I cast an invisibility spell over myself and fly over the village of Carne. The peaceful tranquility is shattered by the deafening roar of the Death Knight, "AAAAAAHHHHHH!" I scan the ranks of knights below, searching for the captain. My eyes catch sight of the Death Knight relentlessly stabbing a knight over and over again. "Too late, I guess. Damn, he's fast. I would have liked to interrogate the captain first. Oh well," I murmur to myself.
Descending from the sky, I land gracefully amidst the chaos and address the townspeople. "That's enough, Death Knight! I'll handle things from here." The Death Knight halts his assault and rushes to my side, leaving the knight barely clinging to life.
"What are your orders from Gilgamesh-sama?" Albedo teleports next to me, her presence both commanding and reassuring.
"Right on time, Albedo. Take these knights to Neuronist. As for the dead ones, make something useful out of them. Either turn them into undead or use them as fertilizer, as you see fit."
"Roger that, Gilgamesh-sama. And what about you, my lord?"
"Don't worry about me. I can handle myself. You don't need to personally oversee this task. Delegate it to someone from Nazarick. Since you're already in your armor, you'll be my bodyguard for now."
---
A couple of hours have passed since then. The takeover of the village is well underway, but we have ensured that it remains hidden from prying eyes. The memory control spell proves to be an invaluable tool, allowing us to read the memories of the villagers and subtly manipulate their opinions in favor of Nazarick while turning them against the open kingdom of Re-Estize. The resurrection of the dead villagers serves as a significant green flag for us, fostering goodwill among the living.
I sense the approach of Gazeff Stronoff, riding beyond the horizon. "Wrap this up, discreetly. We have visitors," I command. Albedo nods, her efficiency and loyalty unwavering.
The villagers, now swayed by our influence, show no signs of resistance and go about their daily lives as if nothing has changed. Albedo directs the minions of Nazarick to finish the preparations quietly. The dead knights are repurposed into useful assets away from the public eye, and the living are taken under Neuronist's care for further manipulation.
As Gazeff and his men draw nearer, I stand at the village's edge, Albedo by my side. The Death Knight is nowhere in sight, hidden away to avoid raising suspicion. Gazeff reins in his horse, his eyes scanning the village for any signs of trouble.
"Welcome, Warrior Captain Gazeff Stronoff," I greet him warmly, extending a hand in friendship. "It's a pleasure to see you here. What brings you to our humble village?"
Gazeff dismounts, a look of cautious curiosity on his face. "I heard reports of disturbances in this area and came to investigate. But everything seems... normal."
I smile, nodding. "Indeed. We had a minor skirmish earlier, but it was swiftly dealt with. The villagers are safe, and there's nothing to worry about."
Gazeff's eyes widen slightly. "You managed to fend off an invasion from the knights of Baharuth?" He seems flabbergasted by my words.
"I might not look it, but I'm quite skilled in combat, Warrior Captain."
"No need to be formal. You may call me Gazeff. And thank you, uh—?" he trails off.
I chuckle. "Gilgamesh. My name is Gilgamesh, Gazeff."
Gazeff nods. "Well then, thank you for your help. If it wasn't for you, this village might have followed the same fate as the others."
Gazeff relaxes slightly, accepting my explanation. "I'm glad to hear that. Your presence here is reassuring."
Masking fake concern, I reply, "Oh, I actually heard what happened to the other villages. That's why we managed to prepare for the attack."
The conversation continues amicably, with Gazeff unaware of the true extent of Nazarick's influence over the village. The takeover remains hidden, and the villagers, now loyal to Nazarick, play their part convincingly.
One of the villagers rushes toward us for my orders but remains unbeknownst to Gazeff. "Mages! They're coming right for us, and they have angels backing them up!"
Gazeff is suddenly alerted by this and prepares to meet the mages head-on.
As Gazeff and his men prepare to leave, I give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "Safe travels, and here," I say, handing him the same totem that Ainz had given him.
"Thank you, Gilgamesh-sama. Until we meet again," Gazeff replies, mounting his horse and riding off with his men.
Once they are out of sight, I turn to Albedo. "Maintain the illusion. Ensure that our influence grows subtly and without detection."
"Understood, my lord," Albedo responds, her eyes gleaming with determination. "Nazarick will prevail."
We watch as Gazeff and his men ride off into the distance to face off with the members of the Sunlight Scripture.