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.
Myriad boots stomped on the ground in some distant land. These belonged to the vast armies of Nazarick, finally unleashed from within its secretive depths, marching to the tune of its many commanders. And these commanders in turn heeded the ironclad, inviolable Will of their Master, the Sorcerer-King Ainz Ooal Gown, who had proclaimed that the Re-Estize Kingdom had become His enemy. And together with the allies from the Roble Holy Kingdom, along with the Baharuth Empire and the city of E-Rantel, He would set right to the wrongs the enemy had visited upon his nation, no matter the cost, no matter the outcome.
To be declared anathema by their master was nothing less than an assignation of death and annihilation: what the foot soldiers lacked in conviction and righteousness their commanders instead bore in great quantities—baring their fangs in righteous indignation against those who had dared incite their lord's wrath.
No mote of subterfuge or whispered sabotage would be able to turn aside their wrath as a mortal army might—for each and every one of these were forged from nothingness by the benevolent Forty-One, of whom Ainz-sama was the Leader and the Last. Their love and devotion was therefore boundless and unbreakable, and it would only take the complete obliteration of their physical forms to stop. And currently, the Re-Estize Kingdom had no means to defend against their overwhelming might, so feeble and ineffectual were the arms of mortal humans. There was no alternative but to flee or surrender, as strength of arms would never be quite enough to stem the tide of the relentless armies.
This great host swarmed over the various towns and cities of the Kingdom, leaving no part untouched. They crested hills in their multitudes, undaunted by the rise and fall, untiring, implacable. They forced themselves through deep forests, unimpeded by the trees, crushing the odd force that tried to ambush them in the darkness under the canopy of trees. They forded many rivers, their magic casters effortlessly forming bridges of stalwart earth and glistening ice, or even commanding the waters to part before their advance. They scaled cold, inhospitable mountains, swarming like ants on an anthill, some burrowing deep into their hearts like intrepid dwarves.
Their coming was ever heralded by portents of doom by the unfortunate inhabitants of these lands. And yet these were actually deliberate parts of the war-machine. There were flocks of black birds filled with certain intelligence, their eyes hiding the malice of the magic casters who possessed them. Fell riders conjured illusions of mist and fog, obscuring the battlefield by their passing and chilling the hearts of any who were inside. Shades flew to the air and whispered doom from their many mouths, causing even the most stalwart to falter and the fearful to sink to deepest despair. And the noisome, constant clattering, like a musical instrument made by no man, heard over and over from the distance, heralding the arrival of the undead hordes.
All things considered, the campaign had begun in earnest, and had been conducted quickly and efficiently with little flaws to be seen. Cocytus had done well in delegating his command, choosing the best to lead the armies through his own judgement and initiative. And Cocytus had also taken care of the overall planning of the campaign, which included the various minutiae of detail that Ainz could not be bothered to micromanage. He only needed to stamp his seal of approval for every request handed to him, trusting that Cocytus knew what he was doing; and that he would always follow his direct command in spirit and in truth. And his skills were needed, due to the urgency of their current campaign and all they had to deal with.
They were, after all, on a strict time table. Their main objective was in the complete subjugation of every single territory in the Kingdom, to ensure that there were no small holdouts of rebels once the war was concluded and peace was negotiated. Even with their more advanced army that needed no sleep or rest or food and could be transported through many Gates, the entirety of the Kingdom occupied a vast patch of land, impossible to cover completely. He had heard it said from their Holy Kingdom liaison that even the Baharuth Empire would not have dared to do as Ainz was doing, knowing the massive logistical requirements that were needed to completely subjugate all that territory in one swoop. It was like someone wanting to swallow a rock whole; one needed to be a very hungry and persistent serpent to even attempt that. That was why Ainz had not scrimped, and had funneled nearly all the low-level minions in Nazarick out to serve in the grand army, hoping that numbers would make up for the enormous task before them.
The conquest also needed to be completed in time before the war started dragging on. While his army had no morale to bolster, and all of their commanders were unflinchingly loyal to him alone, the sheer size of the task would still drain a lot of time. And that precious time was enough of an opportunity for anything unexpected to happen. Any of the other neighboring nations might just step in, violating all other norms in a misguided attempt to stop him—and this, despite having Baharuth as a vassal and Roble as an ally. He would take no risks in this, because he knew full well the power of proper advertising. He had no wish to be seen as a cruel "demon lord", not even his lich persona. He had to survive, to protect his home and his new happiness, and he could not do that by becoming a too large target. Zesshi had told him of how the Greed Kings had fallen—very likely to be Players who had grown too big and invited disaster from the rest of the world. He would not follow in their footsteps, into his own destruction. He no longer had just one life to live after all.
He needed to live for so much more.
To his eyes, Cocytus had begun the campaign in a masterful way. There had been two areas used as a starting point from where the armies first marched. One was located near the eastern border to the Sorcerous Kingdom, near E-Rantel, where the army was divided into many different groups that began to walk over the border, capturing towns and castles before an hour had even passed. The second deployment zone was located near where the Holy Kingdom had encamped, far in the western portion. Here, the army fanned out like a blooming flower, going north to the capital, west to secure the border to Roble; then south and east to begin the conquest in earnest. Once again, the first settlement had been captured within just an hour of his meeting with Remedios Custodios, showing the Holy Kingdom proof that the might of Nazarick unleashed was not so lightly underestimated.
"Now do you see?" he had all but boasted, when the Holy Kingdom scouts had returned to report on what they had seen to Remedios. "When I put my mind to it, when it becomes necessary, then I shall spare no expense."
"You're certainly mighty, my lord," Remedios said, her face looking pinched, halfway between a grimace and a glare.
Having sensed that his intentions were still being doubted, he then said, "And do note that they had been captured without much bloodshed, as I have assured you and your people. Ours is a civilized war, where the sword need only be raised against soldiers who wish to fight to the last. There is to be no needless slaughter; have no fear on that."
Remedios had looked away. "No war is ever civilized." It had been something that had struck him; as it was an aphorism that could easily be attributed to an old acquaintance, Punitto Moe. And as before, he had no idea what to say to that, and he could only reply: "As you say."
Having shown proof to their new allies that they were willing to get the job done, and that they were not monsters that lived only for slaughter, Ainz then left them to do their side of the war. He was no longer needed to meet with them directly: he had delegated Cocytus and Pandora's Actor as the representatives of his will.
He was then able to watch the Holy Kingdom begin their own campaign from afar; though in this case they were more accurately restarting the campaign that had been paused. Their main thrust had been the capture of the Capital, which was their primary objective above all. They had made it known to Ainz before that they weren't looking for complete conquest like him; that they were only looking to enforce peace through arms—something which the Re-Estize Kingdom "stubbornly" refused to grant. They were reticent to give him their opinions about his conquest, only that they were grateful for the assistance.
For Ainz, it felt rather disappointing, he had thought he could earnestly learn how to become a better "leader" or "statesman" by simply looking and feeling out the other party, without needing to use magic or other means. Yet he had been left unsure, wondering if they actually harbored secret reservations about his plans. And if so, why did they not calmly talk it over with him, like normal people? Now he was forced to turn to his subordinates to spy on them and figure out their thoughts, methods which in his opinion, were a bit unfair to use.
On the same day the campaign began, the Holy Kingdom sent the bulk of their forces north to link up with the Nazarick arm that was beginning to coalesce around the Capital City. In the meantime, another, smaller detachment, withdrew west to return to their homeland, carrying the dead and the wounded, and guarded by Nazarick's guarantee of protection. For that, Remedios had been grateful; though yet again the thanks had not been given to him directly, but through Pandora's Actor. He had swallowed his own irritation at the woman—she was fair of feature, but her attitude was quite unlike her sister's. Though, it wouldn't do to make his displeasure plain, or risk his subordinates thinking less of the Holy Kingdom (well, lesser than the usual).
And so, the days continued, and the conquest proceeded just as planned.
Presently, Ainz watched over one such example of a conquest through his remote viewing spell. He saw the horde of low-level undead marching loudly on the plains, proclaiming their arrival without the need to mask themselves. They kicked up such a great cloud of dust that it was impossible not to mark their passing—to Ainz's amateur eyes it seemed foolish to announce themselves so boldly. Yet such was Cocytus' decision: that they would welcome whatever assaults may come boldly and fearlessly, so that victory might be achieved through bloody combat. Ainz decided not to countermand him, as it would form part of Cocytus' learning, and would enable the NPC's slow independence from his commands. And besides that, he reminded himself that he didn't possess a particularly military mind, and that he had left Cocytus to oversee the military campaign for a good reason.
Ainz observed as his army parked itself on a shallow rise overlooking the Re-Estize fortress in the distance. After a short while, messengers were sent by rider, a main force of dark riders from Nazarick accompanied by volunteers from their allies in the Holy Kingdom and his own citizens of E-Rantel. Technically speaking, the riders were not the main diplomatic arm—negotiations actually fell to the allies instead. The dark riders were there to be the muscle, though the enemy wouldn't know it yet.
They arrived at the gate and conferred with the garrison, requesting to speak with the master of the fortress. Most of the time, this was the noble who owned the fortress. But sometimes, this would be the steward that had been left in charge of the place. The heralds were not instructed to differentiate as to who owned which fort; they would extend their demands no matter what.
Once a representative from within the garrison went out to treat with the heralds, the latter would then extend the exact same terms that had been given to all the other towns and forts where his army had arrived.
"In the name of the Sorcerer-King, Ainz Ooal Gown, surrender, peacefully, and thee and thine shall not be harmed, on the combined honor of the Sorcerous Kingdom, the Baharuth Empire, and the Roble Holy Kingdom. Be assured that in the case of compliance, ample aid shall be given for the duration of this occupation. If thou desire to resist, then be prepared to be ground to dust without mercy, your names and legacies firmly forgotten beneath the relentless boots of His grand armies."
The representative from within the garrison then replied that he was a "Marcher", that he had foresworn the Throne of the Re-Estize Kingdom. Therefore, they should have no quarrel with them, as they were "rightfully" independent.
A response Ainz had heard many times before.
It was much the same for the heralds. They responded as they had been bidden before: to inform them that Ainz-sama was not discriminating between the so-called Marchers and the Re-Estize Kingdom. Their claims were not recognized, and were therefore not exempt from the army's march. Ainz did not wish to entertain their claims for the moment, for it was a nebulous state of affairs that he could not afford to untangle for the moment; for fear of losing the initiative. The conquest of the whole land must be completed before any other nation thought otherwise and attempt an intervention.
Having heard this declaration, the noble was left to stew inside his fortress, perhaps running through his options in private. The heralds did not withdraw, as previously instructed. Not that the mortals there had anything to fear from a sudden, traitorous attack (as had already happened before). Ainz was not so callous as to withhold protection from those who had allied with him, even grudgingly, even hesitatingly. Nazarick would rise to defend the lives of even their temporary allies, if needed.
Ainz watched and waited, silently counting down the moments in his head. He observed that the inside of the fortress was teeming with activity. Would they attempt to resist?
It didn't take long for him to get his answer.
The white flag of surrender went up over the ramparts, swinging left and right, the signal that the noble had chosen correctly, and was willing to submit himself peacefully to Ainz's oversight. The noble himself sallied forth from the fortress, riding at the head of a small procession of armored soldiers, carrying himself with dignity. This despite his lips being so thin he seemed like a horrifying, mouthless thing, with skin so pale he looked like one of Nazarick's own vampires. Ainz watched him exchange a few formal words with the heralds, promising his submission to Ainz Ooal Gown, while in return receiving reassurances that his honor would be repaid with honor, and that he had ultimately made the right decision.
From there, the diplomatic party disengaged to return to the main force. A token group of soldiers were left behind: death knights who could survive death once, summoned personally through a powerful tome Ainz had equipped. Should any of them be attacked, Ainz would learn the treachery quickly enough. And should any of them die from something unexpected, Ainz would also feel it, and would perhaps have enough time to see the situation before the undead died a second time. The only downside to their presence was their frightful appearance, which seemed bad for the people living here. Yet again, Ainz was reminded of the need to start beautifying his troops to make them more presentable to others.
Having seen all that, he sighed and turned off the remote viewing spell. He turned to the large picture of the map behind him, upon which was displayed the entirety of the Re-Estize Kingdom. He took a blue pin from a stack to the side, and placed them on a certain place. This was the symbol that the particular location—be they town or fort—had been captured peacefully, just as had happened on that very instant.
On the other hand, their counterpart, a red pin, were scattered all around the map, indicating points and places where the inhabitants had gambled their all against his forces.
As he looked back over the progress made on the map, it was clear to see that the Sorcerous Kingdom had spread out like a wave unchallenged from the vicinity of their own borders to the east. His armies had spread out relatively unimpeded, forming a colorful pattern of red and blue to cover almost the entire map. They spread downward, spreading ever close to the southern borders, which were close to the Slaine Theocracy. Then west to the places where the Holy Kingdom had not claimed, those towns they had appropriated for themselves from the start. Ainz had left those territories to them to manage and did not demand they be turned over to his banner. Then the pins were also gathered north, forming an ever-tightening noose around the area of the capital city, to prevent any sort of aid coming in from without, or for anything to escape the confines of his war with impunity.
"Still…" he muttered. "How do I say it…"
It had been quite anticlimactic, to say the least. Most of the towns, cities, and castles had been captured bloodlessly, as its inhabitants simply gave up the fight upon realizing exactly who it was had come for their lands. Some of their number had even went down on their knees, imploring them (and him) to grant them mercy for their loved ones within. Of course, a massacre was never in the cards, and thus even the terrifying army moved on as he had ordered, docile and non-threatening so long as the terms were met.
On the times when resistance had been present, the results were so predictable that eventually there was no thrill to be gained from simply watching. It had become a completely one-sided slaughter, with no drama to be witnessed, nor any insights to be gleaned. Rather, he actually felt a bit squeamish seeing all the slaughter without anything positive to say about it. Yes, it was just an outright slaughter, which was rather distasteful to witness. Not even knowing that all of it was "necessary" for the overall plan he was fostering helped make it seem easier.
He should have expected this, as he had worked to cover up every possible eventuality. As a result, the armies of Nazarick had become a bit too effective, if such a thing were actually possible, and had bulldozed over the enemy armies with little to no effort at all. The slaughter had gotten to a point that he more than wished that each territory would capitulate peacefully rather than spend their lives so pointlessly. Perhaps, if he had the ability to divest himself of feelings or emotions, like some undead, he could have paid it no mind. Though if that were the case, he would never have felt so strongly about Zesshi or the rest of them.
His mind was at odds; for one he wished to cover for any sort of unforeseen problem, which would threaten his new life as a prospective father. But a part of him had also expected some hero or group of heroes to rise and offer more than what he had seen. Ironically, Blue Rose, which would have served as a good example, was in his debt and currently unable to even act thanks to their leader's debilitation. He wouldn't have wanted to kill them, as that would have upset Keeno, but it would have been interesting to see how a high-level human in this world could fight. But perhaps that was asking too much of the world—or in this case, the Re-Estize Kingdom.
Perhaps the only actual difficulty that Nazarick, and by extension he, was experiencing was the issue of the occupied territories themselves. There were some difficulties involved that did not involve, nor require military might, which made it all quite trickier.
Demiurge had been the one to bring it to his attention just now, in a report that had surprised even him.
"I'm sorry, they mean to what?" Ainz had asked, his mind struggling to understand if he had actually heard correctly.
Demiurge had bowed, as if he was very apologetic for bringing the news. He gestured to the paper that Ainz held in his hand, a list of unfamiliar names. "That list of towns and settlements right there have approached our representatives separately, discreetly, and with so many different words that would have bored Your Highness with their trite inanity; all in order to express their intentions—nay, their willingness—to be brought into the fold of the Sorcerous Kingdom. To become a vassal under you, as Jircniv has done."
"What—" he spluttered. "How on earth did they reach that conclusion…?"
Demiurge had smiled, as if he was sharing some secret joke that Ainz didn't know. He bowed once more and said, "I thank you, my lord, for humoring me. Of course, it did not take long for your humble servant to deduce your grand schemes, my lord. As ever, I must congratulate your Eminent Wisdom, that which Sees above all and Beyond all."
He didn't know what to say to that, but as ever he schooled his face so it wouldn't look like he was having a panic attack, and then said, "Continue."
Demiurge smirked. "Conquest by steel and blood and fire have ever been mine own tools, but I see that such paltry judgements simply pale in comparison to your limitless magnanimity. It is clear now to me that the shadow of fear and oppression need not be the only weapons at our disposal—when one has captured the devotion of a subjugated people through simple devotion and gratitude, they shall willingly coil the bonds around their throats, and offer up the chains for us to hold. It is simply…" Demiurge had breathed in deep, as if he was manifesting some great emotion. "Elegant. Simply elegant."
Ainz didn't really know what he'd just said, but he was able to get the general gist. The list of names he had been given were those towns and settlements who were somehow willingly pledging their allegiance to him—to the Sorcerous Kingdom. How had his come to pass?
It took a bit of reading between the lines of Demiurge's spoken report for him to piece it all together. Not that Demiurge had been of much use helping him with understanding.
Apparently, it had all to do with his command to extend aid in the form of food and security towards the occupied territories. It had been born of a concern voiced by Zesshi Zetsumei during one of their lovemaking sessions, long before war with the Re-Estize Kingdom had been a possibility. She had wondered about the potential chaos that might occur should his forces capture entire swathes of territory. War would be a difficult business for all involved, she had said, and if it were possible steps should be taken to assure the people that business would go on as usual. That whatever war was occurring had nothing to do with them, merely a war of flags well above their station.
Ainz had taken it to heart, and had later applied it to his commands regarding the campaign. For the longest time, Nazarick had been stockpiling enormous stores of grain for their own ends. This supply of grain and other foodstuffs—sourced from the Baharuth Empire in exchange for dwarf cooperation and trade—had then been multiplied by expert casters on his command. The food was then be distributed to every town they captured: not much, and certainly not enough if the town was truly starving. More would come after some time, a pattern to be repeated until the war was over.
Secondary to this was the "security" he would be granting them, which came double with leaving a garrison of death knights for every territory successfully conquered. They would ensure that Nazarick's eyes would always be on them, even when the main army had already moved on.
Ainz hoped that the combined efforts would be able to soften the blow of conquest in the war, so at least he would not be seen as some reckless warmonger. This was supposed to be a war of vengeance, of righteous repercussion. No nation may violate the Sorcerous Kingdom's borders, and be suffered to live, and so on. Yet he had never once expected such earnest efforts to backfire in such a way.
For as Demiurge reported: as the days passed, the inhabitants of these territories had turned from being fearful of the stationed armies, to becoming openly suspicious of their intentions; then on to wary acceptance of their new situation. A select few, whose names were on Ainz's list, had reached actual contentment from the charity that Ainz had bestowed. They had immediately declared that they were no longer independent, or subordinated to the Re-Estize Kingdom, and now openly petitioned to become the citizens of the Sorcerous Kingdom, their lands free to be annexed, welcoming him as their new and rightful overlord.
He had not ordered expressly ordered Nazarick to influence these towns, even covertly, as he had expected the mire of problems that he was currently facing. It was hard enough having to manage E-Rantel, and then Jircniv had thrown in his whole-hearted support and his entire Empire under him, which had made things a lot more complicated. The complete annexation of the Kingdom had not been in his plans; he rather expected the indirect friendship with the Holy Kingdom, or even the direct vassalage that Jircniv had offered.
Now, thanks to all this, he wondered if Zesshi had actually been goading him towards this exact situation, as if she had guided him to a trap into which he had walked himself willingly.
Still, he could no longer deny that the damage had already been done, and that the problem was now staring him right in the face. As with every problem he had to solve, he could but push forward and solve it, or he would inevitably see it rise like some zombie to strike him from behind. He must scheme and plan, endure, adapt.
Well, not that he needed to, in this particular instance.
"Surely this is not every place we occupied?" Ainz had said, waving the paper over the map with the blue and red pins.
"Regrettably not, my lord," Demiurge had replied, shaking his head. "For every one of these who saw the brilliance of your rule, there are even more who cling stubbornly to their pathetic lot. With your permission, I should like to use a different colored pin to outline those who accepted hereon."
"Well, before that, I should like to say thank you, Demiurge, for bringing this to my attention. It has been quite informative."
"I am always pleased to serve, my lord." Demiurge still smiled that mysterious smile, as if he was privy to some amusement that escaped Ainz's notice.
"And in addition, I'd also like to ask you to manage these… villages in the best way you can." He handed the paper back with a sweeping, self-important gesture. "For showing such gratitude, they must be properly compensated. I cannot, however, guarantee that their wishes will be accommodated. After all, what would our dear friend Zanac think? If we are to accept their proposal, then it will have to be at a later date. No, no, we cannot promise them the arrangement they seek. Not now. Not yet." Far better for Zanac to assert control over his supposed land so then he would have to manage these disloyal vassals. He did not envy the Heir apparent the many headaches he would inherit.
"Indeed, my lord, it is as you say," Demiurge said, making an odd look with his bespectacled eyes that Ainz really couldn't understand. "I shall therefore work to address this issue, while still taking heed of your stipulations. I shall not disappoint you, my lord."
"Good. That's good," Ainz had replied, and that was that.
He had also given some of the bureaucratic burden onto Albedo, as loathe as he was to involve his very pregnant lover. Well, he had commanded that she was only limited to reviewing the paperwork that Demiurge would send, to ensure that nothing was faulty or wrong—and nothing more. She would not be working anymore than that, for the sake of her advanced pregnancy. Still, he could imagine Albedo demanding a lot more work for herself, like a starved lion. It would then be up to Demiurge to put his foot down as needed.
Ainz's thoughts turned to another matter as he cast yet another remote viewing spell. On the other side of the pane, he saw a silver-armored warrior standing stiffly at the edge of what looked to be some sort of military camp. Various other soldiers walked to and fro behind this one, some bearing the colors of the Roble Holy Kingdom.
Underneath the set of special armor that Ainz had personally gifted was his own NPC, the master doppelganger Pandora's Actor. It was his dark mirror, in more ways than one, a glimpse into the thoughts of a younger Ainz. For the longest time, he had intended for Pandora's Actor to be his greatest of backup plans, kept wholly in reserve no matter what. This was because the NPC possessed the unique ability of transforming into his old comrades' forms—the other Forty Supreme Beings—at a fraction of their complete potential. Ainz himself was not precluded from this, though it was rather redundant, since they were both well-versed in illusion magics in addition to their doppelganger natures. Still, he made for a very convincing undead lich, perhaps even better than Ainz himself.
Yet now, Pandora's Actor was to become the forefront of Ainz's latest gambit. He was to be the latest incarnation of bait, the lightning rod to draw in the first strike from a hitherto unseen and unexpected source—if there were any. In the past, Ainz had presented himself as bait, to the confusion of his subordinates. Nothing much had come of it, to his knowledge. And while he would have preferred to keep doing the same things, he had also changed. Now with his newfound responsibilities to his lovers and his soon-to-be born children, he found that he could not be playing fast and loose with his life as before.
And yet it was not as if he was throwing Pandora's Actor away to the dogs. Before anything he was also Ainz's own personal creation, which he was loathe to see harmed. That was the reason for his nigh-constant surveillance of the situation, keeping his silent gaze trained on the doppelganger no matter what he did; and no matter where he went.
Presently, he watched someone approach Pandora's Actor from behind. It was the one named Remedios Custodios, the unpleasant woman he remembered from his adventure in the Holy Kingdom. She was the official liaison to the other side, which meant that Cocytus and Pandora's Actor met with her and her fellows frequently during the campaign. They proceeded to converse about something which he could not hear; though he could have been able to with a little tweaking of the spell parameters. Yet now he was merely content to just watch from afar, as if he were some sort of parent anxiously watching his child stumble his way independently into the outside world.
Those very thoughts made Ainz think back to a memory from an earlier time, from when Zesshi had been but newly introduced to Nazarick, roughly two months into her pregnancy.
He had been taking Zesshi all around Nazarick, introducing her to its inhabitants. It was a way to acclimate his newly pregnant lover to the place, while also emphasizing her role and importance to each of the NPCs who were there. In a way, it was also something of a "date", where he showed off the pride of his life's work to someone outside the Tomb; outside the Guild even. The sequence of events seemed backwards, being as he had already impregnated the woman beside him. But Zesshi seemed genuinely interested about everything, to the point where it almost seemed embarrassing to be letting her see something so mundane only for her to treat it as if it were a gift from the gods themselves. (and she professed she didn't believe in any gods)
Unfortunately, he wasn't a mind reader (at his base form) so he wasn't sure how much of it was genuine, or if she was just humoring him. To this day he liked to think he knew how women worked, yet he knew that to be false. Unfortunately, there were no other people he could ask for advice on relationships and the like.
They had been coming around to the Treasury, which was the last place Ainz took her before they would be returning to the innermost floor. Ainz had specifically left it for last, knowing full well that she would be meeting Pandora's Actor. And while he would have preferred to keep some things hidden and out of sight, he knew he could not just do that, or curiosity would beget curiosity, and ultimately humiliation. He was prepared to show off everything, even the things that embarrassed him, so on they went.
At first, Zesshi had looked around at the dimly lit, cavernous area and assumed they would be going at it again. She had coiled her arm around his and leaned against him, while pushing her breasts right against his body. He'd looked down and seen her eyes glittering, as if she was ready for him to take him then and there.
He'd shaken his head and whispered, "Not right now, Zesshi," he said. "Later, after."
She pouted, but let it be, while still firmly holding on to his arms, as if she was loathe to let him go. They were now approaching the entrance, beyond which awaited one of the most heavily guarded areas of Nazarick. While it did not look like it on the surface, there were many traps and enchantments around the place that were meant to utterly destroy any would-be invader.
And they would also need to contend with Pandora's Actor himself.
The NPC in question had then chosen that very moment to appear, stepping out of the shadows in his base form—the form wearing the military uniform and the unique egg-shaped head of the doppelganger—and bowing deeply at the waist. Ainz had felt a little relieved that it had not tried anything "more appropriate" in its words. He had wanted Zesshi's first impression to be somewhat positive, despite the obvious eccentricities that Pandora's Actor was wont to display.
"I bid you greetings, oh great and powerful Master!" Pandora's Actor had exclaimed. He swept his long arms around in exaggerated gestures, an act which almost made Ainz slam his head against the nearest wall. Well, he couldn't say he hadn't been optimistic about it. "And of course, we have already heard much of you, frau Zesshi Zetsumei! Well met, well met indeed! I am honored to be in the presence of so august a personage!"
"Zesshi, welcome to the Treasury," Ainz said, after clearing his throat. He gestured towards Pandora's Actor, who was still preening in place. "Meet Pandora's Actor, the Guardian of this place. He occupies the same importance in the hierarchy as Albedo, or Demiurge, whom you've already met. He has been formally charged with the protection and safekeeping of the sacred items located inside the Treasury. Though nowadays he has different duties…"
"Ah, much pleased," Zesshi said demurely. "Well met to you as well, my lord."
"Frau Zesshi you honor me with the title, but I am no lord. No no, it is I who shall ever be at your service, my lady. Whatever it is, if it is within my power, it shall be yours! Thus do I solemnly declare!"
Zesshi had smiled, seemingly amused by his creation's antics. She had then said, "Oh, Ainz-sama, he sounds a bit like you."
His mouth had opened—in shock and surprise—before he ruthlessly clamped it back shut. "That's—" Absurd, he wants to say. "… An interesting thought," he'd managed to say. "And why do you think so?"
She giggled. "Oh, it's… nothing… just some feeling I have…"
He had shrugged then, as ever unsure how to discern the true feelings of her and of every woman he encountered. He cleared his throat, again. "With that said, Zesshi, you might not be too far off the mark." He glanced at the bowing Pandora's Actor, and shook his head. This was a conversation he didn't relish, but just like pulling away a bandage, it had to be done. "It's a bit difficult to explain correctly, but suffice to say that this one here is my… son, so to speak," he said. "But not really," he hastily added.
Zesshi blinked rapidly. "Son…?" she croaked.
"But not really," Ainz repeated, raising his hands. "How should I say it…"
"I was created by Ainz-sama himself!" Pandora's Actor interjected unhelpfully. "Formed from the detritus of matter that suffuses creation itself! From within the Tomb of Nazarick I was given form and granted life, along with the duty to serve the Master in all the ways I can!"
Ainz rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache coming on. "So you can see, he is my 'son' because I did 'make' him, but not in the way that we did. To our son, I mean. Or daughter." He scratched his head. "…You must know of familiars and the like, right?"
"Ah…" Zesshi said softly, the strange look still on her face. "I see…"
"So, technically speaking he is my child, my son… But naturally, yours will be my first."
Zesshi took a breath, and then two. Then she nodded, as if she'd understood what he was saying.
"'First', Ainz-sama?" Pandora's Actor asked.
"Ah, right." He stepped forward, and then gestured back towards Zesshi. "The reason I have come here, Pandora's Actor, is to formally announce to each and every one of you that Zesshi Zetsumei here has become the mother of my child. As such, though she is not of Nazarick, you will now treat her as if she has become an extension of myself. She carries the weight of my legacy, so to speak, and even after the child is born you will still afford her the respect she deserves. I need not mention that the same is also expected of my child or children, but that is obvious is it not?"
For a moment, the NPC just stood there, as if he had forgotten how to move. "A child…?" Pandora's Actor said, in a low whisper, almost as if to himself.
"Yes… I trust it won't be a problem."
"A problem?" he suddenly exclaimed. His body started twisting into all sorts of different poses, moving this way and that in a very exaggerated manner. "Of course not, my Master! 'Tis truly a joyous occasion for me, nay, for us; nay, nay for all of Nazarick; nay, still, for all of Creation! That an heir is suddenly before us, brings a tear to my eye, for it is a sign that we have been well and truly blessed by yours truly!" And indeed, he sounded like he was sobbing, but it was hard to figure out from the egg-shaped head of his natural form.
"Alright, alright, that should be fine," Ainz said, grumbling, waving as if he could muster up a strong wind to blow the embarrassment away. "No need to go overboard."
"It shall be my greatest honor to defend mother and child with all I have, master!" Pandora's Actor had then said, his form blurring like mercury, and transforming into a facsimile of Touch Me, complete with silver armor that Ainz had crafted for him.
"Oh my," Zesshi said, sounding surprised at witnessing his sudden transformation. "So he is your son, in a way, Ainz-sama."
He clucked his tongue. "Technically, technically." He had wondered then, if he had to repeat this for every time he introduced Pandora's Actor to another one.
(In hindsight, the embarrassment never disappeared, after, when he took Keeno, and Neia, and all the rest to see all of Nazarick, as they deserved.)
"Worry not, frau Zesshi!" the Touch Me imitation then said. "I would never think to take the honor from you. Yours is still the greatest of honors that we in Nazarick will cherish forevermore—to be the Mother of the Firstborn."
"Oh, that sounds like a marvelous title," she said, smiling.
"Ah… right," Ainz said, coughing. "Well then, that will be all. Return to your previous duties, Pandora's Actor. Let us go, Zesshi."
"Please wait a bit, Ainz-sama," Zesshi said. "May we speak with him for a while? In private? I've many questions to ask."
"Questions? What?" Ainz raised a brow. And yet when he had looked at her, she had looked back with eyes gleaming with mischief and delight, begging him to indulge her.
"I shall be at your disposal, Mistress!" And of course, Pandora's Actor had been eager to please.
Faced with Zesshi's pleading eyes, he had acquiesced to her request. He had waited outside the Treasury, occupied with a new Message from Demiurge. Zesshi had appeared after a few minutes, and by then his thoughts had been preoccupied with that previous matter that he had pushed the visit to the back of his mind, whereit would not be remembered until today,
And now he wondered: what sort of embarrassing things had that NPC told Zesshi? If she had learned anything of value, she had not brought it up in the months that followed. New mothers had joined her, and many more children to anticipate. The topic of Pandora's Actor being his own child—technically—never came up again.
He shook his head, in the present day. Whatever had been said, it surely wouldn't have been important. He refocused and placed his attention back towards current matters.
It was then that a Message spell beeped at him with unusual urgency. He received the spell quickly.
"My lord," Pandora's Actor said. "We have confirmed unusual activity on the front-lines."
Jolted by the news, he sat a little straighter. "Where?"
"Far to the north, my lord," Pandora's Actor said. North—then that meant it was close to the border with Argland. Did that mean anything? Word hadn't been sent to him that that particular country had declared war. And Demiurge had assured him that the sentiment in that land was far from hostile against the Sorcerous Kingdom, according to the spies they had already positioned there.
He cast his gaze towards the northern front, using the Remote Viewing spell to get a glimpse. He blinked, surprised, at what he saw.
"Whoa… What the— Is that…?"
Well, that changed things. Ainz dismissed the image and contacted Pandora's Actor again.
"It's time to implement the second Plan," he told his NPC. "Meet me at the arranged location."
"With pleasure, my lord!"
In following "the second plan", Pandora's Actor would request a Gate to take him from the camp to another predetermined location, where Ainz himself would be waiting. Once there, he and Ainz would swap places, the NPC would become "Ainz", and Ainz would become the silver-armored warrior. From there, Pandora's Actor would fly out personally as Ainz the lich, to openly confront this new arrival. Whatever might happen, he was at least assured that it would not happen to him first.
He would be taking no chances whatsoever.
He contacted Mare next. Adrenaline was already pumping in his body, as anticipation and excitement surged to the fore.
"Yes, Lord Ainz?"
"We're executing Plan B. Regroup with your sister and fall back to the arranged coordinates. Stand by with your previous orders. If you need guidance, contact Demiurge. Am I understood?"
"It will be done, my lord," Mare said. The young dark elf's voice was determined. The twins had been sent out on their own, independent ways. They were operating separately to practice their critical thinking and planning by being sent to capture forts that had refused to submit peacefully to Ainz. So far they had been doing well, and had carefully followed his instructions with regards to surrender.
Now, with the appearance of this new arrival, they were quite vulnerable, operating alone, so they would need to fall back to a certain place where they would wait for further instructions.
"Very good. Ainz out."
He terminated the Message and started on yet another. This time it was to Cocytus, who was presently leading the encirclement effort around the Re-Estize Capital.
"Yes. My. Master."
"How goes the encirclement?"
"The. Allies. Have. Been. Helpful. We. Hope. To. Complete. In. Four. Hours."
"Well, I'm just here to say that Plan B is a go," Ainz said.
Cocytus said nothing for a few minutes, likely processing the situation. "I see… What. Shall. Be. Our. Move? My lord."
"As planned, nothing's changed on your part, but please do hurry with completing the encirclement. Now, we no longer have the luxury of time."
"I. Understand. Victory. Shall. Be. Yours. At. Day's. End."
"Do what you can." And with that, Ainz stood and terminated the Message spell. He went outside of the tent and opened a new Gate to the location where he would meet Pandora's Actor. As he stepped through, he wondered what fate had in store today. Would the war actually change in some significant way?
Whatever it was, he was determined to see this through: if not for the Tomb or himself, but for the children he was about to see born into the world.
His thoughts flashed with the image of Zesshi. His firstborn trio… Come what may he would be there for her.
Within the depths of Nazarick, at a place where only the maids of the Pleiades were allowed to dwell, Yuri Alpha was presently waddling down the corridor, bearing a stack of boxes. The beautiful maid possessed a small, yet healthy-looking baby bump, which was the the main reason for Yuri's slow movement. Had she not been blessed with Ainz-sama's child, as she had been but three months before, she would have attended to her duties with a lot more promptitude, as was her nature.
As she walked, she looked left and right carefully, as if she was looking behind her shoulder for someone or something approaching. Her face was tense, as if she was anticipating a blow about to fall, or some other great misfortune she wanted to avoid. Then, as her steps took her towards a bend in the hall, she screeched to a halt when she heard the sounds of many footsteps.
"Damn," she cursed under her breath.
"Oh, Yuri-sama, you mustn't!"
"There you are, Yuri-sama!"
"Aiiiiieee…! Yuri-sama, you have to leave it to us!"
A trio of the maid homunculi came running down the opposite end of the corridor, barreling straight for her. When they neared, they neatly took the boxes Yuri was carrying, over her protests.
"No, please, I can take care of it myself!" she exclaimed, her glasses almost askew.
"Nonsense, Yuri-sama!" chided the first maid.
"You were not to have a task to do any more Yuri-sama!" said the second. "Please, you mustn't run off like that! Ainz-sama would be very cross with us!"
"Leave it to us, Yuri-sama, and please take the time to rest!" said the third.
With that said, the trio walked away, bearing Yuri's burden of boxes away, and leaving her empty-handed, in more ways than one. She sighed, rubbing her head, feeling mighty disgruntled and unfulfilled, as if she had been rudely interrupted in the middle of enjoying a fine meal.
The sentiment was not that unfounded. To the Pleiades, after all, had been given the same instinct that dominated their maid comrades: to serve their superiors to the best of their abilities faithfully and punctually. And yet the urge in her mind was being forced back, stayed by the order of the Supreme Being, the kind and powerful Ainz-sama.
And it was all because Yuri Alpha had become a "mother", bearing Ainz's child, and therefore exalted above the hierarchy that had existed before. To that effect, she need no longer serve as she normally did, as Ainz-sama decreed. Her own duty was to keep herself healthy for the sake of the baby, a duty she shared with all the other Mothers in Nazarick. All other duties were rescinded or suspended, a logical conclusion one might say, but for Yuri and the rest it was a rather difficult pill to swallow.
She adjusted her glasses and sighed in frustration, before heading back to the communal room that had been assigned to the Pleiades. Inside, she looked around and saw that nearly all of her sisters were here—with the exception of Entoma. And that was not a surprise, as she had just seen off Entoma on another important mission outside of Nazarick.
"You're all here?" she asked curiously, addressing her fellow mothers. "I thought you'd be gathered in the Hall." It was a reasonable question to ask, as it was only in the Mother's Hall that one could reasonably expect news of Ainz-sama. Zesshi Zetsumei was almost bound to that place, and so they were reasonably sure that should Ainz return from the outside, he would return to that place first. It was therefore a given that those Mothers eager for His return, like her, would be spending every moment there—or at least that was the assumption. Yet here she was, and here her sisters were also.
"The insufferable humans are there, and I shall not tolerate their presence more than is needed," Solution Epsilon spat from her place against the far wall, her bloated form perched languidly on a bed of cushions. Under normal circumstances, Yuri Alpha would have been the first to decry the usage of the cushions as a "wasteful indulgence"; but she was a Mother, and allowances were required.
"Solution has the right of it," Narberal Gamma said, herself lying against a high-backed chair, her preferred seating. Her face looked fine, which meant that she hadn't yet lost control over her expression, as she usually did when she was resting. "It is tiring to have to stay overlong among the vermin." Solution nodded to that, a grim sort of understanding shared between the two sisters.
She clucked her tongue. Her position as the eldest meant she still had to guide her sisters towards the proper path, even when the circumstances dictated that she could no longer do it. Being accorded the title of "Mother" was something new in Nazarick, something so high and unassailable. "They are fellow Mothers, and more than that, they are the Master's Chosen, just like you and I," Yuri chided. But her love for her sisters more than outweighed her concern for the outsiders, which made her sigh and shake her head. "You should be careful not to let Ainz-sama hear that, for I know he will not be pleased…" She started walking towards her own seat, which had been helpfully left empty for her.
"I do not understand this hostility you all bear towards the other Mothers," Shizu then said, seated on her own corner of the room. Her cold eyes swiveled left and right, as if she was silently judging each of her sisters. Out of all of them, she was the only one who was correctly using this room as the Creators intended: as a resting place for the Pleiades in between duties. For Shizu, that meant "recharging herself", through means unique to her. She was the only other Pleiades aside from Auriole and Entoma who was not a Mother, and therefore still had duties to fulfill in Nazarick. It made her elder sister a little guilty, as it had seemingly foisted off her own excess duties onto them.
"Shizu-chan is right, su~" Lupusregina Beta said next, the fully pregnant maid showing herself to be the most slovenly of the lot. She had somehow dragged her own bed from her room nearby, and had placed it here in the common room. It displeased Yuri Alpha so much to see proper decorum being violated, but as Lupus was a Mother, she had no right to chastise Lupus, even when she was a Mother herself. It was the sort of contradiction that still made Yuri uneasy to this day. "It's fine to dislike them as the outsiders they are. But we gotta appreciate them for what they bring instead of what they are. Like the kids they'll be popping out! Ohhh, I can't wait to see how my own little ones will play with the others! It shall be a cute scene, uh-huh, uh-huh! It is to be expected of the children of Ainz-sama! Won't you be happy to witness such a scene, Nabe-ssu~"
Nabe flushed, the faraway look in her eyes showing that she had been made to imagine such scenes in her head. Then she shook her head violently, as if to vigorously deny the images that Lupus had caused. She glared at her sister, utter disdain plain on her face. "Lupusregina, are you quite mad? You think imagining such sights as something to look forward to?"
Lupusregina didn't seem phased at all, and cackled loudly as if to herself. "I think it is wonderful, Nabeshii~ A fine celebration of everything that Ainz-sama has granted us! And what better demonstration of His eternal love than to see the fruits of my union live a joyous life together with its peers? To see their little feet patter around Nazarick, to hear their joyous cries ringing through the air! Ohhh, I can't wait! I can't wait!" Lupus exclaimed, her legs flailing around wildly.
"I say, you seem quite a lot more different as your pregnancy continues, my sister," Solution observed. "It is almost as if it has changed you far more than before."
Indeed, Yuri had seen it just as Solution said. Lupusregina Beta had changed ever since she had been punished by Ainz, as if she had this invisible aura about her. Yuri could not really explain it, except that it made Lupus a lot more amicable to many things. It was as if she had masked her natural bloodthirstiness—or perhaps it was still there, but only for those who would dare threaten what she loved. And here in Nazarick, what could threaten her growing babies, or Ainz himself? Yuri wished she could have that same confidence; and yet she reminded herself that Lupus was not such an exemplary maid. She was carefree to the point of carelessness, as attested by Ainz's sound punishment.
"Oh! Oh! I think I know what it is! I've heard tell of it before, from the healers! It's the so-called 'motherly glow' that every healthy mother gains, when she has proven that her womb is fruitful for all the world to see! Perhaps it has indeed changed me."
"Regardless, you're free to your fantasies, and your opinions, Lupusregina," Nabe said with a sniff. "But just as you have changed, in comparison, mine have not. I remain, as ever, resolutely opposed to those disgusting scum."
"I still do not understand this needless hostility, my sister," Shizu rejoined, her expression betraying nothing. "They are all chosen by the Master, just as you. By the Master's Word, they are to be given their due respect, just as you. Until that directive has changed, I see no reason to treat them in this way." She raised her head, her eyes sweeping the room as if she was seeing enemies in a hostile environment. "Thus, I also see no reason why you lot are still here. Is it not more conducive to the baby's health to be at the Mother's Hall, where you can be tended to more easily?"
"That is…" Nabe said, averting her eyes. Solution looked to Yuri, as if she was expecting her to offer an explanation. Yuri silently narrowed her eyes at her sister, refusing to indulge her selfishness.
Fortunately for her, Lupus was quick to take over the conversation, so fueled by whatever new zest and joy she was experiencing as a mother.
"Aww, but Shizu-chan, we missed you so~" Lupus said.
"Irrelevant. That is…" Shizu fired back, unusually fired up despite supposedly recharging for the moment.
Yuri Alpha smiled to herself as the sounds of arguing filled the room. Indeed, even with the Pleiades almost half divided among Mothers and not, it was clear that virtually nothing had changed among her sisters. It was as if they were still continuing their lives as before. So in a way, it was not bad that they had changed. Rather, Ainz-sama had been able to enrich it, perhaps.
Still, Shizu had a point, Yuri had to admit. They should not be staying overlong here. Their assigned places were at the Mother's Hall, the one place that Ainz-sama had set aside specifically for their use. Yuri was ruefully reminded that even she herself was now openly violating the edict against her better nature, an act which would have surprised the herself from many months back, when pregnancy and motherhood had been the furthest things from her mind.
"Shizu," she said now, gently interrupting the argument that had been brewing. "Please do forgive your sister for their little indulgences." She smiled weakly at her sister, who cocked her head at her in confusion.
"What do you mean, Yuri-nee? If it can be explained correctly, I shall withdraw my erroneous thoughts."
Yuri pursed her lips. "Well, you must understand, that ever since Ainz-sama bestowed upon us the favor of becoming Mothers, we have since been prohibited from performing our usual duties." Yuri refrained from saying that their duties over the past months had instead transformed into pleasuring Ainz-sama during the many orgies. "And then, when one is sufficiently progressed in our pregnancies, we are forbidden from acting altogether."
"Yes, I know about that," Shizu said. "Lupus got punished by Ainz-sama for that, I remember."
"Nyawch! You wound me, Shizu…" Lupusregina exclaimed, her legs flailing about. "The hurt still stings, ya know! You can't just go on opening old wounds like that."
"You were never that wounded," Yuri said sternly. Then she returned to speaking with Shizu again. "And it is my opinion that the punishment still required far more." Then she sighed. "But that still brings me to the point I was going to make. Put yourself in our shoes, Shizu. If you were told not to do the tasks you were assigned; if you were expressly forbidden from doing any work at all, how would you feel?"
"Naturally, I would feel terrible," Shizu said promptly. She blinked once, then twice. "Oh."
Yuri nodded, as if to acknowledge Shizu's revelation. "That is how we currently feel. While this does not explain Nabe's own… opinions about certain things, it does explain why we're acting so differently than the sisters you're used to."
"So does this mean you do not like this new duty that Ainz-sama has given you?"
"Oh, goodness no!" Yuri said, giggling to herself. If anyone else had come in front of her and declared that she didn't look like she wanted this honor, she would have crushed them between her iron-clad fists. "It has been the greatest privilege for us to have been granted this honor. We would not change it for anything else in the world."
"She is right, sister," Nabe added. A faraway look was on her face, as if she was contemplating a wondrous scene only she alone could see. "Regardless of everything else, we will always be awed by the precious gift that Ainz-sama has given us." She smiled as she patted her belly, the largest among the Pleiades. To Yuri, who was only about four months along despite being the eldest, it made her feel a little jealous, but it was balanced by the joy she felt at being personally given the opportunity. And of course, the way the Master "loved" her was a pleasurable experience she would not surrender to any other, not even her own sisters.
"I see…" Shizu bobbed her head up and down. "I think I understand your viewpoint a bit more now. Still, I find it illogical to pursue this hatred of the outsiders. But if it eases your stressed mind, then I shall not press for more." She then stood, and curtsied, a sign that she was about to leave. "And so, in light of this new knowledge, I shall endeavor to work even harder on my own duties to help make up for the rest of you."
"Oh, Shizu, you don't need to think that," Yuri said. Her sister shook her head as she walked towards the door.
"As you have said, sister, we are all proud to do the duties assigned to us. I can do no less." And so, after a final nod to them, Shizu left the room.
The silence persisted for a bit among those who were left there, as the gathered Mothers stared uneasily at each other. Then, it was Yuri who broke the silence.
"We really should stop gathering here," she said. "Shizu has a point, this is no longer our place while we are Mothers. If we are to remain faithful servants of Ainz-sama despite our new role, then we should at least follow his directives to the letter."
"Agreed…" They answered one after another in soft murmurs.
"It's just so damned boring…!" Solution cried, through gritted teeth. "Without any work for us to do, it feels like a waste to stay all day long inside or near the Mother's Hall. It feels… wrong." Yuri couldn't fault her sister that feeling: indeed, Yuri herself felt a slight bit of injustice at being treated this way. A horrifying thought to have, especially for she who had been blessed so generously by the master, and one she squashed instantly.
"Now you know how Lupus feels, su~ I was just the first, and eventually you all did too~" Lupus said, with a grin.
Nabe glared at her sister. "As Yuri-nee just said, you were punished, you idiot. Don't lump us all together with your foolishness. I certainly did not go out of my way to disobey the Master! And. I. Never. Will!"
"Hmmm~ You say that Nabe-cchi, but are you not the one who never heeds what the Master says and keeps hating those others, hmm?" Lupusregina grinned, in a teasing way, her eyes dancing with amusement.
Nabe's voice rose, enough that it was almost shouting. "This and that are totally different. Even Albedo-sama and Shalltear-sama are still allowed to hate them; and I will also do so as I please."
It was a strange sentiment to be having, particularly after the fact of the many orgies that had already occurred. With blushing face, she recalled that there had been few arguments in those times. Quite the contrary—everyone, outsider or no, were united in the desire to please the Master. She hadn't heard Nabe say anything then as she was saying now—though perhaps that was more her natural reticence to share her inner thoughts than anything else.
The train of thought led Yuri down shameful path through well-trod memories of her times with the Master, times she dearly wished would return. She longed to feel his touch against her naked skin once more, to bask in the warmth he exuded like the morning sun, to feel his strong, powerful presence take charge and lead her down the depths of depravity and up through the very heights of pleasure.
And then came a flash of clarity, as if her own perusal of her memories had given her the insight to the very nature of existence. Well, it was nothing as grand as that, only the realization that had not occurred to her yet.
It was all so simple.
Yuri Alpha missed the Master dearly. And because of that, she was going out of her way to do some minor work she had already been forbidden from doing—like before. For if the Master had been there, had been available, then she would not be feeling so restless. She ached for the Master's touch so much that she could cry, and yet because he was not there, she found no place to dispense all these charged, pent-up energy. All she could do was attempt to perform her former duties, again and again, enough to the point that the homunculi maids had banded together to keep an eye on her—for the most part.
And that was perhaps what was happening to the rest of them, and they each coped differently from how Yuri did.
Narberal Gamma was ever quick to speak loudly of her disdain and contempt for the outsider mothers, even to the point that those same outsiders knew about it. But perhaps this was but a manifestation of Nabe's innate jealousy of any and all who would take Ainz's attention from her. Perhaps she desired most of all to be his and his alone, to monopolize his affection, a desire shared by most, yet ardently expressed by Albedo and Shalltear Bloodfallen. Yuri guessed that if the outsiders weren't present, her ill feelings would somehow transfer to the others, perhaps even to her own sisters in the Pleiades.
Solution Epsilon had grown ever lazy and withdrawn, to the point that Yuri could have reasonably accused her of dereliction of duty at any other time. And yet, perhaps it was more of a symptom of her pregnancy, as her kind was unusual enough that the condition was something new to her. Yuri could sense a child-like helplessness in her sister, masked by her utter indifference of many things, and that like every Mother she sought comfort most in Ainz-sama, the only other entity in the entire world who could perhaps share her unique perspective.
Of course, Lupusregina's capriciousness was known to everyone even before she got pregnant. In fact, it was precisely because of this that she got punished, and Yuri could only say that it was a long-time coming. One would think that the girl would learn after almost failing Ainz-sama already, but she was as her Creator made her. Yet Yuri couldn't deny that it was because of this boldness and spontaneity that had spurred Lupusregina to be one of the very first to receive Ainz-sama's blessing. Had it been part of her plot all along to rope in that outsider Clementine to help seduce Ainz-sama, or had she simply seen an opportunity and taken it like a ruthless predator? In any case, it seemed her newfound devotion to motherhood did not appear to look like a fluke—it was genuine sentiment from the woman unafraid to show off her emotions.
She resurfaced from her thoughts just in time to hear Solution ask: "So what do you think the lockdown's about? Is an invasion imminent?"
Talk of an invasion was always enough to set their teeth on edge. This time, however, there was none of that. If there had, the protocols for their defense would have changed. And yet, there was only a state of alertness, for all loyal servants of Nazarick to remain vigilant and on standby wherever they were: whether inside the Tomb or out there fulfilling the Master's command in his armies.
"Nonsense," Yuri said. "We would have surely known about it if that was the case." She raised a brow at her sisters. "I know we are all flaunting the Master's directives slightly by being here, but I trust you do remember what the Mothers must do in case of a direct invasion?" They all answered with firm, silent nods.
In the event of an emergency—the worst that could conceivably happen—there were plenty of contingencies that were drilled into each mother ever since the incident with Lupusregina. Nazarick was not be a last stand, as Ainz-sama willed. Should the very worst happen and Ainz could not be there to personally defend the pregnant Mothers, then they were to flee through random Gates that would take them to far-flung places of this world unrecorded within Nazarick. They were ordered to lay low and give birth in safety, and await for news from the Master; or failing that, begin to plot to receive word or avenge Him.
There were liches who stood on standby close to the Mother's Hall for this very reason, ready to conjure myriad Gates to confuse an enemy, while ushering the Mothers and a group of maids and healers and guards to safety. At the barest minimum, the guards, the maids and the healers would do all in their power to see the Mothers to safety. And the Mothers were, in turn, instructed to sacrifice themselves for the pregnant ones, if they were not pregnant themselves. Ainz-sama emphasized that His legacy would be more important than anything else in this situation.
Then again, Yuri was confident that the worst would never come to pass. Their innermost sanctum could not be breached until all nine floors had been infiltrated, the Guardians defeated. It was an unthinkable situation.
"It's something to ask Entoma about," Nabe said. Yuri cast her thoughts to her sister, who had, as Shizu said, been taking on more responsibilities in lieu of the rest of them. Once again, she could not help but feel guilty, while also feeling partly jealous that they were allowed to continue performing their normal duties as before.
"Whatever the cause may be, we can be certain that Ainz-sama will return here regardless," Lupusregina said.
"And why is that?" Nabe asked.
"Oh, Nabecchi, have you not been paying attention, su~" Lupus wiggled a finger, as if she was teasing the other Pleiades. "I know that Zesshi Zetsumei is bound to give birth in two days. And as such, Ainz-sama is bound to be there, for we all know that he has promised to be there for every one of us, no matter what."
"I applaud your confidence," Solution Epsilon said. "Not in Ainz-sama returning; but in knowing about the exact date."
"Yes," said Nabe. "How can you be so damned sure?"
"Still doubting me, sisters?" Lupus said. "But perhaps it is because I didn't mention when your time is up, hm? Well, I'm still not telling. We'll see who'll get proven right, in the end. Two more days, su~"
Yuri had faith in her sister's abilities, which was why she was definitely sure that in two days, Zesshi Zetsumei would be about to give birth.
In two days, Ainz-sama would finally return. And while she was unsure if he would deign to bless her with her touch on that time, she would still be satisfied to at least hear his voice, or feel his hand on her body. She knew the others definitely felt the same.
And of course, there was the ever-constant thrum of anticipation beneath their skins, like the current of a lightning spell just waiting to be unleashed. The woman was about to give birth, a first for every one of them in the Tomb. They were all looking forward to their own, but the birth of the Firstborn would be something to anticipate regardless—for it was such a momentous event in all of Nazarick's history.
Whatever happened in two days would be something to remember, even years after the fact.
"Two days, huh?" Yuri said, to no one in particular. She smiled. "I can't wait." The others nodded in agreement, despite their own inner opinions on the matter.
First it had been but an inkling, now it was a certainty in Zero's mind.
The butler Sebas, and the crew who called the shots behind him, were masters of their craft. They were better than even the most veteran professionals of the Eight Fingers, and arguably even better than other legendary outfits, like the assassins of Ijaniya. Hell, if they could but apply themselves to some ambition, they could do great things. But perhaps that was something they were already planning to do.
They all operated cleanly, efficiently, and more than that, quickly. The Gate spell of theirs was one major factor to their speed; as it allowed them to move all around the kingdom, snatching up their objectives as if they were merely strolling through the market and just plucking freely from the carts of unwary merchants. And yet, even when deprived of that particular asset of theirs, the rest of their operations would still be made without any ounce of sloppiness or hesitation.
Sebas, of course, was the spear tip that was able to march through an entire garrison's worth of men, slaughtering all who resisted—with Zero along for the ride. And yet, it was clear that there were others beside Sebas, other peers who could also do the job just as well. She was able to intuit it from the conversation Sebas had with his subordinates. There were others who could be said to be Sebas' peers, fellows whom even the mighty butler would pause. And if that was the case, how much more monstrous were these others compared to him?
Speaking of the subordinates, they were also the pick of the litter, nothing dumb or unskilled about them. They were creatures that Zero had not ever seen before, and he'd read reports about a lot of demihumans in the past. Whoever or whatever these creatures were, no one yet knew how to beat them, and that was already checkmate for anyone fighting them. They could move sight unseen, appearing out of nowhere as if they had been following behind her invisible all the time. And even with all the potential they had, these subordinates remained in a support role to Sebas, only there to restrain and carry, leaving the butler to pull much of the muscle, their true abilities remaining a mystery to Zero.
Today was a case in point of everything Sebas and his masters could achieve. They were right there, in the Capital City of the Re-Estize Kingdom. They were right at the heart of it, past all the soldiers now manning the walls, who were completely unaware that an infiltrator had already gotten in through a Gate. And that was when Zero was finally able to concede that there was no hope for the Kingdom. If a Gate could be opened in a city right here, what was stopping them from just marching an army through and popping the whole garrison like a grape? That they were not doing that spoke to either some misguided honor—or an overwhelming confidence that nothing was impossible for them. The image of a predator simply toying with its meal came to mind, content to amuse itself before it closed its jaws around the hapless victim.
Their current objective was to kidnap the one and only Marquis Pespea, current marshal of the main Re-Estize army. At first, she had balked when she had heard the details from Sebas. Unlike the missions that had come before, they couldn't possibly just waltz into the capital, easy as you please!
But that hesitation only lasted for one full moment. She remembered then that she wasn't dealing with the sort of insanity that an overly ambitious crime boss envisioned. Their outfit got shit done. And so instead she looked forward to what was about to happen, to once again witness the expression of complete and utter dominance by the strong and powerful, the spectacle of supreme carnage and professionalism that was exemplified by the stoic, dignified Sebas Tian. It was far better entertainment that anything she had ever seen at the Arwintar Arena.
Surprisingly, Sebas told her that the operation was to involve a lot more stealth than before.
"We do not wish to rile up the populace of a possible attack," Sebas said. "Particularly since they are currently anticipating an oncoming siege. Rampant chaos and destruction would only occur if they were to learn that we can come and go as we please; that is not our intent at the time." Their intent was to quietly cut off the head of the snake, while also making his disappearance highly suspect by leaving no traces. Zero suspected that they would even make it appear as if the man had fled the capital, which would no doubt play right into whatever plans Sebas' masters had. It was an ingenious play, and exactly the sort of thing that Zero routinely did, albeit on a much smaller scale. Cast doubt on the actions of a beloved leader, and watch his organization eat themselves in the frenzy that ensued.
The operation had begun smoothly. Their target was currently located inside a mansion nestled deep at the palace district—the estates near the Royal Palace given to the most influential families in Re-Estize. That was really old money, and as such was typically warded with expensive magical bullshit that required a lot of resources to pierce. Of note, Marquis Raeven had his own mansion here. Pespea's hideout was located close to a section of the outer wall, which made their entry point obvious. While the proximity to the wall meant it was also close to the garrison, the structure had been built in such a way that there were obvious blind spots one could exploit. And exploit it they did—he and Sebas arriving through a Gate during broad daylight with no alarm being raised.
Sebas pulled out some sort of scroll and activated it, causing Zero to feel a chill as the enchantment wove its way over her body. She looked down and saw it was an invisibility spell, which made her form blurry and indistinct.
"I know you said you had confidence in your stealth, but let us not take things for granted," Sebas said in a whisper.
"What about you?" Zero responded. "Aren't you going to use one yourself?"
Sebas snorted. "Follow my lead," was his only response.
They scaled a nearby wall, arriving at a tight fit alleyway in between mansions. The high hedge wall that served as the mansion's boundary was right in front of them, and it took one simple jump for the two of them to breach the perimeter and arrive neatly at the gardens.
Zero looked around, surprised that the place looked dirty and ill-kept, as if the gardeners were no longer doing their duty. Knowing the privations of the nobles at the time, it was equally likely there were no gardeners or other servants, because none of them could be paid anymore, or that they had fled in the wake of the Sorcerous Kingdom's declaration of war.
Unlike her, Sebas wasn't keen on sightseeing, as he went on ahead, bounding on the ground so fast his movements couldn't be tracked until he crouched inside an alcove at the foot of the mansion wall. Zero joined him there, stepping lightly and avoiding the gravely, leaf-strewn path to avoid making noise.
"… Can you use your senses?" Sebas said quietly, his brow furrowed. To anyone who might have chanced to look at this very spot, they would have been surprised to see a venerable gentleman in a butler's outfit crouched below a wall looking suspicious.
"What are we looking for?" Zero said, concentrating fully on her senses. She was able to find the presence of many people beyond the wall, though they were in different locations, reflecting the fact that there were multiple floors.
"At this range, I can't sense if they'll be hostile or not," she said. Her usual method of sensing energy or killing intent was useless with a wall blocking her path, and with no way to sniff out certain scents or hear certain telltale sounds, she would remain blind yet.
Sebas seemed to be thinking on that for a long moment, before he nodded. "It is no matter." He nodded towards the side. "Through there is the entrance to the larders. Lead the way, and I shall follow you."
"O.. kay," she said. "And no killing them?"
"Not yet." That was code to her that he would be observing, and would give her the command to kill when it came. Before that, she would need to exercise restraint.
She did as she was told. Her invisibility certainly helped, but in infiltration missions like these, it was only a bonus. She was not a born Ijaniya assassin, but she could tangle with the best of them, using her wild magic to enhance her physical abilities. Clad behind the cloaking magics, she was able to move as swiftly as a breeze, entering the larder unnoticed by those within.
A quick glance around told her that there were no guards here—just servants doing their duties. Shrouded now by the bustle of clattering dishes and clanging pots, and the smell of food being cooked, she delivered quick knockout punches to all the servants she could sense.
As they all crumpled to the ground, one by one, she was dimly aware that Sebas had followed after her, and had stuck to the shadows behind the door watching her work. When all the servants were mere bundles on the floor, Sebas nodded and walked over to the fires.
He doused them quickly, making Zero's brows raise. In this way he was acting exactly as he looked, as a butler who was attending to his master's house, and not someone who could routinely smash open people's heads. The incongruity of the image made her shake her head, as she forced herself to remember that this was reality and not just a fever dream.
Sebas didn't take long. Once he was done, he walked over to the entrance to the upper floors, including the hall outside. He glanced at her and gestured. "And now?"
She threw out her senses, and felt the presences of several who were most likely soldiers bearing arms. They weren't moving, so perhaps they were on guard detail, perhaps to watch over the kitchens.
When she informed Sebas of this, he nodded, as if in approval. Then he said, "Go, lead the way."
And it was in this way that the rest of the operation proceeded: with Zero going ahead and spearheading the charge by knocking out the inhabitants left and right through stealth. Then she would stop, Sebas would evaluate the situation, then they would continue towards the next area. They cleared entire rooms and corridors this way, without causing an alarm to erupt, stealth and subterfuge paving the way over outright combat.
"Impressive," Sebas said, once they had subdued the Marquis inside his room. The entire operation had been completed with none the wiser—leaving behind a mansion full of unconscious people, people who would be entirely unaware that they had passed, and that the Marquis would be kidnapped right under their noses.
"I do good work," she boasted. She crossed her arms over her chest, where the "sports bra" that the strange maid had given her had been of great help in managing her movements. She no longer needed to use painful binds to stop her breasts from flopping around. The strange maid had declared that it was a "sacred item" known and cherished by "the Creators", a fact not gainsaid by Sebas. Still, with its efficacy, she could almost believe it was a sacred item in truth.
"But there are still some people around," she pointed out. While they had cleared a majority of the mansion, including the Marquis' own guard detail, there had still been places where they hadn't gone, like the guard room outside the mansion, which was doubling as a barracks for Pespea's personal bodyguards.
The Gate opened, ready to receive the unconscious Marquis Pespea. Sebas cocked his head.
"I must say, you have performed your missions quite admirably," he said. "I do not hesitate in stating that simple fact."
"Oh shucks, you're making me blush, sir," Zero said with a grin. That was good. With this much of a glowing commendation, she would definitely be on her way to getting this damned condition reversed.
"That being said, we are still far from concluding our mission," Sebas continued. "And so, let us—" His expression flickered, as if something just occurred to him. "Please excuse my rudeness," he said, turning around and putting his forefingers to the side of his head. "Yes, this is Sebas."
Zero crossed her arms. She recognized that Sebas had just received a Message spell.
"I see." She raised her brow. From the tone of Sebas' voice, and the way his body had suddenly gone rigid, it was clear that something had changed. It was as if the butler had suddenly sensed an enemy in the distance. "Very well. I shall withdraw as needed." He put his hand down.
"Something up?" Zero asked. Sebas turned to look at her, blinking.
"Indeed. The mission has been suspended." Her eyebrows raised.
"Really? How come?" This came as a complete surprise. Even the way Sebas moved and acted seemed to imply something was up. This butler who had been undaunted by many things before now looked like was facing down an enemy who could match him blow for blow. It was honestly exciting, while also frightening to consider how an almost god-like being would fare against others it deemed equal to itself. What would such a fight even look like?
"The details are irrelevant to us at the moment," Sebas said, his now serious eyes gazing off into space, as if he was concentrating hard on something.
"Well, that's a bummer," Zero groused. "But it's not like I can complain." She looked around. "You know, you can just head on out here—we're already in the capital, and I can just go to an Eight Finger bolt-hole to hide. I know a place that's just close by—"
"No, you will not," Sebas said, to her surprise.
"What?"
"You will be coming with me, back to Master's home," Sebas said.
"Back to…" she repeated. "Oh, well that's fine." Better even. She would then be able to just ask Sebas' Master about getting her old form back. She didn't think she would be seeing them so soon, but she would take every opportunity that she could get.
Then she noticed that Sebas was just standing there, as if he had suddenly turned into a statue. She waved her hand in front of his face. "Heyyyy~ Something wrong?"
In answer, Sebas cleared his throat, his eyes clearly locked on something behind her.
It took Zero a full moment to understand his meeting, as she then whirled on the spot, expanding her senses.
How had she completely missed him? Well, it was possible that she had been distracted. There was a figure that entered from the hall outside, the faint distortions of the air clearly showing the presence of someone who was under an invisibility spell, just like her. The spell wavered, as something shimmered into existence, like colored ink spilling into water.
Underneath the spell was a man, who now stared wide-eyed at them both. His eyes went from her, to Sebas behind her. Zero cocked her head, before recognition made her laugh.
It was that damned mouthy fucker, Brain Unglaus.
"Sebas…?" The man said, brandishing the blade in his hand. "I-Is that you…?"
Behind her, Sebas sighed.
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".