(In case the notifications for FF still aren't working, this note is to acknowledge that the chapter was uploaded on schedule on Sunday 28th July 2024)
Edster: Hey there everyone, and welcome back to the latest chapter of The Nazarick Triumvirate. I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this latest season of anime!
And before we get into things, I just want to say one thing: Lilysa Amano from 2.5 Dimensional Seduction is the latest addition to my pantheon of anime queens! As a budding otaku myself, I just love everything about her and can't wait to watch more of her as the anime continues. *ahem* Now that that's said, some words from my co-author
daniel: Hey guys! Great to see you again! Here's our latest chapter! Hope you all enjoy reading it as much as we did writing it! Here goes to show why underestimating your opponent is the first step towards defeat and how Barbro learned it the VERY hard way!
Edster: This chapter was SO MUCH FUN to write so I'm not going to waste any more of your time. Here comes Chapter 34 and the siege of Carne Village! 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 34 – The Siege
As Crown Prince Barbro's army continued its now hastened march towards Carne, with the captains trotting from horseback and the infantry moving at double pace, the thoughts of the man himself continued turning darker as his frustrations at the situation grew. "How dare they send me to such a remote backwater village?" He snarled inwardly, cursing all those responsible for this development: His father, Zanac, Raeven, Boullope, Gazef, Ainz Ooal Gown and his associates and even the sycophant Cheneko who was accompanying him. "Carne Village is scarcely worthy of the attention of one such as I, but I'm not going to let them rob me of my chance for glory! I'll wrap things up quickly and march directly to the Katze Plains in time for the battle." His expression of frustration then morphed into a disturbed grin as a sudden thought came to him. "On second thoughts…maybe coming to this place may have its uses. These villagers are indebted to those monsters for saving their lives, which means in turn they have a use for them, however twisted it may be. If I can take them hostage and use them to bargain with him and the others, maybe they'll back out of the war thus forcing the Empire to retreat without so much as a skirmish, saving thousands of lives in the process." Awed by his own genius, he clicked the reigns of his horse urging it to a faster place. "This will prove to Father and the others that I am the only worthy heir to this throne, much more than my pig of a brother or my dim-witted sister!"
"Hmm…maybe if they behave themselves I'll draft the villagers and march them before Gown and the others myself," he muttered darkly. "If they end up killing them, it will show the rest of the world what kind of men they really are and all of their support will vanish." He chuckled to himself. "A splendid plan, one worthy of royalty such as myself. I will be the one who ensures our triumph over those monsters, and then this Kingdom will be mine! And when I take the throne, the Empire and even the Theocracy will tremble knowing their days are numbered!"
~TNT~
"Greetings, chief! We have returned!" Agu and the fellow members of their clan greeted both Enri and Nfirea as they re-entered the village after their successful trip to gather wood and kindling in the Great Forest of Tob. "What are you up to today?"
"Thank you all for your help. Nfirea and I are actually reviewing our stocks to make sure we are ready for winter, and thanks to your tribe we have the situation with the firewood under control," Enri answered with a smile, even though what she was telling them was only half of the story. Whilst the part about making sure they were ready for winter was accurate, the daily checks of their supplies and fortifications were also about ensuring they were fully prepared for the oncoming storm that Masters Ainz, Henry and Fengxian had warned them about during their visit to the Tomb. Given the traders and other sellers who came by their village often and swapped stories, it had been impossible not to hear about the Emperor of Baharuth's recent decree regarding Nazarick's independence. And even though Ainz had reassured them that he'd protect Carne Village should the chaos of these changes reach them, Enri had decided, with the unanimous support of the rest of the village, that they should be prepared for the worst regardless since not only did the Empire and Theocracy know where they were, it was also common knowledge that their village had been saved by Ainz, Henry and Fengxian and could now be the target of unwanted attention from all interested parties, including perhaps even the more suspicious minds in the Kingdom who might view them being indebted to the trio they now considered their enemies as treasonous. Therefore, they had stocked up on supplies, strengthened their fortifications and doubled the training efforts for every man, goblin and ogre who could wield a weapon in preparation for the worst just in case.
"Let us know if you need anything else taken care of, Chief! See ya!" With those words, Agu and his companions darted off as Enri and Nfirea continued their walk around the village, bumping into several more of the populace on the way.
"Good day to you, Chief! Thank you for all you are doing!" A farmer piped up from where he was tending his crops.
"You are the best, Chief!" His son echoed. Though Enri waved back, she couldn't help but let out a small groan of annoyance as she and Nfirea kept going, with the latter doing his best to hide his amusement at his girlfriend's reaction. He knew it was still odd for her to be addressed as 'Chief' and that she felt uncomfortable every time it was uttered concerning her, but truth be told it was a well-deserved title which she had earned. Plus she looked so adorable when she was mad, not that he would ever say that to her face of course. He would much rather sleep next to her on their bed rather than on a pile of hay in the stables!
"Good morning chief," the previous chief and his wife called out to her as they passed. "Have you greeted the new arrivals to the village yet?" The veins on the girl's forehead were now threatening to pop as she ground out a response, and now Nfirea was very concerned that she was about to snap. Thinking fast, he put his arm on her back and guided her into a nearby barn where, once he'd lit up the light there with magic, she proceeded to face-plant herself into the piles of hay and sigh openly.
"If one more person calls me chief, I am going to scream!" She raged into the straw, beating her fists and kicking her legs out like a petulant child. Though it was quite a sight to see the normally composed girl acting so childishly, Nfirea knew he had to be a good boyfriend and calm her down before anyone saw her like this. Sitting down on the hay next to her, he reached over and started stroking her hair soothingly, and thankfully it did the trick as her groans and kicks soon died down as she relaxed under his touch.
"We'll take a few minutes, okay? Then we'll sort out everything else on the checklist," he reassured her, causing her to lift her head out of the hay and give him a smile that caused his heart to flutter as it always did. Even though they had been dating for a few months now, it still only took a smile or kind words from her to make him blush.
"Thanks Nfi, you're the best," she murmured as she slid over and rested her head in his lap, drawing comfort from just his touch alone before groaning once more. "Considering that so many people think I can take down a Barghest with my bare hands, I suppose the least I can do is take stock of our supplies properly!" She almost let out another growl of frustration, but Nfi's continual stroking of her hair and face was already doing wonders for her mood.
"I know this might be overwhelming, but you really are doing a great job. Everyone believes in you, and you are much tougher than you think you are," Nfirea told her, thinking back to the time Enri had defeated Jugem and several of the other goblins quite convincingly in arm wrestling matches, though he suspected that had been a well-worked trick on their part to convince Agu and the rest of his tribe that Enri really was their alpha and thus worthy of their loyalty. Whatever the case, it had done the trick as everyone, from humans to goblins to ogres and even the associate of Master Gown, Lupusregina, was fiercely loyal to her. "If you hadn't stopped at just defeating Jugem and the others, I think the ogres would have wanted to arm wrestle you as well and-!"
"Nfi, you're cute and all but your mouth is going to get you into trouble if you don't stop," Enri warned seriously, her expression turning momentarily stern. But as Nfi stammered his apology Enri took a quick sniff and picked up the scent of something…really nice. "You smell really good though…is that some new cologne you're wearing?"
"Ummm yeah…just a little something I cooked up," he stammered nervously, blushing under the intensity of her gaze. "A different one from the one I wore when Master Gown invited us to his home…I'm glad you like it…"
"If you went into mass production, you could see it for a fortune in the city!" Enri exclaimed, only to narrow her eyes as a wicked thought came to mind. "Hmmm, I think it needs a bit of testing before you do though." Gripping him suddenly by the shoulders, she pushed against him and rolled him over so that now he was the one lying on his back and she was the one looking down at him.
"Whoa, Enri!" The blushing boy exclaimed, momentarily stunned by her actions, but as he looked up his face suddenly went bright red at the sight of her breathing heavily, her face flushed with desire and her breasts dangling down ever so temptingly from within her clothes. But just as the two hormonal teenagers were about to indulge in the carnal desires that were threatening to overwhelm them, they were interrupted as a panting and clearly shaken Jugem entered the barn, clad in full armour and sword strapped to his back.
"Bad news Chief Enri-AH! Sorry for the interruption!" He apologised as he stumbled upon them locked in such an intimate embrace. He quickly turned around to give the blushing teens a chance to recompose themselves before speaking up again. "You're needed by the south gates. Lady Lupusregina has just reported an emergency!" Needing no further prompting judging the look of urgency on the veteran warrior's face, the chief and her paramour quickly followed him out of the barn and back towards the southern edge of the village.
~TNT~
"What's the situation?" Enri asked immediately, panting slightly from the run she and Nfirea had taken to get to the south gate. Aside from Jugem, those gathered included Brita, Lupusregina, several of the more senior goblins under Jugem's command, Agu and some of the representatives of his clan and one or two of the senior villagers.
"They're still off in the distance, but with my enhanced vision I could see them coming as clear as day," Lupusregina reported. Ever since the stern lecture she had received from Ainz and the logical advice from her darling Constantine, she'd been far more willing to do her part for the village and had built up a good rapport with humans and goblins alike over the past few months. "Five thousand soldiers from the Re-Estize Kingdom marching double-time towards the village, led by the Crown Prince himself." (She along with the rest of Nazarick's servants who went out into the field had been briefed on the key figures from the three human kingdoms, hence why she had recognised Barbro despite having never met him before)
"Are we sure it's not just an inspection to see how one of the Kingdom's territories is doing?" Enri wondered, wanting to avoid conflict if at all possible. Though they were indebted to Ainz, Henry and Fengxian for saving them, their village was still under the rule of Re-Estize and thus subject to their laws.
"You don't need five thousand fully armoured troops for an inspection," the former chief, now one of Enri's main advisors, answered with a shake of his head. "Given what's been going on recently after that decree from the Emperor regarding Master Gown, Henry and Fengxian, they may want something from us…either information or manpower I'd guess."
"Barbro's a self-serving brute. Everything he does is only to increase his own standing, and he'd do whatever it takes to do away with anyone who doesn't fit into his plans," Brita remarked bitterly, having been familiar with the Crown Prince's nature from times she'd spent in the capital for her mercenary work. "With the war that's rumoured to be coming, he'll be looking for any way to make a statement to revive his own standing given the rise in popularity his father and siblings have had in recent months. I agree with the old chief…whatever his intentions are, they aren't good for us."
"My clan has seen such movements from armies before," Agu supplied. "Armies of that number don't come without a purpose. It's either to subjugate, pillage or conscript."
"Still, it behoves us to receive him cordially until we can be certain of his intentions, but just in case you are all right we should prepare for the worst," Enri decided. "Our first priority should be getting the villagers to a safe place. If the Crown Prince is looking for a fight and plans to use our people as hostages or conscripts, we can't let the innocents be caught in the crossfire."
"Agreed. We can use the forest on our borders to advantage in that regard," Jugem nodded, having already taken the innocents factor into account. "I can have a squad of goblins set up a defensive perimeter around the north and west gates to allow the villagers safe passage through the trees." He looked down at the small hobgoblin to his side. "Agu, you and your clan know the forest well. Can we rely on you to escort them via the safest paths?"
"Absolutely, leave it to us!" He replied eagerly. "We'll leave the ogres and some of our best warriors here to help you with the defence!"
"Great. And while you do that, everyone else will help fortify our defences and leave a few traps and surprises in case that Prince of yours does decide to invade," Jugem continued with a look of grim determination. "If he thinks he'll be able to sweep us aside without a fight, he's dead wrong! The boys and I, along with everyone else here, will give our all to the defence of General Enri and her people!" This was greeted by fierce cheers and nods of acknowledgement from most of those gathered causing Enri to blush in embarrassment once again.
"Um…if you all don't mind; I have a suggestion…" All eyes turned to Nfirea who had remained silent up till that point. "Though I'm sure we'll be able to hold them off for a good while, maybe we should ask Master Gown if he could help us? His power, or even that of the Crown Prince or Grand Marshal, could deter Barbro from causing trouble and resolve the situation before it began…"
"Sorry Nfi, but my Lord Ainz and Lord Fengxian are currently occupied with other crucial matters pertaining to the upcoming war and the establishment of their own independent nation," Lupusregina replied, her tone and expression unusually serious before relaxing in a reassuring smile. "But don't worry, Lord Ainz has been informed of the situation and has conveyed his faith in your ability to handle it, but just in case the Crown Prince himself is watching over the village on standby. If things turn dire for us, he'll be here in an instant to aid us."
Lupusregina's words reassured everyone present, especially those who had seen the Crown Prince in action when he, Ainz and Fengxian had previously saved the village. Knowing he was watching over them gave them all hope that they'd be able to make it through this. "We won't let Barbro's ambitions endanger this village," Brita pounded her fist into a palm, her eyes burning with determination. "We'll defend it with everything we've got!"
"My clan stands ready on your word, General Enri," Agu added with an equally determined look, ready to do his part. "We'll guide your people into the forest safely and be prepared to return and fight alongside you."
"Thank you, all of you," Enri thanked them with a warm smile, so touched was she by their devotion and commitment to her and all of her people. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she began doling out everyone's tasks. "Brita, Kaijali, you two will be in charge of the evacuation efforts. Take a few soldiers each and begin getting everyone to safety. Agu, you and your clan are to go with them and escort them there safely."
"Yes ma'am!" All of the addressed individuals saluted before rushing off.
"Jugem, I'm placing you in charge of all of our troops, including the ogres from Agu's clan. Deploy them as you see fit and prepare all of the defences you feel will be needed, but do not engage the Crown Prince's forces unless provoked."
"Leave it to me, General!" Jugem said with a fierce nod before walking away, barking out orders as he did so.
"Nfi…" Enri turned to her boyfriend who jumped to attention. "Make sure Nemu and your grandmother get out of the village safely, then come back with all of your healing potions and other supplies. I have a feeling we'll need them."
"You can count on me!" The young man proclaimed, giving Enri a quick kiss on the cheek in a sudden rush of boldness that caused the chief to blush as he ran off to do as she instructed.
"I'll keep an eye on Barbro's army and inform you when they are close," Lupusregina added with a small chuckle upon seeing the embarrassed look on her face.
"Take Shuringan and Gurandai with you. And Miss Lupusregina?" The werewolf maid turned her head to look at Enri. "If you get the chance, thank Lord Ainz and the Crown Prince for all they are doing for us." The red-haired maid nodded before waving to the two aforementioned goblins to follow her. Now that that was all taken care of, Enri and the rest put their heads together to decide what their response would be to whatever demands Barbro was planning on implementing. Though she hoped this could all be resolved peacefully, there was not a chance in hell she'd be giving in should any of his demands be unreasonable or compromise the safety of her people. They'd put their trust in her, and she wasn't going to let them down.
~TNT~
Thanks to the constant updates from Lupusregina and the goblin scouts, Enri and the rest of those had more than enough time to not only ensure that all of their friends, loved ones and the non-combatants were safely evacuated from the village but that it was also suitably prepared for an assault if the worst should come to pass. Thanks to Jugem and many volunteers, human and goblin alike who were determined to defend their home, barricades and traps were put in place and those who had volunteered to stay behind and fight were ready and willing to do so.
As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows over the village, the sound of hooves and the clanking of armour could be heard echoing in the distance signifying that the Crown Prince and his entourage were close. With her job done for the moment, Lupusregina jumped down from the wall and melted into the shadows ready to play her part if needed as Enri, Jugem, Nfirea, the former village chief and one or two others took their place above the gates, ready to receive their visitors. If the Enri of a few months ago had been standing here, she'd have been quaking in fear at the thought of speaking to the Crown Prince of Re-Estize, but instead she willed herself to stand tall and face their visitors in person, drawing strength from the unwavering support around her and the faith that Masters Gown, Henry and Fengxian had in her.
They had only been standing there for a few moments when the Crown Prince and the toadying Baron at his side rode up imperiously to the gates on horseback, their expressions haughty and condescending. Behind them, the sea of armoured men they'd brought with them drew themselves in formation and waited patiently for their orders as the Crown Prince began to speak.
"I am Crown Prince Barbro, heir to King Ramposa III of the Kingdom of Re-Estize sent by His Majesty on business crucial to the future of the Kingdom!" He puffed up proudly, but rather than the awe and excitement he'd been expecting, he was met instead by a wall of stony silence that only irked him. How dare these people disrespect him so! "I demand, in the name of the King himself, to speak with your chief!"
Enri's eyes narrowed at the popinjay's arrogance and superior tone before relaxing. She forced her face into an expression of respect and dignity as she stepped forward, head high and voice steady. "Greetings, Crown Prince Barbro. My name is Enri Emmot, and as the chief of Carne Village I will speak on behalf of my people."
"A mere girl like you as chief?!" Barbro snorted in disbelief while trying to maintain his composure at this perceived 'insult' "Is this some kind of joke? You are just another insolent girl that dares astray from their real use!" Barbro was one of those who believed that the only thing women were good for was to pop out children for their husbands and do whatever they were told without question, just like his monster of a younger sister should (That was one thing he and Zanac agreed on, although he would NEVER admit to agreeing on ANYTHING with his brother). "Step aside, girl, and tell your chief to come treat with me!"
"She speaks the truth," the former chief answered firmly as everyone in the village, on the wall and below it, growled and snarled at Barbro's vulgarity and sexism. "The people of this village, including myself as the former chief, unanimously decided to have Enri lead us. And in the months since she has more than proven herself worthy of leadership. She speaks for all of us, and we trust in her to do what is right for both this village and the people living in it."
"This is absurd! A girl purporting herself as chief surrounded by goblin guards?! This kind of farce does not belong in our glorious Kingdom!" Barbro spat, now visibly affronted by how they were daring to speak back to him.
Everyone bristled at Barbro insulting their chief, but none more so than Jugem. Anyone who dared speak to his chief in that way, no matter if they were royalty or not, would soon regret it. "We're here because we believe in the chief and will do whatever it takes to protect her and this village!" The veteran warrior snarled. "Which is more than the likes of you and your 'glorious Kingdom', apart from your Chief Warrior, have done!"
"How dare you speak to me in such a manner, you filthy brute!" Barbro spat. "I am the Crown Prince of Re-Estize, and your kind has no place speaking to me in such a manner! You are not even fit to lick the ground I walk on with your disgusting tongues."
"Jugem and his people are one of the main reasons why we have survived and thrived ever since the incident where we were saved by Master Gown and his comrades," Enri spoke back defiantly, not backing down in the face of the Crown Prince after he'd dared to insult her friend. "They have helped us rebuild and strengthened our defences as well as keeping us safe from an attack by the creatures from the Forest. I trust them with both my life and the lives of everyone here…"
"You harbour and spare these monsters in defiance of the Kingdom?! That is proof enough that you are league with this 'Ainz Ooal Gown' and his ilk!" Cheneko sneered. "If you are truly loyal to the Kingdom, you will send this filth away and tell us everything you know about them!"
Enri willed herself to stand firm even in the face of these insults. No matter how much they spoke down to them, she would not lower herself to their level! "You already have all of the information we know on them, which was conveyed to you by Warrior Chief Stronoff himself," she answered, her tone still respectful. "Even if we had learnt more about them, we wouldn't share it with you. We owe our lives to them, and would not betray their confidence…not even for yourself, 'Your Highness'."
"You insolent girl! Do you have any idea who you are speaking to?! I am the Crown Prince and I will not be talked down to by the likes of you!" Barbro snarled, spittle flying as he completely lost his composure.
"By the orders of the Crown Prince, you will open your gates and let us enter!" Cheneko ordered. "If you do not, we will blow them open and take what is rightfully his by force!"
Rather than intimidate those standing on top of and around the gate as they'd hoped, Cheneko's threat only hardened their resolve. Jugem turned a grim face to Enri who looked deeply remorseful and upset by those words and wondered, if only for a split second, if she would cave. But when she reopened her eyes, the resolution and intensity of her gaze were clear for all to see. "If you set foot in this village with the intent of harming my people, then we will have no choice but to retaliate. We just want to live in peace, so please…don't do this…"
"Insolent girl! Your defiance has sealed your fate!" Barbro snapped, reaching the limits of his patience as he turned and barked orders to his troops. "Soldiers! These people willingly conspire against us alongside the enemies of our kingdom! Burn them and their village to the ground!" Though some of the soldiers looked uneasy at this order, they all rushed to obey.
"You won't take this village so long as we draw breath!" Jugem swore before turning to the soldiers gathered around and below him. "Warriors of Carne Village, we fight to defend our village and Chief Enri! Let's make them pay for daring to underestimate us!" They roared back as one, their hearts and minds filled with determination to defend their home, friends, and chief even against the Crown Prince himself!
~TNT~
With a swing of his sword, Barbro marshalled his armies to charge at the front gates of the village, intending to use their superior manpower to bash down the gate and storm the village to an easy victory. As the soldiers advanced, the archers among Barbro's ranks rained down a volley of arrows on the defenders to prevent them from responding. This move seemed to catch them off guard as Enri and the others were forced to duck and leap off of the wall and take cover. Emboldened by what he saw as a successful first strike, Barbro signalled for another contingent of his army to come forward, carrying between them what appeared to be a massive tree trunk that had been cut down, pruned of all its branches and leaves and then scraped and sawed into a crude version of a battering ram. Though nowhere near as large or effective as a proper one, this size of this one would be more than sufficient to break down Carne's gates.
"Captain! They're bringing up a battering ram!" Shuringan shouted down to Jugem from the watchtower where he and his squad of archers were currently pinned down by constant fire from Barbro's archers. "They'll be through the gate in no time!"
"Damnit!" Jugem cursed aloud even as he smiled on the inside. This was exactly what he'd planned for as soon as he'd heard Lupusregina's accounting of Barbro's forces. Though the numbers were in their favour, he planned to play on their overconfidence and arrogance and lure them into a fight on their terms. But to do that, he had to keep playing his part in the deception. "Rally to me!" He yelled in a (at least to those outside the walls) desperate voice. "We'll make our stand further in!" At his call the human and goblin forces abandoned their posts in a seemingly disorganized scramble to take up elevated positions dotted around this area of the village, leaving the gate and walls seemingly undefended.
"Break down the gates! We'll rout them in one fell swoop!" Babro ordered, buoyed by his plan's apparent success and lack of coordination among these 'simple brutes'. As the men carrying the ram started battering on the gates, with the soldiers around them cheering and encouraging them on, Barbro gave the signal for Cheneko to take his contingent and swing around to the eastern gates having received reports from his scouts that it had been left completely unmanned, so determined were the defenders of Carne to focus the battle on one gate in particular.
(Little did they know this was another part of Jugem's plan, the details known only to him and Lupusregina who had quietly informed him of an extra insurance plan from Ainz and the others in case the village was attacked again)
Jugem allowed the ram to swing against the gates a couple of times before giving another signal, this time for a pair of ogres, one on either side of the gate, to pull open the gates in one swift motion just at the right moment. Having used the echoes of the ram to judge the timing to perfection, Jugem's signal came just as the ram was swinging towards the gate once more, and as it impacted the ogres pulled the gate wide, giving the impression that it had given way far too easily under the ram's assault. Buoyed by the sight of the gate falling before the ram, and once the contraption had been taken aside, Brabro's forces began to swarm through the gates and into the village towards where they could see the combined human and goblin army waiting for them, but the moment a good number of them were inside the village proper the signal was given, causing the hidden traps to be deployed.
Hidden pits, meticulously camouflaged and laden with wooden stakes, suddenly opened up beneath the feet of Barbro's soldiers, swallowing them whole and impaling those who were unfortunate enough to be standing above them upon the moment of activation. At the same time a small cluster of fire runes, a gift from Ainz and Henry and carefully placed and concealed by Nfirea and Lupusregina, ignited the moment they were stepped on sending waves of panic through the Re-Estize ranks as flames licked at their armour and flesh alike, scorching several of them to death. From their concealed positions, the ogres and goblin shock troops who had been waiting for precisely this moment emerged with bellowing roars, causing further panic amidst the ranks of the human forces.
"Now, brave warriors! For General Enri and our village!" With a rallying cry and a wave of his sword, Jugem led his forces into the fray to catch Barbro's forces in a pincer attack that unfolded with devastating effectiveness. The ogres, towering behemoths of muscle and rage, took the lead with their massive clubs sending soldiers flying with every swing, and behind them came the goblin and human warriors who took advantage of their stunned foes and waded in with lethal strikes from their swords and spears. From up above Jugem's archers rained down a barrage on the back ranks of Babro's forces to keep them off balance.
Caught completely off-guard, the ranks of Re-Estize soldiers were momentarily thrown into disarray, their disciplined ranks crumbling through a combination of the traps and unexpected ferocity of the village's defenders, each of whom fought with fire and determination in their hearts to protect their home. Shouts of pain and confusion filled the air, mingled with the clash of weapons and the smell of smoke from their earlier fires that had now been doused by copious amounts of water-laden buckets courtesy of a few goblin and ogre volunteers. In this early stage of the fight, the advantage was with the defenders who had inflicted surprisingly heavy casualties on their foes through the use of deception and cunning tactics to maximise their home advantage.
(After the battle had ended, they would be buoyed by the fact that the Grand Marshal himself, observing alongside Ainz through the Mirror of Remote Viewing, was highly impressed by this simple yet effective strategy and would plan to use it himself in case their territories came under siege)
From his vantage point behind the main force, the Crown Prince was watching this all unfold with an ever-growing look of rage. His soldiers, the elite troops of the Kingdom, were being humiliated and made fools of by a mere girl and her ragtag group of goblins and beasts, and their unexpected ferocity and determination were further infuriating him. How dare these insignificant peasants make a mockery of him, the Crown Prince of Re-Estize and the future King Barbro XIV!
"Like hell I will be outdone by these…these brutes!" Barbro snarled inwardly as he turned to his remaining officers, his voice trembling with barely contained fury and his eyes alight with anger. "Form up! Double ranks!" He ordered, spittle flying. "We will not let a band of peasants and monsters defeat us! For the glory of the Kingdom!" The officers, seeing the fury in his eyes, quickly relayed his orders, and though his men had been slightly shaken at the sight of their comrades being torn apart, impaled and/or burnt alive, they quickly moved and formed up in tighter ranks to advance on the gate.
"Use our superior numbers to push through!" Barbro bellowed once again, waving his sword. "We will break their lines and raze this village to the ground for their insolence!" His command was met with a renewed surge among his troops who, emboldened by their Crown Prince's determination, charged forward with renewed vigour, and their superior numbers began to pay dividends as they began to force the determined defenders to yield ground.
"Stand fast, brave warriors! Hold the line and do not give in!" Jugem rallied upon seeing the enemy's renewed assault and recognising this was going to be a clutch engagement that would go a long way to deciding the fate of the battle. "For General Enri and our village!" Emboldened by their captain's rallying call and the knowledge that their chief was watching over them herself, the defenders gritted themselves and prepared to dig in, knowing they were really in for a tough fight now that their initial advantage had run out.
~TNT~
While the initial skirmish was playing out at the village gates, a smaller contingent of five hundred Re-Estize soldiers led by Baron Cheneko were currently skirting the flanks of the village walls towards its eastern gate. Before the battle had started, Barbro had secretly sent out scouts to spy on the village's gates. Both the western and northern were out of reach due to being bordered by the Great Forest of Tob and no one, not even the rash Crown Prince, was foolish enough to try their hand against the beasts purported to lie within its depths. The eastern gate, however, had been left completely unmanned and wide open according to their reports which Barbro, so wrapped up his beliefs that these 'brutes' and worthless people hardly had a clue of tactical sense between them, interpreted as an obvious blunder in their battle plan hence why he'd sent Cheneko to occupy it. Confident in their numbers and the apparent tactical foolishness of their enemies, the Baron and his men advanced swiftly, eager to exploit what they believed to be a crucial weakness and win glory for themselves in the process.
"Such simple-minded fools, leaving such a crucial part of their defences so unguarded," the Baron sneered smugly, his eyes and expression gleaming with anticipation as he and his men came up towards it. "We'll crush those fools from behind and raze the village with ease." The eastern gate was now looming large in his sight, open and inviting…this was almost too easy!
As they approached, there was an eerie stillness in their air broken only by the distant sounds of the battle coming from the south, and it was this noise that had the Baron urge his men onward "Move quickly! Secure the gates and prepare for our assault. This is the day when we win a glorious victory for our Kingdom and its future King!" The men, buoyed by their commander's words, began to double-time their march as they too were eager to share in the glory of what they expected to be an easy victory.
But as the first ranks of soldiers prepared to cross the threshold of the gate, a sudden and unexplainable chill descended upon them. From out of nowhere a hissing sound, sinister and filled with malice, echoed through the air. But just as the human soldiers were about to turn to try and figure out what was going on, the trap, carefully orchestrated by the Supreme Beings and put into place by Jugem and Lupusregina, was sprung as, from out of seemingly nowhere and having been previously hidden within the shadows of the walls and nearby forest by their powerful concealment magic, the forces of the Demon Serpent of the West, led by Ryraryus Spenia Ai Indarun himself, erupted from the shadows and descended on the human soldiers, their serpentine forms gliding with lethal grace. Before the men of Re-Estize could process what was happening the naga were upon them, their fangs and claws tearing through armour and flesh with horrifying efficiency.
"Ambush! Fight for your lives and defend me!" Cheneko screamed, his previously smug eyes now wide in terror as he watched his men be suffocated and torn apart. Unfortunately for him, however, his panicked cries were lost in the cacophony of the battle as his numerically superior forces continued to be ripped to shreds. Moving with a speed and ferocity that defied belief, the naga continued their gruesome work, their bodies coiling and uncoiling with deadly precision around every foolish human who came into their clutches. Unfortunately for Cheneko, he soon found himself face to face with Ryraryus himself, the naga leader's eyes glowing with cold fury as he stared down the human Baron who had, quite understandably, pissed himself from fright.
"Foolish mortals. You dare to invade the domain of the Great Ones?" Ryraryus hissed, his voice dripping with contempt and malice. "You will pay for your arrogance and transgressions with your lives." The Baron barely had time to scream or raise his sword before Ryraryus was upon him. With a swift motion, the naga wrapped his coils around the man, dragging him down from his horse which proceeded to flee from the battle as he began to crush him with inhuman strength. Cheneko gasped and struggled helplessly, his eyes bulging in agony as the life was quickly and painfully squeezed out of him until he eventually went limp with a sickening crunch, his expression forever frozen in terror.
As the Demon Snake disposed of his prey, the slaughter around him continued. Ryraryus' forces, empowered by their new allegiance to the Great Ones, showed no mercy as they continued to dispose of the human soldiers with ruthless efficiency, their screams echoing through the forest and the still air around them until eventually it went silent. No humans were spared or managed to escape, and not even one of the naga had been harmed. Ryraryus' troops stood among the carnage, their eyes gleaming with triumph as they turned as one to acknowledge their leader who raised his head and hissed, his voice carrying through the stillness.
"These foolish humans dared to think they could challenge the power of the Great Ones. Their arrogance and greed have led them to their doom, allowing us to prove our worth to their great cause…" Thinking back, Ryraryus now viewed the day that Lord Ainz and Lord Henry had brought him to heel as a momentous day in the history of their people. Though their service had initially been reluctant, they had eventually come to recognise the power of their masters and now served them loyally. "Loyalty to the Great Ones is the greatest honour, the path to true power. Let us hope they are pleased with our service." After sending one of his people off to let Lady Aura know that their work was complete, Ryraryus and his forces slipped back into the shadows of the forest, ready to defend the village should any more threats arise.
~TNT~
Unaware of the fate that had befallen Cheneko, the momentum at the clash of the gates swung once more in the favour of Re-Estize's forces as the sheer weight and number of their forces began to make their mark. As they pressed forward, the defenders were forced back step by agonising step, and as they gave ground Barbro's soldiers were able to sweep through the open gate and reinforce their comrades, their numbers threatening to overwhelm the defenders.
From her vantage point near a squad of human archers, Enri found herself unable to turn away from the chaos before her as fear began to take hold of her. She watched her people fighting valiantly in her name to defend her, their loved ones and the village, but they were slowly losing ground against the relentless tide of the enemy soldiers. Her eyes swept across the battlefield, watching the goblins, humans and ogres fight side-by-side against ever-worsening odds, and as she beheld the blood and gore and the dead on both sides, she could feel the contents of her stomach going haywire as well as a strong urge to vomit. Her gaze found one of the fallen goblins, its lifeless eyes staring up at the sky, and as his vacant gaze seemed to pierce her soul she suddenly felt an onrush of sorrow and anger while memories of the past reared in her mind again.
She was once more just an ordinary village girl, hiding in the shadows as Carne was raided. Over and over again she saw her fellow villagers being cut down without remorse and homes set ablaze. The screams, the smell of smoke and blood, the sight of her parents being cut down before her eyes and the sight of the leering soldiers turning to her and Nemu...these images burned themselves into her mind once more, and the terror, helplessness and grief she felt back then came rushing back, threatening to overwhelm her.
"No…" she pleaded to herself, closing her eyes and shaking her head to try and dispel the memories. "Not again…I don't want it to happen again…" But as she struggled to fight through the terror, she suddenly felt a hand grasping hers, and as she squeezed her eyes open she saw Nfirea looking back at her, his eyes watching her with concern and resolve. His hand, his touch, his gentle resolve and the love they shared…it was the anchor she needed to fight through the storm of emotions and return to reality.
"I'm with you, Enri," he said softly, causing her heart to flutter. "And I'm never leaving you. I know we'll get through this. I…no, we…we all believe in you."
She gazed back at him, drawing strength from his words, his touch and his unwavering gaze. Whenever she had doubted herself, Nfirea had always been the one to stand by her side and raise her up. She had gotten this far thanks to his belief and love for her, and it was these parts of him that once more gave her the courage she needed once again. She would not shrink away from her loved ones again…not when she had the means to help them survive. Reaching below her blouse, she grasped the Horn of the Goblin General around her neck, and as its smooth surface rubbed against her palm she allowed herself to feel reassured by the power she knew it held.
She glanced once more at the battlefield, seeing her people fight for her with everything they had, their faces etched with exhaustion and fear but also fierce resolve as they continued to hold the invaders back. Taking a deep breath, she brought the horn to her lips. The memories of her parents and those they had lost were still there, but they were now tempered by her resolve to protect those who remained and all those who believed in her. She would not let their sacrifices be in vain. She blew into the Horn, the powerful, resonant note echoing across the battlefield filled with desperation. It was a call for aid, a plea for reinforcements, and a testament to the unyielding spirit of Enri Emmott and the defenders of Carne Village.
'Goblins…Please help us!' Eri pleaded in her mind as the sound rang in her ears
The sound of the horn hung in the air for a moment before fading into silence, and for a brief, heart-stopping second nothing happened. But then, from the forest surrounding Carne, thunderous roars erupted and the ground shook from the force of thousands of pairs of feet trampling across it.
~TNT~
When he'd witnessed Barbro's forces begin to overwhelm the defenders from his hidden vantage point, Henry had been a split-second away from taking flight and jumping into the fray when he heard it: the sound of a familiar horn echoing through the air which rung loudly in his ears and caused him to relax slightly.
"Looks like Enri was pushed into using the Horn a second time…hopefully what she's summoned will be able to turn the tide of the battle." Extending his wings out from his back, he silently took into the air to a height where he was able to see the entirety of the area, and as he looked down with his enhanced sight his eyes widened at what he saw. "By Kami…she summoned that many?! What else is she capable of?" He then found himself smirking. "That boisterous prince and his dogs are really in for it now…"
~TNT~
From the shadows of the surrounding forest and from concealed points within the village they emerged, squads of goblin reinforcements of all kinds. Totalling 5,000 in number they surged forward, each group a testament to the power of the horn's ancient magic and the fierce loyalty they now held to the one who had summoned them, the Great General Enri herself.
First came the Goblin Rear Echelon Support Unit, emerging from the tree line with remarkable speed and efficiency. Clad in practical armour and carrying supplies on their backs, they moved quickly to support the front lines. Their leader, a sturdy goblin with a commanding presence, bellowed orders to organize the battlefield logistics. "Hold the line! Reinforcements are here! We will not let Carne Village fall! For the glory of General Enri!"
Next, the Goblin Medical Corps rushed in, their healers clad in white tunics marked with red crosses. They carried satchels filled with potions and bandages, ready to tend to the wounded. The head medic, a goblin with a calm yet fierce demeanour, called out, "To the injured! No one dies today if we can help it! For General Enri!"
The Goblin Heavy Infantry Corps made their presence known from the eastern flank. These goblins were larger and more heavily armoured, their shields and swords gleaming in the sunlight. They moved with the precision of a seasoned phalanx, their leader roaring, "Heavy Infantry, forward! Crush them with our strength! The enemies of General Enri will fall to our might!"
Charging alongside them were the Goblin Paladin-Knight Squad, their armour adorned with holy symbols and their weapons shining with an ethereal light, riding magnificent, fearsome and purely white wolves. Their leader, a goblin paladin with a radiant aura, lifted his sword high. "For justice and for General Enri! Charge!"
From the west, the Goblin Beast Rider Corps galloped in on various fearsome beasts – wolves, boars, and even a few dire bears. Their riders whooped and hollered; their enthusiasm infectious. The lead rider, a goblin with a wild look in his eyes, shouted, "Ride them down! For the glory of Carne and General Enri!"
High above, the Goblin Longbowman Corps took up positions on rooftops and higher ground, their longbows at the ready. Their arrows rained down with deadly accuracy, the lead archer calling out, "Aim true! Every arrow finds its mark! Let the will of our Great General Enri guide your shots!"
The Goblin Magic Support Corps followed in their purple-headed robes, their mages and sorcerers weaving spells of protection and enhancement over their comrades. The head mage, a goblin with glowing eyes, chanted, "Strength and protection to all! Let magic be our shield, and the will of General Enri be done!"
From a hidden vantage point, the Goblin Magic Bombardment Squad began their assault, their garments a darker shade of purple than the Magic Support Corps with golden hoop earrings and golden necklaces. Balls of fire, lightning bolts, and ice shards hurled into the enemy ranks, causing explosions and chaos. Their commander, a goblin with a fiery staff, exclaimed, "Let them taste our fury! Bombard them into oblivion for the glory of General Enri!"
In the shadows, the Goblin Assassin Squad moved with deadly grace. Clad in dark cloaks, they slipped through enemy lines, taking out key targets with swift, silent strikes. Their leader, a goblin with piercing eyes, whispered, "Silence the leaders. Let fear spread among them. We do what we must to ensure General Enri's victory."
Lastly, the Goblin Musician Corps entered the fray dressed in a traditional red parade outfit complete with tall red hats, their instruments adding an eerie, uplifting soundtrack to the battle. Drums pounded, horns blared, and flutes trilled, their leader, a goblin bard with a dramatic flair, calling out, "Play, my friends! Let our music give heart to our allies and strike fear into our foes! For General Enri!"
"FOR GENERAL ENRI!" Came their rallying call as they descended on the soldiers of Re-Estize from all sides with such ferocity and co-ordination that Barbro's forces, so confident had they been in their tactical and numerical superiority, were caught off-guard by the sudden influx of well-organized and fiercely determined goblin warriors, all united in their purpose to aid General Enri, defend the village and drive off the invaders, found themselves besieged from every direction and began to rout in total panic. Inspired by the sight and sound of their new allies, the defenders of Carne let out a rallying cry as they regrouped and joined the fray with renewed vigour and hope that they would win this day.
~TNT~
Enri watched with awe as the reinforcements surged into the village, their sheer numbers and determination overwhelming the invaders, and her heart swelled with a mix of relief and gratitude as she saw each unit take its place, their coordinated efforts turning the tide of the siege. "We can do this," she whispered to herself, tears welling in her eyes. "We can protect our home."
"And it's all because of you Enri." Nfirea squeezed her hand as he looked at her with new admiration and awe. "Your courage and determination have brought this about. You've brought them here and given them a reason to fight, and they're responding with everything they have." His expression then softened. "With everyone by our side, we'll stand together. For our village, our people and the future we want to build."
Enri nodded, drawing strength from Nfirea's words and the sight of the goblin army rallying to their cause. With a determined look, she raised her voice to address her people and their goblin allies. "Fight on, brave warriors! For Carne Village and the future we will build together!" Her call was met with a resounding cheer, the combined force of humans, goblins and ogres united in their resolve to defend their home.
~TNT~
Barbro could hardly believe his eyes at this sudden turn of events. What he had planned as a straightforward subjugation on a backwater village had quickly unravelled and was now turning into a nightmare as his forces, having once held the upper hand in terms of numbers, were now being pushed back by an overwhelming tide of goblins who were fighting with an intensity and co-ordination he couldn't fathom…all for a stupid little girl who purported herself as chief and some out of the way fief that was barely worth the ground it was built on.
"How can this be happening?! Not to me, the future King Barbro XIV!" He raged internally while his mind tried and failed to make sense of the situation. "We are the might of Re-Estize, meant to bring victory and glory to our Kingdom! How are these goblins, these mere creatures, turning the tide against us?! And where the hell is that fool Cheneko?!" The image of being defeated by goblins, of all things, and then having that humiliation be lauded at him by the likes of his siblings was an affront to his pride and status as the Crown Prince.
As the shouts and screams of his soldiers filled the air as they continued to fall, he felt his frustration finally boil over. He had come here to prove his strength, to make a statement and to have all behold him as the only one worthy of his father's throne, and now his schemes and plots were being undone right before his eyes. His soldiers continued to fall in droves, and suddenly the main gate they had earlier secured was now back in the defenders' hands as they continued their merciless advance.
"Your Highness! We have lost contact with Baron Cheneko's forces! Reports are indicating that he and his men fell to an enemy ambush!" One of his lieutenants frantically reported. "We are being overrun from all sides! We must retreat and regroup before it's too late!"
Barbro's eyes went aflame and his jaw clenched in defiance at these words. Retreat? Abandon the field to these…creatures? The very thought of it, and the humiliation it would mar him with, was anathema to him. He could, and would not, accept such a disgrace. "Retreat? BAH! They are only goblins!" He snapped, his tone filled with disbelief and scorn. "We are the proud soldiers of Re-Estize, and we do not run from such filth!"
"Then you will die here." From out of the chaos of the battle emerged the hooded figures of the goblin assassins, their blades bared and keen as they approached Barbro and his guard. "We are the Goblin Assassin Squad who walk among the shadows. We shall seize your final breath in the name of our chief, the great and honourable General Enri. None who dared to attack the home of our chief will live to see the next dawn." Barbro and his men panicked upon seeing these vicious warriors approach, but just as they tried to turn and flee they found their path blocked by another goblin clad in the most bizarre of outfits complete with a red hat and frills around his neck that made him look like a jester, but the deadly sickle in his hand that rested on his shoulder was proof enough that he wasn't here to clown around.
"I am one of the Thirteen Redcaps, the goblin elite guard tasked with defending the honourable General Enri, though it appears our services are no longer needed given the battle is over," the new arrival proclaimed, smirking wickedly. Before Barbro or the others could react, the redcap's scythe had beheaded one of Barbro's guards in a move faster than the eye could see. As blood splattered across Barbro's face, the Crown Prince's previous arrogance was now replaced by sheer terror as, without even thinking to consider those under his commands, he let out a terrified scream and bolted from the scene on horseback. But as his guards and those close by made to follow, they found their path cut off by the grinning Redcap and the assassins.
Needless to say, none of them survived the next few seconds, and it only took another half hour or so for the rest of Barbro's elite fighting force to be decimated by the combined might of the defenders of Carne Village and the goblin reinforcements.
~TNT~
With the battle now over, and the remnants of Barbro's invading forces lying scattered across the battlefield, the defenders of Carne village, led by their weary and battle-scared general Jugem, began to process the weight of their hard-earned victory. The air, once filled with the cacophony of battle, now settled into an eerie silence. From their vantage point above, Enri, Nfirea and those who had stood with them surveyed the scene with a mix of pride and sorrow in their hearts. Though they had won, the cost of victory had been a steep one. Villagers and goblins alike had fallen in defence of their home, and they all swore that these sacrifices would never be forgotten, not as long as they all drew breath.
As the villagers who had previously evacuated the village and their escorts began to regroup with the defence force and their new arrivals, the heavy task of tending to the wounded and accounting for the fallen began. Though the Goblin Medical Corps and the likes of Nfirea and Lizzie who were skilled with potions did what they could for the physical injuries, they could do nothing for the mental ones that would remain in the memories of those who had lost someone for a long time yet. Even as a small celebration broke out, it was muted and conducted with an air of solemnity. They had defended their home against overwhelming odds but had lost many in the process, and while they would mourn their losses for a while, the surge of resolve and unity within them forged in the fires of battle would shine forever.
Amidst this chaos, the leader of the goblin reinforcements dressed in long white robes and matching cap with a red gemstone in the middle (a sight that Fengxian, back when he was still fully human, would have let out an excited squeal over given how much this goblin resembled Zhuge Liang, the chancellor of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era and one of the greatest strategists to ever walk the face of the earth) and bearing a long black Chinese moustache and pointy black goatee approached Enri, an expression of deep respect and solemnity on his face before proceeding to bow low in front of her. "Greetings, General Enri," he proclaimed, his voice calm and clear much like the famous warlord he bore some resemblance to. "I am the Goblin Strategist, commander of the armies you summoned to the battlefield. On their behalf, I pledge my and their loyalty to you and the people of Carne Village. Our blades, magic and everything we have is yours to command as you see fit."
"Thank you, Strategist," Enri answered with a steady voice despite the emotions swirling within her, bowing her head in response as her heart swelled with gratitude. Without their intervention, they would all surely have died this day. "Your timely arrival saved us all, and so on behalf of the people of this village we accept your offer with profound gratitude and welcome you among us." As the Goblin Strategist bowed low in acknowledgement before taking his place alongside the other senior members of the village who had now rejoined Enri, such as Brita, Lizzie, Nemu, the former village chief, Agu and the other senior goblins and humans, Enri's mind began to race through the events that had led them here.
It was obvious to Enri by now that the Kingdom had constantly failed them during the past couple of months, starting with the first raid that had only been stopped by what they had believed at the time to be wandering strangers. The only one from the Kingdom who had shown them any consideration was Chief Warrior Stronoff, and even he was powerless to do much else. Even in the aftermath, the Kingdom had sent no relief efforts nor manpower to help them rebuild, and it had only been thanks to the loyal goblins she had been able to summon through the Horn given to her by Master Ainz that they had been able to get back on their feet. And this invasion today…whether it was by the King's intent or not, it was the final straw as far as Enri was concerned. Their victory today against the nation who they had long relied upon to be their protectors was not just a defence of their home, but a testament to the strength and unity of those who really and truly cared for Carne Village: its villagers, the goblins, the hobgoblins and ogres from Agu's tribe and their powerful benefactors from Nazarick.
Knowing what needed to be said and done, Enri looked at the weary and determined faces of her people: Nemu, her dearest little sister radiating innocence and relief. Nfirea, her close friend and love who was watching her with quiet reassurance and determination. Brita, so fierce and prideful in defence of the place she now called home. Jugem, ever loyal and brave exuding power and confidence in her leadership. Young Agu, full of resolve. The former chief, watching her with pride. The other senior goblins, full of loyalty and pride looked upon her in awe. And finally, the Goblin Strategist, watching her with quiet respect and admiration. Taking a deep breath, she called out to them and rallied their attention to what she had to say.
"Everyone," she began, her voice strong and resolute. "Today we have proven our strength and unity and defended our home with valour and determination. Thanks to all of you, and the sacrifice of those who gave their lives to keep us safe, we now live to see another dawn." Everyone nodded grimly, some even bowing and clasping their hands to respect the fallen. "This victory of ours also highlights the failure of the Kingdom that we are apparently part of to protect and support us. They do not care for our lives or our well-being, and this invasion by one of their highest authorities, the Crown Prince himself, is final proof of that."
Her audience nodded once again as her words continued to sink in. "With this victory today, we have proven that we have the power to take our fate into our own hands. Rather than relying on the Kingdom for protection any longer, we instead have powerful allies who have stood by us for a long while now, and it is to them that we owe this victory and our lives." She eyed all of them one by one before speaking the words that would lead them, she hoped, into a much more prosperous and secure future for all of them. "It is my intent, as your village chief, to secede our village from the Kingdom of Re-Estize and instead pledge our faith and allegiance to the new nation of Nazarick and its rulers, Masters Ainz Ooal Gown, Henry and Fengxian who saved our lives on that fateful day many months ago. They have been our true protectors, and I know it is with them that we can secure a better future for this village." She paused for a moment to gather herself before posing the question to all of those gathered. "Will you all stand with me?"
Without hesitation, everyone assembled cheered and nodded fiercely, signifying their agreement and total faith in her decision as several of them, including Nfirea and the former chief, looked on with pride on their faces. As the news spread of Enri's decision, the villagers and goblins, united as one by their unbreakable resolve, now saw the future ahead of them as a bright and prosperous one where they could live in peace, safety and harmony.
As the cheers began to die down, Enri turned to see if she could find Lupusregina only to discover that the maid, as she so often did, had appeared at her side out of nowhere, her ever-present goofy smile gracing her features. With determination in her eyes and stride, Enri stepped forward to address her. "Miss Lupusregina…do you have the means to contact either Master Ainz or the Crown Prince? We need to speak to them immediately."
"I'll reach out to the Crown Prince right away. We'll get this sorted immediately!" Before she did so, she reached out and laid a hand on Enri's shoulder. "And Chief? You've done great today. Both Father and my beloved will be proud." Giggling at the blush on Enri's face, she turned and skipped away while bringing a hand to the side of her head. (Can you hear me, darling? It's happened, just as you predicted it would)
~TNT~
(I hear you, my beloved wolf. Tell Enri we'll get it sorted right now. In the meantime, feel free to begin that 'hunt' you want to go on) As he closed the communication to Lupusregina he opened up another to Demiurge back in Nazarick. (It's happening just as we expected. Are you and Jemima ready?)
(Ready and waiting for your order, my glorious Crown Prince) the eager Guardian replied without skipping a beat, causing Henry to smile. Time to secure their first foreign territory taken from another nation by right of conquest, the first of many, for their future Empire.
~TNT~
As the dust of battle settled and the bodies of the fallen were cleared away, the mood among the villagers of Carne shifted from the grim aftermath of battle to the hopeful anticipation of a new era. Though scarred, the village was bustling with energy as they quickly began to make preparations for the simple yet meaningful ceremony that would officially mark a new chapter in their history.
In the heart of the village square, among a modest yet dignified area that had been quickly prepared for this occasion, stood a makeshift wooden stage and desk adorned with simple but elegant decorations. And it was up to this stage and desk that the Crown Prince of Nazarick himself, Henry Edward William Augustus Constantine Trajan Plantagenet-Caesar, strode towards, and as he approached the villagers as one greeted him with cheers and gestures of joy and respect. At his side strode Demiurge, a satisfied smirk on his face, and Jemima who was clutching a few sheets of parchment in her hands.
Once they had taken their position next to the desk, Henry stepped forward with a formal air. His demeanour, though friendly, held a commanding presence that reflected the seriousness of this occasion. After being bombarded by another round of cheers he lifted his hand, and it was a testament to the amount of respect that the people held for him that they all fell silent at once, watching on with bated breath.
"Citizens of Carne Village, human, goblin and ogre alike," he began, his voice resonating with authority and warmth. "This day marks a new beginning for your village. After witnessing your courage and determination many times in the face of adversity, it is our honour to officially bring Carne Village into the fold of Nazarick, to join us in this new era of talent, security, prosperity and growth." Cheers rang out once more at his announcement which he did nothing to dispel as he waved Jemima forward, the secretary placing the documents in her arms on the desk. Once the cheers had died down, Henry spoke up once more. "In order to make this official, I would ask Enri Emmot, the chieftain of this village, to step up and join us please."
Taking confidence from the squeeze of her hand by Nfirea and the firm pats on her shoulders from Jugem and the former chief, Enri stepped forward and up to the platform where, after being introduced to Demiurge and Jemima once more, she was invited to stand next to the Crown Prince where, at his invitation, she read through the documents that Demiurge and Jemima had spent a good amount of time preparing to ensure that not only was the wording correct and the terms fair but that it would also be binding for as long as Nazarick and Carne wished it to be. After taking some time to read through it properly, as well as asking the other three many questions for clarification, Enri took the offered quill and signed her name, which was quickly followed by Henry, acting as Ainz's representative, countersigning it on behalf of Nazarick.
"Now that it has been made official," the Crown Prince continued, passing one document back to Jemima and the other to the former village chief who accepted it on Enri's behalf to store it in a secure space. "By the authority invested in me by my father, the master of Nazarick and the soon-to-be Sorcerer Emperor, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, I, Crown Prince Henry Plantagenet-Caesar of Nazarick, hereby declare Carne Village and its surrounding territories under the rule of Nazarick from now until the end of days." This was meant by another thunderous round of applause and cheers from the newest members of the budding empire of Nazarick. "In addition, it is my greatest honour to confirm your chieftain, Miss Enri Emmot, along with her future heirs as long the title is theirs, as Duchess of Carne. Having witnessed her bravery and leadership, along with her gentle heart and fierce resolve, I know that she will not only be worthy of the title, but will also play a massive part in the future of our oncoming Empire." He then waved Demiurge forward who had in his hands two objects, and as he received them the Crown Prince beckoned to a blushing and overwhelmed Enri to come closer. "Duchess Enri, come forward and receive your badges of office."
Emboldened by the chants of "ENRI! ENRI! ENRI!" coming from every mouth before her, the newly anointed Duchess of Carne stepped forward and, as was appropriate, knelt before her Crown Prince with her head bowed, and she fell to her knees Henry stepped forward and bestowed her with the two symbols of her new title: A finely crafted pendant that fell around her neck and a ceremonial staff which was placed in her hands.
"These symbols represent the trust and responsibility bestowed upon you not just by my father but also by everyone you see before you chanting your name. May you prove worthy of the high honour we have bestowed upon you." With a warm smile, he bid her to get to her feet. "Rise, Duchess Enri, and be recognised as the guardian and leader of your people under the banner of Nazarick." And as she did so, the people of Carne as one fell to their knees, their heads bowed before their new duchess. "Villagers of the Duchy of Carne…I give to you your Duchess…Enri Emmot!"
"ALL HAIL DUCHESS ENRI!" Jugem cried immediately, and his cry was picked up and echoed by everyone around him as they all acknowledged their new Duchess. With that, the formalities were over, and the celebration began in earnest, a mixture of tears, laughter, and joyous shouts as the villagers embraced their new reality. The once-ordinary village, now officially under Nazarick's protection, began to celebrate the newfound security and the promise of a brighter future.
The festivities carried on into the evening, with music, dancing, and feasting filling the air. For Enri and her people, it was not just a celebration of victory but a profound moment of transformation, marking the beginning of a new era where they could look forward to a future of peace and prosperity under the banner of their new protectors.
Henry only stayed around for a short while to congratulate everyone on their hard-earned victory and reassure them all of his and the others' support for whatever came in the future. He then had to beg off to report this wonderful news to Ainz and left alongside Demiurge and Jemima. After returning to Nazarick, Henry took a moment to communicate the events of the day with Ainz and Fengxian via Message since they were both currently stationed in their hidden encampment outside the Katze Plains. Needless to say, both his adopted father and the Grand Marshal were pleased with the outcome of the battle and the news of Carne's change of allegiance to their rule, the opening prelude to what would happen on the morrow. With the news passed on, Henry went back to his quarters where he and Albedo had a private celebration of their own now that her pregnancy had been announced.
~TNT~
As the celebrations in both Nazarick and Carne Village got underway, a starkly contrasting scene was unfolding in the surrounding wilderness as the once-proud Barbro, now a broken and defeated man, stumbled through the dense underbrush, his heart pounding in his chest and his breath coming in ragged gasps. His armour, once gleaming and pristine, was now caked with dirt and blood. His grandeur and pride had been stripped away, leaving him a shadow of his former self, driven by the primal instinct to flee and survive.
He cursed under his breath, his thoughts a chaotic mix of anger, fear and despair as he continued to flee. How could this have happened?! How could a mere village, aided by goblins and other vile creatures, have bested his forces so completely? This defeat…this humiliating, soul-crushing defeat, would be a permanent stain on his honour, one that could never be erased and which would be mocked and japed about for ages to come. He would be the laughingstock of his Kingdom and his siblings…how could he ever face them again? How could he ever face his father once again after this?
But his humiliation was not complete…not yet. As he continued to stumble, a chilling sensation suddenly came upon him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end as he felt the unmistakable presence of something – or someone – watching him. Panic surged through his veins as he quickened his pace, his eyes darting frantically around in the darkness. Every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs seemed to echo with malevolent intent.
Suddenly, a low, mocking voice pierced the silence, sending a shiver down Barbro's spine. "My, my, what do we have here? The mighty Crown Prince reduced to a frightened little mouse, scurrying through the forest." Barbro spun around, his eyes widening with terror as he beheld the graceful and lithe form of Lupusregina Beta stand before him, her eyes glowing with a predatory gleam and a sadistic smile playing on her lips.
"Get away! Stay back!" He cried out in terror, his bravado completely shattered as he waved a frantic hand before her as though it still held his sword. "Do you know who I am?! I am the Crown Prince of the Re-Estize! The future king! The future Barbro XIV the Magnificent! "
"A prince? A future king?! The Magnificent?!" Lupusregina's laughter rang out, a haunting sound that reverberated through the threes. "How amusing. Tell me, little prince…what power do you hold now? Out here in the darkness, you are nothing but a scared and helpless little creature. And do you know what happens to those?" She licked her lips. "They become prey." Barbro's face went even more pale as he tried to back away, only to stumble and fall as the maid approached him, her eyes never leaving his as she unsheathed her deadly scythe, its keen edge glinting in the moonlight. "Your screams will be music to my ears, little prey. And now…it's time for the hunter to feast!"
With one swift, almost graceful motion, the maid lunged forward and pinned the Prince to the ground with only a foot. He tried to scream and struggle, but his voice caught in his throat as, with a swift motion of her hand, her claws tore into his flesh, and the pain that exploded through his body was more than enough to end his pitiful struggles. Lupusregina's laughter grew louder, a cruel symphony of torment as she took her time to relish each moment of this foolish human's suffering. Her sadistic side, tempered by her relationship with her beloved, now had free rein, and she revelled in it. Every scream, every plea for mercy, only fuelled her delight. She toyed with him, drawing out his pain, savouring his despair. Barbro's once-commanding voice was reduced to pitiful whimpers, each one a testament to his utter defeat.
As the life slowly drained from his body, Barbro's thoughts became a haze of regret and bitterness. His dreams of glory and power, shattered in the most brutal and humiliating way imaginable. And in his final moments, as darkness claimed him, he realized that his death was a fitting end to the hollow, vain, uncaring, selfish and prideful life he had led.
"Father… Forgive me…" With his last thoughts being a desperate plea for forgiveness from his father for the pathetic and spoiled excuse of an heir he had been that would never reach Ramposa III, Crown Prince Barbro's life came to its pitiful end as the pits of hell claimed his rotten soul
Lupusregina stood over his lifeless body, her eyes glinting with satisfaction. She wiped the blood from her claws and her scythe and looked up at the moonlit sky, a contented smile on her lips. "Good night, little crown prince," she murmured to the darkness, her voice carrying a dark and melodic undertone. "May your soul find no peace in the fires of hell that await you." With those words, she bent down and removed the once proud human's head from his shoulders before skipping back into the shadows with her gory trophy, a cheerful tune on her lips as she happily whistled.
The stage was now set. It was now time for her beloved, her father, and the Grand Marshal to claim their rightful dominion, and bring the world under Nazarick's glorious rule.
daniel: Another day, another chapter done! Let's go Carne! It was our intention from the start that NO ONE from Barbro's forces would leave the place alive after what they pulled! Hope you all liked the return of the Serpent of the West! We needed to give him and his forces some use and what better use there is than to squeeze the life out of greedy and spiteful nobles? Barbro got his just desserts and his head will be very useful, keep that in mind!
We also decided a long time ago that Enri would receive a Noble title in the Sorcerer Empire once she and the village became part of it, after all her growth and what she and her home have gone through she deserves it. ALL HAIL DUCHESS ENRI OF CARNE
And next would be Nazarick's grand debut on the new world stage: the Massacre of the Katze Plains. We have waited SO long for this and is finally so close! Just a heads-up guys: this will NOT be the bloodless spectacle of the anime, we will bring the ocean of blood that it was in the LN to this fic, and if you want to get a better idea of the sheer magnitude and horror this battle will have, make sure to watch on YouTube Oversimplified's 'The Second Punic War video Part 2' since it covers Hannibal's, Rome's greatest enemy and worst nightmare, masterpiece: The battle of Cannae
See ya guys next time!
Edster: I don't even need to say anything since my co-author echoed my thoughts exactly.
Really hope you guys enjoyed that, and once again thank you for all of the love you guys are showing to this story. Next time out, as my co-author stated, we're entering the final stages of this part of the story with the Battle of the Katze Plains, and as was said we are not going to hold back. It'll be majestic, it will be over-the-top and it will be bloody, so I hope you all are ready for it
I'll try and get this chapter up on time as I usually do, but since I'll be away for most of that weekend it'll either end up being uploaded late or sometime on the Monday instead, just to prewarn you all. Thank you all again for reading our work, and we'll see you next time in the next epic chapter of The Nazarick Triumvirate!