Welcome back to the Nazarick Triuvierate everyone! I hope you are all doing well, staying safe and enjoying this current season of anime. It's going to be a shame when it ends since I've been enjoying what I've been watching including Shield-Hero, Eminence in Shadow and Dr Stone, but then we'll be getting into 2024 and all the new and returning series that will await us there!
daniel: Hey guys! So happy to be back with another chapter! This one was once more such a riot to write especially as we get to focus on the best New World boy, Climb! Seriously the man deserves much better than the raw deal he's got. But we will see more of him in what's to come so that's what matters!
My co-author couldn't have worded it better. For being such a good boy, Climb gets dealt a bad hand with his eventual fate. And I wish I could say we'll give him a better one but that would be a lie. However, what we have planned will be more fitting for his character…that's all I'll say.
I also have another announcement once this chapter ends regarding my personal life that will impact the future of this story. But that's to come afterwards…let's get on to why you are all here! As always, the usual disclaimer that neither I nor daniel own Overlord or any of its characters, locations, events or anything else related to the anime, manga or Light Novels. The only things we own are our OCs, Henry and Fengxian. ENJOY!
Chapter 18 – Blonde Bombshells
"NNNGH!" "NNNGH!" "NNNGH!" It was another dawn in the capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom, and as with every morning, the sounds of effort could be heard coming from the castle's training area. It was here that Climb, the dutiful bodyguard of Princess Renner, came to practise his swordplay whenever he wasn't required to be around his Princess. And since she was currently sleeping and being watched over by her maids and the royal guards that served the King, the two Princes and the Princess herself, it allowed him some time to work on his fledgling technique.
"NNNGH!" Climb swung his sword forward over and over, sweat running down his face and into the light white shirt that he had picked out this morning. It may be monotonous and mindless what he was doing, but Climb knew this was vital to progress on the path to being a true warrior like his idol, the Warrior-Captain Gazef Stronoff. And the stronger he could become, the better he'd be able to protect his beloved Princess who had shown him such kindness all those years ago. He would do anything, endure through anything, to protect the sacred life of his golden-haired patron.
"I WILL get stronger!" He swore to himself as he kept swinging his sword downward in repetitive arcs. "I WILL protect my Princess from any who would do her harm! And I WILL prove myself to everyone who looks down on me because of my commoner status!" With another loud yell, he swung downward once more in a blow that in his mind mimicked the final strength he would make against his imaginary opponent. In his mind's eye, he saw the bandit fall beneath his blade, blood spewing from his chest as the light left his eyes…another evil man who would dare lay a hand…nay, a finger, against Princess Renner.
"A fine strike! I assume that finished off your imaginary opponent?" A deep voice laced with humour spoke up from behind him, and as he spun around, instantly on high alert, his wide eyes spotted the muscular form of Gazef Stronoff leaning against the entrance to the training area wearing his full suit of armour, his kind eyes watching Climb's movements with a faint expression of mirth.
"L-Lord Stronoff! F-Forgive me, I didn't mean to raise my blade against you like that!" Climb apologised as he inclined his head in respect.
"There is nothing to forgive…a good warrior must always remain on alert to counter any threats against himself or the people he has sworn to protect," Gazef waved aside magnanimously, his kind words doing wonders to Climb's morale, before his face set back in his usual stern expression. "That being said…you're pushing yourself far too hard and overdoing it. You'll wear yourself out if you keep going as you are."
"Y-You're right, Lord Stronoff. It's just that…I want to give it my all to get stronger and protect the ones I care about," Climb replied, causing Gazef to raise an eyebrow and sigh wearily.
"Am I though?" He asked the young warrior sarcastically as he made his way towards the edge of the room where all the sparring blades were kept. "If you actually took stock of my advice, then I wouldn't be having to waste my time coming up here most mornings to remind you."
"Y-yes…I'm terribly sorry, Sir Stronoff. Both for wasting your time and ignoring your wisdom," Climb apologised with a deep bow, sword hanging limply by his side
The Warrior-Captain chuckled as he lifted one of the swords out of the racks and tested its weight. It wasn't as heavy as his usual blade, but it would suffice for this morning. "Since you won't get enough rest, how about indulging me in a practice match?" He asked as he strode back towards the centre of the training area.
Gazef's unexpected request caught the blonde-haired warrior off guard. "A s-spar? W-with you, s-sir?" He stammered. "I-I am honoured, but surely you have more important duties to occupy yourself with?"
The experienced warrior shook his head whilst adjusting his grip on the sparring blade. "Just recently I was made aware of just how callow I really am," he explained. "So I would like to train and spar against someone with some resiliency."
"C-callow? Surely not, Lord Stronoff!" Climb exclaimed in disbelief. Gazef was the strongest warrior in the Kingdom if not the entire world! Surely there couldn't be anyone who made Gazef feel as inconsequential as Climb did when he compared himself to the legendary warrior.
"Indeed. Were it not for the aid of a merciful and awe-inspiring magic caster, a righteous and majestic warrior and a towering and just goliath, there's a good chance I wouldn't be standing here before you right now," Gazef mused, remembering once again his encounter with the three beings and their attendant back in Carne Village, and how their subsequent display of might and magic had made him realise just how far he still needed to go on the path of strength.
Climb still didn't look convinced if the expression of disbelief across his face was anything to go by. "What sort of magic caster and warriors that we don't already know of could be capable of that?" he asked, referring to the likes of Gazef's one-time rival Brain and Lakyus and Gagaran of Blue Rose without needing to say their names. After all, their reputations were the only ones who came close to Gazef's own.
"Their names were…Ainz Ooal Gown…Constantine…and Fen… They were…incredible, each in their own way...Take Master Gown for example. He had such power at his fingertips that could easily have wiped out the village and everyone around it, yet even with such strength he was magnanimous and honourable in the way he conducted himself. He'd given his word to protect the villagers, and he kept it even at great risk to his person and his companions. He even saved my life, though he had no reason to do so…" Gazef rattled off as though he hadn't heard what Climb had said, so lost was he in his melancholy and memories as he stared at his weathered face reflected on the surface of the blade. "And Sir Constantine…he conducted himself with the grace and bearing of a kind and compassionate warrior who would let no amount of cruelty stand. From only the briefest of exchanges, I got the feeling life as a whole is sacred to him, and that he'd do anything to protect it which is the epitome of what every honourable warrior should strive for. And Sir Fen…he preferred to let his actions do the talking, but from those acts, I saw all the hallmarks of a brutally efficient warrior who stands against injustice. Even the likes of I, or the strongest fighters among the blasted Theocracy's Scriptures, or even the freakish magic caster from the Baharuth Empire, Fluder Paradyne, wouldn't stand a chance against any of them, let alone all three combined…"
Gazef's expression turned into a scowl as he continued. "I just wish more of our own knights and superiors were like them instead of puffing out their chests and bragging about their noble status, choosing only to hoard their wealth and belittling those they see as below them like you and I…" His expression then softened as he turned to face the young warrior. "Or at least, that's what I think after everything I've seen. I don't blame for you not believing it though, as the heights of which I am describing must seem impossible to comprehend unless you witness it for yourself."
"I'll be sure to commit their names to memory…you can count on that, my Lord," Climb replied firmly. Even though, as Gazef had predicted, he couldn't fully believe they were capable of the power Gazef claimed they possessed, he knew that the Warrior Captain was a good judge of character. If what he said was true…he would like to meet these individuals for himself one day and see if they were everything Gazef spoke of, especially this Sir Constantine who sounded like the epitome of everything Climb himself wanted to be. "But…are you still sure you want to train with someone as inexperienced as me?"
"It's not training…just practising with swords," Gazef reassured him. "Whether you learn something from it is entirely up to you." With those words, Gazef lowered himself into a combat-ready stance. "Make whatever preparations you need, and then when you are ready…come at me with everything you have!"
Climb nodded once as he also made his way towards the weapons rack and withdrew a small, round metal shield, hooking it around his left hand while shifting his sword to a one-handed grip in his right. But even as armed as he was, he was still incredibly nervous. How was the likes of him, a lowly bodyguard, supposed to match up against the legendary Gazef Stronoff, one of the strongest warriors in the world?
"Come on, you can attack any day now," the veteran called out, hafting his blade across his shoulders and beckoning to Climb, But when the young warrior still hesitated, Gazef sighed and changed tack. If the boy was still too awed to try and attack him, he'd take the choice away from him instead. "Well if you won't, then that's fine…BECAUSE I WILL!" As his calm words turned into a roar, he changed forward and swung his blade at Climb's chest, forcing the boy to get his shield up to protect himself. To his credit, Climb held the blade back with everything he had, only for Gazef to lash out with his boot and kick him in the chest, sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Just because a sword is all I'm carrying doesn't mean you should focus all of your attention on it," Gazef lectured, allowing his blade to hang carelessly at his side whilst he watched Climb struggle back to his feet. "Change that or you'll wind up on the floor again."
"R-right," Climb acknowledged as he righted himself. Seeing his young charge on both, even if unsteady, legs caused Gazef to smile.
"Still, to stand up after such a blow is to be commended. A normal warrior would have been dead from such a blow," the veteran warrior told him. If he wasn't so focused on the fight and staying upright, Climb might have blushed from such praise.
"Princess Renner relies on me to keep her safe," was all he said in response. "I have to become stronger than I am so that no harm will come to her."
"Good. Having a clear goal gives you focus and something to aim for. Now show that resolve and come at me!" In response to Gazef's challenge, Climb surged forward, but before he could get close Gazef lashed out once more and with a swing of his blade forced Climb back. Seizing the opportunity brought on by his opponent's retreat, Gazef slashed his sword downward only for Climb to block and hold it back once more. Even as Gazef pressed down with his considerable might, Climb refused to buckle. "I told you already…stop focusing on what's in my damn hands!" He shouted as he pushed Climb back and raised his boot again, only to be surprised when Climb smirked from behind his shield.
"Martial Arts! Fortress!" A red barrier appeared around Climb's body as Gazef's kick connected, rendering the attack ineffective and startling the Warrior Captain in the process.
"You baited me!" Gazef exclaimed with a mixture of shock and pride.
"That's right! Here we go!" With a passionate yell, Climb leapt high into the air, his sword and shield both raised over his head. "Martial Arts Slash!" His blade lit up in a crystal blow light as he arced it downwards at the veteran warrior, forcing Gazef to counter with his own sword. After a moment or two of their weapons being locked, Gazef once again shoved Climb away with his superior strength. With a pained yell, Climb hit the wall of the training arena and crumpled to the ground, but he refused to stay down. Gritting his teeth, he got back to his feet and faced down Gazef who was watching him approvingly.
"You surprised me…now I'm gonna have to take this a lot more seriously!" Gazef told him with a smirk.
"I was hoping you'd say that. Here I come!" Climb charged forward once again, but with Gazef now taking this duel a lot more seriously the young warrior's passion was for naught. He tried his best to keep up, but his battered limbs crumbled beneath Gazef's renewed onslaught, and before long he was sent crumpling to the ground in defeat.
"How about it? I think I did a pretty good job of controlling myself considering your bones are still intact," Gazef commented lightly, planting his sword into the ground with one hand whilst offering the other to Climb.
"I-I'm just bruised, that's all…a little rest and I'll be good," Climb grunted defiantly as he took Gazef's hand, allowing him to pull him up and hold him steady as Climb's legs threatened to give out from under him.
"You'll be right off to guard the Princess soon, correct?" Without waiting for the boy's reply, Gazef allowed his sword to clatter to the ground as he fished out a vial from within his armour. "Drink this. You'll be back to full readiness in full time."
"T-Thank you, my lord…for both the potion and the sparring session," Climb replied as he chugged it down. "You really are amazing, you know? How did you-?"
"If you're asking how I got this strong, you're out of luck. I don't have a proper answer for you," Gazef told him. "I just have a talent for the art of combat, that's all." Climb looked downcast at his response which prompted Gazef to try and reassure him. "But you have that same talent, young Climb. All you need to do is hone it."
"You think so?" Climb asked as he moved to stand on his own two feet without Gazef's help.
"I do, but the formal training you're doing is holding you back. You can't focus on fighting with your sword alone. That'll get you killed in the heat of battle" Gazef continued. "The sword is just one means of attacking. Try to incorporate your hands, feet, knees, elbows…your whole body into your method…if you don't mind fighting like a dirty adventurer that is…"
Climb chuckled at the warrior's blunt honesty whilst inwardly taking his words to heart. "I learned a lot from you today, thank you very much," he said with a formal bow.
"That strike from above is one of your best abilities, but you need to think about what you'll do as a follow-through," Gazef replied as he reciprocated with a small nod of his own.
"Right!" Climb enthused, but before the two could speak any further a cough was heard from nearby. Looking over, they spotted Gazef's Vice-Captain lurking by the entryway. "If you'll excuse me Lord Stronoff, Sir, I must be off. The Princess will be expecting me." With a final small bow, Climb squared his shoulders and marched past both of them determinedly as he headed back towards the castle.
~TNT~
"Is something the matter, Vice-Captain?" Gazef asked, walking up to his subordinate as they both watched Renner's young bodyguard walk away.
"No, it's just…that situation you engaged in just now…it's really bad, sir…" the vice-captain told him somewhat reluctantly. As loath as he was to disrespect his superior, he knew Gazef appreciated honesty. "The boy is the bodyguard to Princess Renner. If word got out that he fought the Warrior Captain and either of you lost, the Nobility faction would have a field day."
Gazef sighed as he recognised the truth of his comrade's worth. Both he and Climb, due to their commoner status, were eternally looked down upon by those craven toadies who claimed to serve the King. No matter the loyalty and strength they showed in defence of the Kingdom, the nobles were prejudiced enough to take any opportunity to put either of them down. "I was just looking for someone to spar with who could keep on my toes, that's all," he replied as he stepped out into the morning sunlight.
"I don't think anyone saw you, but you ought to be careful from now on," his subordinate replied. "Unlike yourself, his commoner status is only compounded by the fact that he's an orphan from goodness knows where. As such, the nobility's faction antipathy towards him is even greater than yours. If it wasn't for the Princess, they'd have done away with him a long time ago." The Vice-Captain's face then relaxed into a knowing smile. "That being said…you see enough in him to think he can improve?"
Gazef sighed regretfully before answering. "Unfortunately, he's as strong as he's ever going to be. He's what adventurers would call 'capped in gold'. But what he's limited by in ability, he's not limited by in experience. Only time will tell how far he'll go…" He trailed off as both he and the Vice-Captain espied two familiar figures walking through the courtyard below.
"Hold on…is that Prince Zanac? And Marquis Raeven?" The Vice-Captain asked in disbelief. "Why would someone in the Nobility faction be openly conversing with one of the Princes? Does he intend to switch sides?"
"The Marquis is a shameless opportunist. Wouldn't shook me to see him anywhere these days," Gazef answered, his disgust evident. "Who knows what machinations he's working on behind the scenes? Whatever he's after…I'm certain the only person it will benefit is the Marquis himself."
The two lapsed into silence, but Gazef noted with alarm that the Prince and the Marquis were heading in the same direction as Climb was, and if so a confrontation between both parties seemed inevitable. He just had to hope the headstrong warrior would keep his cool and pay no mind to the insults that would come his way…
~TNT~
After a quick wash and change back in his somewhat sparse room within the palace, Climb was once more in his familiar suit of armour as he walked through the castle towards the Princess' chambers. But as he turned one corner to head down a long passageway that would lead to his eventual destination, he found himself instinctively pausing before moving to the side and saluting respectfully as two very familiar yet not-so-welcome (if Climb were being honest with) personages were passing by from the opposite direction.
The shorter man at the front was the Second Prince of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Zanac Valleon Igana Ryle Vaiself, a short and portly individual with short blonde hair that fell to his neck and blue eyes that sported heavy bags underneath who was clad in an embroidered blue blazer, a white cravat with golden trimmings which poked out of the top of a brown under jacket which the Prince wore over a fine white shirt, black trousers, white socks that ran up to his knees and black shoes. Strolling at his side was the simpering noble who commanded the highest authority among the Six Great Nobles who advised the King, Marquis Elias Brandt Dale Raeven. The Marquis, as befitting his exalted station, was wearing a doublet made from high-quality fur woven with golden threads, and throughout his outfit were sewn intricate patterns, small jewels and other materials of finery. His short dark blond hair was styled to perfection and his grey eyes were as sharp, weaselly and inquisitive as ever
As the pair drew closer, Climb made sure to school his features neutrally to hide the slight and deeply buried feelings of resentment he had towards these two. Though they weren't as provocative and openly insulting as many of the other nobles and senior figures around the castle, they would always smirk disdainfully at him as though he were nothing but dirt on their shoes and make snide comments at him, his status, his Princess and whatever else they could use to degrade him, and all he could do was stand there and take it without reprisal. Though he sometimes itched to school them if they were being especially insulting of Renner, he knew that any rash or hasty actions on his part would bring great shame to his Princess' name and give these sorts of people more ammunition to use against him and, if they were feeling especially petty that day, get him a date with the executioner's block.
"Ah, the ever-dutiful bodyguard of my sister, young Climb," Zanac greeted with a leer as he and Raeven drew level with the young knight. "On your way to visit that 'monster' of yours, I presume?"
That was the one insult Climb could never stand, and to this day he never understood why the likes of Zanac and Raeven referred to her in that manner. Renner was the shining light of the Kingdom who was doing her best to save it in his eyes, plus she had gone out of her way to show him great kindness when she saved his life and took him in. Though he knew what he was about to say would be unwelcome and disrespectful, his loyalty and devotion to his Princess demanded he challenge the Second Prince on his ludicrous claims. "I am," he replied firmly, willing himself to show no fear in the face of these powerful men. "And with all due respect, your Highness, Princess Renner is a kind-hearted and beautiful treasure of the Kingdom."
"I am not the one who called my 'beloved' sister a monster and I will deny anyone who says otherwise," Zanac retorted calmly, unfazed by Climb's declaration. "But a 'beautiful treasure'? Well, considering the money she's been wasting on commoners and the prohibition of transit tariffs for adventurers, I hardly think 'treasure' is an appropriate way to describe her."
"Your Highness, I believe it was the Princess who proposed the measure that abolished the slave trade within the Kingdom…surely that has merit?" Raeven, who had remained silent up until now, reminded him.
"Hmph…a rare exception, perhaps, but what about the others, Marquis?" Zanac put to the noble before looking back at Climb. "She knows the goals she strives for are impossible yet continues to throw darts in the dark with no regard for who she hits. Such blind actions will only cause trouble in the long-term which we can ill afford with the Empire breathing down our necks…"
"I'm sure you are mistaken, my lords. Princess Renner would never do such a thing!" Climb couldn't help but blurt out, prompting another condescending sneer from the Second Prince.
"Of course you'd believe such a thing, given how blindly loyal you are to that 'monster'," he dismissed with a wave of his hand. "But since you are going to see my 'dear' sister, I'm sure you wouldn't mind delivering her a message for me?" Despite the bile rising in his throat at the Prince's continued insults, all Climb could do was nod in response. "If given the chance, our elder brother will use her as a political marriage chip for his own gain should he ascend to our dear father's throne, a fate I'm sure your beloved patron would rather avoid. But if she works with me against him, I'll graciously relieve her of her title of Princess once I become King and allow her to graciously retire to a comfortable plot of land on the frontier where she can live out her days in peace and comfort, free from all the nasty responsibilities that being a royal entails."
"S-Surely you jest, your Highness? For both yours and the Princess's sake, I'll pretend I didn't hear that," Climb answered, knowing that Zanac's promises were both empty and insincere given the lack of respect he showed for his sister.
"Hmph, what a shame…I thought it was quite good myself," Zanac snarked as he and Raeven continued on their original path. Climb waited for them to pass before starting to walk in the opposite direction towards Renner's chambers, but before he could walk five paces he stopped and turned his head as the Prince addressed him again. "One more thing…Marquis Raeven and I are of one mind when it comes to your patron and her policies. I dare say that our joining forces will be the last nail in Renner's proverbial coffin should she continue to push against us."
"Prince Zanac…are you sure that's wise? You know this dog will tell his mistress everything we say…" Raeven hissed.
"Oh don't worry so much, Marquis. You of all people know how smart that monster is. I'm fairly certain she's quite aware of our opinion of her…" With one last dismissive wave, Zanac continued on his way with the Marquis trailing in his wake.
Gritting his teeth to prevent himself from lashing out at their continued insults, Climb continued his journey towards the Princess' chambers. As much as he disliked Zanac's rudeness, his condescending attitude and the way he sneered at everyone along with his out-of-shape body that showed that he never bothered to lift a sword nor set foot in a training yard once in his life….if he were forced to choose between the two Princes should anything happen to the King, he would much rather Zanac take the throne instead of his elder brother Barbro, for at least Zanac had his head firmly placed in his shoulders, political savviness and a sharp intellect beneath all his sneering and condescension that, whilst nowhere near the level of his princess, was infinitely superior to what the brute of a crown prince they had been saddled with could boast.
Just the thought of Zanac and Renner's older brother caused Climb's entire frame to shudder in disgust. Crown Prince Barbro was the definition of a cruel, entitled, self-serving and spoiled Prince, having inherited absolutely nothing from Ramposa III aside from the build and handsomeness of a royal warrior that the King once possessed in his prime. Compounded by a hot temper and a vindictive streak so long that it would bring the Kingdom to ruin in no time at all, him taking the throne was just an utter disaster waiting to happen. Despite his dislike for Zanac, Climb had no reason to doubt what he said about Barbro's intentions for his beloved Renner since the man had no loyalty for anyone but himself and would do anything, even harm his own siblings, to say nothing of the innocent peasantry for he no doubt would increase the already great power the aristocracy held over them to gain their support, making life even worse for them than it already was, to get the power and authority he craved.
~TNT~
"Goodness…what's a commoner doing here?" Climb closed his eyes and composed himself as two of the castle's maids walked by just as he was about to enter his patron's quarters. It would appear that no matter who he passed by today they'd either have a lecture or an insult coming his way. "The Princess has bizarre tastes…"
"Definitely," her fellow maid replied in a stage whisper as the two entered the pair of doors just down the corridor. As they went out of sight, Climb allowed the sigh that had been building up from his encounter with Zanac and Raeven to escape his lips, which he then followed up with a loud cough to make sure those inside were forewarned of his arrival.
"Pardon me, your Highness. It's Climb. I'm coming in." Without waiting for a response, he pushed the doors open, only to do a slight double-take as he saw that Renner wasn't alone. Sharing her table was Lady Lakyus, clad in a beautiful pink dress that accentuated her slender yet toned frame, the left side of her hair still styled in its signature rose-like manner.
"Climb! You're here! I was just wondering where you were!" As always, Climb's breath caught in his throat when he beheld the perfection that was his Princess, looking as beautiful and dignified as always in her aqua-coloured dress, her golden hair shining in the morning light as she gazed at him fondly with those mesmerizing sky-blue eyes, as beautiful as the day she found him and took him in.
"Morning, your Highness. My apologies for being late," he said with a deep bow before offering the same act of respect to the blonde adventurer. "Lady Aindra." He then noticed out of the corner of his eye an unfamiliar figure with blonde hair and red eyes crouching down awkwardly next to one of the tables as though they were completely out of place. "And…er…forgive me, but I don't…"
"Oh don't mind her, she's a member of my team," Lakyus told him as the unknown figure stumbled to their feet and gave an awkward bow. "This is Tina."
"M-my apologies, it's a pleasure to meet another member of the illustrious Blue Roses," Climb stammered, bowing once more as Renner and Lakyus both giggled at his comment that had caused the normally composed assassin to blush. "My name is Climb. I am well aware of your exploits…of all the members of Blue Rose in fact. You're all practically living legends…"
"Pleasure," was all Tina said as she shuffled over and took one of the remaining chairs at the table. "Thanks for looking after one of my fiendish boss' friends." Lakyus sighed once again from the moniker the twins had come up for her.
"We were just about to get to the meat of our discussion…why don't you join us?" Renner asked him sweetly as Tina took a sip from one of the cups of tea currently resting on the table.
"I-I couldn't, your Highness!" Climb declared hurriedly "I am your bodyguard! It would be improper!"
"It makes no difference to me," Lakyus added with a soft smile as she leaned forward, batting her eyelids at the flustered knight with her chin resting on her hand that was in turn propped up on her elbow. "And enough with the stuffy formalities…just call me Lakyus. Special men earn that privilege…"
"Special?" Renner asked, her smile turning to a frown as she looked at Lakyus with disapproval whilst refilling her cup of tea.
"P-please don't make jokes that, my lady…" Climb pleaded, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.
"W-Wait, she was joking?" Renner asked looking somewhat dumbfounded, her gaze going back and forth between her knight and her friend.
"Of course I was, sweetie," Lakyus reassured them both soothingly. "Don't get me wrong, Climb is a very special young man. But that's because he's your man. I was just having fun."
"You're incorrigible…" Renner moaned at her long-time friend.
"Come on, sit down before the tea gets cold," Lakyus told him, indicating the spare seat on Renner's left-hand side. "And don't worry, Tina's the only one here who bites."
"Eh…" was all Climb could muster as he did as he was bidden. Lakyus might have meant that last comment as a joke, but from the looks of Tina's ever-ready posture he was more than ready to believe that it might actually be truthful. Knowing it was in his best interest to accept given the powerful ladies around him, he sat down, albeit very reluctantly, in the seat between Renner and Lakyus as their meeting got down to business.
"Before Climb arrived, you were wanting to talk about Eight Fingers, right?" Lakyus asked Renner as both Tina and Climb continued to sip on their respective cups. "Where did we leave off…oh right, I believe I was telling you about how we burnt the fields they were using for growing Black Dust, correct?"
"Yes…on that note, I can't thank you and Blue Rose enough," Renner replied, her radiant smile fading into a frown. "My brothers and the rest of the nobles do nothing but quarrel among themselves. If they keep allowing the likes of Eight Fingers to conduct their business within the Kingdom's underbelly, it will fall into ruin. Our nation will crumble from the inside out…" Renner lowered her head sadly. "However, I do not have any influential backing, or a military force at my discretion. I wish I could do more to help, but since Eight Fingers has connections in the Noble and Royal factions, I can only leave these affairs in the hands of adventurers such as yourselves and the rest of Blue Rose…"
"No need for your apologies, your Highness. We are friends after all," Lakyus reassured her, bringing a smile back to Renner's face. The leader of Blue Rose then turned to the assassin at her side. "Tina, give the Princess the note Evileye found." Tina didn't respond as she reached inside her attire and withdrew the folded note, sliding it across the table towards Renner. "We found this in the village where they were producing the Black Dust we talked about earlier. Any thoughts on what it may be?"
Renner picked up the piece of paper and unfolded it, her eyes scanning quickly across its contents. As she got further down the page, she realised what was in front of her. "This is a Substitution Cypher!" She exclaimed, to everyone's astonishment including Climb's. Though he thought the world of his Princess and her kindness, he truthfully hadn't expected her to pick up on such a complicated code so easily. "Interesting…I wonder why they left this behind. A trap? Or for some other reason? And if it was a trap…why use such a complicated code?" She then got to her feet. "Excuse me a moment…I have a hunch that cracking the rest of this code will be easy, but I just need to be sure of a few things." With those words she retreated to the other side of the room, still furiously scanning the contents of the letter.
"Unbelievable," Tina gasped.
"You got that right…I don't understand how she believes she is so powerless to help anyone," Lakyus said with a knowing smirk. "Of all the people I've known and met, she's the only one I would call a genius and mean it." They all fell into casual small talk as they waited for Renner to return, and after a few minutes the Princess wandered back over with another piece of paper clutched in her hand alongside the cypher and a grin on her face. "Well? Any luck?"
"It isn't orders from their higher-ups sadly, but it is a list of villages and buildings…seven of which are in the capital," the blonde-haired Princess replied as she put both sheets of paper on the table for Lakyus and Tina to pour over. As the two members of Blue Rose read it through, Renner brought her hand to her chin as she considered the social, economic and geographical significance of every property listed there.
"Think they could be Black Dust stockpiles or other critical production sites?" Lakyus asked once she'd finished.
"Hmm…could be, but I doubt they'd leave anything that important on a production site or written in that particular code," Renner answered with a frown. "No…I think this is bait."
"They tricked us?" Both Lakyus and Tina asked worriedly.
"Not exactly…Eight Fingers is divided up into eight different organisations, correct?"
"That's the rumour going around. There's smuggling, slave trading, gambling, illegal drugs…and each one has its own chief or leader running it," Lakyus rattled off.
"If that's the case…then I do believe these locations may be the bases for some of these organisations," Renner concluded. "That's why I believe this is a message to bait us out. They want us to go after these locations to divert our attention so that they can get their other plans back on track."
Realisation dawned on the faces of everyone else present. "They would really use their own partners as bait? That's shocking behaviour, but hardly unsurprising given the elements we're dealing with…wait a minute." Lakyus picked up the list of locations again and hurriedly scanned through it. That's when she noticed one building in particular was missing. "That underground brothel…the one Eight Fingers own. It's not on this list…" Climb's startlement at this piece of information was noticed by everyone else, and it was to him that Lakyus asked her next question. "What got you so jumpy all of a sudden?"
"Forgive my ignorance, but I thought that such establishments had been done away with thanks to the Princess' efforts." His reply got him a gentle squeeze on his shoulder plate, and as he looked up, he saw Renner looking down at him with a smile of gratitude that caused his heart rate to speed up.
"Mostly. Abolishing the slave trade was a smart move on the Princess' part and did a lot of good," Lakyus clarified, her eyes narrowing distastefully as they gazed out of the window. "Unfortunately, the brothel in question is still active here in the Capital." Her gaze then shifted to Renner. "Tell me, Princess, what would you say to Blue Rose raiding the place and putting an end to it once and for all? If it turned up some evidence as a result, it would strike a powerful blow against the nobles who are in cahoots with Eight Fingers."
"I appreciate the trouble you would go to for our endeavour, but I don't want to cause any problems for you and your families," Renner answered reluctantly. "On the other hand, it would be too much for Climb to handle on his own…"
"She…she doesn't think I can do this?" Climb grimaced, punching the table in frustration. "This is why I must get stronger! I must show that I am willing and capable of performing any task she thinks would be important!" "Your Highness, forgive my lack of strength," he apologised, head bowed.
"What? Oh no Climb, forgive me for those words! It was careless of me to speak them!" Renner pleaded as she threw herself down at Climb's side, her hands resting on top of his as she met his gaze with her tearful one. "That wasn't what I was implying at all, okay? I rely on you more than anyone else Climb…I can't begin to thank you for everything you've done for me over the years even when you don't think I'm looking" She pressed, gracing him with another of her radiant smiles that caused him to blush with shame.
"She is so perfect! I could never be worthy of her!" The young knight shouted in his mind as he gazed back at her in astonishment due to the frank words pouring from her lips.
"So please don't do anything foolhardy, okay? In fact, I order you not to! If anything were to happen to you and I was responsible…I would never be able to forgive myself!" Renner looked to be on the verge of tears from her impassioned declaration, but before she or Climb could say anything more, Lakyus coughed to bring their attention back to the matter at hand.
"In any event, whilst we can't ignore the brothel, we should discuss the other locations on this paper and what to do with them," the leader of Blue Rose stated.
"You're right. We need to take advantage of the opportunity we've been given," Renner agreed firmly, wiping her eyes as she got back to her feet
"They still haven't caught on that we were the ones responsible for the village attack the other night," Tina pointed out. "However, they have got to know this information has been leaked by now."
"Renner…do you mind if we borrow Climb for a while?" If Renner didn't know her friend as well as she did, she'd have been pretty disturbed at the shifty-looking smirk on Lakyus' face. "I'd like for him to tell Gagaran, Tia and Evileye what we've discussed here and what we plan to do next…"
"I'll do it, Lady Aindra!" Climb declared passionately, getting to his feet before Renner could speak or protest. "Whatever it is, as long as I can be of use to my Princess and Blue Rose, I'll gladly take on any task and prove my worth!" Renner looked uneasy at Climb's actions, but after reassurances from both Lakyus and Tina that they and the rest of Blue Rose would look after him, she consented to let him go.
"We'll have to be careful who we discuss this information with…if word gets out to the Royalty or Nobility factions, we'll be in trouble from both within and without," Lakyus whispered as Climb left.
"Oh I don't doubt word of this will get out to the nobles." Both Lakyus and Tina were stunned at how casually Renner whispered this but otherwise didn't react. "After all, one of those nobleman's daughters is currently serving me as a maid. I'm sure, given the chance, she'll do her best to try and inform her father of what we have planned."
"Wha-? You knew, and yet allowed her to stay here and spy on you? Why?" Lakyus asked in disbelief.
"It would look too suspicious if I had her removed for no apparent reason. Besides, she does her job well and without question, so she has her uses," Renner commented, her mind whirling as she twirled one of her many long locks. "I'll just have to tell Climb to be extra careful from now on." As she stood up and went over to one of her side tables to refill the teapot, both Lakyus and Tina were unaware of the cold eyes and crazed expression that she worked so diligently to keep anyone from noticing appear on her face.
"If any of those silly maids should do anything that might harm my precious puppy, or interfere with my plans…well, I'll see to it that they end up having a 'terrible' accident. The floor of the castle can be so slippery after all…" she thought deviously. It was getting harder and harder for her to keep her true self from coming to the fore, and she couldn't wait for the day when she could show the world just who she was. But not now…for the moment, she would continue to play the part of the innocent Golden Princess beloved by everyone…well, almost everyone. "That reminds me…I should probably have a word with my dear brother Zanac…"
~TNT~
As Sebas returned to the mansion after his usual day of scouting and gathering intel, he was met by the now-familiar presence of Tuare who had been waiting patiently for his arrival by the front door.
"W-Welcome back…L-Lord Sebas. I've been waiting…" she stammered nervously, head bowed. After recovering back to full health, Tuare had insisted on doing anything she could to repay both Sebas and Solution for the kindness they had shown her from their respective actions. When she'd brought up that she had been trained as a maid and could cook, clean and wash as well as possessing many other skills, Sebas agreed to have her serve both him and Solution as their personal maid. And she'd taken to the task eagerly and without complaint, performing whatever tasks around the mansion they had wished from her and more. Even Solution, as much as she was still leery of her presence, couldn't find any fault with how she performed her tasks and had even complimented her on a few occasions given her familiarity with them as a maid herself, much to Tuare's delight and Sebas' satisfaction. The Pleiades maid, in an act of kindness Sebas again attributed to his lord Constantine's positive influence on her behaviour, had even lent her one of her spare maid uniforms (of the normal variety, not the ones that highlighted Solution's sex appeal) that fitted the young girl perfectly.
Despite all of this, the girl was still very shy and awkward which was hardly surprising given how much she had suffered at the hands of her previous owners. And yet she still put on a brave face whenever Sebas was around and once or twice had gifted him with one of her beautiful smiles.
"That's very thoughtful of you. I trust there were no problems with your work?" Sebas asked as he closed the door behind him.
"N-none at all, my Lord," she answered with a tad more confidence behind her words. "I-I even had the time to help the Lady with anything she needed taking care of, though I made sure to stay inside the mansion as you requested."
"Well done Tuare, I am glad to hear it," he told her, gracing her with a smile of his own before walking off down the corridor. If he'd looked behind, he would've seen the young girl's face blush a deep shade of crimson as she followed after him. "Have you decided on what we'll be having for dinner tonight?"
"A-a stew…with chopped potatoes, L-Lord Sebas," she replied. "I-I hope that will suffice for both yourself and the Lady."
"If it proves to be as tasty as your previous dishes then I am looking forward to it, as I'm sure will the Lady," Sebas answered, causing the maid to blush again.
"Y-You…surely don't mean that, m-my Lord?" She muttered with downcast eyes.
"I wouldn't lie to you Tuare," Sebas said as he turned and gave her a reassuring look. It pained him to see how the girl's self-esteem was still so crushed after her ordeals, but he also recognised that it would take time, patience and lots of encouragement on his part to get her to start believing in herself again. "Now, are you sure you have all the ingredients for the dish?"
"I-No, I haven't checked it…I'll do it later," she stammered with a hint of shame.
"If you want, we go shopping for them together," he suggested, which caused the maid to freeze up and start trembling in fright.
"N-n-no, t-that's alright…n-not to m-mention it would be highly ina-EEP!" Tuare's stammering was cut off as Sebas gently lifted her cheek and gazed into her eyes, an action which only caused Tuare's blush to increase.
"It's alright…I understand your fear of the world outside the mansion. I'm not angry with you," he soothed, channelling the chivalry and kindness that were his creator's and current lord's trademarks. "But please be reassured…I made a promise to protect you, Tuare. No matter what perils may come your way, you have nothing to fear so long as I am at your side. I will dash whatever fears you have to pieces, you have my word. Keep moving forward, and if you are still scared I don't mind if you close your eyes to do it. All I ask is that you trust me to lead the way."
"Y-you aren't being f-fair, L-Lord Sebas," she sobbed, tears rolling down her cheek. But even as she sobbed, the smile that Sebas had come to grow fond of appeared on her face. "I-I'm finding it impossible to say no to you after all that."
"You don't need to worry about me. Though I may not look it, I can assure you that I am strong," he reassured her as he wiped her tears before removing his hand from her cheek and looking wistfully into the distance. "As a matter of fact, I'd say there are only 43 others who are stronger than me in this whole world…the ones that I am aware of at the very least."
"I-is 43 a lot, Sir Sebas?" Tuare asked, tilting her head, an act which caused Sebas to chuckle as they reached the door to Solution's quarters. After giving it a knock, he opened it to find Solution sitting on the bed in a yellow dress staring off into space, her mouth salivating slightly.
"She must be occupying herself with thoughts of her beloved Crown Prince…as expected given how long they've been apart. I hope this mission ends soon for her sake so that she can return to his arms." As the head butler of the Pleiades, it had warmed his heart to see not only Solution but also Lupusregina and Narberal be so happy after the Crown Prince had claimed them as part of his harem and looked forward to waiting on and playing with all of their future offspring. "I have returned and am at your service, milady," he spoke up, both to announce his presence and snap her out of her daydreaming.
"Ah, v-very good, Sebas," she answered, struggling to regain her composure upon seeing Tuare standing behind Sebas. But if the young maid had noticed anything off about Solution's reaction, she didn't comment, instead merely bowing and leaving them as Sebas walked into the room and closed the door behind him.
"Forgive me for broaching this delicate subject again, Lord Sebas, but are you absolutely certain we should not inform Lord Ainz and Crown Prince Constantine about young Tuare?" Solution asked once she was positive that they were alone. "If I'm not mistaken they both, along with Lord Fengxian and Lady Albedo, were to be contacted daily with updates regarding our mission. Surely you could mention her the next time you report in?"
"If any humans were to see us living alone in this mansion without an entourage of maids that befits a lady of your 'stature', it would start raising suspicions and spur them to scrutinize our presence which may lead to unnecessary complications with our assignment," Sebas said firmly without turning to face her.
"So…you mean to say she's part of a divisionary tactic to deflect suspicion?" Solution asked, suddenly confused.
"Yes, and if I were to seek permission from Lord Ainz, the Crown Prince and the Grand Marshal over a matter as simple as maintaining our cover, they are all likely to give me a stern lecture about thinking for myself and that I shouldn't bother them over paltry matters, especially when they have their own concerns to worry about…" Sebas would have continued his explanation were they not suddenly interrupted by a loud knocking at the front door of their mansion. Giving each other a wary look, the pair made their way out of the room and headed in that direction as the knocking persisted.
Sebas motioned for Solution to stay back as he slowly and cautiously opened the door to reveal a pair of men standing on their doorstep. The one in front who had been knocking on the door was a man with wide shoulders, an ugly and pudgy face and a large belly covered in clothes that symbolized him as belonging to the upper class. Affixed to his uniform over his chest area that he was puffing out proudly was a heavy crest that shone in the day's fading light with a glint of copper metal. Standing behind him was a pale-skinned man dressed in black leather armour and a green cloak with a hood that obscured his short tuft of ginger hair. He had a long scar that ran down the right side of his face that passed through his lips and was watching Sebas with piercing sharp eyes that reminded Sebas of a bird of prey hunting its next meal.
"I am Staffan Heivish, a constable charged with keeping the peace in our glorious capital," the pudgy man introduced himself proudly. "Might we have a word with the venerable lord or lady of this house?"
Sebas narrowed his eyes at the pompous man, but before he could say anything Solution coughed as if to tell Sebas she would handle it, and as Sebas stepped to the side Solution gracefully came forward until she was within earshot of their guests. "I am the lady of this house. How may we be of aid to you, Constable?" she asked courteously, doing her best not to let her disgust at this man's appearance and manner show.
"There's an establishment…well, his establishment actually…" Staffan indicated the hooded man standing behind him who walked forward to stand next to his portly companion while sneering at the pair in front of him.
"Call me Succulent…a pleasure to meet you, my lady," he drawled with a predatory expression that instantly had both Sebas and Solution's heckles up.
"We…I…received a disturbing report from an eyewitness recently that someone holding a scroll bearing the seal of the Magician's Guild gave him an exorbitant amount of money and made off with one of his employees," Staffan explained with a sneer of his own. "That sounds like a clear violation of our slave trade prohibition, wouldn't you agree, my lady?"
Solution didn't reply, although she did give Sebas a stern look out of the corner of her eye that both of their visitors missed. As for Sebas, his expression and posture remained calm even though on the inside he was beginning to feel just a little bit nervous about how his show of kindness had come back to bite them. It would appear that not all humans were as trustworthy as he'd first thought.
"It would appear that someone in your house has been especially naughty without your knowledge, my lady," Staffan continued. "But this doesn't need to affect your marvellous reputation. If you tell us the identity of this person, we'll see to it that any connection to you is…forgotten, if you catch my meaning?"
"He would have me sell out the trusted servant of my Crown Prince?! Unforgivable!" Solution seethed. "Though Lord Sebas has brought this upon himself, he is far above any form of judgement these pathetic humans ascribe to!" "These paltry affairs of yours bore me," she sniffed disdainfully, much to their shock. "I will let my butler see you out. Good day, gentlemen." Without another word she turned on her heels and marched back up the stairs, leaving Sebas alone with the pair.
"You heard what my lady has ordered," Sebas informed them. "I believe it is time for the pair of you to leave." But just as he was about to turn his own back on them and close the door, the pudgy man seemingly couldn't contain himself any more from what he no doubt perceived as a slight on Solution's part.
"The evidence of your crime is indisputable!" Staffan protested, spittle flying, as Succulent glared at the butler with undisguised malice. "Count yourself lucky that my associate here is a benevolent man and is willing to offer you clemency for your offences against him and his organisation!"
"Indisputable? I see…and what form of 'clemency' did your associate here have in mind?" Sebas asked quietly. If both men had been smart, they would have turned tail and scarpered from the sheer malice that emanated from his words. Unfortunately for them, neither had any brains and instead were thinking with their greed rather than with any rational thought.
"Why, in the form of consolation payments and commissions of course," Staffan answered, regaining his composure as he (stupidly) assumed that this old servant would be an easy task for extortion.
"500 gold, not a copper less," was all Succulent added, still glaring at Sebas.
"That seems a bit extortionate, don't you think? After all, the girl in question was in a terrible state when I found her…hardly befitting of that sort of price," Sebas told them whilst trying his best to maintain his legendary patience that was rapidly evaporating with every second. "If you were to take her away and return her to the place I found her, she would undoubtedly die as a result."
"You don't say? How tragic," Succulent sneered, his eyes agleam. "But in the interest of my dear employee's welfare, what would you say to loaning us the lady of this house instead whilst the girl recovers?"
"What he did just say?!" Sebas' eyes were now aflame with rage as Solution, eavesdropping from the top of the stairs, shuddered in disgust. She was the property of no man but her Crown Prince, and how dare these pigs even think they stood a chance of laying claim to her?! For the sake of the mission, she had to mightily hold herself back from barging in and slowly and painfully devouring those pigs like the lowly animals they were!
"Oh yes indeed, your lost income must surely be compensated! And such a fine specimen would do nicely!" Staffan simpered with greedy eyes, unaware that he and his associate had just provoked the dragon's wrath.
They were about to learn a very important lesson: NEVER. EVER. Tickle a sleeping dragon.
"Your excessive lust and greed must be a problem for you," Sebas told them calmly, but as he looked up and met their gaze, the pair suddenly felt their hearts seize up with fear as the old butler's eyes gleamed a dangerous red and a dark black aura proceeded to surround them. "I suggest you work on your manners and vices and never darken our door again. If you don't heed my advice…I shall do exactly as the butler does…and tidy up…" In the face of such a terrifying visage, one that was starting to sprout horns over their head that to their eyes looked demonic, Staffan collapsed in a dead faint, pissing himself afterwards. As for Succulent, he couldn't help but soil himself with fright whilst struggling to carry away his associate as fast as he could, cringing as he felt the man's urine mix up with his own excrement and tears swelling in his eyes from both the smell and humiliation. Once he was satisfied both had been sufficiently terrified and wouldn't be bothering them again that day, Sebas lowered his Intimidation aura allowing the colour to return to his eyes.
"May I ask what you plan to do now?" He heard Solution ask, and as he looked up, he saw her looking at him with a mix of concern, annoyance and gratitude. "She is right to be angry with me…after all, it was my mistake that led to this confrontation. I just hope my display there was enough to scare them away…"
"I think I'll go for a short stroll to clear my head and think it all over. Look out for Tuare for me," was all Sebas replied as he stepped through the door, and as he left Solution let out a sigh of remorse.
"Forgive me, Lord Sebas…even though you are my superior, I can no longer do as you ask," she thought to herself mournfully as she headed back up the stairs. "Not only do I fear that you have compromised the secrecy and security of our mission, but between yourself and my beloved Crown Prince, my loyalty first and foremost is to him, and thus the Supreme Beings and Nazarick itself. As their loyal servant, I must put their interests and the security of the Great Tomb before your own wishes…" Her course set, she put a finger to the side of her temple and reached out to her beloved via Message. (My beloved Lord Constantine…) she began hesitantly, hoping that she was not distracting her Crown Prince from anything important. (Forgive my abrupt communication, but I urgently require your counsel regarding our mission)
Fortunately, she got an instant reply, and as he spoke she almost melted from the delight of hearing his voice again after so long. (What's happened, Solution? Are you or Sebas in any danger?) he asked with obvious concern.
"Oh, my darling Crown Prince…despite everything else that you have on your plate, you are still able to show worry for us, the lowliest of your servants…" Solution was finding it hard to compose herself in the face of her love's ever-caring nature. (We aren't in any danger currently, Lord Constantine. But I fear Lord Sebas may have gone rogue. His actions over the past couple of days have put our mission at great risk, but when I confronted him about it and requested to report it to either yourself or Lord Ainz, he told me not to since he believes it is a trifling matter) she answered, doing her best to maintain the formality that was befitting of a maid of her status. (As much as I did not wish to go against Lord Sebas' wishes, I believe the risks his actions pose to our mission and your plans supersede his concerns. I beg of you, my beloved…please come to the capital and set Lord Sebas straight before our operations are compromised!)
There was a brief pause as her Crown Prince considered her words, and with each passing second her heartbeat increased. Was her beloved annoyed at her insolence for daring to ask such a favour from one of the almighty Supreme Beings? But just as she was about to plead forgiveness for her impudence, he came back with his reply. (I understand. I will convey your words to Father and depart as soon as possible. Expect me presently, my darling Slime)
It took all of Solution's composure to not let out a squeal of delight at his words and the thought of being back in his arms. (Thank you, my darling Constantine! I shall await your arrival!) She gushed in reply, unable to keep the longing and desire out of her words, and as he cut the connection she walked with as much grace as she could muster back to her quarters to touch up her makeup and give her hair another brush. She wanted to look her absolute best for her beloved when he arrived after all!
Don't ask me how I did it, but I managed to get in both a Harry Potter and Hellsing Ultimate Abridged reference near the end there! If you spotted it on your first read-through, kudos to you and I hope you enjoyed the rest of the chapter as well!
daniel: Another day, another chapter done! This was great! We get the first glimpse of Yandere Renner, she's something else ain't she? We also felt that those arrogant assholes deserved to have a fright after stirring up trouble. And Solution, for all her respect and loyalty to Sebas, is like everyone in Nazarick, loyal to the Supreme Beings first and foremost, especially her beloved Henry.
My co-author summed it up pretty well. Again, it's mostly a re-telling of episode 7 of season 2 with one or two parts altered, especially in regards to Renner, Sebas and Solution. Like my co-author, I love Yandere Renner and I couldn't wait to introduce her so I gave a little preview here. And whilst this version of Renner is still obsessed with Climb and wants to chain him up and have her way with him, she also cannot wait to reveal her true side to the world and show everyone what sort of monster they have unleashed instead of the carefully crafted persona, 'the Golden Princess', she has had to play over the years.
Giving those arrogant pissants a good scare was another mutually agreed decision from myself and my co-author since we know Sebas won't take any insults against the ladies he is responsible for lying down! Oh rest assured, they will still prove to be annoyances in the future given their greed, but they have been warned and woe betide them once they ignore it! And finally, it's as my co-author said: Whilst Solution may be one of the Pleiades under Sebas' authority, as the consort of one of the Supreme Beings and a loyal servant of Nazarick first and foremost her primary allegiance is to them, more specifically her beloved Crown Prince.
Now for my big announcement: I am starting a new full-time job next week! Depending on how the first few weeks go it may impact the release schedule of the next and following chapters, but I will do my best to keep it to as close as every two weeks as possible.
Before I forget, I want to give a huge thank you as always to my co-author daniel. Not only was this story his idea to begin with, but he has also been crucial in getting this story to where it is today even if the writing comes from my hand. He proofreads my work several times over during the writing process, corrects the grammar mistakes that I miss and adds and expands details to what I have already put down. Safe to say this story would be nowhere near as good without his input and he deserves all the credit for that and more.
And my last thanks goes to all of you who have made it this far and continue to show love to our story. We have reached over 200 follows and are coming up to 200 favourites and 80 reviews, and on behalf of myself and my co-author we cannot thank you enough for continuing to support us. We hope to see you next time for chapter 19 of the Nazarick Triumvirate where, all being well, Henry makes his grand return!