Chapter 13
Four hours went by in the blink of an eye.
The ice on the marsh had melted and the lizardmen's warriors were gathered by the main gate. Not many had lived through the fierce battle of the previous day to participate in this one: in total, they were 316.
The reason only warriors were participating was because Shasuryu had said, "There aren't a lot of enemies, so if we go out there with too many men, we'll just get in one another's way."
At a glance it seemed like a legitimate reason, but of course, the truth was something else.
Zaryusu gazed at the gathered warriors from a slightly removed position. Their bodies were painted with the crests that proved the ancestral spirits had descended among them, and the willpower on their faces could cut like a knife. It didn't seem like anyone had defeat on their minds.
Lizardmen nearby and above the walls cheered for the warriors. Among them, there were many who couldn't hide their fears. Zaryusu struggled to fake confidence so his internal hesitation wouldn't show, so the others wouldn't realize this battle was an offering to the King of Death.
This fight was for the King of Death to show off his strength to the lizardmen, to obliterate their will to resist. They had no chance of victory from the start, and behind Shasuryu's earlier statement was the desire to keep the victims to a minimum.
Zaryusu looked away from the lizardmen and shot a penetrating glare at the enemy side. The skeletons hadn't taken a single step from their previous positions. He couldn't see the monster Cocytus among them. He can't just be one of these skeletons, can he? This is the King of Death's aide. He won't be any ordinary monster. He was sure he would feel it all the way to the tip of his tail when he laid eyes on him.
As he sank into his gloom, from behind it came the signature splashing sound of someone heavy wading through the marsh. "Yo, Zaryusu!" Zenbel called out to him in his usual carefree voice. Not a thing was different about him, even though they were about to go to their deaths.
"Morale is awesome, huh?"
"Yeah. It'll be great if they can maintain it when they face that Cocytus monster…"
"Right… Oh! Is it already time?"
Shasuryu was at the gate. All the lizardmen turned their attention to him and the two swamp elementals next to him.
Crusch wasn't there: she was pouring magical energy into the swamp elemental summoning. Between that and the long term–effect defensive spells she'd cast on Zaryusu, she probably wouldn't be able to move when she was done, she'd used so much magical energy. In fact, she'd told him that when the two of them had left the house—that she probably wouldn't see him again because she'd probably pass out from using so much energy.
Feeling lonely with no one next to him, Zaryusu looked in the direction where he thought Crusch would be. Her expression when they had parted was tearing up his heart.
"Warriors! We march!" Shasuryu's call to boost their fighting spirit sent the morale of the lizardmen in the area soaring. They were full of excitement.
Zaryusu put a lid on the painful thoughts in his mind. I have to get back to the warriors.
The lizardmen walked slowly forth with Shasuryu and the two swamp elementals out front.
The enemy had probably been waiting for Zaryusu and company to arrive.
As soon as the lizardmen exited their village, the skeletons banged on their shields and stomped the ground. If the timing had been off, it would have just been noise, but the undead transformed the racket into a harmonious sound. It was so magnificent that anywhere but here it would have been worthy of applause.
While the sound attracted all the lizardmen's attention, trees behind the skeletons in the forest started falling over. There was only one reason huge trees with thick trunks like that would fall: someone was taking them down.
A commotion went through the lizardmen.
Since they couldn't see anyone, it was possible to imagine that multiple people were working together to cut them down. But the trees were crashing at intervals too precise for that to be true. It might have been possible, considering the perfectly ordered command of the undead they'd witnessed before, but none of the lizardmen thought so.
A strange feeling passed through their minds: that it was the work of a single actor.
What was strangest of all was that they couldn't hear a mace or a blade hitting the tree trunks until right before the trees collapsed. In other words, impossible as it might seem, someone incredibly strong must have been felling the thick trees with a single swing. How much arm strength and what kind of blade would one need to do such a thing?
The sound of the falling trees combined with the rhythm of the skeletons banging their shields and slowly approached the lizardmen. The defenders were shaken. Of course they were. There wasn't anyone who wouldn't be under those circumstances. Even Zenbel, Zaryusu and Shasuryu, who had braced themselves, were on edge. They were just skillfully hiding it not to make everyone else lose heart.
Eventually the figure cutting through the forest came into view. At the same time, the skeletons' banging stopped.
In the unnatural silence was a mass of polished light blue. It sparkled so intensely it made one wonder how much light it would reflect if the sky wasn't covered by that thick cloud again. The being looked like an eight-foot-tall bipedal insect. If the face of an ant and a praying mantis were combined and then demonically warped, it would probably look like this. The hard exoskeleton encasing his body was wrapped in a chill that sparkled like diamond dust. From his sturdy tail that was more than double his height sprouted countless spikes. His powerful lower jaws could surely sever an arm with no trouble. His four arms featured sharp claws and were equipped with dazzling vambraces. From his neck hung a golden disk and he wore silvery anklets.
The appearance of an absolute power, perhaps on par with the King of Death.
So that's Cocytus? Zaryusu's heart pounded, and at some point his breath had turned ragged.
None of the lizardmen had anything to say. Their eyes were drawn to the being who had shown himself, and they couldn't tear them away, not even if they were scared.
Without realizing it, they began to retreat. These lizardmen who had boosted their morale before coming, Zaryusu and company, who had braced themselves for this moment, they all quailed before the appearance of this overwhelmingly powerful opponent.
I get that the King of Death and his entourage weren't going to fight us. But I had no idea how terrifying a powerful opponent who is ready to fight could be…
The monster they were up against was enough to make even Zaryusu want to run away despite he had a spell on him that should have canceled out all fear. It was a miracle the lizardmen who hadn't received such spells weren't scrambling to flee.
Cocytus advanced toward them with slow steps.
His imposing figure entered the marsh and passed among the skeletons. When he'd approached to about 50 m from the lizardmen, he stopped. Then he moved the insect head on top of his long, thin neck. As if he was looking for someone.
Zaryusu felt the gaze stop for a moment on him.
"NOW THEN, LORD AINZ IS WATCHING. PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR SPIRIT. BUT FIRST, [ICE PILLAR]."
He repeated the spell and about halfaway between him and the lizardmen, two pillars of ice thrust up out of the water.
"IT MAY BE RUDE TO YOU WARRIORS WHO CAME HERE PREPARED, BUT LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING: ACROSS THAT LINE IS DEATH. IF YOU INSIST ON ADVANCING PAST IT, KNOW THAT DEATH AWAITS YOU." Cocytus crossed two of his arms; it was a posture that said he was the ome making the rules.
"Hey, he's actually a pretty nice guy!"
Zaryusu nodded as if agreeing with Zenbel's outburst. Then he took a step forward. Following him, Zenbel, Shasuryu and the other two chiefs took a step.
Shasuryu turned around and called out to the warriors who were about to follow them. "You guys can stay there… No, go back to the village. Otherwise you'll probably get mixed up in this and be killed."
"Hey, let us fight with you! We are scared…but still!"
"It's not cowardly to pull out. It's important to live!"
"Then why—?"
"Some lizardmen can't withdraw. That's just the way it is. How could a chief let his tribe get conquered without putting up a fight?"
"But, Chief, we'll fight, too!"
"Hold up! Young fellows, go home. Leave the rest to us old fogies!" The lizardmen who had pushed their way to the front were plenty old but still far too young to be called elderly. There were about fifty-seven of them. When the others saw their expressions, they didn't know what to say.
If there had been emotions like determination or resignation on their faces, the younger ones might have offered to accompany them, but their expressions contained a wish: that those who were younger than them would survive and enjoy life.
The warriors, who had no words, moved off to the rear, frustrated.
Shasuryu turned back to Cocytus. "Didn't mean to keep you waiting, Cocytus."
Cocytus reached out an arm and curled one of his awfully long, thin fingers, clearly saying Come at me!"
In response, Shasuryu roared, "Chaaaaarge!"
"Rrrraaaaagh!" With a roar from the bottom of their hearts, the determined lizardmen raced across the marsh toward Cocytus.
Cocytus eyed the charging lizardmen coldly. "IT'S A SHAME, WARRIORS, BUT FIRST ALLOW ME TO THIN YOU OUT A BIT." It was inconceivable that he would lose, even if they all reached him. Cocytus just judged that he should be selective.
Cocytus, as a warrior, would have rather shown respect and waited until they were in attack range to fight them. But under the circumstances (he thought he was receiving way more favor than he deserved after leading the army to a complete defeat), allowing the rabble to cross swords with a guardian of the Great Tomb of Nazarick would be disrespectful to the ones watching, especially the Supreme Beings.
So Cocytus unleashed his sealed aura.
It was an ability from his knight of Niflheim class: Frost Aura. The skill slightly inhibited the user's opponents' movement while dealing extreme chill damage. If he had put it on full blast, the lizardmen watching the battle would have been in range, but he didn't want to do that.
He held back the power. SHORTER RANGE, LESS DAMAGE. THIS SEEMS ABOUT RIGHT.
And an arctic frost spread out from Cocytus, covering all the area between him and the icy pillars. The dramatic change in temperature caused the atmosphere to rumble.
"…OKAY. THAT'S PROBABLY ENOUGH."
He suppressed his aura.
It lasted almost no time; the raging cold vanished as if it had never been there. But it definitely hadn't been a dream or an illusion. The proof was the fifty-seven lizardman bodies littering the marsh.
Only five could still move. The strongest five. With neither fear nor hesitation at the death of their comrades or Cocytus's power, they leaped into action at once.
A rock flew through the air. The first one to rush forward was the lizardman in armor. Two others followed him. The two swamp elementals, their bodies cracked from the chill, weren't as nimble and moved slowly behind them. The last lizardman cast a spell.
That stone had been aimed at Cocytus's neck, but it was pointless because… "ALL GUARDIANS HAVE RESISTANCE TO PROJECTILE WEAPONS VIA AN ITEM OR WHATNOT." The little rock was indeed deflected as if it had hit an invisible shield.
The next challenger, the one running out in front, was the Razor Tail chief, wearing one of the Four Great Treasures: White Dragon Bone. It was hard enough to repel Zaryusu's Frost Pain and the strongest armor available to the lizardmen.
Facing him, Cocytus drew a sword out of the air as if he'd been holding it secretly in space. It was an odachi, a sword wit long blade. Imperial Sword Zanshin, the keenest weapon of the 21 in his possession.
And now he swung it at the oncoming lizardman.
His swordsmanship was so sharp it practically cut the air itself, and the atmosphere's scream, a musical tone, echoed throughout the area. If it weren't for the situation, it would have been a pleasantly serene sound.
The moment after, the chieftain, armor and all, was sliced vertically in two, and the two halves separated and collapsed into the marsh.
Cocytus had cut through the lizardmen's strongest armor without putting even a nick in Imperial Sword Zanshin.
Without letting the death before their eyes faze them, the next two lizardmen split, one left, one right, and raised their weapons.
"Yaaaagh!" From the right, Zenbel's spear hand stabbed toward Cocytus's face with the power of Natural Iron Weapon and Iron Skin as well.
"Waaaagh!" From the left, Frost Pain stabbed toward his abdomen.
The attacks were based on the logic that in close combat it was difficult to use long weapons.
Of course, that went for only ordinary combatants.
Cocytus made a subtle dodge and took Zenbel's arm from the side with the middle of his blade. He moved with the long sword exactly as if it were part of his body.
Iron Skin made Zenbel's skin hard as steel, but Imperial Sword Zanshin's sharpness had already been proven on White Dragon Bone. The blade bit smoothly into his arm and continued in a graceful motion to the water's surface, easily severing the limb.
"Gahhhh!"
As blood spurted from Zenbel's stump of a right arm, Cocytus caught Frost Pain in his other hand.
"HMM, AHA. NOT A BAD SWORD, BUT…"
"Tch!" Giving up on pulling Frost Pain free (it wouldn't budge), Zaryusu unleashed a kick at Cocytus's knee. Cocytus didn't even attempt to avoid it, and a sharp pain ran through Zaryusu's foot. It was as if he'd kicked a wall harder than steel with all his might.
"Overspell: Mass Slight Cure Wounds!" In exchange for a vast amount of magical energy, Shasuryu was able to force a spell from an elite tier he would never normally be able to use and heal everyone.
"HRMMM…" Cocytus had never seen this magical boost before, and he observed Shasuryu with great interest.
The two swamp elementals came running in to block his view. They stood between Cocytus and Zenbel, whose severed arm was on the mend thanks to the healing spell, attacking with tentacle-like arms. Before their attacks could connect, however, Cocytus slashed both of them, annoyed.
As the swamp elementals disintegrated into lumps of mud, Zaryusu punched Cocytus's compound eyes and stomach and chest equivalents. Of course, the one who got hurt was him. He was already bleeding from the broken skin on his hand.
"PESKY ONE, AREN'T YOU?" Cocytus swung his spiked tail around and struck Zaryusu hard in the chest.
"Guh-hagh!" With a cracking sound, Zaryusu's body soared like a ball hit with a bat and crashed into the marsh. After rolling several times through the mud, he finally stopped, but the intense pain in his chest and the blood he was coughing up made it hard to breathe.
Had the broken bones in his chest punctured his lungs? He tried to inhale, but the air wouldn't come. It was like being underwater.
The warm fluid running down his throat made him nauseous. When he looked at his chest, he saw multiple wounds like knife gouges and a gush of blood flowing from them. I'm this bad after just one hit…?
Desperately struggling to breathe, Zaryusu glared at Cocytus with eyes that still had fight in them to see if a follow-up attack was coming.
"YOU STILL HAVE THE WILL TO FIGHT? THEN I'LL GIVE THIS BACK." He tossed Frost Pain carelessly near Zaryusu, still in the mud and then ignored him.
Cocytus turned to face the others.
Although his arm had grown back, Zenbel had taken a battering and Shasuryu had to cast one more healing spell on him.
Another rock hurtled toward Cocytus as if to say, I won't let you near them! But it ricocheted uselessly.
"HOW ANNOYING," Cocytus mumbled and casually thrust his hand toward the Small Fang chief. "PIERCING ICICLES." He launched dozens of sharp icicles the size of human arms from across a wide area.
The icicles had no trouble skewering the sole lizardman being targeted. One in the chest, two in his abdomen, one in his right thigh. They all went clear through him.
The Small Fang chief, the most talented lizardman ranger, swayed, then collapsed into the marsh, like a marionette whose strings had been cut, and died.
"Waaaagh!"
"Overspell: Mass Slight Cure Wounds!"
Zenbel charged and Shasuryu used the healing spell again.
Zenbel was trying to buy time for Zaryusu's wounds to heal. He knew it was reckless: all of his abilities were powerless in the face of Cocytus', but he advanced with zero hesitation. When the brave Zenbel came in range, Cocytus casually swung Imperial Sword Zanshin at him.
The blow came faster than Zenbel could see. Far faster than he was nimble and the sword had no trouble cutting through his flesh. Zenbel's headless body gushed a fountain of blood and crumpled into the marsh with a splash. His head followed a split second later.
"… NOW THEN, TWO LEFT? I'VE HEARD ABOUT YOU FROM LORD AINZ AND HERE YOU ARE, THE LAST SURVIVORS." Cocytus, who hadn't moved one step from his position when the battle started, gazed at the two remaining lizardmen and brandished his katana. Neither blood nor fat clung to the smoky-white blade. It was beautiful: everything had come off in that one stroke.
Zaryusu had recovered enough energy to stand, and Shasuryu had drawn his great sword. They faced Cocytus between them. Zaryusu scooped some of the still-pouring blood from his chest and smeared it on his face. It looked like one of the patterns to call down ancestral spirits.
"Zaryusu, how are your wounds?"
"Bad. There's still a dull pain, but I can swing my sword a few times."
"I see… Well, that's enough. Honestly, I'm pretty much out of magic. If I'm not careful, I might pass out," Shasuryu said with a kachi-kachi noise of his teeth that could have passed for laughter.
In response, Zaryusu changed his expression slightly. "Oh, so you're killing yourself too."
Smiling faintly, he exhaled and relaxed his shoulders. He let his sword hand droop. A sharp pain streaked outward from his chest, but he did his best to ignore it. He wasn't about to give up before this was truly over: he was going to keep swinging his sword. He knew full well that they couldn't win. There wasn't anything he could do about the defeat they'd been dealt. Still, he couldn't just accept it. Why? Because he'd lied to a lot of souls, told them that winning was possible. There were lizardmen who believed that big, fat lie, so there was no way he could accept this defeat.
For you, Crush, to the very last second, with all my might… "I will keep wielding this sword!" Zaryusu's roar echoed throughout the area.
The fangs in Cocytus's jaw closed with a click. "THAT'S A GOOD WARCRY…" He must have smiled. And it wasn't the sneering smirk of the strong at the weak but a smile at an equal, a warrior.
"Good, Zaryusu. Just like that. Let's fight this till the very end!" Shasuryu smiled. "Now then, sorry to have kept you waiting, Sir Cocytus."
Cocytus shrugged in response. "I DON'T MIND AT ALL. I'M NOT SO BOORISH I'D INTERRUPT A FAREWELL BETWEEN BROTHERS. ARE YOU READY… NO, YOU'VE BEEN READY FROM THE BEGINNING, HAVEN'T YOU?"
As Zaryusu and Shasuryu took a solid step forward, Cocytus brandished Imperial Sword Zanshin and spoke. "LET'S HAVE YOUR NAMES."
"Shasuryu Shasha!"
"Zaryusu Shasha!"
"…I'LL MAKE A NOTE OF YOU AS WARRIORS. AND ALLOW ME TO APOLOGIZE. NORMALLY I HOLD A WEAPON IN EACH OF MY ARMS, BUT… I DON'T SAY THIS WITH DISDAIN, BUT…YOU JUST AREN'T STRONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO DRAW THEM ALL."
"Isn't that just too bad!"
"Indeed. Let's do this!"
The two lizardmen dashed at Cocytus, their splashes echoing across the marsh.
The Nazarick Guardian cocked his head slightly at their staggered timing. These two won't enter the range of my sword at the same time. They must have a plan, he thought and waited for them with a vague sense of excitement.
The first one to enter his range would be Shasuryu. Cocytus watched to see what he would do.
Right at the very edge of where Cocytus's blade was able to reach, Shasuryu stopped and yelled "[Earth Bind]!"
As as result, countless chains of mud reached out toward Cocytus. At the same time, Zaryusu ran for all he was worth. He hid Frost Pain behind his back so that his range couldn't be guessed.
Shasuryu's comment about being out of magic had been nothing more than a bluff to try and trick Cocytus. If he fell for it, he'd get caught in the dirt chains and stabbed by the one now running up to him.
No matter how hard his exoskeleton is, the tip of my sword should penetrate if I put all my strength into it! With that sentiment fueling his charge, the attack of a man who had abandoned all defense would be quite powerful.
YOU MUST HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THAT SWORD. Cocytus understood that sentiment well. He, too, felt strongly about all his weapons. Among them, he had particularly strong feelings for the sword he had drawn this time, a weapon used by his own creator. He was showing them the utmost respect by facing them with Imperial Sword Zanshin, even if it resulted in an even more overwhelming power disparity.
But they had misunderstood one thing.
They were fighting Cocytus, guardian of the 5th Floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
"…YOUR LEVEL IS TOO INFERIOR FOR YOUR SPELLS TO GET PAST MY DEFENSES."
Just before the mud chains touched Cocytus, they were repelled and fell back into the marsh as plain mud. At that low tier, they couldn't penetrate Cocytus's magic defenses.
"Icy Burst!"
Along with the shout from the rear, white frost swirled around Cocytus, enveloping the area.
"A POINTLESS EFFORT."
Cocytus, with his perfect resistance to chill, took the freezing assault as a gentle breeze and waited for Zaryusu or Shasuryu to spring into his range.
About a breath later, the chance he'd been waiting for appeared. But he hesitated for just a moment. WILL CUTTING HIS HEAD OFF BE ENOUGH TO STOP HIM?
Zaryusu had abandoned all defense, so Cocytus didn't think so. The sight of the headless body charging on appeared in his mind. SO SLICE OFF HIS ARM FIRST, AND THEN CUT OFF HIS HEAD? NO, THAT'S UNCIVILIZED. I'LL JUST SLAY HIM WITH ONE BLOW.
Zaryusu's full-speed sprint, with no thought for defense, was hopelessly slow from Cocytus's point of view.
In the white haze, the black figure of Zaryusu came dimly into view. Cocytus reached out and deftly grabbed Frost Pain's blade, just like before.
Doubt ran through his mind at how easy it had been to stop the charge, despite the speed, but for one second only. He didn't need to think too hard: a single swing with the Imperial Sword Zanshin would end all of this. Then there would be only one left.
SO IT WAS A CHARGE WITH NO PLAN… Cocytus went to cut Zaryusu down, a bit disappointed when he changed his mind. AHA…!
"Rrrrrraaaaaaagh!" Through the cold hovering in the area, along with the roar, a great sword came down. Shasuryu's strike had enough momentum to whip up a wind to blow away the chill.
[Earth Bind, Zaryusu's charge, and Icy Burst had all been feints.
Stabs from Frost Pain were worth being on guard against, but Shasuryu's overhead swing would probably deal more damage. Cocytus had no doubt that that was their main attack.
BUT IF YOU WANT TO SNEAK ATTACK, YOU HAVE TO DO IT QUIETLY. With the splash of their footfalls plainly audible, it couldn't possibly be a sneak attack. WAS THERE EVEN ANY POINT IN TAKING CHILL DAMAGE TO ATTEMPT THAT? Cocytus wondered. OR ARE THEY JUST BEING DELUSIONAL?
But it was true that they'd entered his range.
AS LONG AS I'M HOLDING HIS ONLY WEAPON, ZARYUSU IS NO ENEMY. ALL THAT CHANGES IS THE ORDER IN WHICH I'LL KILL THEM, thought Cocytus, and he swung his sword.
One blow. He sliced Shasuryu, great sword and all, right in half. Before his corpse even hit the marsh, he'd brought his katana back around to cut down Zaryusu and…
Just then, Cocytus's fingers slipped on Zaryusu's blade. Taken aback, he checked them. WHY IS THE SWORD PUSHING TOWARD ME? In the midst of the white frost, he saw something red on both his fingers and the blade. He instantaneously figured out what had caused the slip. BLOOD!
That was confusing. He wondered when it had gotten there and understood when he saw the face of Zaryusu through the frost.
He hadn't been painting a pattern when he'd smeared the blood on his face. He'd gathered the blood to slather it on the blade of his sword. Icy Burst hadn't been to deal damage to Cocytus or to conceal Shasuryu but to hide the fact that the blade had blood on it. That was why Zaryusu had held the sword behind his back as well. When Cocytus had stopped Zaryusu's attack before, he'd grabbed the blade of his sword. Zaryusu had remembered that and made this move on the off chance Cocytus would do the same thing again.
Then an electric shock zapped through Cocytus's brain. THAT TIME! WHEN I THOUGHT HE WAS RUSHING AT ME SLOWLY! TO THINK HE BLOODIED THE BLADE FOR AN INGENIOUS PLAN TO MAKE IT SLIP AND RUN ME THROUGH, WHICH WOULDN'T WORK MORE THAN ONCE. AND IN ORDER TO CREATE A DEFINITE CHANCE, HE HELD BACK TO MAKE ME THINK IT WOULD BE EASY TO GRAB THE SWORD!
The blade slipped closer and closer to his light-blue body. Not even Cocytus could resist Zaryusu pushing for all he was worth with his full body weight, not when with only two fingers and slipping on the blood. If he'd grabbed it at more of a distance, he might have had more options, but at this close range, he did not.
Cocytus was so moved he shivered. Even leaving everything to chance, this attack had won all its various bets. More than anything, though, if Shasuryu hadn't been around, this situation couldn't have occurred. Shasuryu probably hadn't understood what Zaryusu was trying to do, but he had believed in him as his older brother and sacrificed his life. He'd made that pointless sneak attack and war cry to draw attention from his little brother for even just a moment.
Just one moment. Literally the time it took to blink… As Frost Pain approached with Zaryusu's all behind it, Cocytus clacked his lower jaws together. "WONDERFUL."
Then the sword stabbed at Cocytus.
And glanced off without leaving so much as a scratch on his sparkling cerulean body. It was the inevitable outcome born of the unbridgeable gap in ability between the lizardman and an elite NPC of the Great Tomb of Nazarick.
"SORRY, BUT I HAVE A SKILL THAT MAKES ME TEMPORARILY IMMUNE TO ALL WEAK MAGIC WEAPONS. NOW THAT IT HAS ACTIVATED, YOUR ATTACKS ARE MEANINGLESS."
Personally, Cocytus would have gladly sustained an injury out of respect for the warrior who made such a splendid attack, but as a guardian, there was absolutely no way he could do that with the Supreme Beings watching.
Still, Cocytus intentionally took a single step back. It caused mud to spatter and soil his beautiful blue body. A one-step retreat. It didn't mean anything. Nothing happened because of it. Zaryusu was definitely going to die and Cocytus's victory was absolute. But it was a token of praise from the absolutely strong, Cocytus, who had been fooled, to the helplessly weak, Zaryusu, who had tricked him.
Zaryusu smiled a pure smile reserved for those who knew their fate and had done everything they could to avoid it as Cocytus swung down Imperial Sword Zanshin, bringing an end to his life and to the clash.
"That was some magnificent fighting!" Ainz praised Cocytus, who had bowed before him on one knee.
"THANK YOU, AINZ-SAMA."
"That said, I think you know already, but this time you gave them the stick. From now on, you need to give them carrots. We mustn't rule through fear."
"UNDERSTOOD."
Ainz nodded and turned to the other guardians in the room. "Good. Listen to me, guardians. As I said in the Throne Room, I'm leaving the governing of the lizardmen completely up to Cocytus. If he requests support from you, give him whatever he requires. Cocytus, I'd like for you to instill in the lizardmen a loyalty to Nazarick… to give them a special education… But I'll leave the details up to you. Let me know if you need Wings of Ascension or any other specific item. I could lend you a Power Suit or something for a time as well."
In Yggdrasil, it was possible for players to permanently change race mid-game, but not whenever they wanted. There were many requirements that had to be met first and it was usually impossible to change back afterward. One of the requirements was an item. For example, to change into an elder lich, one would need a Book of the Dead. To change into an imp, a Seed of Corruption. The Wings of Ascension Ainz mentioned were for becoming an angel. Even Oshikuru, despite the way he'd modified it, had needed a Hellking's Eye to gain a more powerful form.
"THANK YOU, I WILL LET YOU KNOW. ALSO, LORD AINZ, MAY I ASK HOW WILL THE BEST LIZARDMEN WARRIORS BE DISPOSED OF?"
"Which ones?"
"OH, I MEAN ZENBEL AND THOSE BROTHERS CALLED ZARYUSU AND SHASURYU. THEY WERE MOST CERTAINLY THE MOST SKILLED WARRIORS AMONG LIZARDMEN."
"Agreed," said Lord Oshikuru. Even if it was a single word, Cocytus understood from his tone that he too respected the bravery and abilities of the lizardmen who had just died fighting.
Their corpses should still be in the marsh, but what about it? Hmm… "Oh. Should we recover the bodies and try using them as fodder for undead creation that doesn't use my skills?"
"I FEEL THAT WOULD BE REGRETTABLE…"
"Hmm, what do you mean? Are they that valuable?"
From what Ainz was able to tell after watching on the Mirror of Remote Viewing, there hadn't been anything noteworthy about them: Cocytus had won a crushing victory.
Hearing his friend say that absolute bullshit, Oshikuru almost facepalmed. I know you're a caster, but goddammit! How could you not see how they skilfully tricked an immensely more powerful enemy?!… Well, it's true Cocytus was holding back, but that was still something praiseworthy. If Cocytus won't have you save them, I won't bother, but these three'd really deserve to serve us. Or rather, we need such people under us if we want to make an army of locals… and I'd love that…
Cocytus' words interrupted his flow of thoughts.
"…IT'S TRUE THEY WERE WEAK. BUT I SAW THE SPARK OF A WARRIOR IN THEM, IN HOW THEY DIDN'T FEAR MY POWER. I THINK IT WOULD BE A WASTE TO USE THEM AS FODDER. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY MIGHT BECOME STRONGER THAN WE COULD IMAGINE. AND I INTEND TO TURN THE LIZARDMEN WARRIORS INTO SOLDIERS WORTH OF SERVING THE GREAT TOMB OF NAZARICK. I WILL TRAIN THEM ALL, BUT THE DESCENDANTS OF THESE THREE WARRIORS WILL PROBABLY BE THE FUTURE ELITE OF THE LIZARDMEN CORPSES UNDER YOUR COMMAND, LORD AINZ."
Yes, well said, Cocytus!, thought Oshikuru with a little smile.
Ainz felt differently. His reasoning isn't wrong, but… Could it be that he's taken a liking to those reptiles?
Honestly, Ainz didn't get what "spark of a warrior" meant. There was that word bloodlust that came up a lot in manga and books, but like when he warned Narberal, he didn't really understand. In the same way, empathy between warriors made no sense to him.
That was because although his current self was quite different, he was originally just a normal member of society. It was probably dangerous for the average citizen of Japan to feel an affinity for concepts like a thirst for battle and the "spark of a warrior." He would have understood the spark of a brilliant salesman better, albeit still vaguely. On the other hand to Oshikuru, who had always loved all sorts of fighting IRL and in the game too, Cocytus' words were perfectly clear.
"I see… A waste, huh?"
Cocytus answered in the affirmative, but Ainz still wondered, Even if it's a waste…who cares? But if he really thought about it, Cocytus sounded absolutely right. Unlike the incoherent Cocytus in the Throne Room, now he was making a proposal with the pros accurately presented. If this was proof of progress, he'd passed this exercise with flying colors.
Ainz thought for a moment and remembered that he had excellent subordinates. There they were, lined up in postures befitting their status: silent, straight, and stock-still.
"Albedo, let's hear your opinion."
"Things should be as you wish, Lord Ainz."
"… Demiurge, what do you think?"
"I believe what you say is most correct, Lord Ainz."
"… … Shalltear, how about you?"
"The same as Demiurge. I defer to your judgment."
"… … … … Aura?"
"My lord. I agree with everyone else."
"… … … … … Mare?"
"U-u-uh, yes, Ainz-sama. Me, too."
These aren't answers! He hoped the next and last one would be more helpful.
"Oshikuru, my friend, what do you say?"
"I like Cocytus' idea, Ainz-san. And as you said, we've already shown the stick. Now shall be the time to use the carrots. Still, that doesn't mean we should do this for free… I don't know what we might ask in exchange for resurrecting those three, but I'm sure we can come up with something."
Thank you, Oshikuru! Looks like you've decided to use your brain for something else than fighting and fucking around this time. Huh, I guess you too like these lizardmen. What now, though? Hm…
"…So we've conquered the lizardman village. Is there someone representing them? Any way of organizing themselves?"
"YES, THERE IS A REPRESENTATIVE."
"Oh? What's he like?"
"A WHITE LIZARDMAN WHO DIDN'T PARTICIPATE IN THE LAST BATTLE. IT SEEMS SHE HAS DRUID POWERS."
"Oh, that one! I see, I see…"
So we can use her!, thought Ainz. She'll do anything to get back her loved one and by adding the other two we can make it look like we don't know about her loving Zaryusu. She'll definitely be a good spy for us!…
But if I do implement the idea in my mind right now, it might cause trouble for Cocytus when he starts to govern them. So what should I do?… Then he realized something with a start. … It'd be faster to just ask, even though asking before was pointless…
Ainz explained his plan to all, even if the one whose response he wanted was Cocytus. The 5th Floor Guardian's answer was affirmative. Ainz couldn't be completely sure Cocytus wasn't holding back out of respect, but when he glanced at Oshikuru, Albedo and Demiurge and saw no change in their expressions, he figured there was probably nothing wrong with his idea.
"Okay. How long will it take you to bring her here?"
"PLEASE FORGIVE ME, BUT I HAD THOUGHT YOU MIGHT ASK, SO I ALREADY HAVE HER IN A NEARBY ROOM."
Ainz instinctively looked at Demiurge and saw him shaking his head slightly.
Crazy! He did something without being asked! It doesn't seem like anyone gave him such an idea, either… This must be how a boss feels seeing one of their subordinates grow!, he thought, and his face warped in satisfaction, not that the bony exterior moved at all.
"No, no, that's good, Cocytus. It's foolish to waste time. Your judgment was correct. Okay, bring her here."
"Um, please wait a minute!"
"What is it, Aura?"
"I don't think this distasteful place is suitable for you to meet someone, Lord Ainz, not even a new subordinate. It would be better to meet her in the Throne Room at Nazarick."
All the other guardians besides Mare made slight nods of agreement.
"…MY HUMBLE APOLOGIES, I DIDN'T CONSIDER THAT. DO FORGIVE ME!"
"Ahh…" I wasn't even thinking about that! Ainz wondered what to do next. Then he remembered what he'd said earlier. In that case…
"Aura."
"My lord!"
"This place you made, into which you put so much thought. I already told you I think it is equal to Nazarick, right? I wasn't lying. Cocytus, bring her in. We'll meet her here."
"L-Lord Ainz!"
"Aura, step down."
"Albedo!" Aura responded fiercely, blushing. "Why are you stopping me?"
Albedo just shot one glance at her and then fixed her attention on the door.
The one who answered angry Aura was Demiurge. "…Lord Ainz's words are always correct, in every instance. Thus, if he says he considers this place equal to Nazarick, then…"
"… that is correct." Shalltear finished his sentence.
I don't think my words are always correct, nor do I really want them thinking so…but in this case I guess it's convenient if they do.
"Aura. I'll tell you one more time. I think this place that you, one of my most trusted servants, a guardian, are working hard to build is equivalent to Nazarick, even if it's still under construction… Do you understand?"
"Yes, Lord Ainz. Thank you!" Aura bowed deeply. The other guardians followed suit.
Y'all don't have to be so…emotional. You're gonna make me blush!
"Then Cocytus, bring her here. Let us begin the ruling process of the lizardmen, the very first population of the New World to serve the Great Tomb of Nazarick!"
"YES, SIR!"
