmatic."

"You have my deepest apologies for that," Zanac mumbled. "We… I… Well, at this point, nothing I can say can change anything. I can offer no excuse. We… truly did not expect your vigilance…"

"And you even had the gall to claim being mercenaries," Ainz said, shaking his head. "That's one thing that would have helped in your favor: if you were indeed mercenaries then a simple inspection of you and your goods for any suspicious contraband would have occurred. We would not have asked any questions, nor would we have harmed you in any way."

But then the plan would have been delayed. Obviously, Zanac didn't mention that particular fact. As he had just said, there was truly nothing else to say about their blunder.

"As a fellow monarch, you must then forgive me from having to act in turn for this slight," Ainz said. He made a sound as if he were sighing deeply. "This just cannot be waved away with a slap on the wrist. You understand, don't you?"

"Yes," Zanac said gravely. "It is… your right."

"I am gratified to hear you say that. As it happens, my first response was not to declare war immediately. I have been taught before by…" Ainz paused, then shook his head. "Never mind that. But I do know that sometimes being diplomatic is the path of righteousness. I do not seek out strife for its own sake; it is a great waste, I think. And if I could prevent the outbreak of another war…"

"I… see…" Where was this undead going with this?

"And that is why I sent an ultimatum to the Re-Estize Kingdom some time ago," Ainz continued.

"An ulti… matum?" Zanac repeated, breathlessly. He sent an ultimatum? But that wasn't guaranteed anything! If anything, that was bad!

"Indeed. I will not bore you with the details, but suffice to say, I called for an immediate end to the war between you and the Holy Kingdom, while also discussing your status as a prisoner." He tilted his skull head. "Ransom negotiations, if you will."

Zanac's mind was still racing. If this creature had indeed sent an ultimatum back home, then he was certain that none of the people there would ever accept it! Not even those in his own circle would support being talked to by the Sorcerer-King, no matter what he had done in Katze!

And if he himself had come up in the terms of the ultimatum, then… Suddenly he felt like there was a hole growing inside his gut. There was a chance, a slim chance to be sure, but a chance that he would be entirely ignored. He had become a liability now, trapped in the enemy's prison. In fact, he knew that there were several factions in Court, subordinate to the Great Nobles, who were all too keen to replace him; thereby ending his father's line and ushering in a new one. His position as Crown Prince had just become a lot more tenuous, held up only by the word and the will of his Father, the aging King.

He clenched his fist. The helplessness was infuriating as it was paralyzing. With him so far away from Court, held at the mercy of the hated enemy, his return to the Capital was no longer a certainty.

Then the Sorcerer-King's voice intruded into his whirling thoughts. "Whatever I had expected of the negotiations was of course thrown into the wind." Ainz paused. "And by your own father even."

"What?" He blinked, confused, at the Sorcerer-King. "What do you mean… by that?"

Ainz shrugged. "Well, I apologize for being the one to share this news but… we have received word that in response to the ultimatum, your father, King Ramposa III, has abdicated his throne."

His heart was roaring in his head again. He could hear a faint buzzing in his ear. The words coming from the Sorcerer-King's mouth seemed so distant.

"…. In favor of you, Prince Zanac. Or should I say, 'King' Zanac?"

It was as if the Sorcerer-King had placed invisible iron weights on his shoulders. He strained to speak, but no words came to his mouth. He felt as if his throat were being choked by some malicious creature.

"I see you understand," Ainz said. "If you are King, then that really complicates things doesn't it? But on the other hand, perhaps this is for the best. With you here, that means I can certainly negotiate the terms of the ultimatum with you directly. In a way, it is good news, I should think."

It seemed the Sorcerer-King was playing games with him, speaking of such things in jest. It was as if it did not know, or aware of what the abdication of his foolish father meant. Of what had suddenly been unleashed back home: chaos unimaginable.

He was the King now, yes. But he was the King of nothing. He had inherited an empty title. His father had dropped all responsibility, and had thus left it to the predations of the Greater Nobles, whom he knew would never accept anything less than victory. They would fight, to the death, to defend the nation, even against one as mighty as the Sorcerer-King.

And he was certain that Ainz knew it full well. He knew that conflict was inevitable, and relished the chance to unleash his horde of horrors. Which meant that his words were nothing short of mockery, of smiling at prey that could no longer escape the jaws of the trap.

"I will give you a moment to think on things," Ainz said. "But afterwards, perhaps we can talk more about negotiations. I am certain we can work together to forge a better, longer-lasting peace."

He fought the urge to laugh, to shake his head, to just leap at the Sorcerer-King, and be damned what happened to him.

For there would be no peace here.

There would only be War, and his Kingdom would bleed for it.

---

Chapter commissioned by UltraSpink of Da USA, thank you. A reminder that the story is commissioned.

If you'd like a story commissioned, feel free to contact me here, or on archiveofourown under "RHoldhous".