(Since FanFiction e-mail notifications seem to be not working at the moment, I can confirm that this chapter was uploaded as scheduled on 7th April 2024)
Edster: Before we begin, some thoughts on the recently concluded Solo Leveling from my co-author:
daniel: SOLO LEVELING CLOSES OFF WITH A BANG! The Shadow Monarch shall ARISE. What a way to end the season! And they confirmed the second season! So far the spirit of the manhwa has been adapted perfectly and if they continue the amazing work, this anime will be among the greatest of all time!
Edster: I echo those words exactly! Easily one of the best series I've ever watched! If the first season is a template for what is to come, it will easily become one of my favourite anime of all time! And even though SL swept the cake in terms of what I watched this season, Chained Soldier, Season 3 of Blue Exorcist and Shangri-La Frontier were great watches as well. And now we're into Spring 2024 where many great shows are returning along with the start of a few new ones, including many of my favourite Isekais. Rather than give details, daniel and I will just list off what we're planning to watch this season
Edster: That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Season 3, As a Reincarnated Aristocrat, I'll Use My Appraisal Skill to Rise in the World, Mushoku Tensei Season 2 Part 2, Konosuba Season 3, Misfit of Demon King Academy Season 2 Part 2, The New Gate and Demon Slayer Season 4, as well as the Spy x Family movie that will be airing in cinemas in a month's time
daniel: Yessir! Completely agree with my co-author! The series I'm looking forward to the most are Slime (loving the 3rd season so far), Jobless Reincarnation (begins today), Konosuba (this 10th Wednesday!) and Demon Slayer!
Okay we've waffled enough. Time for the next chapter of the Nazarick Triumvirate where we set the stage for the future as well as visit Carne Village once again. 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 26 – Future and Present
After enjoying their few days of time off and relaxation, the denizens and overseers of Nazarick were primed and ready to return to their duties. Once normal business had resumed, they saw to their tasks and responsibilities with even more fervour and dedication than they had shown previously, an approach which pleased their three Supreme Beings who proceeded to congratulate themselves and one another over the success of their endeavours.
Unfortunately, they had reached a snag regarding what came next: who to focus on now that they had sufficiently weakened Re-Estize and planted a collaborator in their midst. They had planned to leave the Kingdom alone for the time being to allow them to recover and celebrate their 'success' until an opportunity to either further weaken them came about again, and as for the other two major nations they were either keeping a low profile after their initial failures which was the case for the Theocracy, or more information was required before plans could be made for them which was the case for Bahruth. So with Re-Estize, the Slane Theocracy and the Baharuth Empire out, where should their attention go to next? The Lizardmen tribes were already theirs, and they currently didn't know anything about the Dwarven Kingdom to make any overtures there. As for the Draconic and Holy Kingdoms, they were at this moment too far away to warrant their attention. If the situations changed in those nations then they would turn their focus towards them, but for now they'd prefer to keep their focus on the three nations surrounding them.
With this lack of direction, daily life in Nazarick remained much the same for the next few days. Once the rest period was over, Cocytus returned to the Great Lakes to continue ruling over the Lizardmen. At the same time, Lupusregina (much to hers and her beloved's disappointment) departed to continue her assignment overseeing Carne Village from without. As for everyone else in Nazarick, they just continued as they normally did without seemingly any purpose, with the only ones departing at any time being Ainz, Henry, Albedo and Narberal to keep up their appearances as adventurers.
This lasted for about three days until Fengxian received a communication he hadn't been expecting from someone he hadn't heard from in a long time. During this quiet time for Nazarick, the warlord spent his time either training the Lizardmen and Hamsuke, engaging in meditation or training of his own or re-reading one of his military texts. He was currently perusing the Wuzi, in particular the section focusing on planning for a Military State, when his reading time was suddenly interrupted by a voice he hadn't heard in some time.
(My master…forgive the suddenness of my communication, but I have news that cannot wait for my detailed report) Shinozaki's voice floated into the warlord's head
(No forgiveness is necessary, Shinozaki) He replied without a moment's hesitation (What do you have for me?)
(You are most kind, my master. I was recently successful in managing to infiltrate the serving staff of the Emperor, and during the most recent time I spent in attendance I overheard something that I believe you would be very interested in…) As Shinozaki detailed the conversation she had overheard between Emperor Jircniv and his court magus Fluder, Fengxian sat a little bit straighter on the couch he was currently perched upon. This might be the shift in focus they were so desperately hoping for!
(Thank you, Shinozaki. You are doing a most splendid job. Continue as you have been until we call for you. Dismissed) Cutting that particular line of conversation, Fengxian then proceeded to Message his fellow Supreme Beings. (Suzi. Ise. I think you'll want to hear this…)
~TNT~
Considering he had currently been really, REALLY deep inside Albedo while at the same time managing to drive Narberal and Solution to the point of moaning and ecstasy with just his hands, it was a slightly frustrated Henry who, after forcing himself to extricate every inch of himself from his succubus paramour to her massive disappointment, raised himself out of the mass of glistening skin and moaning women surrounding him to answer his friend's message in private.
(Yes? What is it?) Normally Henry wouldn't be so irritated with one of his closest comrades, but given how his pleasure time, one where he'd been able to get all three of his women to submit and moan simultaneously, had been so suddenly interrupted, his reaction was pretty understandable. But that frustration soon faded as he listened to what Fengxian had learned from Shinozaki to be replaced by mounting excitement. This could be the opening trickle of information that would lead into the next stage of their plans, and perhaps get them one step closer to the dream of an Empire that Henry had recently started to envision that would surpass any of their previous world and this one in stability, size, expansion, duration, prosperity, prestige and power. (I see…what do you think we should do about this Suzi?)
~TNT~
With one or two of the Homunculus maids standing in attendance ready to spring to his needs at a moment's notice, Ainz had sequestered himself in his office for the day going over some of the details of the 'side project' that he'd instructed Jemima to start looking into recently. Having heard the details, the young secretary had eagerly undertaken such a task alongside her usual duties and had at this point come up with some brief outlines for what she thought her masters would want. Ainz was currently reading and nodding at various points at one of the sheets of parchment in front of him when he was interrupted by his Grand Marshal's Message communication. After listening to what Fengxian had learnt from Shinozaki, a couple of ideas suddenly started to zip around his brain on how to approach it while Henry was asking what they should do to act on this information.
It would probably be best to have several of their smartest minds, including himself, apply themselves to such news. It was time for everyone to gather up once more and be informed about these recent developments. (I want you both to report to the Throne Room as soon as possible) He ordered them. (Ise, bring Albedo and the rest of your harem along with Sebas and the other Pleaides maids while you are at it. I will inform the others myself.)
(As you wish, Father) Henry answered, recognising this as a command from his Overlord rather than a request from his friend
(Understood, my Lord) As always, Fengxian's reply was blunt and crisp.
Upon terminating his communication with the pair, Ainz turned to the two Homunculus who were attending to him today, Cixous and Meili. "I want you both to pass a message to the rest of the Guardians, excluding Albedo, and Ninya informing them that I wish to see them all in the Throne Room posthaste."
"As you command, my lord!" Both girls bowed enthusiastically before setting off to do his bidding.
~TNT~
"Everyone, raise your heads!" Ainz commanded from his usual seat atop his throne, and everyone, including his adopted son and greatest military mind, did so from their kneeling positions. "I have gathered you all here to discuss Nazarick's future after our recent successes, as well as to impart some new information we have recently gathered. Henry. Fengxian. Take your places at my side." As the Dragonoid and Nephilim moved to obey, Ainz's glowing red eyes swept over the rest of those gathered until they lingered upon the two whose input would be most useful right now. "Albedo, Overseer of the Guardians and Chief Consort to my son, and Demiurge, to whom we owe much of our recent success. Come forward."
"My lord!" With swift and practised motions, the two addressed Guardians knelt at the base of the stairs leading up to the throne.
"Now that we have put our most recent plans into effect regarding the eventual downfall of the kingdom of Re-Estize, my fellow Supreme Beings and I are eager to hear your thoughts regarding what doctrine Nazarick should follow going forward." The Overlord's eyes then swept over the other assembled Guardians and Pleaides. "And if anyone else has any ideas, you may speak after I have heard Albedo's and Demiurge's thoughts."
Each of those assembled looked at each other thoughtfully as they each started to ponder on their master's question. "While you dwell on these thoughts," Fengxian took over at Ainz's silent behest. "We would ask that Demiurge give an overview of our current situation in a manner everyone here can understand, starting with our latest operation. What he has to say will facilitate our discussions going forward."
"As you wish, Grand Marshal." Demiurge got to his feet before turning to address everyone. "As everyone is no doubt already aware, our efforts during Operation Gehenna not only weakened the Kingdom of Re-Estize financially, but also worsened the relationship between the peasant population and the nobility to the point of near revolution. In addition, my Lord and the Crown Prince, in their adventurer disguises, were knighted by their king, further strengthening their reputation with the citizens, and we also managed to gain the assistance of an inside source who has agreed to help us from within the royal palace itself." The demon spread his arms wide before continuing. "And thanks to the efforts of Aura and Mare, we have subjugated all of the leaders of Eight Fingers. As a result, Nazarick has full control over the Re-Estize underworld which will allow us to continue weakening them while seemingly doing nothing." Both dark elf twins blushed at Demiurge's praise. "This brings us one step closer to the goal our Supreme Beings envisioned as soon as they laid eyes on this world, one which you are all aware of and work hard towards seeing done: Subjugating all the nations of this world and bringing them under the enlightened rule of our three glorious Supreme Beings!"
As those kneeling beamed and whispered excitedly among one another, Ainz, Henry and Fengxian each took a moment to consider the impact of Demiurge's words, and whether such an idea would really be possible. This brought Ainz to the words he had spoken on first looking at this world: "Perhaps we were sent to this land to claim these jewels for ourselves, along with all the treasures that shine beneath them. But to hoard such things would be the height of foolishness…maybe we could acquire such jewels to adorn the Great Tomb as a permanent symbol of the power we wield…" When he'd first said those words, he'd meant them in jest as a way to ease the tension he'd been feeling ever since arriving in the New World, but now…upon seeing how much of an impact they'd had without really trying and without anyone knowing of their existence…maybe world domination wasn't as ludicrous or far-fetched as it had first sounded. Having gotten to witness the corruption of Re-Estize and the heavy-handed zealotry of the Theocracy and being disgusted by it…maybe if they took charge and led it how they did Nazarick, this world wouldn't end up like the bog-stained shithole they'd left behind.
Rather than being as initially trepidatious as his best friend, Henry found the idea of taking over the world…incredibly satisfying. He had long studied and read about the conquests, empires and kingdoms facilitated and established by several of his heroes, such as Caesar and his conquest of Gaul that paved the way for the Roman Empire to be created by his heir Augustus, or Napoleon Bonaparte and how he brought Europe to its knees by establishing the First French Empire.
There were also the legacies of figures such as Charles the Great, better known as Charlemagne, who led a remarkable series of conquests to found the Carolingian Empire, declaring himself the successor of Rome, and whose example would lead to the birth of the Holy Roman Empire a fixture of central Europe for over a thousand years to carry the Legacy of Rome, as well as Cyrus the Great of Persia, Founder of the Achaemenid Empire, the largest the world had ever seen at that point and earning the well-deserved title of King of the four corners of the world, Frederick the Great of Prussia, it's greatest king, the man who took a small militaristic state and transformed it into a formidable power able to look at the premier power in Germany, Austria, in the eye and even take away one of their most important territories, Silesia, as its own, and his spiritual successor Otto von Bismarck, The Iron Chancellor, the man who ALWAYS had a plan, who finished Frederick's noble work and gave birth to the German Empire with Prussia at its head, putting an end to centuries of German disunity through Iron and Blood.
Then there were the examples of Alexander the Great, who crushed the Persian Empire and took it at his own thus becoming the King of Kings of the Macedonian Empire, or Genghis Khan and how he rose from nothing to conquering most of Eurasia with the aid of his demon dog of war Subutai while all of Europe cowered at the might of the Mongol Empire.
Then there was Peter the Great, who crushed Sweden to make the Russian Empire a great power, and the Spanish Empire founded by its illustrious Catholic monarchs who held all of Latin America (minus Brazil) in the palm of their hand. And finally, and most notably, the British Empire that had gone the furthest out of anyone by conquering over a quarter of the world itself!
Henry had often dreamed about one day experiencing that fantasy himself and sitting astride an empire such as those either by himself or alongside his friends. But just when he'd resigned himself to those dreams being nothing but dreams, they had been teleported to the New World along with retaining all of their levels and powers from YGGDRASIL, and with such power and resources at his fingertips, not to mention those of his friends, harem and the rest of Nazarick, no force in this world could possibly be their match if they set their minds to bringing this world under their rule. And if Henry had a say, it would be a rule and an empire like no other. An eternal golden age stewarded by themselves and their descendants, making this world a paradise where talent and deeds decided who would be in charge, not those with money or connections much like in their old world. Having seen the depths of depravity and amorality those in charge of both worlds were capable of sinking to in order to preserve their power, he was determined to change this world for the better alongside his brothers. But he knew at this stage it would take careful planning and would have to be done pragmatically while preparing for every possible outcome to bring about this brighter future he envisioned.
Having seen the state of decay and corruption rampant in both this world and their old one, Fengxian, much like Henry, found himself in agreement with what Demiurge had just suggested. With their power, vision and knowledge, alongside those who served them, the Grand Marshal knew they were the only ones in this world (with maybe one or two very rare exceptions, and even they were in no position to be able to do anything) with the vision and know-how to effectively run it for the betterment of all. They had already weakened Re-Estize and sent the Theocracy to lick their wounds in the span of a few weeks, and that was without the intent of world domination! If they set their minds to it, whether it be through a bloodless takeover, conquest or surrender/vassalage, they'd be able to set this world to right with very few problems at all.
So deep were they in their thoughts that they hadn't noticed Demiurge, Albedo and the rest looking up at them expectantly, waiting to be addressed. "Well done, Demiurge. I am pleased that you were able to recall what I said," Ainz spoke up.
"Of course, my Lord…I remember every last word that you and the other Supreme Beings relay to me," Demiurge answered, his face glowing with pride. "You said that maybe acquiring the jewels of this world to adorn the Great Tomb with as permanent symbols of the power you wield could be feasible, and that world domination might not be so bad after all…"
"Such recall…in such detail! Even after all this time, Demiurge's skills continue to amaze me!" "We are all pleased that you have held onto our words, Demiurge. And yes, on behalf of my Father and the Grand Marshal, we can confirm that what Demiurge conveyed was true. Bringing this world under the banner of Nazarick is our end goal, and we are counting on you all to help us achieve this." Everyone's expressions, especially that of his harem, were ones of awe as they listened to the words of their Crown Prince, causing him to raise a hand to temper their excitement. "I am glad to see you all as eager as we are, but this will not be a goal that can be done overnight. Such an endeavour will require careful planning and strategy, and as two of our brightest minds, I would like to hear both Demiurge and my beloved Albedo's ideas on how we might go about such an undertaking."
"World domination, even for beings as powerful as yourself, will be tricky if we do not approach it correctly," Demiurge began. "To begin with, I suggest that we make preparations to announce Nazarick to the public." This drew the interest of everyone present, including the three Supreme Ones who motioned for Demiurge to continue. "Since the ones who tried to assault and brainwash Lord Fengxian and Shalltear are still out there in some capacity, albeit licking their wounds after the near-complete destruction of their Black Scripture, I fear staying in the shadows will only give them the time to regroup and potentially encumber us. To that end, and given the threat they may represent, I humbly advise we maintain our focus on weakening Re-Estize while searching for ways to do the same for the Empire. Once those two, and the minor nations around them, are dealt with, we can turn our attention to the Theocracy as our main threat for control over this world."
"A sound strategy, Demiurge," Ainz congratulated before turning to Albedo who looked as though she was bursting to speak. "Have you anything further to add, Albedo?"
"I share Demiurge's opinion that we will find greater success with our efforts out in the open and that we are merely wasting resources operating in secrecy," the Guardian Overseer answered bluntly, with Henry admittedly surprised yet quietly pleased at her criticism of their current path and Fengxian nodding in approval of her straightforwardness.
"An interesting proposal…what else did you have in mind?" Ainz further pressed.
Albedo and Demiurge shared a look before Henry's chief paramour continued her explanation. "There is merit in our current approach controlling the Kingdom from the shadows and striking fear into the hearts of their leaders, but in doing so we may be forcing ourselves to answer to the whims of their throne, even more so now that their king has knighted Momon and Alfred…though I am sure that you will surely be able to use that to your advantage in your future plans."
Ainz and Henry shared a look and nodded, having already thought about the ways they could use that unexpected boon. For the moment, they would focus on continuing to bolster their reputation while looking for ways to protect the innocents and subtly provoke their ire against the corrupt nobility.
"Not at all an appealing prospect," Demiurge mused, and judging by the looks on their faces everyone agreed. Their Supreme Beings were accountable to no one! "Frankly I find their leadership quite lacking in both ability and morals…save for one individual…" That last part was muttered under his breath, but those with keen hearing like Henry, Aura and Mare picked up on it. "Being tied to one kingdom limits the scope of our activities, and if the Empire or the Theocracy have more resources and flexibility to move than us, we could be at a disadvantage again." Demiurge then turned to face the Supreme Beings and bowed low before addressing them. "Lord Ainz. Crown Prince Henry. Grand Marshal Fengxian. I hereby propose that the Great Tomb of Nazarick enter the world stage as an independent power." These caused a hubbub of excited murmuring to break out throughout the Throne Room. "I see some of you are already on board with this idea, while some of you look surprised, but I assure everyone present that our Supreme Beings have been thinking of doing this for a long time. And though my intellect is meagre compared to your own, and I could not even begin to fathom the depths of your collective wisdom, I do hope my brief explanation was satisfactory."
"On the contrary, Demiurge, you have perceived our plans perfectly." Fengxian was quick to compliment him.
"We would expect no less of our elite strategist, and what both yourself and Albedo have presented to us lines up exactly with what we had in mind." Though Ainz knew his words were a bluff, they also weren't too far from the truth. "Our endeavours in E-Rantel, the Great Lakes and now Re-Estize itself have merely been the opening acts. By going public, our future efforts will no doubt be on grander scales and bigger stages than this, and we are counting on everyone's help to see our vision come to fruition."
"Our dream of an eternal golden age, one where the land and the people can prosper in peace and foster their talents for the continued benefits of this world under the guiding hands of us and our descendants, is a dream no longer!" Henry declared, suddenly feeling inspired.
"Merely observing your actions made it crystal clear, but to hear it proclaimed by your divine words…if I can play even the smallest role in what is to come, it would be the single greatest honour of my existence!" Demiurge gushed in awe as he and Albedo collapsed back to their knees, with them and everyone else being swept up in the excitement of their possible future and reacting in the same manner. "You can count on myself, and everyone here, to give every fibre of our hearts, souls and beings to see your dream be realised!"
The resulting cheers and adulations that rose from everyone present were both pleasing and awe-inspiring to witness, which was why Ainz, Henry and Fengxian let it carry on for a few moments before the Nephilim raised his hand for a silence that he instantly got. "Now that we have established our course, I am sure you will be delighted to hear that our efforts in understanding more about the Empire are starting to bear fruit," he began. "Though we will wait to act on this after her full report, we have summoned you all here to hear what Shinozaki informed us of moments ago…"
~TNT~
Once just an ordinary village on the outskirts of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Carne Village was prospering after the events of the invasion by the Sunlight Scripture and Ainz and company's rescue. With the aid of the goblin warriors that Enri had summoned as well as the addition of Nfirea, Lizzie and Brita to their citizenry, in addition to the materials that Ainz and the others had sent, it was now ten times more secure with its outer wall keeping out invaders along with the goblins training some of the village folk in combat drills. Plus with Nfirea and Lizzie now there, it was well-stocked with potions, medicines, herbs and the like which kept everyone in good health and tip-top shape that was needed for the day-to-day living in such a place.
"I haven't seen Nfirea yet, boss…reckon he's still asleep?" Kaijali, one of the summoned goblin warriors, asked Enri as they walked between some of the stone dwellings on their way to breakfast.
"Maybe. He was up late working on his latest potion," Enri replied with a mix of pride and blushing as she shielded her eyes from the rising sun. "It's a shame though. He's missing out on this lovely weather."
"What's on the menu for breakfast then? Something good I hope?"
"Well thanks to the efforts of you and your fellow goblins, we have plenty of meat on hand that I can whip up into something good," Enri smirked, flexing her newly developed muscles. "Or if we're lucky, Lupusregina will have brought along a new recipe idea from her friend Constantine meaning we can try something new!"
"Some impressive muscles you got there chief…you really have been working hard!" Kaijali praised, causing the blonde-haired girl to blush as they approached the village square where they were greeted by the village chief and his wife.
"I know we've said this many times before, but we really are thankful for everything you and your men have done for us," the chief told Kaijali once initial greetings were exchanged. "If it hadn't been for all of your hard work we would have been forced to abandon the village long ago."
"So we're still short on people, even after all the help we've been getting from outside?" Enri asked, referring to the likes of Nfirea, Lizzie and their previous saviours.
"I'm afraid so. Even though the survivors stuck around, we haven't been able to bolster our numbers in the way we would have hoped," the chief remarked. "We've been fortunate to have the aid of that ex-adventurer Brita and Lord Gown's associate, that red-headed maid who keeps floating about, who have been helping with the goblins' work. And obviously having Nfirea and his grandmother setting up shop and creating their potions here has been a great help as well. But even with their aid, we've still got a ways to go until we'll be able to sustain ourselves without outside help."
"While not many are willing to come and settle, it's not all negative," his wife pointed out. "Until the village is proven to be able to sustain itself again, we're exempt from taxation and free from civil service regulations. While it may not happen overnight, we're at least out of the trouble we were in just before that awful day."
"She's right! Give it some time and I'm sure people will want to move here!" Enri enthused. "And when that day comes, we'll be able to pay Master Gown, Sir Constantine and Sir Fen back for the help and kindness they've shown us!"
"And in the meantime, we'll keep working hard to make sure everything's running smoothly!" Kaijali added before turning to Enri. "Why don't you head over and grab something to eat, boss? I'll grab Nfirea out of his lab and make sure he joins us!"
"Good idea, Kaijali! Make sure he cleans himself up first!" Enri told him as the pair bid the chief and his wife goodbye before splitting in separate directions. As Enri arrived in the village square, she found herself being greeted as always by both the goblin and human residents of the village who were, much to her delight, intermingling with one another and making friendly conversation. Seeing that her little sister had already arrived and was currently nattering away to a couple of goblins who didn't seem to know how to deal with her, Enri quickly grabbed a bowl of broth and sat next to her, diverting Nemu's attention from the goblins as she began to chat with her instead. She was just hearing how her little sister had been helping feed and clean the goblin's wolf mounts when a small commotion diverted their attention and drew a few chuckles from the surrounding goblins. Looking up, Enri and Nemu both witnessed the rather amusing sight of an exasperated Kaijali pulling Nfirea over by the ear who, by the number of energetic words coming from his mouth and how uninterested the goblin looked, had probably been non-stop telling the warrior all about the new potion he'd created.
Deciding to spare Kaijali, Enri waved him over. With a grateful heave and push, the goblin forced Nfirea to sit down while encouraging him to pay attention to her instead of his potions, a piece of advice many of the goblins had given him since it was common knowledge among most of them that the two teenagers had feelings for one another, even if they were too shy to show it. Honestly, Enri didn't mind hearing about Nfirea's work…it was quite endearing to see how passionate he was about it, and the more time she got to spend with him the happier both of them were, even with Nemu and the goblins' constant teasing. Still, knowing he'd been up all night working on his potion, she made sure to shove a piece of bread in his mouth before he could start ranting about it once more. The young lad tried to object but in the end, his rumbling stomach won him over as he ploughed into his food, to both Enri's amusement and satisfaction.
As they ate and chatted casually, the conversation around them flowed as it normally did with the villagers and goblins each talking about their plans for the day, what they hoped to get up to in the future and discussing any juicy gossip that they overheard from outside the village's walls. Given it had only happened a day or so ago, it was really no surprise that most of the gossip concentrated on the rumoured demon invasion that had occurred in the Capital and which apparently had been held back by the same adventurers who had visited Carne Village a while ago, with one or two even saying that the adventurers in question had been knighted for their deeds!
Then, as it did most days, the conversation soon took a slight turn in hilarity and awkwardness as the worked-up goblin warriors all suddenly started shouting and bragging about how they were going to marry Enri, with some even going so far as to show or invent supposed proof of such claims. One warrior in particular was in a particularly braggadocious mood by showing them an extra piece of meat he'd gotten in his helping, claiming that since Enri was the inspiration for the meal, it must've been by love's sake that he'd been the chosen one to receive the extra portion. This provoked more shouting and squaring up from the surrounding goblins as they tried to disprove their fellow's claim, with the antics and language they were spouting being of great amusement to the likes of Nemu and Britta who'd shown up for her meal. Their arguments were soon cut short though by Enri's horrified cry of "NFI!", and as they all swung their heads around in case of danger, they saw their chief trying to lift her friend's face from out of the bowl he'd been slowly eating from.
"Is he alright, Chief? Can we help?" The leader of the troop, Jugem, asked as the girl finally managed to extricate her friend's now-dripping face from the bubbling bowl.
"Thank you everyone, but I think all the work he did last night must have caught up with him," Enri dismissed kindly as, with the aid of those sitting next to her, she managed to haul the boy onto her back, his arms draped loosely around her neck and his legs tucked firmly under her arms. "I'm going to take him to bed now. Cheers for the meal everyone!"
"Isn't the guy supposed to be the one carrying the girl?" Nemu whispered conspiratorially to Kaijali as they watched the pair leave.
"Some things are better left unsaid," the goblin muttered in reply, only for Enri to look back and give them a stony glare. Instead of being cowed, however, their chief's reaction only caused their audience to burst into sniggers which in turn caused Enri to blush once more before hurrying away towards her home as quickly as she could with the added load of her crush weighing her down.
~TNT~
Thankfully it wasn't too much of a walk from the village square to her home, plus Nfirea was quite light so it wasn't too hard of an effort to carry him. Even as she could continue to hear the laughter and joyous talking coming from the square, she slid Nfirea off her shoulders and tucked him into bed before reaching down and brushing some stray locks of hair that had tumbled out of place around his bowl-cut. As the boy shifted and sighed happily, whether it was in his dreams or knowing Enri was near him, the girl in question couldn't help but smile happily at the lad whom she'd nursed a crush on for a while now.
"Jugem and his friends do more than keep us safe from any danger. They've brought smiles back to our faces. And for those who've lost everything, they're like another family…" she mused to herself as she looked back out the window towards those still eating in the square. "After all they've done…there has to be a way I can repay them for their kindness. But what can a simple girl like me come up with to adequately reward all their selfless generosity…" As she pondered to herself, she noticed Jugem had finished his fare and had now wandered over to where a group of villagers were gathered with bows and arrows. As she watched, she could hear Jugem instructing them on how best to grip a bow, how far to pull back the arrow and how to properly fire in a tandem volley before leading them through some target practice. Judging from Jugem's compliments, her fellow citizens were doing a fine job.
Once she was sure Nfirea was fine and asleep, she moved on to doing chores like washing dishes and cleaning her house. While she was rinsing off a plate, Nemu came in and eagerly asked if she could help. Although grateful for her little sister's eager offer, Enri reminded Nemu that she had her own chores to do to which the young girl complied with protest. As she ran off, Enri couldn't help but watch her go with a mix of pride and sadness. "Not a single complaint…before that day, she used to be so spoiled…" The older girl reflected as she moved on to cleaning a knife. "She's been such a good girl since…since…" As she looked down at the knife, the memories of that horrific day, when she'd had to witness her parents being brutally murdered and when she thought she was going to die before the timely arrival of Master Gown and his comrades, came flooding back. She started to tremble and shake in rage, her face, normally the picture of kindness, twisted in a ferocious scowl as she once again saw all the blood…her parents' vacant stares…the cackling faces of those knights as they raised their sword to…
CLANG!
"Chief…I heard a bang! Are you okay?" Coming back to herself, Enri first noticed the knife had a noticeable dent on the blade from the force she had hit the counter with it to vent and that the voice belonged to Kaijali, carrying a load of plates, who'd spoken up from right next to her.
"Y-yeah…it's nothing," Enri answered a little shakily. "Though it seems I was a little rough with the knife…"
"Gotta be careful with stuff like that," Kaijali told her, putting down the plates before taking the knife gently from her hand. "We ain't got no blacksmith around these parts, so no one can fix it if it gets dinged up. We may have a lot of materials on hand thanks to your friends, but no expert to put them to use should things like this or the houses get damaged."
"I understand…it must be an inconvenience for you," Enri said apologetically as her mind began to ponder how best to solve this issue. Maybe Master Gown or Miss Lupusregina would have some ideas. She'd bring it up next time she talked to them.
"It's alright though! We can manage for the moment!" Kaijali reassured her with a smile and thumbs up. "Now then, let's see about getting all these dishes washed up! Fighting might be my main skill, but I can muck in with the household chores when needed!" Smiling gratefully at both Kaijali's offer and his boundless positivity, Enri quickly left the painful recollections of her past forgotten as she and the goblin spent a happy hour or so chatting and washing up together.
~TNT~
After Enri and Kaijali had finished washing up the dishes, the girl went outside to see her little sister happily working away on crushing and mixing some Enkaishi herbs. After watching her enthusiastic sister's work for some time with a smile, Enri looked at the small pile that was still waiting to be crushed and suddenly realised the potential issue that such a small pile was a sign of. Enkaishi not only held value as a vital medicinal herb that could cure many ailments and injuries, but the demand for it was incredibly high, and since it was often only found on the cracks of thick tree trunks meaning that the Great Forest of Tob was the best place to grow them, the residents of Carne could always sell it for a good price due to having the monopoly on it in the region.
Unfortunately, the herb only flowered for a short time, and that period was going to be shortly coming to an end. If they wanted to make it through the rough winter months ahead with enough to not only make potions for the villagers but also to sell through the region, most prominently in E-Rantel, they were going to need a lot more.
Enri quickly reported her findings and feelings on the matter to the chief, Jugem and Nfirea who all agreed that they would need to mount another expedition into the Great Forest in order to harvest as much as possible as soon as possible. Making a snap decision, Jugem sent some of his best wolf riders, led by their chief Kyumei, to scout out the area and make sure it was safe for an expedition. While they were gone, Enri and Nfirea, accompanied by Kaijali and two other goblin guards named Gokou and Unlai, gathered supplies and tools that they would need to gather the precious herbs.
When Kyumei returned, he reported to the prospective expedition party that there was a strange air hanging around the forest, which the goblin reckoned was a portent of something ominous occurring deep within its heart. While they acknowledged the seemingly massive danger, Jugem, Enri and Nfirea all agreed that the expedition still needed to happen, so after leaving the security of the village in Jugem's capable hands, Enri, Nfirea, Kaijali, Gokou and Unlai set off to commence the harvesting.
"So now's the time huh…" Nfirea murmured as he and Enri walked alongside one another behind Kaijali, who was scouting in front. But just as Enri cranked her head to look at Nfirea with concern, the boy coughed and proceeded to strike a seemingly heroic pose. "Don't worry Enri! I'll keep you safe from anything that tries to hurt you, I swear!"
Enri was almost tempted to ask if he was okay, but instead found herself touched and somewhat flattered by his words. "Thanks, Nfi! That's really sweet of you!" But upon realising what she'd said, Enri suddenly blushed and looked away, and as she did she missed the same blush on Nfirea's cheeks and the hidden thumbs-up from Kaijali that he gave the lad, causing Nfirea to silently pump his fist as he figured he'd done something right in his attempts to win his long-time crush over.
~TNT~
As they headed deeper into the forest, Nfirea, in his enthusiasm with everything related to trees, flowers and plants, couldn't help but point out some of the different species of foliage they wandered past and list their properties and uses, even if it was just to sell for money. His deep knowledge and passion for the subject were endearing and sweet (in Enri's eyes), and even the goblins accompanying them couldn't help but listen intently to his explanations.
"Wow, Nfirea's really something, eh Enri?" Kaijali muttered to the girl as they now walked side by side, with Nfirea up at the front walking with Gokou while explaining to the goblin the properties of a herb that grew out of a moss tree they'd just passed by and Unlai keeping watch from the rear. "I wouldn't be able to tell any of these plants and trees apart. It's all just green to me."
"Yeah, he really is," Enri replied absently just as Nfirea turned back to look at the pair.
"Does that issue apply to all goblins? Like your people just aren't cut out for botany?" The boy asked.
"Heck if I know," Gokou shrugged. "I've never met a goblin who was any good with plants."
"We're not much for gathering, but when it comes to hunting and skinning we do just fine," Kaijali added just as they walked into a clearing. After a glance at the roof of the trees surrounding them, Nfirea held out a hand to get the company to halt.
"There's lots of shade here, and the humidity is high enough too," he explained upon the others' querying looks. "These are just the sorts of conditions that the Enkaishi herbs thrive in. We ought to spread around and search for them." With Unlai and Gokou keeping watch, the two humans and Kaijali searched around the roots of all of the nearby trees for the herb they were looking for. For a while their endeavours seemed to be fruitless, but all of that changed when Enri suddenly let out a delighted shout.
"I've found some!" She exclaimed, waving everybody else over. Sure enough, they all espied the distinct purple herb growing out of the base of the tree's roots. "You were right, Nfirea! They seem to be really plentiful here! I'm glad we brought you along!" The boy turned away slightly to conceal the massive blush forming on his face.
"Call it good luck," he tried to downplay once he'd regained his composure. "Let's gather as much as we can from this one. Kaijali, now that you've seen what it looks like, can you see if there's any more around?" The goblin nodded as he continued to comb the area while Nfirea and Enri proceeded to gather up large handfuls of the herb and chuck them in the baskets hanging on their backs. As the pair worked, Enri couldn't help but notice the passion and intensity in Nfirea's gaze as he worked, causing her face to blush again and her heart to flutter. But when the boy looked up and noticed, she hurriedly tried to deny there was anything wrong.
"You found the herbs right away and you know how to pick them so much faster than me!" She stammered, hoping that was enough of a bluff.
"Well, I am a pharmacist…I'd better be good at this stuff," he quipped with a hint of cheek. This was the right thing to say as Enri giggled once more.
"I guess you're right," she beamed before resuming her gathering, with Nfirea doing the same. But just as the pair had finished and were about to move on to the next patch, they were suddenly stopped by a raised hand from Kaijali who, along with the other goblins, had their swords raised and were keeping a close watch on a patch of bushes on the north side of the clearing.
"Sounds like something's coming our way…you two pull back and hide," the goblin ordered without taking his eyes off the bush.
"Right." Neither Enri nor Nfirea had any plans to do anything except take cover behind the nearest tree while the goblins dealt with whatever was coming, but both were equally shocked when, upon peering round the trunk, they spotted what seemed to be pale-skinned goblin child running towards them, panting horribly and with cuts and bruises pockmarked all over its skin and blood flowing through them.
"It's a child! We need to do something!" Enri hissed as they watched the kid finally collapse in exhaustion not far from where they were hiding, only for their goblin guards to raise a hand to stop them.
"Don't do anything hasty. Watch how this plays out." Both humans weren't sure what to make of Kaijali's order when a child's life was so clearly in danger but didn't get any time to question them as from out of the shadows of the woods around them burst forth a creature resembling a massive black wolf, with two horns springing out of the top of its skull and a massive chain that wrapped itself around its body and seemed to move almost as independently as its user.
"Oh no, it's a Barghest…" Nfirea hissed as he quickly pulled Enri back to cover. Even as macho as he wanted to be for her, trying to fight a Barghest with his bare hands would have been tantamount to suicide. "At least I can do my best to keep her safe and leave the fighting to the goblins…"
But for a while, the Barghest didn't come any closer. Even though it had approached the area in pursuit of the scent of the goblin child, it was now tilting its head and pacing back and forth around the clearing in confusion as it tried desperately to sniff out its quarry once more. That's when Nfirea realised the herbs they'd been picking were confusing the creature's nose, and communicated as such to their goblin companions.
"Our priority is keeping you safe…if the kid gets attacked, don't go for any heroics to try and save it," Kaikali told them as the five watched the Barghest creep ever closer to where the kid was huddling in fear. "It may seem cruel, but as long as its attention is off of us, we'll be able to make it out of this alive…"
"But…that's just cruel. We can't leave a defenceless child out there to die without doing anything about it," Enri pleaded, looking between the goblins and Nfirea. "He's scared…please do something…" But while the three green-skins seemed resigned to leaving the boy to die, Nfirea had other ideas. It may be stupid, reckless and suicidal, but he'd be damned if he'd let both an innocent child die and give Enri nightmares in the process, not while there was the least bit he could do about it.
"It's okay…we'll save him," he reassured her, causing Enri to beam and the goblins to sigh resignedly while he tried to figure out what had brought the kid here. "Why'd he run all the way here? If he knows something's going on…maybe he was trying to flee from whatever it is. If we help him, maybe he could tell us and we could warn the village in the process."
"That's assuming we don't all die!" Gokou hissed.
"There's no guarantee we'll beat that thing!" Kaijali added even as they continued to watch the wolf-like beast close in on the trembling kid.
"I can't fight, so maybe I have no right to say this…" All eyes turned to Enri who bore a look of and spoke with absolute conviction. "But if there's a chance we can help, then we should. If someone is dying and we turn our backs on them, in a way that's no different than siding with the killer!" Her mind went back to when she and Nemu were saved by Master Gown, Sir Constantine and Sir Fen. They were beneath their notice and could easily have left them to die but they didn't, so Enri could do no less now that she was in a position to save a life as well. "I was saved…so I have to do the same for those who are weaker than me. Sorry…"
Rather than be annoyed the goblins and Nfirea looked at each other with smiles of determination. Enri's words had cleared away any lingering doubts they had about the course of action they'd take. But before they could say anything more or make a plan, the child they were tracking suddenly let out a terrified scream.
"You heard the lady! Let's go!" Kaijali roared. With Gokou and Unali at his side and Nfirea and Enri at his rear, the lead goblin drew his blade and jumped into the middle of the clearing just in the nick of time as they saw the Barghest with one paw on the child's chest and licking its chops eagerly while it struggled to break free. "Hey! Over here little puppy! If you wanna take a bite of out something, we've got more beef! Come and get some!"
The goblins' taunting worked as the beast turned its gaze to the goblins, even as it continued to hold the child down with its paw. "Now that we got its attention, let's get it!" Kaijali ordered. With a courageous roar the three goblins charged towards the beast, swords raised. In response, the wolf leapt towards its new foes with sharp claws outstretched. Sensing its approach, the goblins all scattered from where the beast would land, and as it sailed past them Kaijali was fortunate enough to land a good cut to one of its front legs. Though it drew blood, the strike didn't seem to have much effect on the Barghest as it landed and growled fiercely at the goblins once again. But before it could turn to strike, it was caught off guard as a vial of green potion shattered and splashed all over its face courtesy of Nfirea, causing it to howl in discomfort.
"Now! Reinforce Armour!" Nfirea shouted, casting the spell on all three goblins while the Barghest was distracted in shaking the liquid out of its eyes. But though its face was free, the potion had also splattered onto the ground under the beast's feet rendering it stuck in place.
"Nice one kid, you got it pinned down!" Kaijali congratulated as the wolf-like creature struggled to break free.
"Not completely and probably not for long if it keeps struggling! You need to strike hard and strike now before it does!" Nfirea's words proved to be prophetic as it was able to break free before launching its chain at the charging goblins. With the momentum of their charge rendering them unable to stop, it seemed to be inevitable that they would be struck.
"Get down!" Enri suddenly shouted, and as though by instinct the goblins all ducked the chain as they continued to close in, and as soon as they got close, they all started hacking, slashing and stabbing away at the Barghest with their various weapons. Though it put up fierce resistance, the creature eventually succumbed to being outnumbered. As the beast fell, Enri was able to release the breath she'd been involuntarily holding. "How was I able to do that?" She wondered as she, Nfirea and the goblins all approached the pale young goblin. "It was like my body and mind acted on its own, and that I knew just the right words to say…"
"Y-you saved me! Thank you!" The boy exclaimed as they got closer. "Which tribe are you from?"
"Right…worry about what happened later, focus on the now!" Enri decided. "We can answer that later…we have to do something about those injuries of yours!" She turned to look at Nfirea. "Have you got anything on you that can help?" She asked pleadingly.
"I-I do. One moment." Retrieving a purple-coloured potion from his pack, he approached the kid who seemed to shrink away at first upon seeing such a strange liquid, thinking it was poison. "You're bleeding and have got cuts all over yourself, haven't you?" As the young goblin nodded, Nfirea let out a sigh. "It was a shame…I was looking forward to seeing what Lord Gown made of this…" He muttered before uncorking the bottle and splashing it all over the kid, causing all of his wounds and the dried blood marking his skin to heal instantly. "Well…at least I have witnesses to prove to him that it worked…"
"Woah…that's so cool! And here I thought you jerks were going to kill me!" He exclaimed, only to shrink in fear as the goblins glared at him. "Right…sorry…I mean, thank you for saving me!"
"That's better…show some respect and a little gratitude, brat!" Gokou snarled.
"I'm no brat! My name's Agu, and I'm the Fourth Son of Ah, leader of the Gigu Tribe!" He exclaimed defiantly, causing Enri to chuckle as she moved forward to pat his head.
"It's nice to meet you, Agu. My name is Enri. This is Nfirea, and the goblins you see are Kaijali, Gokou and Unlai," she told him kindly, introducing herself and the others.
"So what happened to you, runt? Why are you apart from your tribe? And how did you get all of those cuts and bruises on your skin?" Kaijali asked.
"I got attacked, so I ran as far and fast as I could," Agu told them. "As for my wounds…they were all caused by that wolf who attacked me. I…I think it was a minion of the Giant of the East!"
"The Giant of the East?" Nfirea and Enri had heard all of the tales and rumours about the apparently massive troll that supposedly ruled over the Eastern Forest.
"Yes…him and the Demon Snake of the West have allied with each other ever since the Beast of the South disappeared," Agu explained. "They're gathering their forces to launch an attack somewhere. A war is coming…" Even though the words were coming from the mouth of a kid, all of them couldn't help but shudder at what this could mean.
"Right…as soon as we've gathered the rest of the herbs we need, we're heading back!" Kaijali decided, swiftly taking charge. "Gokou, Unlai…drag that thing back with us, we're dining on Barghest meat tonight!" He then looked down at Agu who was still looking incredibly nervous. "As for you kid, you're coming back with us. We'll need you to tell us as much as we can about this new alliance."
~TNT~
The sun had set over the Great Forest of Tob and Carne Village itself as Enri, Nfirea and their goblin comrades returned with basketfuls of Enkaishi herbs to a great deal of joy from their fellow villagers, but that joy quickly turned to confusion and even some murmurings of discontent when they noticed the small hobgoblin boy nervously hanging onto Enri's head. Brita, the former adventurer who had taken residence in Carne Village after her counter with Shalltear and Fengxian, had even drawn her sword instinctively when she'd laid eyes on Agu, but after having the situation explained to her and everyone else, she apologised to the nervous boy and claimed that old habits from her adventuring days weren't easy to get rid of.
After showing Agu around Carne Village, who marvelled in awe at what he was seeing yet couldn't quite believe that humans and goblins could co-exist as he was witnessing. It took the combined and patient explanations of Jugem and Kaijali to assure the boy that what he was seeing was real. After Agu listened to their story, he then asked if human women were actually the stronger of the genders, to which Jugem answered with amusement that it's not typically the case, but Enri was unique in her strength, character and ability to lead. What he didn't know was that he'd said this within earshot of Lupusregina who, after giggling to herself silly, stored this little titbit of information in case it could prove useful in the future.
Once Agu was given the tour, he was asked to tell the story he'd told Nfirea, Enri and the three goblins again, only this time to an audience that included the village chief and his wife, Jugem, several other prominent goblins and humans from the village and Lupusregina, who Enri explained was an associate of a friend of theirs who had a vested interest in the safety of their village. With this reassurance, Agu told them how, after the Great Beast of the South had vanished, the balance of power in the Forest had been destabilized with the boy theorizing that the rumoured 'undead master' who had recently arrived and had established his own 'base of power' in the forest (which as it turned out was the dummy Nazarick constructed by Aura and Mare) had captured or killed him. Thus, the Giant of the East had formed an alliance with the Demon Snake of the West in order to combat this new threat along with anything else in their path, a conflict which Agu feared would spread to Carne Village as well.
After agreeing that Agu would be given residence here in the village, talks turned to how to deal with this threat. Brita volunteered to lend her efforts alongside Jugem in training and bolstering the ranks of the village's Vigilance Committee, a self-defence force comprised of humans and goblins that had been put in place after the first attack on the village. But with the power these two almost-mythical beings held, most present knew that they would need additional aid in order to fend them off. One suggestion was made to ask the Kingdom of Re-Estize for help, but that was shot down for multiple reasons, the main one of which was that they likely would have no effort to spare after the recent Demonic Invasion. Lupusregina then suggested she could reach out to Ainz, the man who had saved the village, to come and help, but Enri countered by saying they had no idea where Ainz was even if they wanted his help, and that they'd sooner or later have to stand on their own two feet rather than rely on Ainz and his comrades to save them whenever they were in trouble. With those two options cast aside, the only viable course of action left that everyone agreed upon was for Enri and Nfirea to travel to E-Rantel and use his and his grandmother's reputation to ask for aid from the Adventurer's Guild.
Their course set, Nfirea gave Lupusregina the same potion he'd used on Agu and asked her to let Ainz know, as soon as she was able to contact him, to let him know that the potion was a success. At the same time, the goblin troop that was guarding the town had captured some ogres as well as a bunch of hobgoblins who had the same skin pallor as Agu and asked Enri and Jugem to come and decide their fate. Surprisingly it didn't take too long to have these new arrivals join them, as all it took was a few kind words and a genuine plea for aid from Enri for the remnants of Agu's tribe and their ogre compatriots to pledge their loyalty to her after apologising for initially shouting at and scaring her and the other villagers. This unexpected turn of events, in conjunction with what had happened earlier in the Forest along with seeing and listening to how much the goblins admired and respected her, caused Enri to ponder just why people seemed to be looking towards her in particular as someone worthy of respect while at the same time feeling exasperated at suddenly being placed on a pedestal by them all to do things and make decisions she normally wouldn't have done before the first invasion. (In his office deep in the bowels of Nazarick, Ainz found himself coughing as he sensed someone undergoing the same concerns over leadership that he'd been dealing with for some weeks now)
After being informed by Nfirea, much to her disappointment, that he'd be staying behind in Carne Village to tend to the injuries suffered by Agu's tribe mates, it was a despondent yet determined Enri who set off for E-Rantel on a cart on her mission of aid. Though it still confused her as to why she of all people was being trusted with such a crucial task, she was determined not to let her friends, her little sister and the rest of her home village down.
Edster: And another chapter down…we are setting the stage for future Empire and got to check in with how things are going in Carne Village. Someone, probably Lupusregina or even Henry, is going to have to smash Enri and Nfirea's heads together to make them confess their feelings for each other, but that's not the main focus right now. We're seeing the first stages of Enri's rise as a future leader, and over the coming chapter or two we'll get to see more of that while at the same time seeing how Carne will handle the new threat.
I'm not going to beat around the bush here…we're going to speed through this mini-arc in as few chapters as possible, with my preliminary estimate being two more chapters before we get to the Workers' Invasion. While this arc is a nice change of pace and important to showcasing Enri's growth, it does pivot away from Nazarick which we have more than established as our main focus and which we want to get back to ASAP, so if we rush and/or cut some of what's shown in the anime…that's why
daniel: Another day, another chapter! Hope you guys enjoyed reading it as much as we did writing it! And yeah as much as we appreciate Enri and her growth we want to jump back to the Nazarick stuff faster. Thanks to everyone who has followed and favourited this story! Hope you all have a fantastic day!
Edster: Before we go, I want to thank you all for continuing to show love for this story. We've passed 275 followers and 250 favourites which are milestones we never thought we'd get to, and on behalf of myself and daniel we appreciate all of your support. As per my usual schedule, unless things change, we shall see you all again in a fortnight's time for the next chapter of The Nazarick Triumvirate!