Something23: Thank You.
Proud Parent: Gilgamesh should make his first appearance at the end of this Arc.
Poqwlaks123: Two conflicts, in fact, Jadalbaoth (Demiurge) against the Roble Holy Kingdom and Cocytus VS the Land of the Trolls.
Author note: This chapter is based on two episodes of the webnovel. The first appearance of Calca Bessarez and emissaries from the Liberation Army were sent to seek help from Momon the Dark Hero. However, the outcome of the debates in this chapter differs from my sources of inspiration. This is primary because the situation in this chapter is less desperate, thanks to Miriel's actions. Also, Ainz has already destroyed the Re-Estize Kingdom in the timeline. It must be understood that the mass killing of hundreds of thousands of innocent people has had an unfavorable impact on the inhabitants of the New World.
Holy Queen
Near Daggerford, North Roble Holy Kingdom
The flying carpet floated over the forest, moving barely faster than a walking man. Sitting cross-legged on the fabric rectangle, Miriel was mechanically spinning the tarnished silver ring that had passed at her finger.
It was... impossible.
There was no other word to describe what had just happened.
Greddy Clutchs couldn't sell items from another game. This cursed book was an OOO artifact that summons the demon-prince of avarice (at least in the game lore)... In the game, the demon was a salesman whose inventory was renewed every twenty-four hours. He only sold items from Obscura Onhime Online, he could not provide items from Mahō To Ai Gurimoa.
It was just impossible... at least in the game. But things have changed because this book was now a real object and Miriel was in the New World.
A fold of incomprehension wrinkled Miriel's forehead. The strangest thing was that Eraingui's dress was exactly what she needed. The Summoner did not believe in a coincidence. Besides, even as she invoked the demon, she had thought of this dress.
Mahō To Ai Gurimoa was a game she played... that Watanabe Haruko played on her smartphone.
The story began with a flashback, 25 years before the beginning of the story itself. During the year-end ball of the magic academy, the crown prince Erlan de Parye denounced his engagement with his fiancé, Countess Mathise d'Eraingui, before condemning the "Villainess" to banishment out of the kingdom for bullying the commoner who was his real love.
Unfortunately, things did not end with the ban. Mathise d'Eraingui's carriage was attacked on the way. The Villainess died understanding that her ex-fiancé had commissioned this murderer to be rid of her... permanently.
The story begins with the arrival of the heroine of Mahō To Ai Gurimoa (the player's character) at the magic academy of the kingdom of Burgandi. The heroine was a young noble in love with Crown Prince Mathias (Erlan's son, now king). Mathias, of course, preferred another woman, and the heroine was thus promised a destiny similar to that of Mathise d'Eraingui, a generation earlier. Except that, after the first chapter of the game, the player discovered the affairs of the Countess of Eraingui in a trunk of the magic academy... and in this trunk, there was the dress that the Villainess wore at the prom... a haunted dress! Having not found rest after her death, the ghost of Mathise d'Eraingui remained bound to her dress.
Mahō To Ai Gurimoa was an Interactive Light Novel where the player had to make choices, helped by the pieces of advice of the Villainess' ghost. The goal was both to avenge the ghost and marry a beautiful party. In the game, there were four "Captures Targets" (one of which was hidden and only appeared if the player had completed the other three routes).
In short, a smartphone's Otome Game with a fairly classic plot.
Miriel had thought of Mahō To Ai Gurimoa and Eraingui's dress because she needed the advice of someone familiar with the habits and customs of a royal court.
The half-elf nodded.
So that probably explained "why" this dress appeared in Greedy Clutches' inventory... she had thought about it and... it had appeared. But that didn't explain "how".
Suddenly ceasing to play with the ring on her finger, Miriel shuddered and raised her hand before her eyes.
The "RING OF KINGS"!
Of course, it's so simple! Her summoning power had changed between OOO and the New World because of the "Ring of Kings".
The ring of the Emperors of Menilboné was made of two distinct parts. First, the red bloodstone, similar to a ruby, was inserted into the bezel. Called "Actorios" or "Dragon Stone", it was a focus of magical energy that was used to summon the Eternal Champion when the world was in danger... a bit like the Fuyuki Grail in Fate Stay Night since its role was to summon a hero bound by fate.
The Emperors of Menilboné had discovered the Actorios, and understood its use... but invoking the Eternal Champion did not interest them. On the other hand, the gigantic amount of magical energy inside the Dragon Stone was enough to make them drool with envy.
So they created the "Ring of Kings" proper, a silver ring engraved with runes in which the Actorios was inserted. The ring was a kind of interface that allowed drawing from the magic reserve of the Dragon Stone.
The "Ring of Kings" had a third power. For 10,000 years, the Emperors of Menilboné had made pacts with the Lords of the Animals and the Lords of the Plants, or even the Higher Authorities (the Law, the Chaos, and the Cosmic Balance). The key to these pacts was the "Ring of Kings". As a result, the ring made it possible to instantly (or almost) summon creatures that could be called gods without complicated rituals, pentacles, or reagents.
Moreover, because the ring was the focal point of the pacts linking the Emperors of Menilboné to all sorts of quasi-divine creatures, the partners of the pact guaranteed each other mutually, so only the authentic Emperor could use the "Ring of Kings".
The ring that Miriel had was not the real "Ring of Kings" it was a replica created for her by 'Einheri, the horn of the Valkyries', the World Object that the cardinals of the Slane Theocracy had used to summon her in the New World.
This version of the ring was only bound to her and was the guarantor of her own covenants.
Thus, the "Ring of Kings" allowed her to invoke all the entities of OOO's game. Which didn't surprise her, MIriel was her game avatar at Obscura Onihime Online. But apparently, the Actorios allowed her to summon things that did not come from OOO... her "pacts" were therefore not limited to a single video game.
Could she summon all the creatures she had seen in the games that Watanabe Haruko had played?
And why only from games? Why not also books, anime, and manga?
Could she invoke...
The Balrog of the Moria? Sauron or maybe... Morgoth himself?!
The idea was as terrifying as it was exciting!
One of the famous Chinese proverbs says: "a man who rides on the back of a tiger will find it difficult to dismount".
Miriel had trouble falling asleep that night. She was so eager to experience the limits of her power... Since she was a bullied teenager who took refuge in books and video games, she dreamed of being a hero who changed the world. But at the same time, she felt an almost physical malaise. An icy chill descended her spine. The half-elf was not stupid enough to think that using the "Ring of Kings" would be without consequences.
Who was she, after all?
A sixteen-year-old girl with little life experience... Many people older than her, more experienced, wiser, and better educated had confused the "power to do something" with the "right to do something".
The abuses committed by the Height Greed Kings gave a good idea of the danger represented by the misuse of a power like that granted by the "Ring of Kings". Their ephemeral empire had spread throughout the continent. But, in the end, not only had their immense powers not protected these Players, but this was the very reason for their self-destruction.
As for Ainz Ooal Gown, he too seemed eager to devour the world and he too would cause his own downfall by the extent of his ambition never satisfied.
She finally fell asleep and had restless dreams... but her sleep was brief.
Miriel awoke with a start, hearing a voice calling her.
In the darkness of her bedroom the light emanating from the "Ring of Kings" formed like galaxies of red particles that danced frantically on the walls and ceiling.
"Miriel!"
On the same night, Slane Theocracy.
The fields north of Silksuntecks had gone unnoticed until a few weeks ago. However, everything changed in a single afternoon when mysterious plants suddenly bloomed and grew to maturity. The seeds from these plants were then planted in several large plots. In the center of these fields, an even more mysterious tree appeared. It was so tall that it looked like it had been there for centuries. The tree's trunk resembled a woman's figure, with its branches shaped like arms, and garlands of leaves and flowers forming like hair. This tree was known as the Entangled Woman, the spirit of flowering and plant growth, and was one of the Plant Lords who had made a pact with the Menilbonéens. Although asleep since Miriel's departure, the Entangled Woman remained aware of her surroundings, and her peaceful sleep had just been disturbed...
The perimeter of the fields was guarded by these knights in white armor that Miriel nicknamed 'fire-hydrant knights' because of the particular shape of their helmets.
They patrolled along the outer wall and guarded the gates and the long low buildings where the alchemy laboratories were installed.
However, they paid little attention to the shade of the trees that wavered in the light of their lanterns...
As a patrol turned around the wall corner, a face briefly appeared in the shadow of a tree and turned to them to check that they were moving away... Then a first silhouette slipped on the ground, and went up the wall without ever tearing itself away from the second dimension... other 2D creatures slipped in its wake... one could vaguely discern a twisted humanoid body, the wings of bats and horns... they were Shadow Demons!
There, the Entangled Woman awoke.
In the wooden face, the eyelids rose revealing all-green eyes, the color of the spring leaves.
"Miriel!"
Far from there, the half-elf sat in her bed. Sensing the presence of the Entangled Woman through the "Ring of the Kings", Miriel transmitted the power of the Actorios to the Lord of the Plants.
"Destroy all the demons!"
Unaware of rushing into a trap, the Shadow Demons spread in the fields. Some began scratching the ground to dig up the plants used to prepare the Orange Healing Potions that had recently appeared on the markets of several major New World cities. Others went to the alchemical laboratories, looking for the recipe for the potion.
Suddenly the ground lifted. The rhizome that came out of the ground struck like a whip, seizing a Shadow Demon.
Almost everywhere roots pierced the crust of the earth, leaping in the open air, forming nets or tentacles that seized intruders.
The first demon to be caught was struggling... but in vain, the roots were not ordinary ones. It was a manifestation of the Entangled Woman, a Lord of the Plants... in other words a kind of plant god!
A green tentacle emerged from the ground, the end resembling a wood spike.
The demon's cry of terror was interrupted when the stake pierced him from side to side... it collapsed into black and disgusting dust that the wind carried away.
Miriel's head fell onto the pillow. She was panting, and her forehead was wet with sweat. However, the Summoner was smiling as she had won the battle.
Not only had she anticipated Gown's violent reaction to the introduction of new healing potions, but the measures she had taken proved effective.
The sun was rising and the scarlet rays illuminated the castle walls, morphing the stained glass windows of the Chapel of the Four Great Gods and the roofs of the main building into fire constructs. From Miriel's apartment, one could hear two sentries talking under the windows.
Sitting in front of the hairdresser, Miriel hid her mouth with her hand while yawning.
Diolaine stopped styling the Wizard to look at her with suspicion.
"You seem even more tired than at bedtime."
"I didn't sleep well... and... Let's say I had a visit last night. It shortened my sleep time."
Diolaine gave her a brush stroke violent enough for Miriel to twitch and rub her head.
"Ouch! Why are you hitting me?"
"Do you think it's a good idea to faint in front of the queen because you have once again been overworked?" When will you start behaving responsibly?"
After the baroness of Targos, it was now Diolaine's turn to behave like a super-protective mother! Besides, she was an irresponsible thief... Not exactly the type of guy who could afford to lecture her. Miriel sighed and ostensibly turned her head.
"We'll talk later, Remedios Custodio will soon come for me... and I doubt we can keep a queen waiting."
In the mirror, Miriel met the gaze of her handmaiden, and she looked at her with a dubious air... as a seasoned spy of the Slane Theocracy, she might have guessed that the Wizard had said 'later' thinking "never', hoping that she would forget this conversation quickly.
Remedios Custodio opened the door without knocking and looked coldly at Miriel: "Follow me" then turned on her heels. If the Wizard still entertained the slightest doubt that the paladin did not like her, she would have been cured just now. They then stopped at Marcus Aquaire Breval's door... and the paladin had been much more polite by inviting him to follow them.
Many people considered the Grandmaster of the Paladin Order to be a sincere woman who said what she thought and made no compromise with Evil... but this favorable vision was probably caused by her proximity to the Holy Queen Calca Bessarez.
Miriel saw Remedios as a contemptuous and brutal woman who classified as 'Evil' anyone who was not like her.
Walking next to the Baron of Targos, Miriel tried to breathe calmly despite a growing sense of discomfort.
"You feel like a deer hunted by hunters" mocked a voice that only Miriel heard." Just keep telling yourself, that the nobles will not dare to openly challenge you. You were invited by the queen, to criticize you would be to criticize her. Court nobles are mere courtesans. They envy and fear the beginner, the one who will be presented to the sovereign. But who knows? Perhaps he will be the next favorite of the master? So will they respect in you, the future domesticities that the queen could give you."
Miriel blinked, surprised by the term.
"Domesticities?"
"Titles, rents, and functions at the court that the sovereign can entrust to one of his favorites to honor him... or which the sovereign may take away from those who have displeased him," replied the telepathic voice of Mathise d'Eraingui.
Ever since she had put on Eraingui's robe, Miriel could hear this vitriolic voice...the Countess of Eraingui criticized almost everything she did. Nevertheless, the half-elf had to admit that her bits of advice were useful... even if she would have gladly done without the Villainess's short temper.
In addition, simply wearing the dress increased her "charisma" stats, as did some of her communication skills. Even more impressive, the dress was able to change its appearance and thus always be fashionable, adapted to the season, or event (from weddings to mourning, summer, or prom dress).
For the time being, Eraingui's dress had taken on the appearance of a rococo style dress (what was more often called a "Marie-Antoinette" style dress), that is a court dress like the one worn at the time of King Louis XVI. The garment was in heavy blue taffeta, with ruffles in a cotton veil lined with white lace. The bodice was brocade embroidered with drawings of acanthus leaves in gold thread, inlaid with small rubies.
A real princess dress.
They entered the antechamber of the royal apartments.
It was a medium-sized room, furnished like a living room, too small for the twenty or so courtesans of both sexes who were gathered there. These richly clothed individuals were aristocrats of the royal court. They turned to them when they arrived. Most of the looks lingered on Miriel. The courtesans began to whisper, giving her name to those who had not heard of her. Cat-faced ladies commented on unfavorable rumors about her as if they were enjoying sweets, laughing in an undertone, and hiding behind their fans.
A few minutes passed in this rather deleterious atmosphere before a bailiff entered through a door guarded by two halberdiers.
"Gentlemen, the queen."
Immediately, all those present bowed. Mathise d'Eraingui prevented Miriel from making a fool of herself by doing this exercise that she had never done before.
The sovereign of the Roble Holy Kingdom entered, framed by several servants and bodyguards.
Calca Bessarez was a young woman with long vibrant hair of spun gold and lovely cyan eyes. Her face was as beautiful as a freshly bloomed flower, exuding majesty and dignity, earning her the praise "The Treasure of Roble."
She was dressed in a long white dress with blue motifs, slit from both sides up to the thighs, and a long white cape. Above the fringe of her golden hair, one could see a silver crown.
The usher spoke.
"Does anyone ask to be received by Her Majesty?"
Baron Marcus stood up slightly.
"Miriel a Summoner having distinguished herself in the defense of the Holy Kingdom, asks to be received by Her Majesty."
"Do you vouch for her?"
"Yes, I, Marcus Aquaire Breval, vouch for Lady Miriel."
"Gentlemen, please leave us."
Instinctively Miriel raised her eyes when hearing for the first time Queen Calca, she has a sweet and kind tone. The purity of her voice probably explained the rumor that an angel spoke by her voice, or that she was herself an angel.
All the courtesans had left the room, as well as the servants. The two halberdiers closed the door when leaving and remained on guard on the other side.
Besides Queen Calca and Miriel there remained only Baron Marcus, as well as the two "Twin Wings", the Grandmaster of the Paladin Order Remedios Custodio, and her younger sister Kelart Custodio High Priestess of the Roble Holy Kingdom, the queen's main supporters.
The protocol would have wanted the queen to speak first, but...
Miriel bowed deeply.
"Forgive my audacity, Your Majesty, but before we start talking, I have a favor to ask the High Priestess."
As Remedios stood up, her face red with anger, Calca Bessarez beckoned her to sit down. She had not stopped smiling.
"A favor, Lady Miriel?"
"Indeed, Your Majesty... I wish she would resort to a miracle of Exorcism. Now!"
Miriel had almost shouted the last word and the smile of Kelart Custodio froze, the younger of the two sisters instinctively understanding that there was a danger.
She hugged the sacred medallion hanging from her neck.
" Banishment!"
A white and pure light spread through the room, radiating from the priestess. And...
"Ahhhrghhh is a..."
The silhouette of a screaming Shadow Demon appeared in the shadow of a piece of furniture... he contorted in pain before disappearing and returning to the hellish plane of existence that had spawned it.
Calca Bessarez turned to Miriel... she no longer smiled.
"How... how did you know, Lady Miriel?"
"Your Majesty, I was merely presuming the presence of this demon. As Baron Marcus can attest, Jaldabaoth spied on us using the very same trick."
Marcus Aquaire Breval straightened up slightly.
"That's right, Your Majesty."
Kelart Custodio turned around to look at her older sister.
"Nee-sama, which probably explains your failures against Jaldabaoth. He was probably learning your battle plans at the same time as your subordinates."
Remedios replied with blind arrogance.
"Well, it's certainly not my fault. I did my job by protecting Calca-sama and clearing away monsters! I didn't mess up in my job. I'm a far more gifted general than some random demon! Without cheating, Jaldabatoth would never have won a single battle."
Even Kelart seemed unconvinced by this boastfulness.
"Nee-sama, even the Demon Gods weren't this powerful. For all we know, Jaldabaoth might be a being superior to the Demon Gods."
The queen spoke again: "Lady Miriel, what else have you learned about the Demonic Emperor?"
"Your Majesty, I met Jaldabaoth twice and survived only because I fled. But he spoke to me. During these two... 'conversations', the Demonic Emperor mentioned a hierarchical superior who gave him orders. He called him the 'Supreme One'."
Miriel had spent half an hour recounting her two clashes with Jaldabatoth before listing other clues she had uncovered in recent weeks.
"... it is obvious that Momon the 'Dark Hero', Jaldabaoth, Ainz Ooal Gown, and the vampire Momon killed (1) are somehow related. They appeared a few days apart and a few hundred kilometers away. If we admit that Jaldabatoth and Momon are subordinates of the Sorcerer King... many things take on a completely different meaning."
"But why such a complicated plan," asked Calca Bessarez.
It was Kelart Custodio who answered.
"The Demonic Disturbance in Re-Estize weakened the kingdom a few days before the Katze Plains Massacre. Similarly, Jaldabaoth weakens us while Gown makes us dependent on him with his so-called 'humanitarian aid'... food that undead workers grew!"
But Queen Calca immediately defended the Sorcerer King.
"Kelart, you are too harsh. Still, you can't just badmouth people without even seeing them, right? Without Ainz Ooal Gown, many small-folk would have starved to death."
Miriel took the floor again.
"You Majesty, I have come to the same conclusions as the High Priestess. I certainly don't have any proof of what I'm saying, but you will admit that the facts are troubling. Whenever Jaldabaoth appeared somewhere, the main beneficiary of his abuses was always Gown."
The queen remained pensive for a few moments.
"I intended to seek Momon's help, as he defeated Jaldaboth during the Demonic Disturbance. But... "
Remedios Custodio dared to interrupt the queen. They had been friends since childhood and out of any official circumstances the two women spoke informally.
"This is exactly what Gown wants! Don't forget that this famous 'Dark Hero' rallied Gown as soon as the undead king conquered E-Rantel. Calling Momon for help would be inviting the hordes of the Sorcerer King into the Holy Kingdom."
Ironically Remedios distrusted Gown and Momon because of her incurable xenophobia... and, for once, she was right. Was it not said that even a stopped clock gives the exact time twice a day?
Kelart Custodio spoke after her older sister.
"We must not forget the genocide of the inhabitants of Re-Estize. Several dozen towns and hundreds of villages were destroyed. Hundreds of thousands of inhabitants were ruthlessly exterminated and turned into undead. In the name of the Four Great Gods, Calca-sama, we cannot ally ourselves with such a monster!"
Queen Calca bowed her head ashamedly
"You are right, Kelart. The blame lies with me since I didn't pay attention to news about other countries."
The queen was troubled. She turned back to the Summoner.
"Lady Miriel, I was hoping for your aid. Unfortunately, all you've taught me is that I underestimated Jaldabaoth's threat. Our legends tell us that Players have divine powers. Please, Lady Miriel, can you use them to save us? Jaldabaoth's armies threaten this very kingdom and all its inhabitants, from harmless old men to newborn children. A queen must love her nation, love her people, and grant them peace. Can you help me to grant happiness to the small-folk, and make a country where nobody will cry?"
It was a poignant and... sincere speech. Calca Bessarez seemed incapable of lying or deceiving. It seemed incredible that a reigning monarch could have kept such a level of innocence (in every sense of the word)... but the Holy Queen of Roble was a genuine holy maiden.
Miriel wondered what to say, feeling a little uncomfortable that the queen had so much faith in her... After all, she had just met her. But that moment of hesitation was shattered by the Grandmaster of the Paladin Order.
"Calca-sama, we don't even know if we can trust this... adventurer wizard.
Mathise d'Eraingui's mental voice echoed in the mind of the half-elf.
"This Remedios Custodio will jealously refuse any suggestion that does not come from her. This is the kind of person who prefers to be the captain of a sinking ship than the first mate of a ship in perfect condition. This is what you will say..."
Calca Bessarez scolded the paladin, reminding her of all that the Wizard had done to protect the kingdom since her arrival.
Miriel waited until she finished before speaking again:
"I thank Your Majesty for defending me against the Grand Master of the Paladins, but I can answer myself, I have nothing to hide from my friends. You can trust me against Jaldabaoth because he is my enemy. The Demonic Emperor wants to capture me. He's been chasing me for months and he tortured and killed people whose only crime was talking to me."
"Maybe it's the truth," Remedios replied angrily, "but I don't see how that makes you a reliable ally."
"I am a friend of your friends. I am sent by the Slane Theocracy to help you."
All those present showed surprise, even Baron Marcus. The Roble Holy Kingdom was a nation very close to the Slane Theocracy, both in geographical terms and in terms of worldview.
Miriel took advantage of the shocked silence to summarize how she arrived in this world. The mention of a World Object impressed the queen and even the 'Twin Wings'.
"Why is the Theocracy sending you to the Holy Kingdom?"
"Where I come from, there is a saying: 'this is the nature of war: by protecting others you save yourself' (2) Defeating Jaldabaoth before he conquers the Holy Kingdom will save the Theocracy before it was even threatened.
She paused briefly before talking again.
"Jaldabaoth is both cruel and cunning, a manipulator capable of trapping an entire army and drowning it in tons of water."
Remedios Custodio looked at the half-elf with contempt.
"We will not fall into this kind of pathetic trap!"
Miriel could not help but smile at this answer... the paladin was not very bright, she reacted exactly as Eraingui had planned.
"Of course not, because you have a smarter plan," she said.
As Calca and Kelart turned to the paladin with a questioning look, she blushed and opened her mouth before closing it without saying a word while wiggling nervously.
"Why send your armies against Jadalbaoth," continued Miriel. "Why sacrifice thousands of poor folks, fathers, husbands, and sons who will miss the people they love? I can raise for you an army that will cost you nothing."
Remedios Custodio opened her mouth and blemished before shooting daggers to Miriel. Eraingui had well understood Remedios' mentality. The young female paladin did not hesitate to steal others' ideas in her desire to monopolize glory. Of course, she was dying of the inside to claim authorship of Miriel's plan... but at the same time, she was afraid to endorse an idea contrary to the Holy Kingdom's very interests... The paladin was on pins and needles.
The Half-elf bowed slightly before the queen.
"Your Majesty, the Grandmaster of the Paladin Order has entrusted me with the task of summoning an army to fight Jaldabaoth. In this way, no inhabitant of Roble Holy Kingdom will have to die."
Calca Bessarez smiled at Miriel.
"Lady Miriel, are you able to summon a whole army?"
"Not exactly, Your Majesty, however, I can summon a creature that has control of an army."
"It will obey you?"
"It is an exile who wishes to return to its original world and I can grant its wish."
This time the queen was convinced. She turned to the paladin.
"It's a great idea, Remedios, I'm proud you thought about it!"
Remedios Custodio blushes when being complimented by her queen. And Miriel bit her tongue not to laugh not to laugh at seeing her parading around like a puffed-up peacock.
"Arrogant, sectarian, jealous, and stupid," mocked Eraingui. "A five-year-old could easily manipulate her."
Once out of the antechamber, Miriel went up the corridor towards her apartments. On the way, she was joined by Diolaine.
"Did everything go well?"
"Yes, I will be able to move on to the next phase. What about you?"
The spy was smiling.
"I distributed makeup samples to every handmaiden I met. By tomorrow the ladies of the court will be ready to die for more."
The same day in the west of the Land of the Trolls.
The freestanding centerpiece in the middle of the grassy plain that stretched to the edge of the forest and the great swamp that formed most of the Troll Kingdom, a large wood platform was under construction.
The workers were giants in plate armor with rather a cartoonish appearance. Their shoulders were very wide and their arms huge, while the helmet with red horsehair was tiny and their legs were ridiculously short.
In reality, they were not living beings. They were golems, artificial constructs magically animated and programmed by their creators to accomplish various tasks... somewhat the New World's version of a robot.
Imps, little red demons, flew between the groups of golems, leading the loggers who cut down trees in the nearby forest, guiding the construction laborer that brought the trunks to the carpenters and builders.
A wizard wearing a luxurious but tattered robe was sitting on a fallen tree. His body was reduced to rotting skins and bones. He was annotating a plan of the platform under construction while commenting on the changes intended for the Imp on his shoulder.
The lich looked up when a flap of wings and a shadow warned him of the presence of a flying creature above him.
He got up and quickly headed to the place where the dragon was landing.
"Lady Aura, welcome."
The Dark Elfe smiled widely, putting her hands on the hips before turning to the platform.
"Well, 64, will you be done in time?"
In the New World, lichs were considered the lords of undead, terrifying creatures haunting the labyrinths of ancient dungeons... but for the Supreme Beings of Nazarick, the lichs were only ordinary servants, a mere disposable commodity, beings of so little importance that they spent no time scratching their heads to find an appropriate name for each of them.
Lich number 64 bowed very low, humbling himself in front of a Floor Guardian
"Of course, mistress Aura. The golems will work all night. Everything will be ready tomorrow morning at the latest."
"It would be better for you. We will have important guests: the Emperor of Bahamuth, the ambassadors of the Karsanas City-State Alliance and the Great Minotaur Nation... and of course Ainz-sama himself."
"Everything will be finished in time. I would not dare to upset the Supreme One."
Aura Bella Fiora nodded.
"Tomorrow is going to be a big day. If these trolls are smart, they will submit to Ainz-sama without fighting. But that would be a shame, huh? Cocytus seems so proud of his Lizardmen henchmen, I'm sure he wants an audience to demonstrate what he taught them."
"Certainly" obediently approved lich number 64.
(1) Honyopenyoko, as Momon named his opponent when he recounted his fight against Shalltear in the E-Rantel's Adventurers Guild. Miriel does not know that Shalltear is Honyopenyoko or that Momon is Ainz.
(2) Quote from 1954's The Seven Samurais movie, by Akira Kurosawa.