(The notifications are working again at long last, but just in case this chapter went up on schedule on 17th November 2023)
Happy Friday to you all and welcome back to the next chapter of the Nazarick Triumvirate. On behalf of myself and daniel, we hope you are all doing well and enjoying the current season of anime. Today we're kicking off the Men in the Kingdom and Demonic Disturbance arcs and we cannot wait to bring you all along for the ride with what we have planned!
Before we start, I have to mention the end of Attack on Titan that was almost a fortnight ago, and I cannot lie…I cried when the ending credits came. AoT defines my love for anime and is responsible for everything that has resulted. All the anime I've watched, including Rising of the Shield-Hero and Overlord which in turn inspired me to start writing fanfiction, all came about because I watched AoT and fell in love with anime. It was an incredible story from beginning to end, and the finale was the cherry on top of the cake. I will miss it tremendously, but will always look back on it with fondness as an example of what a top-tier anime and manga should be.
daniel: Hey guys! Here we are again! First off thank you so much for the 200 followers! We hope we can reach more milestones with you all! And speaking of milestones, AoT finally ended and boy it was a treat for the ages! The finale was everything I wanted it to be and more! Well, enough of me gushing about an anime that stuck the landing. Let's get on with the story!
As my co-author said, let's do this with chapter 17 as we check in with Sebas and Solution in Re-Estize. 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 17 – A Dignified Gentleman
"Welcome back to the Magician's Guild, Sir Sebas. It is always a pleasure to make your acquaintance," the blonde-haired proprietor of said guild's building welcomed with a polite bow as Sebas approached his desk.
"I'd like to see the list of spells and cantrips please," Sebas politely requested, returning the gesture.
"As you wish. Please bear with me a moment." As the owner walked away to see to Sebas' request, the elderly butler of Nazarick mused on how things had progressed so far in his mission on behalf of the Supreme Beings. Whilst he hadn't expected their progress to be rapid due to the secrecy and sensitivity of their mission, even he, with his vast amount of patience, couldn't help but be a little vexed at just how long it was taking to find the right connections and people to influence. It wasn't that their targets weren't numerous, it was just more a matter of discovering who was worth knowing and if the connections, funds and manpower they boasted about weren't more than empty posturing. And from those few who had the potential to be suitable future pawns for the Supreme Ones' plans…what motivated them most of all was coin. Though he and Solution had an ample supply given to them for the mission, they couldn't throw it all on trying to sway these influential people without the definite means to ensure their continued cooperation. That would require more man-power and the direct aid of their masters whose attentions were currently elsewhere, which meant that so far their actions had been reduced to, aside from wooing these potential clients, gathering information on the key players among the nobility and royalty factions, scouting out the capital and acquiring targets of interest, whether they be people, buildings, organisations or anything else that could be of future use to his lord, Crown Prince and Grand Marshal.
He was snapped out of his musings as the owner returned with the book of cantrips and laid it out on the counter before him. Removing the Magic Glasses he was keeping in his suit pocket, Sebas put them up to his eye and began to leaf through the book to see if any were of interest, much like he'd been doing the past few days when not out gathering information or providing to Solution's needs. So far there hadn't been any that he either didn't know or wasn't capable of casting that he'd seen during his last few browses, but as he turned the pages he found one that he hadn't heard of before. "I'm not sure I understand this spell here," he told the owner, pointing down at the scroll that bore the heading 'Floating Board'. "Could you explain its functions and general use for me?"
"Of course, sir. The Floating Board spell is a 1st-tier conjuration of a glowing board. It floats and is easy to move, making it very useful for transporting items. Very useful in construction projects," the man rattled off almost automatically.
"I see…" Sebas considered with a hand to his chin. "Whilst it is low-tier, it could prove very useful for any projects we have in or around the Great Tomb and allow the Supreme Beings to more efficiently delegate our manpower. I know Lady Aura and Lord Mare especially would find this spell very useful." "Very well, I would like to purchase one of these scrolls if you have one available, or create one should you have none."
"We appreciate your custom as always, Sir Sebas. That will be one gold and ten silver coins please." Sebas reached into his jacket and pulled out the necessary amount, laying it on the table. Once the owner had taken the money, he produced the required scroll and handed it to Sebas. After taking the scroll, Sebas nodded again before exiting the guild building.
"Whilst I'm outside, I may as well take the opportunity to familiarise myself fully with the layout of the capital…" His course decided he called on the Shadow Demon hiding in his shadow to inform Solution that he'd be looking around the city and would return later than normal. As the demon vanished to carry out his orders, Sebas descended the steps of the guild building
"I think I'll head that way today," he muttered as he made his way on a heading that would take him away from the central district.
~TNT~
As he descended into the lower alleyways, Sebas couldn't help but notice the contrast between this district and the one he was used to. Instead of ornate buildings and a general air of cleanliness, the alleyways reeked of both a lack of maintenance and general squalor alongside a pallor of unhappiness and discontent that seemed to hang over the area like an invisible miasma. The buildings around him bore such marks themselves, with discoloured bricks and other signs of general wear and tear that hadn't been replaced. Lastly, there was the lack of lighting that was ever-present in the upper reaches, condemning this lowly area to constant shadow that even a midday sun couldn't lift.
"It would seem that even despite the best efforts of this 'Golden Princess', the rest of the nobility care not that many of their citizens are living in such unkempt condition," Sebas mused as he walked down one of the alleyways. During his briefing with the Supreme Beings before undertaking this mission, Princess Renner had been somebody who had been earmarked as a potential ally in their ultimate efforts to one day bring this city and the country around it under the banner of Nazarick, and from what he had heard so far he couldn't help but agree. In contrast to the stuffy nobles, gang leaders and other sorts who were only content in lining their pockets whilst doing nothing to improve the lives of those under their care, Renner at least was doing her best to reform the Kingdom into something better. And yet her efforts were either being shot down or swept under the rug amid the ongoing power struggle between the two warring factions of the Re-Estize Kingdom: the Royalty Faction, who had pledged their fealty to the King, and the Nobility Faction, who swore loyalty to the King in name only whilst openly engaging in power plays.
Sebas had considered approaching either faction to see if there were any among them worth knowing but had reconsidered after hearing what was said about them in whispers and private conversations regarding what had happened the last time the Baharuth Empire had chosen to invade. It had been the harvest season when they had struck, and though the Kingdom had been able to hold them off, the destruction caused had delayed the harvest of wheat and other grains leading to starvation and inflation due to the lack of goods, thus weakening the Kingdom even further. Yet neither faction had stepped in to do anything about it. In fact, all the Nobility faction had cared about was that the Royalty Faction had lost power and influence as a result whilst failing to recognise that should the Kingdom's power continue to wane, the Empire would then invade and conquer them in full force with little effort whatsoever.
"Which is why our mission here is so important…we need to recognise who would be worthy of allying with, or at the very least would be susceptible to have under our rule, and work with them to quickly and quietly undermine the situation here to the point where my masters could easily take over with little resistance and maximum approval," Sebas further mused. "Under the divine rule of Lord Ainz and the benevolence of my Crown Prince Constantine, we could make this country into a nation far greater than what it currently is…" He was torn from his musings as he heard and saw a door opening not far from him. A large, burly man then appeared and tossed what appeared to be a large sack out of the door before heading back inside and slamming the door behind him.
Sebas was initially tempted to just walk by and pay it no mind, it wasn't his business after all, but then reconsidered. If there was anything dangerous within, it was best to identify and deal with it straight away. "Shadow Demon, go," he commanded. As quick as a flash, the invisible creature raced forward and sliced the sack's knot, splitting it away from the rest of the sack. Sebas waited a few more seconds, but upon seeing nothing dangerous come out of it, decided it was safe and proceeded to continue on his way. However, just as he was walking past where the sack had been discarded, he felt something grabbing at his right ankle. Looking down, he saw to his dismay a heavily bruised and pale arm clinging weakly to his trousers. Before he could say or do anything more, the sack rustled as whoever lay within crawled slowly out of it. The figure was a young human woman with long blonde hair, and whose naked skin was covered all over in the same bruises that littered her arm.
"I shouldn't be doing this…" Lord Ainz had warned him about getting involved in affairs that weren't his concern after all. "Yet I know that both Lord Touch Me and Crown Prince Constantine would do the same thing…the only right thing in this case…" "You can let go, young lady. You have my attention," he told her in a soft, calm voice. "Are you in need of some medical attention or assistance that I can provide? If that is the case, then simply ask." The girl didn't respond, seemingly unable to speak. Her only sign that she'd heard Sebas' words was to slowly tilt her head upward, her dull blue eyes peeking out from under weary eyelids as she gave him a look of pleading that was heavy with exhaustion. "All I needed to see…if she's so weak and worn that she can't even speak, then I must do what a gentleman of my station demands and see to her well-being…" Before he could make a move, the door behind him opened once again, and as Sebas turned around he found himself face-to-face with the same burly man that had tossed the woman out in the first place.
"Hey. Old-timer. Where the hell did you blow in from?" He asked rudely, causing Sebas to not even dignify him with a response as he returned his gaze down to the young lady at his feet. This action however only enraged the man. "Well? Are you going to answer, or do I have to-uck!" Whatever he was about to say was cut off as with one smooth motion Sebas calmly slotted the scroll into the pocket of his suit before grabbing the man by the shirt and pressing him up against the wall of the building he'd come out of. "Agh! What the crap?! Let go of me!" The man's tone changed to one of pleading as Sebas effortlessly lifted him off his feet.
"Since you were the one who so distastefully threw her out here, I'm assuming you know this woman?" Sebas asked in a deadly calm voice which did little to disguise the utter disgust he was feeling right now.
"S-She's one of my employees!" The man gasped as he continued to kick and squirm, but Sebas' iron grip was unrelenting. "What the hell is it to you anyway?"
That wasn't the answer Sebas wanted to hear. It only served to deepen his fury against this human, a prime example in his mind of the corruption, greed and cruelty that existed within this kingdom. "So she's human, yet you forced or at least allowed extreme violence upon her person," he almost growled. "Tell me, where were you planning to take her in that sack you so cruelly stuffed her inside?"
"T-to the temple…she's very sick! I was going to get her some medical attention!" The man almost pleaded.
"I don't believe you, otherwise you wouldn't have thrown her out so carelessly as you did," Sebas snarled as he threw the man to the floor. Before he could get up, Sebas calmly strolled over and placed a foot none-too-gently on the man's chest. "But say you were being honest and those were your intentions, I doubt you'd mind if I decided to take her in your stead?"
"Wait!" The man sputtered as best he could with Sebas' foot still pressing down on him. "Legally, she belongs to us. If you took her away, it would be seen as kidnapping." The man's expression then changed into a sneer. "A stuffy, old butler such as yourself shouldn't get involved with dealings behind his master's back or it'll end poorly for you."
"A valid point…" Sebas conceded as he stepped off the bulky man before going back over to check on the girl who hadn't moved whilst the exchange had been taking place. "Should this get out…even if Lord Constantine would understand, I doubt either Lord Ainz or Lord Fengxian would take too kindly to my actions. But a minor issue such as this is not worth their time, so I shall have to deal with this individual and then swear Solution to secrecy…" "Tell me, miss…do you want me to help you?"
Once again her eyes wearily opened as she tried, and failed, to communicate, but even from her broken expression and worn gestures, Sebas could see the faintest traces of desperation and longing. That was more than enough for him. "I am normally not inclined to help those who choose prayer over action. They waste their lives wilting away, like flowers waiting for the rain to sustain them," he told both the girl and the man who was slowly getting back to his feet. "However…you, my dear, are fighting to stay alive." He then reached over and closed her eyes and patted her forehead, a gesture which instantly caused her to relax. "You don't have to worry anymore, so be at peace…from this moment forward, you will be under my steadfast protection."
"Like hell she is! I don't agree to this!" The man snarled, stepping forward only to be stopped by Sebas' glare.
" 'Like hell', you say? An immoral blub like you has the gall to try and tell me that my words have no merit?" he asked quietly. As the man spluttered for a response, Sebas reached down and picked up the battered girl in his arms. She offered no resistance, instead choosing to wearily rest her head against Sebas' suit. "If that is, we'll take our leave of you. Don't bother coming after us."
"Wait!" The man exclaimed one last time as Sebas began to walk away.
"Oh? Is there something else you want to try and protest?" Sebas asked without looking back.
"No…it's just…if you take her away, I won't survive the night." The man's tone had gone from that of a sneer and condescension to fear and pleading, a shift in tone that caught Sebas' attention. "I'm in deep with the Eight Fingers…do you know what that means?" When Sebas didn't reply, the man laughed nervously. "They control this entire kingdom from the shadows, and if words got back to them about this…they'd come after me. I'm begging you…put the girl down, walk away and pretend this didn't happen, otherwise they'll kill me! Please…if you have a heart…do the right thing!"
"Eight Fingers…that name sounds familiar. I'll have to investigate further…" "I can't do that," he told the man, but just as he was about to protest Sebas held his hand up to stop his yammering, the teachings of his creator Touch Me and his Crown Prince floating back to him upon seeing how broken this man now seemed. "Because saving a person who is in trouble is always the right thing to do!" Both men's lives were led by that creed, and as their creation and most loyal servant, Sebas could do no less. "Take this, and hire an adventurer or a band of them to escort you out of the city," he continued, throwing a hefty pouch full of coins at the man's feet. "Use what's left to flee the country and make a prosperous life for yourself elsewhere. If you run as fast as you can, perhaps you'll live long enough to use it all." Before the man could say anything more, Sebas turned around and, with his unconscious load still secure in his arms, left the alleyway behind him as he headed back in the direction of the mansion he and Solution were staying in.
~TNT~
Whilst putting up with the miserable and lowly humans who dared to dream of stations they were unworthy to fill was as much of an onerous chore as she had been expecting, it had come with one side perk that Solution was revelling in: being treated as a lady of status and having her every need catered to, even if it was a bit off-putting that the role of her butler was being played by Sebas who was her superior to the point where she was having to resist her natural inclination to be the one serving rather than to be served. If this was any indication of how life would be as her beloved's secondary consort when their kingdom was established, she could hardly wait.
"I'm sure when my beloved takes up his rightful place as this land's Crown Prince, second only to our eternal ruler and father, he will make me one of his princesses…no, I will be one of his queens, second only to Lady Albedo…" Solution mused as she trailed her hands along one of the exquisite pieces of furniture dotted around the mansion. "And when I am crowned…I am sure my darling will grant me a dwelling such as this where I can raise our beautiful offspring. They will grow up in majesty and finery, and the lesser beings will be lining up to cater to their every whim as is their proper station…" The daydreams she was having of this potential future were causing the slime maid to salivate, an action that would be frowned upon as unbefitting of a woman of her status. Still, Solution didn't care…so preoccupied was she with the thoughts of her future with her beloved Crown Prince Constantine.
Eventually, she was broken out of her beautiful daydreams by the sound of the mansion's front door opening. "That must be Lord Sebas returning from his excursion…" Picking up the hem of the opulent skirt she was wearing, she gracefully made her way down the stairs to greet the elderly butler, only to find herself stopping dead in her tracks when she noticed that he hadn't come back empty-handed. "Welcome back, Lord Sebas," she greeted him as was proper with a small curtsy before indicating the elephant in the room: the battered and bruised human female that Sebas was bearing gently in his arms. "If I may ask…what in the name of Nazarick is that that you have returned with?"
"I found her," was Sebas' simple reply that did nothing to assuage the worry that was slowly building up in Solution's mind.
"Surely he can't have forgotten that our mission is not to be compromised in any way, per the commands of the Supreme Beings themselves?" "I must insist, Lord Sebas, that you tell me why you have brought this…girl…back here when we are supposed to be undercover, and do you intend to do with…her?" In the past she would have gladly referred to such a creature as an 'it' or 'lower life-form', but her beloved's gentle encouragement to try not to judge all humans with such scorn unless they proved themselves to deserve it made her choose her words with more care.
Sebas took notice of Solution's more considered reply and inwardly approved, thanking the positive influence of his benevolent master, but yet again his reply was blunt and offered little explanation. "A good question that I need time to think about…in the meantime I will settle for having you tend her wounds for me."
"You want me to heal her?" Solution asked, her eyebrow raised in slight disapproval. "Surely you could have taken her to one of the temples instead?"
"I could have. Imagine me, of all people, not realising such a thing." The disapproving glare Sebas sent her way sent a small chill running through her, a reminder that whilst Sebas was one of the kindest souls in Nazarick, with only their Crown Prince and perhaps Lord Cocytus displaying similar or greater levels of compassion, he could be very intimidating should his wrath be stoked. And it was clear that whatever this girl had been through had upset him to the point where he was on the verge of exploding in a quiet rage. "No, I have already brought her this far. It would be a waste to not think of some effective use for her."
"I don't like this…but at the same time, Lord Sebas IS my superior. If he feels this is right, then I have little choice…" "What do you wish me to do?" she asked with a small bow.
"If you don't mind, I'd like for you to start with an assessment of her physical condition," Sebas requested as he walked past her. "We'll use one of the upper rooms so that she remains out of sight whilst she recovers."
"As you wish, Lord Sebas," she demurred, following the elderly butler as he gently carried his burden upstairs before proceeding to one of the many spare bedrooms in their dwelling. After opening the door for him, Solution stepped back and lit some candles around the room, bathing it in a calm orange light as Sebas gently deposited the girl on the bed.
"I'll leave you to it then. I trust you will come and give me a full report once you have examined her?" Sebas asked before turning to leave.
"You can rely on me, Lord Sebas. I won't let you down," Solution replied with another bow as he walked past her and out of the room, closing the door behind him and leaving Solution alone with the broken and battered body of the human girl laid out before her.
"As much as I long to devour her, I know I cannot…Lord Sebas gave me a direct order and it is my duty to obey…" Solution sighed openly. "What would my beloved do in this situation…?" She shook her head, mentally berating herself for the foolishness of her question. She knew exactly what her Crown Prince would do, and if she wanted to be a worthy queen for him…she would do her best to emulate his example to the best of her ability, no matter how much it contradicted her nature. Leaning down, she began assessing the wounds of her 'patient'.
~TNT~
"How could I have acted so foolishly?" Sebas mentally cursed himself upon slamming the door behind him. "Saving a person who is in trouble is always the right thing to do…that philosophy was the motto of both my creator Lord Touch and the Crown Prince, Lord Constantine. They lived and breathed justice!" The elderly butler rubbed his chin in deep thought. "Perhaps…that is the reason why I did what I did…in an attempt to emulate their noble example, though my actions could yet prove to be a curse. I shall have to see how useful the girl can be once she has recovered from her injuries. Maybe…she could be like Lady Jemima or Lady Ninya and prove herself as an addition to the Great Tomb in some capacity…" Dwelling on these thoughts, Sebas moved away and back down to his study to await Solution's report.
~TNT~
As he awkwardly scratched his quill over the sheet of parchment lying in front of him, the door to his study was gently swung open. Looking up, he saw Solution quietly enter the room. "Welcome back…tell me, what is the condition of our guest?" He asked as she closed the door.
Solution clasped her hands together in front of her waist and inclined her head as she made her report. "The girl carries three venereal diseases, including syphilis," she began. "She also has several cracked ribs and broken fingers, and the tendons in her right arm and left leg have been torn. Her upper and lower front teeth have been violently removed, and she also has an anal fissure." Solution's expression turned unusually grave as she continued. "There is also a possibility that she has been force-fed and become addicted to some kind of drug. As for the marks on her flesh…she carries multiple bruises and lacerations all over, and judging by their colouring and intensity they were inflicted by someone much stronger than…"
"Can she be treated?" Sebas cut her off, not wanting to hear any more.
"Easily, Lord Sebas, but it is not my speciality…Lady Pestonya's healing abilities would be far more suitable for this…"
"Solution, you have the necessary healing scrolls in your possession, correct?" Sebas interrupted her once again. Given the severity of the girl's injuries and how he'd promised to take care of her, he had no time for whatever excuses that were about to roll off of Solution's tongue. "Then use one of them on her."
"No…surely he can't mean to...!" "But Lord Sebas, those scrolls were graciously provided by Lord Ainz and Crown Prince Constantine to aid us in our mission!" She objected, not with her usual sneer but instead with alarm. "Would it not be sinful of us to squander their generosity just to save the life of this lowly human girl?"
"That is an order!" As had been the case throughout their conversations this evening, Sebas' words were sharp and straight to the point. His expression then softened as he sought to maintain his usual dignified manner "Tell me, Solution…you are as close to our Crown Prince as I am, perhaps even more since you share his bed. What do you think he would do in our place?"
"I-It is not our place to perceive the intentions of our Supreme Beings!" Solution spluttered. "Our only duty is to hear their will and obey it, and it was their wish that we only use these scrolls on-!"
"You already know what he would do, don't you?" Sebas remarked once more, ignoring her continued attempts to get out of this. "Tell me…what do you think he would say if he saw you being so recalcitrant as you are now?"
"I-I…" Truthfully, there was only one answer Solution could give, and it wasn't the one she wanted. Yet she knew that Lord Sebas was right. If her beloved were with them right now, she knew in her heart what he would be doing. "Yes, Lord Sebas. I shall do as you say," she conceded with a deep bow. "Forgive me for being so forward, but what are your intentions with her once she has recovered to full health?"
"Once you have completed her treatment, be sure to draw her a hot bath and clean her up. Make her comfortable. That is within your means, is it not?" Sebas told her coldly as he got up from his seat. "In the meantime, I'll go out and buy us all something for dinner. Given what she's been through, I imagine a warm meal will do her a lot of good."
"Yes, Lord Sebas. I will see to it," she replied. But just as he was about to walk past her, another thought came to mind. "If I may be so bold, sir…tending to her mental state will involve much more than we are capable of. Perhaps we should call Lord Ainz or Lord Constantine and-" Whatever else she had been about to say died on her lips as Sebas glared down at her once more.
"This is a paltry matter far beneath the attention of our Supreme Beings," he told her in a tone that brooked no disagreement. "They have their own and far more important concerns to be dealing with, so we shall not waste their precious time with this. Do I make myself clear, Solution?"
"Y-yes, Lord Sebas. As you say," Solution stammered, inwardly cursing her folly. He was correct after all…the matter of the well-being of one measly human girl was in no way worthy of their masters' attention. Once Sebas had left, she dutifully went back upstairs and did as she had been instructed whilst pushing all thoughts of potentially making this girl her next meal back into the furthest corners of her mind.
~TNT~
Bearing a covered dish on a tray in his hands, Sebas gently knocked on their patient's door. Hearing no response, he let himself in. As he entered the room, he couldn't help but be startled by her transformation from when he'd last seen her. Her skin shone as clean as a newborn's without a single blemish on it, and instead of the rags she'd been wearing, she was now clad in a pale white dress. Her hair, previously unkempt and dirty, now flowed freely behind her as it shone within the dim light provided by the lit candles.
"Despite her misgivings, it would appear Miss Solution has gone above and beyond what I asked of her to ensure our guest's health and comfort." Sebas couldn't help but be proud of the maid's maturity and growth, which he had no doubt were a result of his glorious Crown Prince's positive influence. "It looked like the healing magic did its job perfectly. How are you feeling, young lady?" She didn't reply, staring blankly into space without even so much as registering his words. "To be expected…she's been through such a traumatic experience and is still recovering." "I'm sure you must be hungry. Here, eat it before it gets cold," he told her, uncovering the piping-hot plate and placing it carefully on her lap.
She looked at the food almost in disbelief before picking up the spoon with shaking fingers and taking a bite. Her eyes went wide as savoured the taste, and then she immediately started shoving the rest of her food down her throat with renewed vigour, the spark of life returning to her skin and her eyes with each bite. Though he tried his best to maintain a stern expression, Sebas couldn't help the ghost of a smile that passed his face as he watched her eat.
"As long as you are here, you will be free and safe from any kind of danger," he reassured her once she'd finished eating. "When you wake up in the morning, you will still be in this bed. You have my guarantee…as the head butler of the Pleiades."
"T-t-thank you," the girl eventually managed to stammer, the first words that had come out of her mouth since Sebas had rescued her all those hours ago. "Y-y-you are v-very kind, s-sir."
"My name is Sebas Tian, and think nothing of it," he told her kindly. "Now that I have taken you in, I will ensure your safety to the best of my ability." As he spoke the girl brought her hands to her face as she burst into a wave of tears.
"W-Why didn't a-anyone else try to help m-me?" she wailed, clenching her fists and wailing as she began to relieve all of the trauma that had been building up, causing the empty plate and the tray that had once borne her food to clatter to the ground. Seeing the girl in such distress, there was only one thing Sebas knew he could do to help. Leaning down, he gathered the girl in his arms and brought her face to his chest, allowing her to sob freely and without restraint whilst patting her back in an attempt to comfort her.
"The people who did this cannot hurt you now," he said in a firm and decisive as she continued to cry until all of her tears were eventually spent.
"I-I'm sorry…I-I didn't mean to throw myself at you like that," she apologised as she pulled away.
"There's no need to apologise. For a man such as myself, it is an honour and my duty to be the shoulder a woman can lean on when they are in distress," he reassured her gently, passing her a napkin to wipe away the rest of her tears.
"I-It's so clean…I wouldn't want to get it d-dirty…" Whatever else the girl was about to say was cut off as Sebas personally wiped her eyes with the proffered napkin.
"Take it. Keep it. And use it for whenever the tears start to fall once more," he bade her. "A handkerchief that goes unused is to be mourned. After all, its existence is to dry one's tears so that they can keep moving forward." Placing the napkin down on the bedside table, he gently guided her back down until she was lying beneath the quilt once more. "Now, get some rest. When you are fully recovered, we can discuss what comes next."
"W-What do you mean…what comes next?" She hesitantly asked as he picked up her discarded cutlery and dinnerware.
"I'm sure staying in the capital is out of the question given what has just transpired. Do you have anywhere else you can go? Any family you can get in contact with?" She bowed her head, threatening to well up again from his gentle question. "That is unfortunate, but expected. As I promised, you will be looked after until we can come up with our next course of action. But before I go…would you be so kind as to tell me your name?"
"M-my name? I-it's Tuare, Sir T-tian," she replied softly, a small ghost of a smile now on her face as she curled back up into the blankets, her bright blue eyes watching him with full fondness and trust.
"A fine and beautiful name for such a lovely flower," he told her with an equally warm smile, causing the girl to blush below the covers. "And you can call me Sebas. Now, why don't you try and get some rest, okay? I promise I won't be far should you need anything."
"O-okay. T-thank you…Sebas." With one last smile she closed her eyes, and soon the sound of her peaceful breathing could be audibly heard throughout the bedroom. With one last fond look in her direction, Sebas left the room and closed the door gently behind him. As he walked down the corridor with the tray clutched in his hands, he spotted Solution waiting for him at the end of the corridor, a concerned expression marring her lovely features
"Is something the matter?" He asked as he drew close to her.
"Forgive me for my impertinence, Lord Sebas, but I must ask…what are your ultimate plans for that girl?" She asked.
"The girl's name is Tuare," he said as he walked past her, forcing her to hitch her skirt in order to follow behind. "And for now, she will be staying under our care until we can sort out what to do with her."
"Her name? Lord Sebas, I cannot even pretend to understand the reason you bought her into this house whilst we are on such a critical mission for the Supreme Beings, but what is clear is that she received those injuries from certain types of people!" She exclaimed as they walked. "Whoever did this to that girl-Tuare, will be very displeased when they find out she is still alive and will come looking for us. You would risk our cover being blown for the sake of a mere human girl?"
"If, and I do mean if, that happens and they do come snooping around, then I will deal with them accordingly," he told her in a tone that would suffer no disagreement as he pinned her with another fierce glare. "For now, we shall remain and observe what happens, or do you believe that to be below your station, Solution Epsilon?" Without waiting for her reply he strode down the rest of the corridor before descending the stairs, leaving Solution alone to mull on what she'd just heard.
"Lord Sebas…you share the kind heart of my beloved Crown Prince, a quality I am slowly coming to admire. I just hope that such kindness doesn't come back to bite us in the days ahead…"
~TNT~
"Gazef…I developed my God-Flash and Field in the hope of avenging my defeat at your hands, and if I combine them…I know I can beat you!""Blade Technique…Wind of the Great Forest!" Brain cried as he swung his blade forward at a speed faster than the naked eye could comprehend directly at Shalltear's neck. Seeing that the strike was aimed true, he was about to yell out in triumph when the unthinkable happened. Just as his blade was about to hit home, the girl simply used her hand to catch the blade and hold it back before it could cut at her skin. "H-how? T-there's no way! That was supposed to be my ultimate technique…" he stammered, all of his previous bravado fading away to be replaced by a look of sheer terror. Nobody could match up to his speed…so how had this girl been able to stop his strike so casually?
"I think it's just dawned on you how outclassed you really are," Shalltear cooed almost sweetly as she held the blade in place with a vice-like grip.
Brain let out a ferocious battle cry before charging at her again, slashing and jabbing at her from every possible angle to try and catch her off guard. And yet his efforts proved to be in vain as she simply batted away every one of his strikes with casual movements of her finger, her fingernail seemingly made out of the strongest metal as sparks flew where he struck and not even a dent or crack was made on it despite his best efforts, whilst she emitted a yawn from what looked like sheer boredom.
"What's wrong? Are you tired already?" Shalltear asked after a while as Brain backed away, sweat lacing his brow and panting heavily. "I'd have thought you'd had more stamina and skill than what you've shown me so far, especially with those fancy Martial Arts you used earlier. Weren't they meant to increase your strength and speed? Because quite honestly, I hardly noticed much of a difference between you and the rest of those weaklings that I slaughtered on my way here. If you're going to make a good impression, you are certainly going to have to work a lot harder than that!"
That was when Brain's composure finally shattered as the once-proud and ego-driven warrior started crying and laughing at the same time, his whole body now shaking uncontrollably as it dawned upon him just how badly he'd been humiliated. Wailing in despair, the blue-haired warriors turned tail and fled the way he'd come, the vampire's teasing laughter ringing in his ears as he fled.
"Ugh! No! GAHHH!" Brain's eyes shot open as he hurriedly sat up in his bed, chest heaving and sweat dripping down his face. But as he looked every which way around himself, he saw to his relief that he was safely in his bed in the room that Gazef was allowing him to stay in, the early morning sun piercing through the blinds, and most mercifully of all no pale-skinned vampire girl chasing after him with an ear-splitting cackle ringing in his ears.
"Damnit…another of those damned nightmares…!" he grimaced as he slowly got out the bed, still wearing the same gear from when he'd fled from the vampire just in case she decided to come back for him. Though if he'd been in his right mind, he would have remembered that vampires don't do well at all in sunlight and thus would be perfectly safe. Picking up his katana from where it was resting by the wall, he gingerly opened the door to his room and padded down the stairs. A bite to eat and some water sounded really good about now.
"Good morning Brain…did you sleep o-oh…wow, you look awful," Gazef's deep voice rang out from below, and as Brain looked down he saw the Chief Warrior of Re-Estize, clad in nothing but a plain shit and pants, sitting at the table with a drink in his hand. "Nightmares again?"
"Yeah…sorry if I disturbed ya…" Brain mumbled as he shuffled down the rest of the stairs.
"You didn't. I was already awake. Sit down and I'll pour you a glass." With a nod of thanks, his katana still clutched tightly beneath his arm, Brain took his place on the chair opposite Gazef as the veteran warrior pulled out another mug and poured another mask of the same raspberry-coloured concoction that he'd been sipping from. "Drink deep…looks like you need it," Gazef told him as he sat back down and offered the mug to Brain. With a small nod of thanks, Brain took several deep gulps from the mug. As Gazef had predicted, he felt calmer and much more himself as a result.
"Do you remember when we first met? The Championship of the Royal Matches, right?" Gazef suddenly asked as Brain continued to down his goblet. The blue-haired warrior looked up with a puzzled expression given the randomness of the topic. "I barely managed to beat you in that bout. It was the closest match of my life, from that day until now. I've never met anyone who could compare to your skill and toughness."
Brain didn't reply, causing Gazef to frown in concern. He and Brain may not have been close in the past given the nature of their rivalry, but even he knew it was very unlike the proud warrior to be so sullen and downcast. Just what on earth had happened to him that had caused him to lose all of that bravado and instead appear so weak and broken when Gazef had found him during that storm a few days ago? "Brain…if we might speak as one warrior to another…what on earth happened to you?"
He didn't get any response at first, but Gazef had near-legendary patience born from having to put up with the stuffy, pompous and sneering nobles he was forced to interact with on the regular and time to spare. And it bore fruit as his one-time rival began to speak. "I-I found out how weak I really am," Brain murmured, looking away ashamedly. Sensing there was more to his answer, Gazef didn't interrupt and let him continue. "And it's not just me…it's all of us Gazef. We're all nothing…compared to what's out there, waiting for us. Our skills with our blades amount to garbage in the face of monsters who can deflect them aside with little to no effort. To them…we're humans, an inferior race beneath their notice."
If Gazef had heard this before he met Ainz Ooal Gown and his companions at Carne Village, he'd have most likely reacted with shock or disbelief at his former rival's words. But ever since that encounter, and seeing the skill displayed by the likes of Sir Constantine and Sir Fen, it had become clear to him just how outclassed he now was. So he'd started to think less about his own strength and how others compared to him and instead ponder about how the now-limited strength he possessed could be best put to use now that he knew of his clear inferiority whilst seeking any possible method to grow it. "That goes without saying nowadays," he agreed, causing Brain to look up at him in surprise. "Every warrior should understand their own limitations, but a monster's strength should be a height to work towards rather than despair at. Though we may be inferior now…having had experience of the power they wield, we know now the level we need to get to in order to stand a chance against them. That's why we fight…to close the gap and reach those new heights…"
"That won't work!" Brain declared angrily, slamming his fist against the table. "The level I experienced can't be reached! No matter how hard we fight or how hard we manage to push ourselves, the human race will never be capable of those heights! That's the truth of things…plain and simple."
"You saw something that extreme as well?" Gazef asked, his frown deepening.
"Yeah, I did…the summit of strength that humans will never climb to. What I bore witness to wasn't even a height…I was so utterly lacking in skill and ability that it was just a game to the monster I fought against…" Brain trailed off and got to his feet as though he were about to leave, but then his mind fully registered something that Gazef had said. "Wait…what do you mean by 'as well'? What haven't you told me yet, Gazef?" He asked.
"Sit back down and eat something, then I'll tell you. And once you listen to what I have to say, we can discuss what to do next." Gazef's demand was steely and uncompromising, and so Brain found himself sitting back and partaking of the fare Gazef laid out in front of him as he listened, with rising disbelief and worry, as Gazef told him all about his encounter at Carne Village against the Sunlight Scripture and his introduction to the four strangers who had saved the people there. He didn't sugarcoat just how strong and powerful these entities had been, yet made sure to go into great detail on how noble and selfless both their words and actions had been and how they served as examples, in Gazef's mind, what warriors of strength and honour should aspire to be. And despite his earlier misgivings and despondent ramblings regarding his weakness, Brain listened and took to heart everything Gazef spoke about over the next hour or two.
~TNT~
On the outskirts of a village that was only a short distance away from the capital of Re-Estize, two guards in steel plate, bearing short swords on their hips and carrying lanterns that emitted a sickly green light, were patrolling between two large patches of growing 'vegetation'. To them, it was just another boring night on the job and thus weren't expecting any complications. Unfortunately for them, they'd picked the wrong night to be out on patrol.
Suddenly and without warning, a small figure with fair skin, coral eyes and strawberry blonde hair tied back in a ponytail and who was clad in a kunoichi outfit of a black half-breastplate over a sleeveless mesh bodysuit, a black and blue striped headband, light orange scarf with blue flower pattern, black arm gloves with metal bracers, light orange hakama pants and black boots coated in metal plate, snuck up behind one of the guards and stabbed him in the neck. As the blade pierced the flesh, it lit up with a strange red glow that extended into the guard's neck. Before his fellow could do anything to raise the alarm, he felt a hand cover his mouth before his neck was also pierced in the same manner by a figure clad in almost exactly the same gear as her partner, the only difference being their headband had red stripes alongside the black instead of blue and that their orange scarf had red flower patterns instead of blue.
With one swift motion, the twin girls withdrew their blades from the guards' necks and watched on emotionlessly as the magic of their daggers turned them into mindless undead. As they shuffled forward with raised arms whilst emitting dull moans, the twins vanished into the fields on either side as a previously invisible figure materialised where they had stood just a moment ago.
"Everything is ready here," the first twin spoke up in a quiet and emotionless voice.
"Flawlessly executed," the other twin added.
"I know. I was watching you," the third figure added. They were covered in a red robe from head to foot with their facial features hidden behind an unsettling white mask with only a few locks of her lustrous orange hair sticking out of it. "I'm moving to the next location. This won't have been worth the trip if we don't manage to capture the biggest fish possible."
"In that case, we should move to attack as well," spoke the twin with the red and black bandanna. "But what about the others?"
"Probably goofing around since all they're doing is watching," the other twin replied in a careless tone.
"The hell they are. They're lying in wait near the village just in case we run into any unexpected complications, the robed figure reprimanded them. "I'll be heading out now. You two make sure you stick to the plan, got it?" She then flashed away to carry out her part of the next phase.
"Understood," was all the twins said in response as they set off down the path between the fields. Once they arrived at their planned positions, they set fire to their respective sides and watched as the flames quickly consumed every piece of 'vegetation' that had grown there.
"Won't do much, but it should buy us what little time we need," Tina, the twin in the crimson garb, spoke up as she watched the fires rage before her eyes. "If we can't strike a blow that will turn things around, this whole ordeal will have been futile!" With an open sigh, she steeled her heart and set off after her sister as they continued in their deadly task.
Within the space of a few minutes, every field in the immediate area that had been bearing 'vegetation' was now awash in a sea of flames that reached high into the sky and blanketed the sky in a mass of black fumes. Standing on a hilltop a fair distance away whilst observing this beautiful yet deadly display were two figures, one of whom wore light armour with a great sword clutched in their hand alongside a small arsenal of floating swords that were currently hovering behind her, sporting glittering green eyes and long blonde hair that was styled in curls that fell to her waist. On the left side her hair was styled to resemble a rose, while on the right side the headband she wore had a real blue rose. The other figure was clad from shoulder to toe in heavy armour and bore a massive war pick that they had hafted almost effortlessly across their shoulders and sported blue eyes and shoulder-length dark blonde hair.
"Lovely…those fields sure do burn well," the massive warrior, Gagaran, spoke up in a rough tone tinged with satisfaction.
"I hope the people of the village will be able to get away in time," replied her colleague. This was Lakyus Alvein Dale Aindra, the leader of the all-female adamantite adventurer group known as Blue Rose.
"I'd be just as wary of the smoke as the fire. Remember, we're out here burning the plant that that diabolical drug, Black Dust, is made from, so breathe lightly," Gagaran added as they continued to gaze at their comrades' handiwork. "What next? We burning a different site than this?"
"That's the plan. We have to keep striking where we can. If we aren't vigilant, Black Dust will spread across the Kingdom just like this wildfire," Lakyus told her comrade.
"Problem is they have so many outposts cultivating the drug you could cover half the map with them," her muscular friend muttered darkly. "For being such pieces of work, Eight Fingers really are a massive organisation."
"Terrifying, isn't it? An underworld syndicate so large that they could undermine a nation," Lakyus murmured as the pair spotted the twins climbing up the hill towards them
"We finished everything as planned, 'fiendish leader'," Tina briefed Lakyus as they approached, causing their blonde-haired leader to purse her lips in mild annoyance.
"And we left no trace of our identity," Tia, the blue-garbed twin, added.
"Did you two find anything?" Lakyus asked, her face once more set in a neutral expression.
"Not at all," Tina replied instantly
"Nothing valuable at least," Tia contributed immediately afterward.
"Damn…I hope Shorty has better luck, otherwise this whole endeavour may as well be a bust," Gagaran grimaced.
"Speak of her and she shall appear," spoke a voice from above the group, and as they all raised their heads they spotted their red-garbed comrade float down towards them. "Fear not, dear comrades, for I have returned."
"Happy hunting, Evileye?" Lakyus enquired as the rest of them grimaced good-humouredly at their comrade's over-the-top entrance.
"You tell me. Catch," was all the small girl replied as she threw a small piece of folded parchment in Lakyus' direction.
The leader of Blue Rose opened it up and perused what was written there, but couldn't make heads or tails of it. "What is this?" She wondered.
"Code, maybe?" Gagaran suggested as she read the document over Lakyus' shoulder.
"Probably, but I have a good hunch that this is the lead on Eight Fingers we have been waiting for," was all Evileye told them, giving the rest of them hope that this sortie might not have been in vain after all.
And that's chapter 17 over and done with, we hope you all had a good time with what we came up with!
daniel: Another day, another chapter done! We had fun with this one as always and hope you liked it guys! As you can see Henry is making progress with his ladies with them being slightly less hostile towards humans but with all of them having such negative karma, progress is slow so let's stick to baby steps. We meet Gazef and Brain again and hopefully, the sincere help the Triumvirate gave Gazef will speed up Brain's recovery a little. We also meet the soon to be second-best adventurer team in the kingdom, the Blue Roses! Can't wait to do more guys!
My co-author summed it up pretty well for me. This chapter won't have been the most exciting given the lack of action, how it's mostly a retelling of episode 6 of the anime and the absence of Ainz, Henry and Fengxian, but it's still important for us to tell this part of the story to set the stage for what comes next. The real change of note, as daniel mentioned, is seeing Solution be somewhat more tolerant of humans due to Henry's influence. And yes, Gazef witnessing the Triumvirate's strength and knowing his own limitations as a result will be important for Brain's recovery and his evolution as a character. And Blue Rose are here, a fun set of characters who, whilst only having a minor role in this story and canon, will still be a key part of what's to come next.
Thank you all once more for all the love and support you have shown to this story even with all the recent notification issues that the site has been experiencing. As my co-author mentioned in the intro, we have reached 200 followers, 184 favourites, over 70 reviews and 22k views across all our chapters. On behalf of myself and daniel, we appreciate every single one of you who has stuck around to this point and we can't wait to bring you more. As always, the next chapter will be uploaded in a fortnight's time, and we'll both see you then in the next chapter of the Nazarick Triumvirate!