"By the way, the most important people in that village are —in descending order— Nfirea, his crush Enri Emmot and finally his grandmother Lizzie. You must protect these three people no matter the cost. Everyone else is expendable. If need be, sacrifice your life to protect Nfirea. That's it. Is that all, Lupusregina?"
"Yes! Thank you very much!"
"Now then, Lupusregina, I will forgive you for this lapse. Now that you know my objectives, you will not be forgiven next ti. Do you understand?"
"Of course!"
"Very good. Then go. Complete your assigned tasks."
Lupusregina bowed and exited the room, followed closely by Narberal, who seed more like a policeman escorting a criminal. After the two of them vanished out the door, Ainz turned to the Guardian beside him.
"Now then, Aura. Do you know anything about the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West—"
Suddenly, a loud shout ca from outside the room.
"Seriously, Ainz-sama is amazing ~su! I can't believe he thought so far ahead, and in such detail! He must be so kind of monster ~su!"
The voice that ca through the thick door was not very loud, but it was enough to interrupt their conversation. Given that they could hear her words so clearly, how loudly was she yelling in the corridor, just outside?
"...Should we tell her how thin the doors are?"
"I think she's just too excited, let go pound so sense—"
There was a smashing sound from outside the door, and then the sound of sothing heavy being dragged into the distance.
"...Aura, I don't think you need to go any more. Back to the previous topic; let know what you've found."
"Yes. Er, I'm very sorry, but I haven't heard anything about the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West. After we fought that tree monster called Zy'tl Q'ae, I did a quick sweep of the forest, aside from the underground caverns, which I didn't investigate. I didn't find any strong enemies..."
"Well, if they're only as strong as Hamsuke, I understand why you wouldn't have paid any attention to them."
Even a gardener could not be expected to know how many ants were crawling in his domain. Missing out on things due to the difference in strength was a problem.
"I am truly sorry. Then, Ainz-sama, will we be doing house-cleaning?"
"That sounds like a good idea. We'll swat those pesky flies and put the forest under Nazarick's complete control."
"Got it! Then, I'll send so of my pets along!"
"Umu. It seems a little boring that way. I'd like to see what sort of monsters this Giant of the East and Serpent of the West are, who can rival Hamsuke."
"Then, shall I drag them here in chains?"
"No, I think I shall go visit them in person. Thanks to Hamsuke, I've found another way of appreciating the value of antiques as well."
Ainz laughed at the puzzled expression on Aura's face.
"Well, of course that's not all. I also want to see if I can arrange a test for Lupusregina..."
***
Nazarick Ti 19:16
Fenrir crept leisurely through the night-ti forest. Neither the branches which stuck out or the coiling vines hampered Fenrir's movents or the two people on its back. In fact, they seed to move like incorporeal wraiths, without even disturbing a twig.
This was the effect of one of Fenrir's skills, [Landwalker].
"According to my vassals' reports, the Giant of the East's lair seems to be just ahead."
There was no tension in Aura's voice, even in this world of darkness, cut off from the starlight by the densely-packed trees. Ainz and the others were not like humans, who lacked special visual modes. They took in the darkened forest around them like it was broad daylight.
"Is that so. We would be very lucky if the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West were to gather in the sa place. However, that's probably being greedy. If the Serpent of the West is not here, then I'll leave its disposal to you, Aura."
"Yes! I'll do my best! But how shall I deal with these fools who dare make hostile moves on you, Ainz-sama?"
"Let's try communication first."
Aura looked behind herself ─ at Ainz ─ with a puzzled look on her face.
"Eh? Weren't we going to make them swear themselves to us?"
"That's because the Giant of the East and the Serpent of the West are unknown monsters. Starting with an attempt at rational communication ought to be better from just about every angle. If they're monsters which don't exist in YGGDRASIL, then I would like to keep them.
"You're so kind, Ainz-sama."
There was no mockery within Aura's tone.
"Is... is that so? I feel that only the worthy deserve my kindness ─ followed by those who belong to Nazarick... I'm doing this because they might have so value if they're on Hamsuke's level. I suppose you could call this seizing an opportunity?"
"You ntioned Hamsuke just now, but is it really that valuable?"
"Oh yes. It's quite useful as a guinea pig."
Hamsuke was currently studying to be a warrior under Zaryusu of the Lizardn. Incidentally, one of the Death Knights made by Ainz was also studying under him.
Training the two of them ─ a hamster and a monster ─ was intended to see if they could acquire warrior class levels. This was particularly true for the Death Knight. If he could gain warrior levels, that would greatly increase Nazarick's combat power.
While he felt it was probably impossible, he still had to conduct the experint to be sure.
"Are you having the blacksmith make armor for Hamsuke because it's that important?"
"You're quite well-inford. That's also one of the reasons. If I have to ride it onto the battlefield in future, so enhancing its defense might be critical."
Hamsuke should have no problem wearing full plate armor once he had warrior class levels. Currently, putting it in armor greatly decreased its evasion and mobility rates due to its weight. Ainz felt that it needed training for that reason. However─
Armor hampers its movents since it doesn't have warrior levels, that much is the sa as the ga... no, I can't even wear tal armor at all due to the ga's restrictions. From that point of view, its restrictions are a lot more lax... if only there were a second Hamsuke, then I could study the differences between the two..."
These restrictions which resembled those of the ga were still a mystery even now. If he let Demiurge and the others perform in-depth investigations, they might be able to find the right answer, but for so reason, Ainz did not want to do that.
This is a magical world, and it might run on physics that are vastly different from ours. Perhaps all I can do is force myself to accept that this is just one of the principles of such a world. Just assu that anything could happen...
"Ainz-sama, what's wrong?"
"Hm? No, it's nothing, what is it?"
"No, it just seed like you were thinking, and I wanted to ask if sothing was the matter."
"Oh, indeed. I was just thinking about so things, it's nothing much."
"I see."
Aura seed relieved and faced forward once more. Ainz looked at the back of her head ─ which was covered in silky golden hair ─ and his eyes roved down. His eyes passed over her slender back, and then they focused on his hands ─ which were wrapped around her slender waist.
She's so slim; are children's waists all so thin?
Having never had children of his own, AInz was curious, and he could not resist the urge to pat her waist, like he was inspecting her. Then, Ainz raised his hand to lightly pat her back. However, he did not use much force because he was mounted on Fenrir.
However, Aura jumped up and suddenly jerked around.
"Uwaaaah! What... what is it, Ainz-sama?!"
Her face was very red.
In fact, it was so red that even soone without darkvision might be able to see how red it was.
"Ah, it's nothing, I just thought your waist was very thin. Have you been eating well? You're equipped with items that negate the need for eating and drinking but you can still eat, right?"
"I... I can. I won't gain any magical enhancents from doing so, but I can still eat."
In gas like YGGDRASIL, humanoids and demihumans had designated lifespans, and in turn they could grow; conversely, heteromorphs had no maximum lifespans and so they would stop aging after a certain period. If that character aspect had carried over to this world, then Aura and Mare would slowly grow older. Ainz did not want their growth to be affected because they had not received proper nutrition as children.
While his companions were not around, the growth of these kids was Ainz's responsibility.
"You need to eat well, okay."
"Yes! I'll eat well and make Shalltear regret it!"
Ainz had no idea why Shalltear had suddenly co up, but he did not inquire into it.
"...Items that remove the need for eating and drinking might affect growth, so depending on the situation, perhaps you should swap them out for other items. Growing up... perhaps one day, you two will have lovers of your own..."
Aura and Mare were very cute children, and when they grew up, they would surely be very handso and beautiful. Ainz imagined n and won of all sorts confessing their love to them ─ although, Ainz had never had experiences like those, so what he imagined had all co from TV shows.
Perhaps he had been influenced by the previous topic, but for so reason he imagined a huge pile of Hamsukes.
"─Hm?"
He visualized a young Aura and Mare being surrounded by vast amounts of Hamsukes. It seed quite pleasing, but it was completely different from the plan which Ainz had in mind.
Hamsuke's related to rodents, so Hamsuke ought to be capable of reproducing in vast quantities. Is it best to sterilize it? Although I'd like to let it breed a little more... I wonder if there are any males of its species?
"Eh? It's still too early for that, Ainz-sama. I'm only 70."
"I... I see, you're right. You're still young. Well, anyway, Aura, who do you like most in Nazarick? What's your type?"
While Ainz had no experience in love, he still got a little jealous whenever he saw dashing lads and pretty girls being all lovey-dovey on the roadside. However, Ainz was sure that he could genuinely wish the NPCs well if it were them.
"I like you the most, Ainz-sama."
"Haha, well, that's good to hear."
Ainz was quite happy to hear such flattery from a young child like Aura. He loved the children (NPCs) very much, and how could he not be pleased to hear that they liked him too?
"Then, who do you like the most, Ainz-sama? Who do you like the most between Albedo and Shalltear?"
"Haha. Well now, I have to say I like you very much, Aura."
"─Eh?"
Ainz caressed Aura's head from behind. The soft strands of her hand fell from between his fingers.
"─Eh?!"
Should I start considering the problem of sex education? If there are Dark Elf schools, should I send Aura and Mare there to study so they can grow into good adults? What would Bukubukuchagama-san think if she were here? But still, schools... school love codies... Peroroncino-san once raved about it before, and he said he wanted to make a Nazarick Gakuen with Suuraatan-san. Where did the data for that go?
"─Eh─!"
"What is it? You're being too loud, Aura."
"Ah! I... I'm sorry. The Giant of the East's lair ought to be nearby, but..."
"It's fine, there's no need to apologize. Leaving that aside, about the future─"
"The... the future?"
"Y-yes. Is sothing the matter? You look flustered... did sothing happen?"
"No... not at all, it's nothing. Yes. Um. You were talking about the future?"
"Oh, yes. I was thinking that if there was a kingdom of Dark Elves, it might be worth paying them a visit, and at that ti, you ought to co along too."
"Eh? ...Ah, yes... of course! So that was what you ant by the future. I get it! Please allow to accompany you there. Also ─ we're almost there, Ainz-sama."
In the darkness ahead of them, they could see a decidedly unnatural light source through the gaps in the forest.
"I see. Aura, forgive , but could you station all the magical beasts you brought along around this region? I'll be making so preparations on my end as well."
Ainz used one of his skills and summoned powerful undead creatures.
An sinister-looking knight appeared, mounted on a pale white horse. More appeared every ti Ainz used his skill.
"All right, four ought to be plenty. Now then, Pale Riders. Stand by in the sky, and if anyone tries to flee, capture them."
The Pale Riders indicated their understanding without saying a word, and with a tug on their reins, the pale horses leapt up and galloped into the sky. The Pale Riders discorporated, passed through the tree branches, and flew into the air.
"Alright, we've set up an encirclent. Now all we have to do is appraise them."
"Yes! Ah, don't we need to test their durability?"
"We'll save that for a last resort. My aim is to settle this without any combat. I'll try and discuss mutually beneficial topics first."
That was the truth. Ainz was not looking for a fight. While he was perfectly willing to be ruthless if there were benefits to it, that did not an that he was a cruel person. Ainz would not step on the ants crawling around in his path. A rational dialogue would be best.
Fenrir approached the gap in the forest. It was called a gap in the forest, but the truth was that it was simply a place within the forest where trees did not grow.
This area was covered with withered trees, just like the mountainous region around the Evil Tree. There were so areas which ended up as withered forests for special reasons. There were many of those reasons, and in this case it was probably because of monsters.
The trees had been felled and scattered everywhere. It would seem soone had tried to build a large structure and failed, and had then thrown the logs around in a fit of rage.
"How laughable. Aura, they were probably trying to build a structure like yours. The work of fools is truly unsightly. They live in caves and don't know how far out of their depth they are, resulting in this sort of thing."
"Indeed. Ainz-sama, their lair is over there."
There was a fissure in the scarred ground, which had been burnt barren.
"...Nobody's standing watch. How careless. Alright, it can't be helped. We'll knock next ti."
With Aura by his side Ainz walked toward the entrance to the underground cave. He peered inside, and it looked like a gentle slope, and the interior seed quite spacious. The ceiling was high, and it would seem even large creatures could live inside without problems.
...This reminds of dungeon delves in YGGDRASIL. Back then, we used to get curious and excited every ti we discovered mountain caves and the like.
If this were in the past, they would have let Tigris Euphrates and people like him lead the way, while Ainz ─ Momonga ─ would follow behind them. Then, they would summon monsters, and in Ainz's case he would have the undead walk ahead of them, allowing them to trigger traps as they forged boldly ahead. This was known as a warrior's disarm, or a summon disarm.
Those were the days...
The mories of the past lightened Ainz's steps, but within a few seconds, his cheery mood vanished.
The stench from below made him wrinkle his nonexistent eyebrows. It was not poison gas, but rather, an odor of beast fat and decay which clouded up the air.
Is this a stinking gas cloud trap? I don't think these cave dwellers could set such an elaborate trap... perhaps it ford naturally.
Ainz was undead and did not need to breathe. He was completely immune to gas-vector attacks. Aura was also protected by magic items, so if this stench was so sort of attack, it ought to be ineffective. That being the case, this was probably just an ordinary stink.
"It seems the Giant of the East is not a particularly clean person. I hope he's at least a little intelligent and can speak with ."
"Yup. Although, that might be a little difficult. Going by the footprints, this cave seems to house several lifeforms of the sa kind, but they're all barefooted. The footprints are large, and going by their size, they all seem to be over two ters tall."
"I see... so he must be one of them."
Ainz and Aura had not stopped walking, and as they descended the slope, they saw two monsters at the base of the slope.
"Ainz-sama, those are... Ogres."
The two Ogres were tearing at sothing and shoving it into their mouths. A new reek wafted over to Ainz and Aura.
Ainz slowly extended his finger and smiled bitterly. If this were a simple dungeon hack, he would have killed the Ogres quietly, and then advanced forward without making a sound to wipe out all the other enemies; however, his objective this ti was different.
"...I'm not here to massacre everyone, so I need to communicate in a friendly manner ─ oi, you Ogres over there, sorry to interrupt your al."
The two Ogres turned simultaneously to look at Ainz, and then they roared.
The echoes within the cave were intense, and there was no way to accurately judge position, but it would seem a similar howl had co from the depths of the cave.
"Well, this is quite a crude and noisy doorbell ─ stand back, Aura."
He glared as the Ogres ran over. "What a pain," Ainz sighed. That was because he realized that they did not wish to communicate with him.
"Skelton! Skelton! Enuh-my!"
The Ogre scread hoarsely as it ca up to Ainz, and then swung its club at Ainz without a mont's pause.
"I have─"
The Ogre's club whistled through the air as it swept at him.
"-To apologize for barging─"
It struck Ainz with a thump, but a re nonmagical club could not possibly hurt him.
"─Into your ho─"
The Ogre raised its club again and hamred at Ainz.
Ainz's field of vision wobbled slightly as the club struck his head. While it did not hurt in the least, it was still quite annoying. That said, if anyone set foot into Nazarick, Ainz would certainly be angry enough to want to kill them. WIth that in mind, it was only natural for them to want to attack him, so Ainz should probably take the blows.
Once an envoy of peace drew a weapon, there would be nothing left to say.
The other Ogre approached slightly later. It did not swing its club, but reached a hand out at Ainz. It had probably seen how the attacks of the other Ogre had proven ineffective, and wanted to grab him instead.
Ainz quirked his eyebrows. Of course, there was nothing on a skeletal face which could move.
Ainz was originally willing to let the Ogre grab him. However, his darkvision-capable eyes saw the blood staining the Ogre's hand.
"Disgusting."
Ainz imdiately produced a staff from thin air and swung it. While this staff did not possess any special magic powers, it was focused on inflicting bludgeoning damage, and with a single strike, the head of the Ogre who was reaching out for Ainz burst like a rotten grape. A mix of fresh blood and brain matter showered the Ogre beside it, which dropped its club and took a step back.
"You... you, no, skelly..."
"It is quite vexing for you to lump in with other Skeletons. I'm here to see your boss, the Giant of the East. Could you go fetch him? Although, I'm fairly sure he'll co even if you don't shout."
Ainz waved to bid the Ogre get lost, and it promptly turned and fled into the cave.
"...Good grief. If they had seen the discrepancy in our respective strengths from the start, we wouldn't have to waste this ti."
Ainz felt the area where the club had struck him as he finished descending the slope.
There were several Goblins ─ more of masticated corpses, really ─ where the Ogres had been just now. While their remains were little more than chunks of at and it was impossible to tell how many there had been, there must have been more than just one or two.
Ainz and Aura detoured around that area as they continued downwards.
"What a gaffe. I was annoyed and used too much force. I'd originally planned to avoid killing before negotiations broke down, to proceed in as friendly a way as possible..."
"It couldn't be helped! It's the fault of those filthy Ogres who tried to touch you, Ainz-sama!"
"Hearing you say that pleases . Punitto Moe-san once said, 'punching them in the face is a good way to make the other party behave'... or was it Warrior Takemikazuchi-san who said that?"
"Since the Supre Beings said so, then it must be correct!
Ainz could not recall which of these two polar opposites had said that. Just then, a horde of monsters erged from the depths of the cave. All of them were far taller than a human being.
"Well, if it isn't a pack of Trolls. While calling them Giants smacks of false advertising to , it's not as though it's a complete lie."
Trolls were giants with long ears and noses. They had very ugly faces and their muscular bodies were as revolting as that of any heteromorph. They wore what seed to be tiger-skin clothes their heads erged from their shoulders.
They were nearly three ters tall, stronger than Ogres, and possessed of powerful regenerative abilities. It was said that unless they were killed with fire or acid, they could co back from the dead even after being reduced to scraps of at. There were six Trolls here, and 10 Ogres on top of that.
The one which caught Ainz's eye was the Troll standing at the head of these monsters.
It was more muscular than the other Trolls, and its ugly face exuded confidence.
It was better equipped than the other Trolls too.
It wore leather armor which looked like it had been sewn together from several animal hides. Its mighty arms bore a greatsword which was larger than the ones which Ainz used in his Momon guise. The greatsword seed to be magical, and the central fuller oozed a slippery liquid towards its edge.
"Is he on Hamsuke's level?"
"Feels that way."
That being the case, this Troll ought to be the Giant of the East. That being the case, what sort of Troll was he? Ainz studied the Giant of the East carefully.
Trolls were highly adaptable monsters. They varied greatly according to their environnt.
For instance, there were Volcano Trolls who lived in volcanoes and who were resistant to fire. There were Sea Trolls who were adept at swimming in the ocean and could breathe underwater. There were Mountain Trolls, who lived in the mountains and were especially strong. There were also Toll Trolls, rare trolls who lived under bridges. There was a never-ending variety of mutant species and subraces like those.
In that case, what was the Troll standing before Ainz specialized in?
Trolls adapted to cavern living were called Cave Trolls. But they looked different from this one.
This was a new species of Troll which he had encountered for the first ti in this world ─ this unknown monster kindled Ainz's collector spirit.
***
The Troll known as the Giant of the East had achieved a very rare form of evolution.
He was a Troll who had been born amidst countless battles, adapted to them, and specialized in fighting ability. If one had to na it, his species would be War Trolls, a particularly outstanding example among the many Troll subraces.
One could say that its combat prowess was unrivalled among others of the sa age as him.
Granted, his body was smaller than that of a Mountain Troll. However, the muscles of his body ─ his physical abilities ─ far outstripped those of the latter species. In addition, he did not use a primitive club that could be easily swung with brute force, but instead used his inborn abilities to skillfully wield a sword ─ a weapon which was inferior even to a club if one did not know how to use one. One could say he was a Troll who had awakened his warrior abilities.
***
"You're the Giant of the East, I take it?"
After hearing no denials, Ainz pointed slightly to the right of the Giant
"Then, I believe that chap over there is the Serpent of the West. Am I correct?"
Soone with ordinary eyesight would surely think he was pointing at empty air. However, Ainz could clearly see the heteromorph hiding there, as though it were illuminated by the sun's light.
"Perhaps you think you've hidden yourself with invisibility, but my eyes can see through it. Stop wasting your effort and answer ."
A monster appeared out of what had originally been thin air. It had probably dispelled its invisibility.
Indeed, it was a snake. No, to be precise, it had a snake's body. It had an old man's torso from the chest up, but it had a serpentine form below that. It was a heteromorphic monster.
Unlike the Giant of the East, Ainz had seen monsters like this in YGGDRASIL before, and so he could imdiately state the na of his race.
"A Naga, then. While it wouldn't be wrong to call you a Serpent, don't you have a better na for yourself? No, there's already the case of the Wise King of the Forest, so this was only to be expected, no?
"If thou couldst see through my invisibility, then thou art surely no ordinary─"
"─What are you doing here, skeleton?!"
The Naga was only halfway through his words when a thunderous voice filled the cave and drowned him out. The Giant of the East took a step forward.
Ainz turned to face his counterpart.
"First of all, let get this straight; I am not a Skeleton. I wish to correct that mistake of yours."
"What are you, if not a Skeleton? The king of the eastern lands, Gu, permits you to state your na!"
"─Gu?"
Ainz had no idea what he was talking about for a mont. He thought that it was so kind of title, like a King or a Chief, and it was only after a while that he realized it was the Troll's na.
"I see, so your na is Gu. Pardon my delayed introduction; my na is Ainz Ooal Gown."
At that mont, laughter filled the cavern.
"Fuafuafuafua! A coward's na! A soft and weak na, unlike my strong and mighty na!"
The other Trolls laughed distastefully in response to those words.
"A cow─"
Ainz stopped Aura before she could take a step forward.
"It's fine. Don't get upset over a trifling matter like this. Remain calm. We're here to talk, we're ambassadors of peace. Oh yes, just for reference, why do you think I'm a coward?"
"Ah, his ilk takes long nas to be a sign of timidity, O mysterious undead,"
The old man's face of the Naga creased with a mocking smile as he spoke from the side.
"So he's not an antique, but trash. Then, do you feel my na is that of a coward's as well?"
"This one certainly would not think so, because this one bears a long na as well. Indeed, this one is the Serpent of the West of which thou speak'st ─ Ryurarius Spenia Ai Indarun, O invader Ainz Ooal Gown. This one has often hoped that his mind would be as developed as his body, but if that were the case, he would have dominated this forest long ago; truly a dilemma."
"...You have just saved your own life."
A look of suspicion crossed Ryurarius' face as Ainz let his innermost thoughts slip out. Unfortunately, just as he wanted to clarify, Gu and the Trolls stopped laughing.
"So what are you weaklings doing here?! Co to feed ? Bones are delicious and crunchy! I'll eat you starting from your skull!"
"I am the one who ordered the undead and the Golems to build the fortress in the forest. You've heard of it, haven't you?"
The mood changed in an instant. Gu and his band radiated vhostility, while Ryurarius was filled with caution.
"I know! You pest! If not for this damn snake making noise I'd have killed you long ago! This saves ti! A coward and a black little runt!"
"Ah, so we can talk. In truth, I ca to negotiate with you."
Ainz gestured to Gu to kneel before him.
"Swear yourself to if you want to live."
"Are you retarded?! How could we serve a coward! I'll eat you right here and now! Then I'll eat that runt behind you!"
"Gu. He rules that fearso structure. You underestimate him at your peril! And the Dark Elf behind him; this forest belonged to them before the Demon Tree chased them away. They might well be mighty foes ─ but he is not listening."
Ainz could not help laughing rrily.
"Hahahaha! You're better at barking than a dog, atball. How about this. I, whom you call a coward, challenge you, who bears a mighty na, to a one on one fight. I trust you won't run in fear? If you're afraid, then get on your hands and knees and beg for rcy, and I could find it in myself to rear you as a slave."
"Very good! I can handle a mook like you by myself! I'll chop you to bits and eat you all up!"
"Very well. Since you have made your choice, negotiations have broken down. Aura, stand back. I want to play with him by myself."
Just as he finished saying that, the upraised sword hacked down on Ainz. This was the blow Gu had struck with the greatsword he held, which was over three ters long.
Ainz did not move, simply took the hit square on his body.
"─Huh?"
"What's wrong? What's so surprising?"
Ainz was untouched. Gu's ugly face twisted in surprise, and this ti he chose a sweeping slash. However, the result was the sa as before; Ainz took the blow head-on.
"Muuu?"
Gu backed up several steps. He looked at his sword, and then at Ainz. He proudly turned his back on Ainz, then walked up to one of his minions.
In the next mont, the greatsword whirled and cut into one of this Troll minions. The sword cleaved into the troll's neck and shoulder, effortlessly parting its flesh, and a geyser of fresh blood spewed forth.
The Troll scread stupidly, at the top of its voice
Gu watched in satisfaction as his minion spun and fell to the ground, and he nodded. That was probably to verify that his weapon was working.
"I see, is that Trollish regeneration at work? Quite an impressive sight when you witness it with your own eyes."
The wound surface healed over swiftly. It was not so much turning back ti as a fast-forward of the recovery process.
Gu must have known that the Troll would regenerate before testing his blade on him; but the evil look on his face as he looked down on his fallen minion suggested that he would have cut the creature up anyway, even if it could not regenerate.
"It is the privilege of the strong to kill or spare the weak. However ─ it deeply displeases ."
Ainz stepped forward. He was no longer in the mood to play around.
Gu gripped his greatsword tightly, waiting for Ainz to approach him, step by step.
"Gu! That Ainz Ooal Gown is no mundane individual! Let us band together to fight─"
"Shut up! You sit there and watch, coward! ─Ugooooooh!"
An explosive series of slashes rained down on Ainz. The combination attack was made using physical strength that far surpassed the capability of the human body, and it was among the most destructive assaults Ainz had ever faced from the inhabitants of this world.
However, his strikes could not blow away a castle wall, and neither could it scar the land. How could it possibly harm Ainz?
The greatsword's edge sliced through the wind, and Ainz took it full on his body.
"Good grief. Could you not crumple my clothes?"
Ainz seed to find it all uninteresting, and he turned away after tugging on his robes and straightening them out. Then, a thought apparently ca to mind.
"Ah, are you satisfied yet?"
"Goooooooh!"
Gu decided that slashing attacks were ineffective, and so he took one hand off his greatsword and threw a punch. This blow struck like a huge maul. If it hit a human being, they would surely have been pulped by its power and sent flying.
Yet, Ainz took this blow ─ which was assuredly fatal for a human being ─ straight in the face. After that, he calmly dusted off the place where Gu had struck him, like he had been touched by dirty hands.
Gu ceased his attack. His ugly face contorted into an even uglier shape, and he glared at the unmoved Ainz.
"So, is that end of the attack you're so proud, he of the brave na?"
"It's only your defense ─ guwaaaargh!"
Ainz stepped forward to close the distance between them and swung his staff, which destroyed half of one of Gu's legs. Unable to stand, Gu collapsed heavily to the ground..
"Even with that acorn-sized brain of yours, you should be starting to realize that cowards aren't necessarily weak, no?"
The Trolls and Ogres watching the fight shouted in shock as they saw their leader's disgraceful state.
"Haaaah." Ainz was beginning to tire of this, and sighed. The fact that they did not understand the situation even at this point proved that these monsters were worthless. Of course, it would be a different matter if they were smart enough to try and flee.
"Aura, seize him. He is the only one who cannot be allowed to flee."
Aura imdiately understood Ainz's terse order, and sprang into action. In the blink of an eye, she had caught up to the Naga, who was trying to sneak away invisibly.
"Got him, Ainz-sama. What should I do with him?"
Ainz paid no heed to Gu and looked to Aura, who had the Naga by the neck. The way he treated Gu made one thing clear to everyone present.
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─In other words: he could not be bothered to deal with the Gu fellow before him.
Gu growled from between his teeth at this utter humiliation, but Ainz did not care.
"Curse you, brat!" The Naga's serpentine body started constricting, and it wrapped around Aura. "I'll crush you to aiiiieeeee!"
A cold, calm voice ca from the midst of the balled up Naga.
"You know, I can't watch Ainz-sama like this. If you continue struggling, I'll use more force and crush your throat. Don't worry, you won't die from it."
Her small fists were enough to make the Naga realize the difference in their respective strengths, and the Naga slowly loosened its coils with a strangled wail.
"Aura, while ti is money, wastefulness is also foolishness. Please move a little further away so he doesn't end up getting killed by accident."
"Understood!"
Aura leisurely dragged away the Naga ─ who weighed several tis more than herself ─ as she left. Ainz shifted his gaze back to Gu, who had barely managed to stand up again after his regeneration caused his shattered leg to bulge up mightily as it repaired his ruined flesh
Ainz might not be as tall as his opponent, yet he towered over Gu.
"Oh, so you're healed. Then let us continue."
Ainz rapped at his shoulders with his staff, then calmly took a fighting stance. His attitude said that he had no intention of defending himself.
"You... you, what... what did you do? What are you doing? Magic?"
Gu slowly backed away as he held his sword, while Ainz stepped forward like he was giving chase. Gu's stride was shorter than Ainz's. The distance between them was greater than when the battle had begun.
Ainz snorted.
"─Hm? Well, isn't this strange? I, the one with the cowardly na, am advancing, while the bravely-nad Gu-sama is backing off. I wonder why that is the case?"
Soone replied from behind in a deadpan voice:
"That's because Ainz-sama's na is the brave one, and that weird Gu na belongs to a coward! Isn't that right, snake?"
"Y-yehh! Ainz Ooal Gown-shama ish the greatest!"
After hearing the sweet little girl's voice and another voice which was on the verge of tears, Ainz nodded several tis.
"I see, I understand now. Short nas are the mark of a coward ─ the na of Ainz Ooal Gown belongs to a brave and wonderful person, am I correct?"
"─Why you!"
"Shut up, coward."
Gu's anger overca his fear, and he swung his blade at Ainz as though to hack him in two. Ainz did not parry or dodge; simply swung back with his staff. Ainz's blow did not permit Gu to block with his sword or evade.
The staff shattered part of Gu's body.
"Abbbahhhhhhhhh!"
Gu's piteous wailing sparked fear in the hearts of his underlings as they watched the battle.
"Well, that's a Troll for you; with their regeneration, they can even co back to life after being reduced to minceat. Still, pain does seem to hurt. That was the weakest attack you made so far. All you were thinking of was protecting yourself. You feared being hit by . It was a coward's swordsmanship."
Before Ainz was Gu, whose head was half its normal thickness. A normal creature would have died long ago, but his head was slowly returning to its normal shape.
Gu's restored face was twisted into an especially disgusting shape. It was etched with terror. He was even more afraid than before; it was the reaction of one who had been broken by fear.
"You... what, what are you? Why couldn't I do anything to you?"
Ainz tilted his head, and then slowly spread his arms.
"...I am Death. I am he who brings death to you."
"You... you lot! Kill him!"
"Good grief... I expected nothing less of a coward, to renege on the terms of our duel... still, it does suit your na. So I will forgive you."
Ainz seed very happy as he said this.
Gu's minions were scared stiff by this mysterious monster, and so they remained still. That was because despite their stupidity, they could feel the sheer power of Ainz, and they had certainly witnessed enough of it. They were probably wrestling with themselves, unable to decide who was more fearso. Nobody dared to move; they simply looked back and forth between Ainz and Gu.
"Hurry!"
But they still did not move. They could not move.
The sa applied to Ainz. There was a delicate balance here, one which rooted everyone in place. If Ainz made a move, this balance would collapse, and they would all flee for their lives.
It would be troubleso if they escaped ─ just the thought of hunting down and killing each and every one of them felt tireso.
"In that case, let's do it this way. Playti is over."
Ainz activated one of his abilities, which he had not had the chance to use, and was too powerful for this world.
[Despair Aura V (Instant Death).]
The surging aura billowed out from Ainz.
The Trolls, Ogres and Gu went limp and collapsed like puppets whose strings had been cut, slumping to the ground.
The fallen monsters did not move. It was clear that although their bodies were still warm, the flas of their life had been utterly extinguished.
An old man's voice rang through the silent cave.
"What... what didst...thou do?"
The Naga was curled up into a ball, doing his best to stay away from Ainz. Ainz turned around and replied:
"I simply used a skill. Trolls can regenerate, but that does not immunize them to instant death attacks... honestly, you lot are worthless. I was simply thinking that rather than slaughtering you all outright, I should see what uses you might have, but since they refused to bend the knee, I decided to kill them all."
"This one gladly consents to be your subordinate! It is only natural for the weak to obey the strong! From now on, this one shall commit his entire strength to thee!"
Ainz calmly looked down upon the prostrated Naga, and then shrugged weakly.
"...Eh, whatever, it's fine. Besides, I ca here to talk anyway."
"How... how fearso. Thou think'st nothing of this one. Thou regard'st this one, who has long ruled the western forest, as little more than an animal-shaped pebble by the roadside."
"No, I am sowhat more interested in you than that. Didn't you ntion sothing about the Dark Elves. Tell everything."
"But of course... of course I shall. This one shall gladly tell thee everything this one knows! Although, ah..." Ainz waved to bid the Naga continued, and he said: "Wilt thou spare this one's life after this one tells his tale?"
"That I promise you. If you are loyal to , if you serve sincerely, I will reward you appropriately... but first, a question. Where are your minions? Or are you like Hamsuke... the beast who ruled the southern forest by herself?"
"No, this one has underlings. However, this one ca for the sake of negotiations, so this one did not bring them along. That was because this one's minions cannot make themselves invisible, so once negotiations broke down, they would have no way to flee."
"I see. Now, for my next question: do you have any Troll minions?"
"Only one."
"Excellent. In that case, can I have him take the place of the Giant of the East? No, that's too... that might be a little troubleso. Very well. In a few days, I will bring my subordinates to ─ no, you will go to the structure that she built. Aura, release him."
"Is that really alright?"
"It's fine. He's already sworn his loyalty to . If he betrays , I'll simply think of so other way to use him."
Aura's slender hands released the Naga's neck, leaving hand-shaped bruises on his flesh.
The Naga was still nervous, but he was much more relieved now. Ainz paid him no heed, but walked up to Gu's corpse.
"I wonder what sort of data a Troll Zombie contains."
Ainz could create undead beings from corpses with a skill. While they were little more than Zombies or Skeletons, he could make stronger Zombies if the corpse of the base creature was powerful enough. A more famous example of those would be Dragon Zombies.
Ainz picked up the greatsword which had fallen to the ground. It was far longer than Ainz was tall, but thanks to the basic principle of magic arms and armor, it shrank down to a size which best fit Ainz.
If Ainz tried to swing a sword which he could not equip, he would be forcibly disard, but just picking it up did not pose any problems to him.
"Should I strengthen that village's fighting power? In that case, perhaps this magic weapon might be the best choice. Besides, there's no value in bringing it back to Nazarick."
"Ainz Ooal Gown-sama!"
Isn't he done yet? Ainz tiredly turned to look at the Naga.
"This... this one will never betray thee. Only the fools who have never seen thy icy gaze that regards all before him as re ants would dare betray thee."
"I did not think my eyes were as expressive as that... or is this a skill of yours too? Even Demiurge, that master of scrutiny, could not tell what I was truly thinking."
"It hardly qualifies as a skill, but this one can still sense whether soone is interested in this one."
Ainz thought, perhaps that's a Naga racial ability.
"Really now... very well, I understand. Stop wasting ti and gather your minions. This is my first order."
"Yes!"
-x-X-x-
[ Part 4 ]
[Nazarick Ti 21:07 ]
Demiurge's elegant form appeared within Ainz's office. First, he bowed deeply to the seated Ainz, and then nodded in deference to Mare and Cocytus, who were waiting within. He spared the maid assigned to this room a glance of acknowledgent.
Ainz answered with a look, and then spoke to Entoma via [ssage].
"Alright, Entoma, tell Lupusregina she has permission to set off. Those three must be protected no matter the cost."
『Understood. I will relay your orders to Lupusregina.』
Demiurge walked to the center of the room, free of worries. His stylish stride made Ainz envious.
How shall I describe it, every move he makes overflows with confidence. Is it because his back is very straight?
Demiurge halted crisply, bringing Ainz back to his senses.
"It is good that you've co, Demiurge."
"Yes! I thank you for summoning before you, Ainz-sama. Have you finished speaking with Entoma?"
"Everything is fine. She reported back to , and discussed the matter with . She has passed this test."
"Wonderful. In addition, I thank you for making ti for , Ainz-sama."
"Pay it no heed, Demiurge. It is only fitting that I should match myself to the man who has done the most for Nazarick. In addition, you are not late, so do not worry... now then, tell what you think."
Ainz handed the piece of paper he was holding to Demiurge. Demiurge received it, and Ainz saw him quickly scan it from top to bottom before asking:
"As you can see, this is a nu, but what do you think of it? The al is for a human male and female, and possibly a child."
"...I think that any human being must consu whatever you deign to provide for them without complaint, Ainz-sama. However, I feel that is not the answer you seek, therefore ─ if there is a child, they might not enjoy foie gras. In addition... hm, lighter dishes might be more ideal."
"I see. That certainly bears consideration. I thank you."
"You honor with your praise... Ainz-sama, do you intend to invite people to the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick ─ into the sanctuary of the Supre Beings ─ as your guests?"
"Indeed. I intend to be hospitable."
Or rather, it was not so much hospitality as entertaining them. This was a form of coercion backed by wealth, intended to keep them on good terms with him.
"Is that wise?"
"Does it matter? Is there a problem?"
"No, none at all. After all, whatever you speak is correct, Ainz-sama."
In the past, when this had all been in the ga world, the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick had played host to very few people other than the guild mbers. At the very most, they had invited the little sister of the guild mber Yamaiko ─ whose player na was Akemi-chan ─ a few tis. However, the guild did not forbid inviting anyone. It was simply that nobody had thought to do so.
Which is why my friends ought to have no issue with inviting Nfirea and the others. Invaders are different from guests.
Ainz then turned to Demiurge ─ who was pondering sothing ─ and the other two Guardians who had been waiting in the room before he asked:
"Guardians; are you ready to enter the baths?"
"Forgive ; Mare and I were planning to borrow bathing equipnt along the way."
"I see. Then, Cocytus ─ oh, you brought yours along. Then we shall et in the baths. Incrent, if anyone cos, have them wait for here."
"Understood."
After hearing the maid's reply, Ainz stood up and left his room. After ordering the vassals who usually trailed him around to remain where they were, he led the way to the baths, which were also on the 9th Floor.
Ainz very much wanted to chat with Cocytus as they walked side by side, but Cocytus was a very serious person and would never do such a thing. This made Ainz feel a little lonely. Cocytus probably had not read his heart, but he approached Ainz and asked:
"Ainz-sama. There. Seed. To. Be. Fewer. Eight. Edge. Assassins. In. The. Room. Just. Now. Did. You. Send. Them. Sowhere?"
Ainz felt a little disappointed when he discovered that it was work-related, but he also comforted himself by thinking that this was what Cocytus considered casual conversation, and so he replied to Cocytus. He very nearly let the excitent creep into his voice, but in the end he decided that it would be better to keep it a secret.
"They are at the E-Rantel inn. Narberal is waiting there in case we have an unexpected visitor. They ought to be observing the situation from afar."
"Is. It. Not. Dangerous. To. Leave. Narberal. Alone. By. Herself?"
"Quite. If anyone plans to attack, they ought to do so now."
"I. See. So. She. Is. Live. Bait. Then?"
"Indeed. If the person who brainwashed Shalltear is observing our every movent, this bait will surely have them drooling. After Momon defeated the mighty Vampire Shalltear ─ granted, she was known by a different na ─ nobody attempted to approach him. That being the case, if Momon is not around, leaving the magic caster all by herself..."
"They. Will. Take. The. Bait?"
"I don't know. But if they do, I will be a master baiter."
Ainz mid the action of pulling up a fishing pole.
"Will. We. Mobilize. All. Our. Forces. Then?"
"As if. I won't do that. First, we'll feel out our opponent. If they're as strong as us, or stronger, then we'll have to be more humble."
Cocytus groaned. He understood the reasoning behind that decision, so he had no choice but to bear with it.
"The. Logical. Part. Of. . Knows. It. Is. Only. A. Temporary. Thing. But. Emotionally. I. Find. It. Hard. To. Keep. My. Cool."
"Bear with it until we've checked them out thoroughly and found our opposition's weaknesses. Once that happens, I will have them taste the purest of pain. I will not forgive them for daring to brainwash Shalltear and forcing to put her down."
Even if they were players, Ainz did not feel the slightest bit of empathy for them. The only people Ainz cared for were the NPCs or his old friends. If anyone aroused his ire, he would subject them to a fate worse than death in order to show them the foolishness of their ways.
"Repay good unto good and evil unto evil. Is that not to be expected?"
Ainz smiled coldly, as a surge of excitent welled up inside him. If the opposition really were players, then he could conduct far better experints. The first of them would probably be the one he dared not perform with himself ─ that of death.
"An. Eye. For. An. Eye. And. A. Tooth. For. A. Tooth. Then?
"Correct. However, did you know? That phrase was originally ant to warn against excessive retribution, so I did not use it. That's because I intend to pay them back with interest."
Punitto-san said that, Ainz added in his heart.
"Oh! I. Expected. No. Less. Of. You. Ainz-sama. Not. Only. Are. You. A. Suprely. Skilled. Warrior. But. Your. Intellect. Is. Beyond. Compare. Truly. I. Am. In. Awe."
Ainz did not need to look back to feel the wave of respect pressing down on him from behind.
"Then. Do. You. Plan. To. Spend. The. Entire. Day. In. Nazarick. Ainz-sama?"
"No, after I bathe with everyone, I'll take care of so work here before going over there in the middle of the night, because there's a lot of things which need to be settled over there as well. How about yourself?"
"I. Plan. To. Temporarily. Return. To. My. Position. Guarding. Nazarick. Since. The. Matters. Which. Require. My. Personal. Presence. At. The. Lakeside. Have. All. Been. Concluded."
"Once you return, the only ones working outside will be Demiurge, who has many tasks to complete, Sebas and Solution, who are gathering information in the Royal Capital, Aura, who is building a base in the forest, and then Narberal and myself."
"I. Find. It. Hard. To. Accept. The. Fact. That. A. Supre. Being. Must. Personally. Handle. Work. We. Should Have. Taken. On─"
"Haha, forgive , Cocytus."
"There. Is. No. Need. Ainz-sama. You. Rule. This. Place. And. So. Your. Every. Word. Is Law. What. I. Just. Said. Was. re. Foolishness. In. Addition─"
The mood in the air seed to have changed, and Ainz found it odd. Looking back, he saw Cocytus looking sowhat gloomy ─ although he could not tell from his face.
"If. We. Were. As. Capable. As. Demiurge. You. Would. Not. Need. To. Exert. Yourself. In. The. End. It. Boils. Down. To. Our. Lack. Of. Ability─"
"That's not true. When everyone made you, they sought to create the right person for the job. That being the case, the most important thing for you is to finish your assigned tasks. Frankly speaking, it doesn't matter if you can't do anything else. Although, the fact that Demiurge is sowhat more intelligent and more knowledgeable ans he can tackle a wider range of problems."
Cocytus did not seem to be able to accept that, so Ainz continued:
"In that case, you should focus on slowly learning how to handle more things. For instance ─ you are now in charge of the Lizardman village, so you should have learned a lot from it. Ruling that village will surely aid you in the future. As long as you slowly proceed, step by step, soday you will co to be on par with Demiurge."
"Can. I. Really. Do. That?"
"I feel that you can't say it's impossible," Ainz replied in a roundabout manner.
"Nobody can surpass Demiurge's intellect. In order to equal him, you must walk an arduous road. But I believe your efforts will not be wasted."
The two of them continued silently along the corridor. Soon, Cocytus quietly said:
"Thank you, Ainz-sama."
"I don't think I've said anything which deserves your thanks. Alright, Cocytus, we're almost at the bath. Cheer up before Demiurge and Mare co."
"Yes!"
***
Spa Resort Nazarick was located on the 9th Floor of Nazarick. It was a comfortable place of leisure which boasted nine separate outdoor-thed baths and 17 indoor-thed baths for both n and won. The most impressive of them was the Cherenkov Bath. Its warm water radiated an actinic blue light, allowing bathers to enjoy a decadent atmosphere.
(TL Note: Cherenkov radiation is the blue glow typically associated with underwater nuclear reactors)
Ainz, who had reached the baths in Cocytus' company, was utterly shocked when he saw an unexpected soone.
"Ainz-sama
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