Welcome to chapter 13…unlucky for some, lucky for others! I hope you are all doing well! Again, my co-author and I are always very appreciative of the love and support you are all showing our story
I think that a two-week gap at maximum in between chapters is giving me some breathing space in case of any tough days or weeks, like those that have come between the last chapter and this one since I haven't been sleeping well. And sleepy me is not a very productive me so apologies if that is reflected in the offering below.
The Summer 2023 anime season is about to give way into Fall in the next few weeks, meaning the end of current seasons of anime I've been watching such as Mushoku Tensei and Eden's Zero, along with much-delayed Misfit of Demon King Academy II. They've been fun watches but as you can tell there hasn't been much else this season that has piqued my interest. Thankfully, as I outlined in the previous chapter, there are plenty of returning series airing this Fall that I am really looking forward to so that should be good!
daniel: Hey guys! Happy to be here again! Hopefully you'll like this chapter! We had a lot of fun doing it and it will give great insight for future prospects! And like my co-author, I've been having so much fun watching Jobless Reincarnation and can't wait for the finale this weekend!
With all that out of the way, let's get cracking with chapter 13 where we cover the rest of the interlude between seasons 1 and 2 of the anime. 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 13 – On the Eve of Conquest
Secure in the knowledge that the Tomb was currently safe from external threats, Ainz's next announcement to all those in Nazarick the day after their return from their respective adventures was to announce a period of preparation. Since they were now fully aware of just who their major concern would be, everyone's efforts would now be focused on making sure they built up their power and knowledge so that when the time came to confront the Theocracy, they'd be more than prepared to deal with them and whatever surprises that came their way.
Drawing upon his experience as the guild master of Ainz Ooal Gown alongside the helpful tips he'd procured from several books he had purloined from the Tomb's vast library about how to delegate and lead, Ainz had confidently given his friends and subordinates their specific orders which they leapt to without hesitation, so eager where they to fulfil their master's desires. Each of these tasks had been carefully selected for those chosen to carry out based on their skills, personalities and what Ainz was eager for them to learn to make them more useful in the future.
Just because he was delegating didn't mean that Ainz wasn't keeping busy himself. It was his job as the ruler after all to oversee everything and keep tabs on all of his servants' progress and that's exactly what he did when he could spare the time from his own duties. After their acquisition of the Jewel of Death, Ainz had spent a day or two communing with the sentient orb and learning the secrets it contained concerning necromancy and how it could be used to raise an army, which he now knew was a matter of import given their next and future goals. After that, he proceeded to divide his time between organising everyone's duties, swelling their armies with all manner of undead, educating himself on how to act as a ruler and completing/organising paperwork. It was exhaustive work but as an undead who didn't require sleep, he could keep going past normal human limits until his tired mind forced him to take breaks. And thankfully for Ainz, he had help in one of the endeavours he'd assigned for himself.
Although initially leery of the human Fengxian had recruited from the Slane Theocracy, Jemima had since proven herself not only to Ainz but everyone else in the tomb with her eagerness and dedication. She had made only a few requests, including a new uniform and scheduled hours for her to work and rest given how she was human and possessed human needs, but once that was settled, she threw herself into her assigned work. In an outfit crafted by the maids with input from Ainz and Fengxian that consisted of a tailored blazer and matching knee-length skirt, a modest blouse with a high neckline, sheer pantyhose and closed-toe pumps, complete with a wristwatch and a bag to carry all her notes around in that made her look every inch a typical Japanese secretary, she quickly and efficiently organised and touched up all of the notes on the New World they'd had so far along with adding in anything they'd missed, even going so far as to place them all in separate sections of Ainz's office in the correct order and clearly marked for easier reference, and once that was done she told Ainz and the others that she'd happily do the same for any and all documents in the future which led to Ainz taking her on as his unofficial secretary. Even though she served her lord Fengxian first and foremost, she spent most of her working hours in Ainz's office collating his notes, writing up anything he delegated to her and answering any questions he had on the New World to the best of her ability. It may have been hard work, but being of use and being appreciated for her efforts had made her genuinely happy for the first time in her life, and the praise she got from all three of the Supreme Beings, and even some of the Floor Guardians, only served to further emphasize she'd been correct in her decision to surrender to Fengxian.
Henry was put in charge of overseeing the resource gathering in the spots they had recently acquired: the mine in the Great Forest of Tob which had once been Hamsuke's home and the forest around it from which they would acquire the oh-so-precious resources of wood, metals and stone. In their gratitude for Ainz and the others saving them from the Sunlight Scripture, the elder of Carne Village had graciously granted them the requested area to do with as they pleased which had led to Ainz immediately delegating Henry, alongside the first batch of undead that Ainz had raised from the aforementioned Scripture's corpses, to mine and clear it out and put whatever useful resources he found there to use. After all, a good prospective ruler had to possess a keen eye for what could be of use to his subjects and how best to divvy these resources up, and so far his 'son' had been more than up to the task by providing accurate reports and tallies of what he had gathered and providing suggestions on how best to use each of these resources. Whenever they weren't busy with their own duties, either one of Albedo, Narberal or Lupusregina (since the area was near Carne Village) would serve as his assistant, and at night both Albedo and Narberal made up for the absence of both Lupusregina and Solution with the passion of their lovemaking and sexual exploits.
Whenever she wasn't caught up with assisting her beloved or knitting a whole stockpile of baby clothes of all shapes and sizes for ages 0-8 in both genders in preparation for the legacy she and the rest of Henry's harem would provide for him, Albedo was put in charge of Nazarick's intelligence network and defence systems, co-ordinating the various espionage and undercover missions that were currently ongoing and relaying constant updates to all three of the Supreme Beings on their progress. She was also given a substantial amount of cash from the Tomb's treasury to upgrade the defence systems and to fund several minor experiments such as the summoning of small pockets of demons and other dark creatures to use for other espionage tasks.
True to her vow, Narberal had taken on the recently raised Ninya as her apprentice and was tutoring her in all aspects of magic such as spell-casting, magical theory and ways to increase and efficiently use her mana. Thanks to her talent, Ninya was quickly rising up the tiers of magic she was able to wield and was currently learning 4th-tier spells. During the times Narberal was either with her Crown Prince or attending to other duties, Ninya could either be found browsing through the books in the library or spending time with Mare who had quickly struck up a friendship with the formerly human mage.
Speaking of the dark elf twins, they had been put in charge of creating a decoy Nazarick in another section of the Great Forest of Tob using the surplus of wood that Henry and his undead crew were gathering. Since the original's location was safely hidden behind layers of environmental barriers and wards, this dummy base would provide them with another avenue to detect and ferret out any unwelcome visitors or adventurers looking to plunder the Tomb for a quick profit.
Once again in possession of [Hygieia's Chalice] after it had been confiscated from Shalltear due to her recent mishaps, Demiurge had requested permission from Ainz to perform some 'experiments' that he assured the Lord of Nazarick would be very beneficial for his cause. Though he was somewhat leery about the way Demiurge phrased the word, Ainz granted his blessing which led to the demon travelling to an undisclosed location not far from the Tomb where, alongside the NPC Pulcinella, he set up a 'farm' skinning the hides off living creatures and using the corpses and bones of some of the humans they'd killed so far for undetermined purposes.
Speaking of Shalltear, she'd become highly depressed due to her actions on her mission which had caused her to displease her beloved ruler, her highly esteemed, and hopefully future son figure, the Crown Prince and the Grand Marshal and had initially intended to drown her sorrows in alcohol in the 9th floor's bar. Fortunately for her, the kindly Sous-chef, having gotten worried over her mood and fearing for her mental state, had sent for the Supreme Beings a few days afterwards to see if there was anything they could do for her. Since she'd been his responsibility, Fengxian had gone to visit Shalltear and, in an act of gentleness not many expected from the Supreme Being had personally served her some non-alcoholic drinks and encouraged her to talk about it by saying he wanted to help rather than reprimand her. Once she'd poured out her honest feelings about how heartbroken her recent mistakes had made her, Fengxian told her that even the strongest warriors are prone to errors fuelled by pride and arrogance, but that doesn't mean those traits have to define them. If one takes the necessary steps to curb these tendencies and find ways to overcome them, they can ensure they don't make the same mistake again and become a better warrior and person from it. Eager to ensure she didn't fail them again, Shalltear had begged the Grand Marshal to take her under his wing and teach her how to be a better fighter and general. Her sincere eagerness had pleased the giant warrior who told her he'd been planning to anyway as part of her punishment, but it was a step in the right direction that she recognised her faults and wanted to correct them as soon as possible.
As well as tutoring Shalltear and ensuring the undead forces they were raising were ready for battle, Fengxian had, albeit with some reluctance, agreed to teach the bumbling Hamsuke how to be a better warrior. Though the giant rodent was clumsy and his general behaviour and manner of speech irked the Nephilim at times, he was a quick learner and absorbed all of Fengxian's lessons and advice like a sponge thus allowing his strength and martial abilities to improve at a rapid rate. And whenever Fengxian tired of Hamsuke's presence, Cocytus took over their lessons allowing the warlord to both recover and devote time to his other pursuits, including brushing up on his military texts, working out in his gym and sparring against the likes of Shalltear, Albedo, Henry and of course Cocytus himself whenever their duties allowed for it. In fact, the Crown Prince was probably Fengxian's most frequent sparring partner as they each sought to keep their skills sharp whilst one-upping the other in a friendly wager. Over the course of the next two weeks, they sparred 10 times, and so far Henry was only marginally ahead 4 wins to 3 alongside three draws, and they were all closely run contests since Henry's advantages in attack speed and magical strength were offset by Fengxian's superior physical strength and defence. Their last duel, in particular, had been quite the fierce one that had again resulted in a tie.
~TNT~
Given that this was their landmark tenth duel, the pair of warriors had decided to switch up the location. Usually their sessions would take place in Fengxian's sparring arena, but for this occasion, the pair took to the arena on the Sixth Floor to allow some of the others a chance to witness this display for themselves. And they did have quite the audience as Aura, Mare, Cocytus, Ninya and Hamsuke were among those in attendance, with Henry's beloved Albedo and Narberal standing by the sidelines to cheer their beloved on. Hamsuke and Cocytus in particular couldn't wait to see this historic clash as it would provide a sterling example of the heights they sought through all of their training sessions with the Grand Marshal.
The two warriors stood apart, each clad in their respective armours whilst eyeing the other calmly. Throughout their years of knowing each other and their sparring sessions up to this point, which had resulted in four victories for the Crown Prince, three for the warlord and two draws, they had learned to read each other's moves and anticipate each other's strikes, but with every spar, coupled with the fierce promise of victory and their individual fighting spirits, they each incorporated new tactics and moves to try and surprise the other to varying degrees of success.
Bearing his twin blades, Justice and World Breaker, Henry took a readied stance, one blade raised high and the other low in a living embodiment of balance and precision. Flames danced upon his swords as he awaited the perfect moment to unleash their power. In contrast, Fengxian maintained a towering stance, the butt of his halberd on the arena floor. Yet behind his massive frame and blackened armour exuded an aura of cool confidence, ready to burst into action at a moment's notice.
Henry was the first to make a move as he sped towards Fengxian in a blazing rush, both swords swinging at his comrade. And as the Grand Marshal blocked, their blades came together in a thunderous clash as their duel began in earnest. Henry's strikes were swift and precise, his blades a blur as he sought weaknesses in Fengxian's defences. Arcs of fire trailed behind his slashes, a testament to his mastery over both swordplay and magic. The warlord, however, was unyielding as his halberd spun like a whirlwind, warding off Henry's attacks with a deftness that belied his colossal stature. Each sweep of the halberd created a barrier of darkness, an impenetrable fortress that deflected even the fieriest of the Crown Prince's onslaughts.
The dance continued, with each exchange of blows a symphony of skill and strength. Henry's agility allowed him to dart around Fengxian, landing precise strikes that tested the limits of his friend's armour. The Dragonoid's fire magic seared through the air, casting an otherworldly glow upon the combatants. In response, Fengxian employed a strategy of endurance. His sweeping strikes, fuelled by his raw physical power, aimed to wear down Henry's defences. With every clash, the ground beneath them seemed to tremble, and shockwaves echoed through the training ground. Each clash sent sparks flying, illuminating their intense focus and dedication.
Those watching bore witness to a mesmerizing dance of combat as Henry's fire magic, a skill honed through years of practice, occasionally ignited, sending fiery waves slashing through the air which Fengxian countered with his own mastery of Darkness magic, infusing his strikes with malevolent power that enhanced the weight of his blows. Their battle raged on, a testament to their mutual respect and unyielding resolve with Henry, though physically outmatched, making up for it with his agility and finesse, darting in and out of Fengxian's reach. Fengxian, in turn, relied on his immense strength and expert defence to weather Henry's relentless assault.
Minutes turned into hours as the sparring duel eventually reached its climax, with all of the onlookers watching every second of the duel with bated breath and awed gasps at seeing two of their Supreme Beings engaged in such a masterful display of strength, power and skill. Their blades clashed with a deafening finality, and for a moment, it seemed as though one would overcome the other as had been the case in seven of their previous duels. But then, as if guided by an unspoken agreement, they disengaged, stepping back to catch their breath. Both combatants were bruised and battered, their armour bearing the scars of countless strikes as sweat dripped from their brows, mingling with the dust and grime of battle which the homunculus maids would clear up in the aftermath, the task of restoring the armour of their Supreme Beings back to prime conditions considered to be one of if not the highest honour they could hope to be tasked with. All around them their comrades and servants let out cheers and exclamations of approval, delight and praise as the two locked eyes and smiled at one another through their exhaustion.
"You…never disappoint…Ki…" Henry panted. His 'brother' was the only one in this world, except for Sebas and on occasions Cocytus who could match him in sheer physical and combat ability. Though he was currently ahead in their sparring sessions, Fengxian pushed him to the limit each and every time regardless of the eventual outcome. Even when one of them emerged a victor, it was always a close-run thing with the loser making the victor fight tooth and nail for their triumph.
"Thanks…Ise…same to you…" Fengxian returned. Even though it had ended up in another draw, he wasn't too bothered that he hadn't beaten his friend. As long as they kept pushing each other to the limit like this and grew more confident in their skills, it would save them from becoming too arrogant and letting their guards down against whatever the New World threw at them.
"You know…I never thought I'd enjoy these spars so much when we first got here, but these fights…they really help me feel alive. I always find myself getting excited whenever we decide to have one of these duels," Henry commented as he stretched his sore body.
"I reckon it must be because of your draconic instincts…they're making you view certain things differently. In fact, you're starting to remind me of a certain fire dragon in one of those old anime we've both seen…" Fengxian mused with a slight chuckle.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Henry replied with a smile. "Better to be more of a Natsu than one of those asshole 'heroes' from other shows we watched who gave the protagonists hell." They both shuddered at the thought of becoming like them. "But more than that, I couldn't be happier that I was transported to this place with my brothers and given the opportunity to make this world into a much better one, more so than we could back in our own one."
Fengxian smiled at his friend's words that reminded him so much of their dear friend Touch Me. He was glad that their former guild master had been such a positive influence and inspiration for his friend and it showed in his words. "You can be assured that I'm with you and Suzi until the end, my friend," he said as he placed his hand on Henry's shoulder. "We'll survive whatever this world throws at us and make it into one that Touch Me and the others would be proud of which you and your beauties can populate with your legacy."
"Damn right we will. All three of us…we're in this until the end of the line and beyond," Henry replied with the same gesture. "And hey, maybe you could find yourself a girl or two! And don't forget Suzi and Shalltear!" Fengxian rolled his eyes at that but smiled lightly at the prospects nonetheless
Their brief moment of camaraderie was then, unfortunately, shattered as, with echoing cries of "DARLING!" Albedo and Narberal approached them like bats out of hell, their concerned eyes widening in horror at the sight of their bloodied and beaten Crown Prince.
"Forgive my disrespect, Lord Fengxian, but don't you think you're taking these sessions too far? All you are doing every time is reducing our beloved to a bloodied and pulping mess!" Albedo scolded the Grand Marshal.
"Please, I beg of you Grand Marshal…please stop going this far. We don't like seeing our beloved Constantine like this!" Narberal pleaded even as she handed a pair of healing potions to the pair who eagerly gulped them down, restoring their health back to the maximum levels.
"I appreciate your worry you two, but we are simply doing the best we can to get stronger and meet your expectations for the future of Nazarick," Henry told them with a beaming smile, winking at them for good measure. "Surely you can understand that, right my darlings?"
As always, Henry's words and smiles caused the two to melt and temporarily forget their anger at the Grand Marshal, and as the two began to coo and simp over how brave and dashing their darling Crown Prince was, Fengxain used the distraction to take his leave before their sweetness gave him cavities.
~TNT~
Aside from their duties in the Tomb, Ainz, Henry, Narberal and Albedo continued to frequent E-Rantel as often as they could to keep growing their reputations as adventurers. After the events of the cemetery and their foiling of Khajiit and Clementine's plots, the newly christened Team Darklight's reputation skyrocketed following news of their rapid promotion to mithril rank, and that growth only continued to go in an upward trajectory as they effortlessly cleared difficult quests and slew monsters that would normally require a combination of parties to undertake including a Gigant Basilisk. As an officially registered member of their team, Hamsuke would often join them when he wasn't being trained by either Fengxian or Cocytus.
The daily routine of the Great Tomb continued in this vein until the end of the second week when Ainz summoned everyone to meet with him once again. CZ Delta had completed her scouting mission in the Lizardmen territories and was ready to make her report.
~TNT~
Meanwhile, in the capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom…
"The time has come for action! We ought to kick the Empire out from the borders of our country and take the fight to them for once!" Marquis Boullope declared, causing Gazef to sigh from his place by his King's side.
"Another year, another fruitless discussion about possible military conquest. Do these nobles not understand how much these yearly conflicts have weakened us both militarily and economically?" He thought to himself as the rest of the Six Great Nobles gave their tentative assent to this idea, spouting the usual tiring rhetoric about how it was a waste of time and coin which was the real crux of the matter. These buffoons gave no thought to how these conflicts stretched the pockets, food and supplies of the rest of the kingdom, instead only focusing on how they could line their own purses and expand their life of luxuries. "At this rate, the Kingdom will be doomed within a year, probably two at most. As we grow weaker, the Empire grows stronger, and the Bloody Emperor is no fool. He has the time and patience to wait us out, and once we're at our lowest point he'll swoop in and take our lands with no effort whatsoever." If only he could make them understand the futility of their extravagant and pompous boasts and what it would cost all of them in the long run! Sadly, years of experience being a part of these talks had taught him that speaking out was futile, even despite his many years of military experience. Being the stuffy noblemen they were and seeing themselves as more important than anyone else bar the King himself, and even when the threat of outright civil war caused by one of these fools deciding to be pettier and/or more selfishly ambitious than usual was always so uncomfortably close, they'd just look down and sneer at him due to his commoner status, regardless of how much the King trusted his judgement.
Speaking of his King, Gazef chanced a glance in his direction as he listened to what the noblemen were saying, and he couldn't help but feel concerned at the mix of helplessness and exasperation reflected in the wrinkles that marred his face, his skin pale that was one touch away from becoming unhealthy, his hair that fell to his shoulders grey with age and stress, his whole body thin thanks to a war injury on a knee from one of the previous wars with the Empire, save for a pot belly that was bulging from his fine clothing. All in all, he was a shadow of the young monarch he had been when he came to the throne. "Hearing this every year is only causing him more stress which is the last thing His Majesty needs…" Make no mistake, Gazef greatly respected and was fully loyal to Ramposa III, but even he wasn't blind to what the troubles of managing a Kingdom that was tearing apart at the seams, alongside the constant bickering of the nobles and the rivalry between the two Princes, was doing to him. He was doing everything he could to steady the helm, but Gazef couldn't help but fear that one day it may all simply become too much and catch up with him. And if the King were to unexpectedly pass…Gazef shuddered at the potential conflict that would erupt afterwards. "Even if there's a limit to what I can do, I must do everything in my power to ensure His Majesty's health and wellbeing. Everyone's lives, and the future of this Kingdom, depend on it."
Even the normally patient and kindly Ramposa had his limits, which were quickly reached as the nobles continued their empty boasting and posturing power plays. Getting to his feet, he dismissed the meeting with a frustrated wave of his hand and beckoned Gazef to follow him as they left the meeting room.
For a while, the pair walked down the corridors of the royal castle in silence, the only sound coming from Ramposa's sceptre striking against the ground with every second step he took until Gazef found himself unable to keep silent anymore regarding the meeting they'd just left. "If our strength continues to decline the way it has done for the past few years, the Empire will throw everything they have at us," he began. "Those nobles know nothing of war and are only content to line their own pockets."
"But as long as those pockets run deep and continue to support our efforts, we can keep the Empire in check, albeit barely," the King replied tiredly. He knew Gazef was an honourable and honest man who only spoke out of concern for him and his people and wished he could abide more by his council, but sadly his hands were all but tied in these matters. "Which is why we must continue to appease the nobility in order to keep the Kingdom united."
"Right…" Gazef couldn't help but sigh. Out of everyone save perhaps his children, he knew the King best of all and could tell he didn't like the words he'd just spoken, but unfortunately for them all, he was right. Regardless of how much he despised those fat pigs and their money-grubbing ways, it was their money that was currently keeping the Kingdom afloat. Without them, there'd be no support for relief efforts, the military and the rest of the main pillars of necessity required for keeping a Kingdom such as theirs afloat.
Perhaps sensing his friend's concern, the King spoke up again. "Be that as it may, I deeply regret my inability to keep you from their scheming…I should've done better to oppose their efforts to send you away as they did..." Ramposa sighed before turning his head to look at the warrior. "Fifty men was wildly insufficient. You should have had more men and the necessary armaments," he continued regretfully as he inclined his head apologetically at Gazef who was taken aback by the King's gesture. "Please forgive me for not being able to speak up on your behalf."
"There is no need for forgiveness, Your Highness. I was more than glad to do it," he replied hurriedly. "My duty is to protect my King and country no matter the risk to my person, and I shall continue to do so until my dying day."
Gazef's words brought a smile to the ageing King's face, so touched was he by his friend's loyalty and commitment. "Thank you," he told him genuinely as he caught a small speck of movement in the corner of his eye as two figures approached them from the other end of the hallway. "Oh! Renner! And young Climb! How wonderful to see you both!"
"Father! Chief Warrior!" the golden-haired girl at the front exclaimed as she hitched up her skirt and dashed forward to greet them, exasperating the armoured young man at her side as he strove to catch up. This young beauty was Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, King Ramposa's third child and only daughter whom he doted upon dearly. She possessed long, silky smooth hair that seemed kissed by the sun itself, flawless pale skin that shined with health and vibrant dark blue eyes that were currently shining with affection. She was currently clad in a fashionable pure white dress complete with a small silver crown atop her head to signify her royal status.
Gazef couldn't help but smile at the approaching pair. Out of all of his King's children, Renner was by far the most beloved among the people, earning the nickname of the 'Golden Princess' for her benevolence, kindness and dedication to doing right by everyone in the Kingdom, from the King down to the lowest-born commoner. Even though she was still only 16, it had purely been by her intelligence, leadership and kindness that many important reforms had been passed in the Kingdom including the abolishment of slavery, feats made even more miraculous given her low social standing and lack of political influence due to her age and gender. As for the silver-armoured, tan-skinned, blue-eyed and blonde-haired young man by her side, Climb had proven to be a very dedicated and loyal budding knight who was constantly striving to improve his sword skills every day in order to help better protect his Princess in return for all the kindness he'd shown her over the years. "I probably ought to introduce Climb to Brain and get him to help out with his training…given what he told me about what he went through, he could use a distraction to take his mind off things…" Gazef reckoned as the young Princess and her bodyguard dropped into a curtsy and bow respectively before the King.
"The nobles certainly kept you in there for a while, but I'm glad you were able to get away," Renner continued with a beaming smile. "I had a wonderful thought earlier and have been eagerly awaiting to speak about it with you, but I was loath to disturb your important meeting. It seemed to go on forever!"
"Well I'm here now, why don't you tell me about it, my dear?" Ramposa asked, life returning to his face in the presence of his treasured daughter.
"I would love to father, but it's about time for my stroll and I can't afford to miss it. Climb and I were just on our way to wander for a bit when we ran into you and Chief Warrior Stronoff." Climb's look of embarrassment was noticed by both men, much to their amusement
"I see, then don't let me keep you. But please come by my room later so we can talk about this idea of yours," the King told her graciously.
"As you wish, Father! Let's go Climb!" With another small curtsy, the Princess dashed off down the hallway.
"Excuse me, your Majesty. Sir Stronoff." With a hurried bow, Climb took off after his Princess.
"They are quite the pair, aren't they?" Gazef noted as they watched the pair take off.
"Indeed. Most of the nobles may disparage and look down on young Climb due to his commoner status, but he is an earnest and honourable young man and his presence makes my daughter happy. Besides, he wouldn't be the first of commoner status to rise so highly in the Kingdom," the King chuckled before his expression lost some of its joviality. "But there was another matter I wanted to speak to you about away from everybody else if you have a moment."
"Of course, your Majesty. How can I be of help?"
"It's about the group of people who saved you back in Carne Village…Master Ainz Ooal Gown, Sir Constantine and Sir Fen," the King stated. "I would like to speak with them personally in order to thank them for saving the life of my most loyal attendant. Would you be able to make that happen for me, Gazef?"
As much as he hated the idea of letting down his King, Gazef knew he had to be honest with him…for the sake of those who'd saved his life while asking for little in return. "If I knew where they were going, I would gladly have gone to them and passed on your wishes personally. Sadly, they left no clue as to their next destination and parted ways with us before I could ask," he replied. "Knowing how benevolent and just they are though, I'm sure those words you uttered just now would be enough for them, wherever they are. And if I do happen to run into them again, you have my word I will pass the message along."
"Thank you, Gazef. That's all I ask," the King stated as they continued their walk down the hallway in the opposite direction of where his daughter and Climb had run off to. "I know your time with them was brief…but were you able to get any sense of their character from your interactions with them?"
Gazef stopped to consider for a moment as he tried his best to recall his interactions with each individual. "All three of them were polite, if somewhat aloof at first. Given that they were travelling adventurers from distant lands, that sort of reaction was to be expected. As for each of them…Master Gown was clearly the leader of the group, he had the posture and aura of one who expected to be obeyed at all times. He was benevolent and inquisitive, but not alarmingly so…he wasn't looking to expose secrets or carry out any plots, he was just focused on the immediate threat to himself, his comrades and the innocents of the village. He also carried a very ornate staff and was dressed quite regally which makes me think he is a spellcaster of some renown wherever he is from. And I detected no hint of a lie with his pledge to protect the people of Carne which speaks to his integrity and honesty."
"I see. Sounds like a man worth knowing," the King said as he gestured for him to continue.
"Sir Constantine was easily the most approachable of the three. Everything about him, from the way he carried himself to his kindly demeanour and warm words, marks him as a kind and honourable individual. He seemed particularly disturbed when he and his comrades theorised that the nobles may have intentionally sent me away to die, and his words during those exchanges were heavily tinged with disgust. He strikes me as the sort of heroic warrior who would stand up for the common folk without hesitation whilst calling out those who plot in the shadows." Gazef couldn't help but chuckle slightly at his next words. "And if what I saw was right, their female companion looked utterly smitten with him and seemed to blush at his every compliment which hints that he is both already spoken for and is popular among the ladies."
"And as for Sir Fen…aside from the lady, he was easily the quietest among the three, but when he spoke…every word of his was calculated and to the point, and his military knowledge and intuition was spot on. The moment we heard the Sunlight Scripture was preparing to attack us, he was immediately able to figure out the pattern of the previous attacks were designed to lure me out directly, and it was his idea to use me as bait in order to allow the villagers time to evacuate, which is enough for me to conclude that he is a cunning and brutal tactician who plans ahead to safeguard as many lives as possible whilst ensuring total victory. And that's all without getting into his size and stature…he was well over 7 feet tall, and when I shook his hand, I could tell by the strength of his grip that he was a seasoned and powerful warrior. I certainly wouldn't want him or any of his friends as our enemies, that I can assure you."
"I see…thank you Gazef," the King replied after taking a few moments to digest his words. "They sound like the sort of people we'd do well to have on our side. I hope that one day I'll have the opportunity to speak with them in person and see if they live up to your high estimations of them."
"I hope so too, your Majesty, and I'm sure they will," Gazef answered immediately. "Even if I only met them briefly, I would vouch for all three of them as both trustworthy allies as well as men you'd want to have on your side in the event of a conflict."
"I trust you and your word, my friend. If you speak well of them…that is enough for me for now," the King spoke up again with a kindly smile. "Now then, tell me more about this friend of yours you're currently looking after…Brain Unglaus, was it? His name sounds familiar, but I cannot place where I've heard it before…"
~TNT~
The following takes place sometime in the two-week period between everyone's return to Nazarick and the commencement of operations against the Lizardmen (and was written by my co-author)
"…believe that, with time, they will prove to be a valuable resource not only for our Lord but also yourself and the future of Nazarick," Demiurge was saying as he and Henry were walking down one of the Ninth Floor's many twisting passages. As was normally the case, Albedo and Narberal were trailing behind their beloved at a respectable distance to ensure the two's conversation was private.
"If that's the case, and pending Father's approval, I'm sure I can donate some of the materials we found in that mine along with some of the treasury towards your efforts, Demiurge," Henry replied. If he was being honest, some of what the 7th Floor Guardian had told him regarding his experiments had creeped him out. But as long as what Demiurge was up to was of benefit to Nazarick and their future then he'd look past it for the moment. "Probably for the best if I don't see those reports and just pass them on to Suzi or Ki…they have more of a stomach for such things…" "Tell you what, Demiurge….if you have Jemima write up a list of what you need and have her pass it on to our Lord, I'll petition Father personally. That should be enough to make it happen."
"You are most gracious, my Crown Prince! I will do my utmost to ensure your faith in my work is not misplaced!" Demiurge gushed with a small bow. "Speaking of Miss Jemima…I must confess, to my shame, that I had my doubts when Lord Fengxian first brought her here. I did not think she'd have the bravery or stomach to survive long among us, but I will admit she has proven me wrong with her eager dedication to our cause and her organisational skills, and she seems to be fitting well among us despite her human origins."
"Are you admitting some…admiration for a human, Demiurge?" Henry asked pointedly, keeping his face masked to hide the happy dance his insides were doing. "Looks like we're starting to bring everyone round to the idea that not all humans are bad…and much more quickly than I anticipated too!"
"If they prove themselves to have talent and can be of use to us like Miss Jemima is then…yes, I suppose I do respect her in a way. It has also helped that she has been respectful of us and seems to know her place," Demiurge commented after a moment of thought. "All of her questions have been respectful and non-intrusive, and she knows not to bother us if we are busy. A very compliant and unique talent that Lord Fengxian did well to acquire."
"Indeed. Our Grand Marshal is a good judge of talent and character after all…" Henry trailed off as he, Demiurge, Albedo and Narberal spotted a most curious figure sliding out of the doors in front of them: an adorable little penguin with yellow curls on the sides of his head, a bowtie sported proudly around his neck and streaks of yellow fur dotted over his feathers. This odd bundle of fluff was known as Éclair Éklair Éklare, assistant butler of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the creation of guild member Ankoro Mocchi Mochi and, to Henry's mind at least, the most amusing member of Nazarick's staff (although Pandora's Actor was a very close second with his exuberant mannerisms).
"Assistant Butler Éclair, it has been far too long," Demiurge spoke up with a smile as he, Henry and the ladies approached the penguin.
"Oh this will be good…" Henry couldn't help thinking as he greeted Éclair. "How are you doing today, Assistant Butler?"
"It has indeed been far too long, Lord Demiurge, Lady Albedo, Lady Narberal," the penguin replied in his strange yet elegant voice as he bowed to them all. "And to answer your question, Lord Henry, this has been a fantastic day as one would expect in the Great Tomb of Nazarick."
"I am glad to hear it. Have you seen my father around? Demiurge and I would like to speak to him if he is available?" The Crown Prince asked.
"I believe the Master of the Great Tomb is currently resting in his quarters and asked not to be disturbed by anyone, even you my Crown Prince," the penguin replied politely yet sternly.
"Of course. If that is his wish then we, as his loyal retainers, must accept it," Henry demurred in an equally polite tone whilst struggling to maintain his composure. "By the way, Éclair…it is unusual for the assistant butler to come all the way down here, is it not?" "Any second now…"
"As Lord Sebas is not around right now, I naturally must work twice as hard in order to make up the difference!" Éclair spoke up proudly.
"Indeed…since he is currently undertaking a mission of the utmost importance to our future, the Ninth Floor of Nazarick is now entirely in your capable hands," Demiurge conceded. "I do hope you are up to the task, Assistant Butler?"
"Absolutely, Lord Demiurge!" Éclair proclaimed with a short bow, an intense gleam now in his eye as an aura of confidence surrounded him. "I must work hard for the time when I will rule the Great Tomb of Nazarick…"
And there it was. Henry couldn't help himself as he let out a hearty laugh at Éclair's words, and even Demiurge was struggling to restrain himself from joining his Crown Prince. Albedo and Narberal, on the other hand, were not amused in the slightest since the tiny penguin's words, even spoken in jest, were not only treason against their father-in-law but also were a slight against their beloved's birthright as Nazarick's future ruler.
"Right you are, Assistant Butler. Make sure you keep up the good work," Demiurge finally said as he covered his amused smile with his hand. Only the knowledge that Éclair's creator had intentionally designed him that way was keeping him from having to restrain both of the offended ladies who looked as though they wished to tear the penguin limb from limb.
"As Demiurge said, make sure to keep doing us proud," Henry added once he'd recovered as he flashed both girls a reassuring smile to calm them down. "And on a personal note, I was very impressed by how tidy my room was. The mint on the pillows was a nice touch."
"As to be expected of me! I could not live with myself if I let you and the Royal Harem live in less-than-perfect conditions in the meantime. My efforts are sure to be appreciated when I finally take the Throne!" Éclair declared once again.
Even if he tried (which he didn't), Henry couldn't help himself from letting up another round of raucous laughter at the Assistant Butler's words. "Oh, Mochi…this is comedy gold!"
Demiurge also let out an elegant laugh at his pompous declaration. "This is entertainment of the highest quality, as befitting the Great Tomb of Nazarick!" "So, Assistant Butler…what will be the first thing you will do towards that end?" He asked once he'd calmed down.
"Hmph, cleaning of course!" Eclair replied as one of the other butlers handed him a hair brush which he proceeded to expertly wrangle over his head as he styled his hair. "There are none in Nazarick who can clean more carefully than I! Once I have cleaned the restrooms, you'll be able to lick the bowls as a testament to my skill and cleanliness!"
*THUD* Those proved to be the words that sent Henry over the edge as he collapsed to the ground on his back, kicking his feet in the air as he proceeded to laugh his ass off at Éclair's hilarious proclamations. "I…really need to keep this guy close in the future! Ki and Suzi would definitely benefit from a good laugh from time to time!"
"DARLING!" Albedo and Narberal exclaimed upon seeing their beloved collapse.
"Hmph, it would seem even our glorious Crown Prince has fallen in the face of my diligence!" Éclair smiled cockily as the two ladies hovered worriedly over their fallen beloved.
Demiurge knew he needed to get out of there before he too lost his composure and joined his Crown Prince on the floor. "Outstanding! Truly outstanding, Assistant Butler!" He proclaimed with extended arms before taking his leave. His report on his experiments could wait until the Crown Prince had recovered.
~TNT~
In the Throne Room of the Great Tomb of Nazarick at the end of the two weeks…
"This is it…the next stage of our plans to remake this world…" Ainz couldn't help but think to himself in anticipation as he gathered those chosen in the Throne Room for his next directive. His son, Crown Prince Henry, was standing off to his right with Albedo standing next to him, and on the left side of the Throne stood the automaton Pleaides maid CZ2128 Delta and Jemima, the latter of whom was holding onto a large sheaf of documents in her hands. At the base of the throne, his loyal Grand Marshal and friend Fengxian along with Cocytus were currently kneeling as they awaited their orders.
"As everyone here is aware, a short while ago we designated several of our loyal servants on covert assignments to learn more about the nations and people of this New World," he began, the Staff of Ainz Ooal Gown clutched firmly in his right hand. "Sebas and Solution Epsilon are currently undercover in the capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom, whilst Shinozaki is currently infiltrating the Baharuth Empire. As for the Slane Theocracy, we are learning more about them every day courtesy of our newest servant, Jemima Arneberg…" The girl gave a deep bow at his words. "Lastly, we sent CZ Delta here to the southern region of the Great Lake in our immediate vicinity to gather information on the Lizardmen tribes, and now that we have her complete findings, we are ready to move against them, a task which I am entrusting to our Grand Marshal and Cocytus here. Are you two prepared to undertake what I am about to ask of you?"
"Of course, Lord Ainz. I stand ready to follow your orders," Fengxian answered properly, his head bowed low.
"As. A. Loyal. Servant. Of. The. Supreme. Beings. It. Is. My. Duty. To. Obey. Their. Commands. With. Full. Devotion. And. Dedication," Cocytus complied, cold breath exuding from his insectoid nostrils with every word he spoke.
"Good, I am glad to hear it," Ainz replied warmly as he waved Jemima forward. The young secretary stepped down towards the two kneeling warriors and handed them the documents she'd prepared from CZ's reports. "You will both have full command over the undead forces I will send with you, and you are free to use them as you see fit. Your task, if it wasn't clear already, is to test the strength of the Lizardmen's forces and determine their worthiness to join our ranks, or purge them entirely to use their corpses as more fuel for their armies should they prove unworthy. Is that understood?"
"Perfectly. Lord. Ainz," Cocytus answered, raising his head and massive body in a mix of pride and anticipation. "This. Will. Finally. Be. My. Chance. To. Put. Into. Practice. Everything. The. Supreme. Beings. Have. Taught. Me. And. Prove. My. Loyalty. To. Their. Cause!"
"If that is your will, then we shall see it done," Fengxian added as he smacked his right fist into his open left palm in a gesture of compliance and servitude. "Time to see what the warriors of this world are capable of…" "If I may, my Lord, I would like to make two small requests before we depart."
"Of course, go ahead," Ainz gestured kindly.
"Thank you for your indulgence, my lord," Fengxian said with a small bow of his head. "Firstly, I would like CZ Delta to join us as our attendant so that she can use the knowledge she personally gained from her mission to aid us further. Secondly, both as part of her punishment and her continued tuition under my guidance, I would request that Shalltear join us to gain first-hand experience from what I, yourself, the Crown Prince and Cocytus have been teaching her."
"I see. Your requests are well-reasoned and within my power to accommodate," Ainz mused as Henry smiled warmly at his massive friend's insight and logic. "CZ, it shall be as Grand Marshal Fengxian requested. You are to join them on this mission and use everything you learned to strengthen their efforts. And I will personally message Shalltear to join you as you leave."
"Yes, Master. It shall be as you say," CZ replied, her dull monotonous voice doing a good job of hiding her delight at being given another chance to please the Supreme Beings.
"You are far too gracious and kind, my lord. The four of us shall give our all to see your orders carried out," Fengxian spoke up once more. "We, and the forces you have granted us, shall depart as soon as we have your blessing."
"You have it," Ainz said with finality, Henry nodding wordlessly at his side as if giving his own assent. "Go, and make myself, my son and the rest of the Great Tomb proud."
"Yes. Lord. Ainz. As. You. Say. It. Shall. Be. Done," Cocytus declared
"Yes, Lord Ainz. As you say, it shall be done," Fengxian and CZ answered simultaneously alongside the insectoid Guardian. Without another word, the three of them got to their feet and made their way out of the Throne Room with CZ collecting up their notes on her way out. As they did, Ainz used the Message system to contact Shalltear and relay Fengxian's request which the vampire Guardian quickly gave her assent to, so eager was she to keep making up for her earlier transgressions.
"They certainly seem eager. What do you think, my son?" Ainz asked a short while later after they'd all left.
"I'm sure they won't disappoint you, Father. Lord Fengxian is the most brilliant tactical mind in all of the Great Tomb and he has been passing that knowledge onto both Cocytus and Shalltear," the Crown Prince replied. "And it is my sincerest hope that they can get the Lizardmen on our side willingly rather than simply subjugating them. A willing ally would be better than a pile of corpses after all." (Don't think I missed how easily you spoke of purging their corpses, Suzi) He added warningly to his friend via Message.
"As you say, my son. As long as their mission is completed successfully, the outcome will be beneficial no matter what path they take." (I know, Ise, but it had to be said…it's what to be expected of me, plus it's the truth. Alive or dead they will be of use to us.) Henry sighed but decided to drop the matter for now.
"Do you wish for Demiurge or myself to keep an eye on them, my lords?" Albedo spoke up out of the blue.
"I'm sure that won't be necessary, dear. I trust the Grand Marshal, Cocytus and Shalltear to be able to discharge their duties successfully," Henry answered for both himself and Ainz. "In the meantime, we should get back to E-Rantel. Momon, Alfred and the rest have guild quests to undertake there. Tell Demiurge he is in charge of the Tomb until our return."
"As you wish, my beloved. I shall contact both Demiurge and Narberal and be ready to depart on your order," Albedo answered with a deep bow.
"As for you, young Jemima, you did a wonderful job in collating CZ's notes as quickly as you did," Ainz told the young human who had been standing off to the side throughout this exchange. "As a reward, feel free to take the rest of the day off before returning to your duties."
"Thank you, my lords. You are most generous," Jemima replied gratefully. With that, the impromptu meeting in the Throne Room was completed.
~TNT~
A short while after, at the Great Lake region
Over a generation ago, the ancestors of the Lizardmen tribes who now inhabited the Great Lake area had moved to the region in search of a new home, which brought them into conflict with the other indigenous demi-tribes that made their home on the northern part of the lake such as the toadmen. This led to a full-scale conflict between the two races with the toadmen, being the more advanced, emerging victorious and driving the lizardmen into the southern regions. Due to the food shortages that came with this restrictive area, an internal conflict broke out among five of the Lizardmen's seven tribes, with Green Claw, Small Fang and Razor Tail tribes facing off against the alliance of Yellow Speckle and Sharp Edge. Green Claw and its allies proved victorious, leading to the dissolution of Yellow Speckle and Sharp Edge and the remnants of these tribes being absorbed by the Dragon Tusk tribe that hadn't participated in the conflict. As of the current day, the five tribes that currently exist in the region are Green Claw, Dragon Tusk, Red Eye, Small Fang and Razor Tail, each of them living in a hunter-gathering society and led by a chief who was elected by tests of strength in a culture where survival of the fittest is seen as the natural order.
The current-day Lizardmen are a race of humanoid lizards that come in a variety of reptilian breeds that each have five digits ending in short claws on their hands and feet. The average height of an adult male Lizardman is about 6 foot, 3 inches tall with an average weight of 100 kg, and they all possess hardened scales that are both harder and much stronger than the lower-end defensive equipment and armour used by the human nations around them. Each of them also possessed a thick crocodile-like tail that extends from the hip which, once grown to full length, can be used as another potential weapon, and have evolved to possess webbed feet for ease of moment in the wetland clime they currently lived in.
Though they are seen as savages by the human nations, the Lizardmen are one of the more intelligent demi-human races currently living on the continent which allows them to possess their own sophisticated tribal culture, with each tribe possessing their own customs, rituals and defining facial and skin features that makes them easily distinguishable from one another.
On a day that would change the culture and the history of the Lizardmen tribes forever, Zaryusu Shasha, a member of the Green Claw tribe, wielder of Frost Pain, one of the Four Treasures sacred to the Lizardmen tribes, and younger brother of Shasuryu Shasha, chieftain of the Green Claw tribe, was currently walking through one of the many forests around the southern Great Leake region on his way to checking on his fish farm. His scales were coloured a mix of dark green and charcoal black and he wore a lime-green scarf-like object around his neck and chest, and on his chest rested the crimson brand of a 'Traveler', the path he had chosen due to his determination, resolve and sense of duty towards his tribe. As he approached the part of the lake where his nets were set up, he was surprised to see his older brother standing at the edge of the water examining his work, a large broadsword strapped to his back amidst the red sash he wore that signified his chieftain status.
"This is hardly a place for the chieftain to be seen, don't you think?" Zaryusu quipped good-naturedly as he approached his brother.
"Zaryusu!" Shasuryu exclaimed as he turned to look at his younger sibling, the scars around his eyes and along the dome of his head clearly visible. Though he was one of the chieftains, Shasuryu possessed a playful personality and got along extremely well with his brother.
"Are you…examining my crop, brother?" Zaryusu asked as approached the larger lizardman's side. Even among the towering lizardmen, Shasuryu was incredibly huge and made the average lizardman look small in comparison.
"Please…I came by to see if the fish had grown any bigger since my last visit," his brother replied.
"Is that all? Are you sure you don't want to eat them?" Zaryusu questioned cheekily. Shasuryu let out a pained groan at his words that made the younger of the brothers chuckle. "They're good, you know…way more fat on them than the ones you'd catch by simply fishing."
"Is that so?" Shasuryu asked with a raised eyebrow.
"When they hit your tongue, that prime, greasy goodness fills your mouth. And when you bite into them…the way they melt in your mouth…" Just the thought of such a delicacy caused the older lizardman's tail to thump against the ground, betraying an excitement that the younger lizardman didn't miss. "Heh, looks like my sister-in-law was right…your tail gives you away brother."
"Come on…my own wife is talking behind my back?! Not fair! It's just a stupid twitch and nothing more!" The chieftain moaned before looking at Zaryusu with a knowing smirk. "If you ever nocked that arrow yourself, you'd know exactly how I'd feel…"
"Not happening, brother, you know that" Zaryusu cut him off with an equally knowing glare.
"And why's that? Because of that damned mark?" his elder brother asked, his eyes moving to the red tattoo on Zaryusu's chest
"Exactly. I left the tribe to travel the world. Our laws are clear on this," Zaryusu replied seriously. "My knowledge is respected, but I will always be an outsider in our people's eyes."
"Among the elders, you mean? I guess I see your point," Shasuryu sighed as he returned his gaze to the water. "You know…this… 'fish farm', you call it? It's great… no one in the tribe's ever done anything like it before."
"Only because of your efforts brother…I know you spoke to the elders and the rest of the tribe on my behalf," Zaryusu replied. "Once it expands and the fish get a little larger, I'll make sure you get the pick of the lot. You have my word."
"Your word, you say? I look forward to it," Shasuryu said eagerly. "Come on…let's get back to the tribe. I need your help with a few things, and I'm sure your fish can wait until you're done."
"As you say, my chieftain," Zaryusu demurred. But as the pair entered the village and made their way to its centre, every member of the tribe started looking up into the sky in a state of panic. Momentarily confused, the brothers raised their own eyes upward and were astonished at what they saw: an angry, black mass of cloud had seemingly appeared out of nothing and was now hovering above the village, blotting out the sun and casting everything into shadow. As everyone watched on in horror, what appeared to be a cloud of roiling black mist appeared from its centre and floated down towards them. Countless fearsome and ever-changing faces emerged on the surface of this mist, accompanied by the sounds of weeping, cries of agony, the gnashing of teeth and the last gasps of the dying that were carried along by the wind.
"I AM A HERALD OF THE GREAT ONES, SENT TO DELIVER A MESSAGE!" A sharp, disembodied voice bellowed from its centre. "LISTEN AND HEED MY WORDS! HENCEFORTH, DEATH'S GAZE IS UPON YOU, AND SOON DEATH WILL COME AND DELIVER YOU UNTO YOUR DOOM!"
And that's where we'll leave it for the time being. Really hope you all enjoyed this shorter-than-usual offering. I will be honest, I was struggling for a time with content to fill this chapter and ended up resorting to one of the scenes my co-author created during our initial discussions to fill the void. I hope that was amusing enough for you.
And pardon my excitement, but my favourite character in Overlord finally makes their appearance! Renner to me is a very good example of a character with so many complex layers that explain themselves very well, and her journey and where she ends up in the end is one of my favourite character arcs in all of anime! Plus we are introduced to the loyal and dependable Climb whom we have different plans for in this story as well as the first two members of the Lizardmen tribe, Zaryusu and his older brother Shasuryu. We'll be meeting the rest of the chiefs and telling the story of the Lizardmen/Nazarick conflict in the next 2 or 3 chapters as Fengxian and Cocytus prepare the forces of Nazarick for their first conflict!
daniel: This chapter really was something fun! We introduced my partner's best girl Renner, we finally met everyone's favourite lizard man Zaryusu and had good laughs with Éclair! Always great to share this story with you guys and we can't wait to continue!
Chapter 14 will be coming, as always, in the next two weeks maximum. Until then, on behalf of myself and my co-author daniel, thank you all once again for all the love and support you've all shown this story, it really means the world to us, and we'll see you all again in the next chapter of the Nazarick Triumvirate!