"—Don't be afraid. Don't disgrace us in front of our opponents."
Zaryusu's razor-edged criticism drove all the Lizardmen to stand up straight and thrust out their chests.
Numerous clouds of black fog appeared before the king of death — twenty of them in total. They whirled ceaselessly, growing larger and larger, until they formed a single cloud of black fog about one hundred fifty centimeters in size. Soon, countless frightening faces appeared in the fog.
"That's..."
Zaryusu recalled the monsters who had come to the villages as messengers, and the undead creatures he had seen during his travels.
Crusch had already explained this once in the village, but it was very difficult to harm incorporeal monsters without the aid of enchanted weapons, weapons made of special metals, magic, or specialized martial arts.
Even if one put all the Lizardman tribes together, they would only have a few magic weapons. In other words. Just defeating one would be very challenging.
To think that their foe could casually summon twenty such monsters with a wave of his hand.
"...So this is what they mean when they say one can control death."
Our enemy is an incredibly powerful monster, one whom that powerful Elder Lich would pledge his loyalty to, Zaryusu thought despondently.
The king of the dead muttered something, and then cast his hand out, like he was ordering an attack. The monsters than flew over to encircle the village, and they began to recite in unison:
"We hereby relay the will of the Supreme One."
"The Supreme One requests a dialogue. Dispatch your representatives forthwith."
"Any delays will only incur the wrath of the Supreme One."
After their monologue, the incorporeal undead returned to their master's side.
"Wha? ...Don't tell me... that's it?" Zaryusu asked, with a stupid look on his face.
He sent such powerful undead just to pass on a message?
However, the more unbelievable thing was what came next. After receiving directions from the ruler of death, the silver-haired girl behind him clapped forcefully.
WIth that clap — all those undead were annihilated.
"What!?"
Zaryusu could not hold back his cry of shock.
Those summoned monsters had not been recalled, but destroyed.
Clerics could destroy the undead. While just banishing them was hard enough, with a sufficient disparity in power levels, a cleric could not only turn undead, but outright destroy them. However, doing so to many undead at once was an arduous task.
In other words, the silver-haired girl was a follower who was as powerful as the king of death. That being the case, the people beside her might well be similarly puissant.
"Hahahaha—"
Zaryusu could not stop himself from laughing.
That was only to be expected. What else could he do but laugh? They were so much more powerful—
"Brother!"
"—Ah, Ani-ja!"
Zaryusu looked down in response to the call from below and found that Shasuryu and Crusch were at the foot of the wall. The two of them climbed the dirt wall and together they looked at the magic caster.
Crusch forced herself into the space between Zaryusu and Zenberu, almost making Zenberu fall. However, that should still have been forgivable.
"Is that the enemy general? He feels so powerful that I'm getting chills down my spine just looking at him. While he looks like the Elder Lich you defeated... there's no comparing their strength, is there..."
"...Ani-ja, are you done on your side?"
"Muu. It's over for the most part. Crusch and I have exhausted our mana. And after hearing those messengers... we felt that it would be better to settle this matter first. As for what those messengers said... Zaryusu, would you be willing to come with me?"
Zaryusu looked silently at Shasuryu, and then nodded deeply. Shasuryu looked briefly uncomfortable, but resumed his usual expression right away, so quickly that nobody had realized he had ever looked that way.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't worry, Ani-ja."
Shasuryu jumped off the dirt wall with that apology, landing with a splash as he broke through the narrow ice of the marsh.
"Then, I'll be going."
"Be careful."
Zaryusu hugged Crusch tightly, and then he jumped off into the marsh after Zaryusu.
Zaryusu and Shasuryu trod the thin ice on the surface of the lake underfoot as they set forth together. After leaving the main gate, Zaryusu could sense the undead king's entourage eying them, as though their gazes were exerting an actual physical pressure. He could also sense the uneasy looks from behind him, and the most worried of them probably belonged to Crusch.
Zaryusu fought the urge to stay with her.
Just then, Shasuryu spoke.
"...I'm sorry."
"...What are you sorry for, Ani-ja?"
"...If negotiations break down, they might kill us as an example to the others."
Zaryusu had been prepared for this. That was why he had hugged Crusch tightly before going.
"...Given their numbers, I couldn't let you go alone, Ani-ja. If only one person went, they'd probably think we were snubbing them."
Zaryusu was a famous individual among the Lizardmen and he was ideal for negotiations. However, he was a traveler, and his death would not harm the unity of the Lizardmen. From that point of view, there would be no regrets if he died.
Even if a hero died, the tribe could still keep fighting as long as there were other chiefs around. The shame would be the loss of the Frost Pain he carried; without it, they would be unable to withstand the cold of the lake.
The two of them walked forward in silence, every step taking them closer to death.
They reached the stairway of undead which led to the throne, and raised their voices. If the throne had been set further back, perhaps they might have been allowed to climb up, but given that it was situated at the edge of the rock, it probably meant that they did not want to let the Lizardmen climb up.
Kings had to have a commanding vantage, after all.
There was no such rule among the Lizardmen, but many species had the practice of superior beings overlooking inferior ones. Granted, this would be very rude if they had come to conduct a dialogue.
In other words, this was a dialogue in name only. There was no intention to speak to them on even terms.
Instead, actually expecting equal treatment was a sign of their ignorance. Zaryusu and the others might have won the earlier battle, but after seeing the array of the enemy's top people upon the huge rock, even they would be forced to conclude that their prior victory held no meaning whatsoever. It was nothing more than child's play.
"We have arrived! I am Shasuryu Shasha, representative of the Lizardmen, and this is the greatest hero of the lizardmen!"
"I am Zaryusu Shasha!"
Even so, there was no flattery in their strident voices. They knew it was a foolish gesture, but it was the last inch of dignity they possessed. The earlier battle might have been a sideshow in the eyes of their opponents, but they could not abandon the pride of the warriors who had fallen on that battlefield.
There was no response. The king of death merely swiveled his head to regard them from atop his throne, eying them with no reservation whatsoever. There was no sign that he was going to do anything at all.
The person who answered them was the demoness who sprouted black wings from her waist.
"Our master feels you have not adopted a sufficiently respectful listening posture."
"...What?"
After hearing their doubt-filled voices, she called on the tailed being who looked like a human male.
"—Demiurge."
"『Kneel』."
Zaryusu and Shasuryu suddenly fell to their knees, their heads sinking into the marsh. It seemed like a perfectly natural motion to onlookers.
The cold mud caked their bodies, and the shattered ice immediately froze over once more.
They could not stand. No matter how hard they tried, their bodies would not budge an inch. It was as though a pair of huge, invisible hands were pressing down on them and taking the freedom from their bodies.
"『Do not resist』."
In the instant that voice filtered into their ears again, Zaryusu and Shasuryu felt as though their bodies had suddenly grown an additional brain — an organ that received commands from others, and which their bodies obeyed.
After seeing their powerless bodies kneeling pathetically in the mud, the demoness seemed quite pleased as she reported to her master:
"Ainz-sama, they are now ready to listen to you."
"Thank you — raise your heads."
"『You are permitted to raise your heads』."
Zaryusu and Shasuryu turned their heads, the sole part of their bodies they could move, and looked up like they were desperate to see their king.
"I am... Ainz Ooal Gown, master of the Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. Firstly, I would like to thank you for helping me complete an experiment."
An experiment? You killed so many of us (the Lizardmen) and you dare call it an experiment!?
His resentment fanned the flames of anger in his heart, but he resisted it. After all, now was not the time to make a scene.
"Well then, let's get to the point... submit to my rule."
The magic caster Ainz raised his hand, silencing Shasuryu, who was about to speak.
Shasuryu knew that trying to speak anyway would not be wise, so he could only keep his mouth shut.
"—However, you have just defeated us, and you are unwilling to be ruled by me. Therefore, we will attack again in four hours. If you can still win, I shall no longer act against you. In fact, I guarantee that I will pay you the appropriate reparations."
"...May I ask a question?"
"That is fine. Ask away."
"Will you be the one leading the attack... Gown-dono?"
The silver-haired girl behind him frowned, while the demoness's smile only grew wider. Perhaps they were displeased by the addition of that honorific. However, they did not do anything out of the ordinary, possibly because their master had not brought it up either.
Ainz ignored them, and continued speaking.
"Hardly. I will not be making a move. The attacker shall be one of my trusted aides... and only him. His name is Cocytus."
As Zaryusu heard this, a deep seated sense of despair filled him, like it was the end of the world.
If Ainz attacked with an army, the Lizardmen might have a chance of victory. In other words, he would be hoping to prolong that distasteful war he called an experiment. In that case, they might have a scant, fleeting chance of victory.
However, he was not dispatching an army.
Only one person would be attacking.
An army which had been defeated had arrayed its troops in a grand display, yet they were only sending one person to attack. Unless this was a punishment, what Ainz's words meant was that he was absolutely confident in that person.
A person who had the trust of that unbelievably powerful king of death. Then, the only answer was that the person in question was also incredibly powerful, to the point where the Lizardmen had no hope of victory.
"We choose to surrender..."
"It would be too boring to surrender without a fight. Do put up some token resistance. We would like to enjoy our victory."
Ainz interrupted Shasuryu, preventing him from speaking further.
So you're going to make an example of us, you bastard!? Zaryusu cursed in his heart.
The reality was that the strong would use slaughter to wash away the stain of defeat.
In other words, they were going to carry out a live sacrifice. This would be a show of utter dominion, designed to wipe out any trace of rebellion within the Lizardmen.
"That is all I wish to say. Then, I shall look forward to the events of four hour's time."
"A moment please — will this ice melt?"
Whether they won or lost, it would be very hard for the Lizardmen to survive if the lake was frozen over.
"...Ah, I almost forgot," Ainz replied casually. "I merely wished to avoid staining my robes in the marsh. I will dispel the magic once I return to the shore."
What!?
Zaryusu and Shasuryu were so shocked that they could not speak. In fact, they wondered if they had misheard him.
He froze the lake just because he didn't want to get dirty?
This was no longer merely unbelievable. They were going up against someone with such shocking power, who could easily bend the world to his whims, and for such a pointless little reason to boot.
So this was the kind of mighty being who was their opponent. Zaryusu and Shasuryu felt a terror they had experienced when they were alone by themselves as children.
"Then, see you later, Lizardmen — 「Gate」."
Having said his piece, Ainz waved his hand, and a hemisphere of darkness appeared in front of the throne. He then stepped into the darkness.
"Farewell, Lizardmen."
"Goodbye, Lizardman-sans."
"Seeya, Lizardmen."
The two women and the Dark Elf boy attending Ainz bade farewell to the lizardmen in a disinterested tone before stepping into the darkness as well.
"Er, erm, then, ah, bye bye, take care."
"Kcab og ot evah uoy. (Goodbye, then.)"
The creepy monster vanished into the darkness after the Dark Elf girl.
"『Releasing control』. Then, do enjoy yourselves, Lizardmen."
Finally, the tailed man stepped into the darkness. There was a gentle sound, and the force binding the two of them vanished with him.
Zaryusu and Shasuryu remained kneeling in the mud where they had been abandoned, without the strength to stand up.
They did not even pay attention to the continuous pain which came from the freezing cold filtering up into them. That was because the shock they had just experienced far exceeded any physical pain they might have felt.
"Bastards..."
That uncharacteristic curse from Shasuryu was filled with a complex blend of emotions.
-x-X-x-
They were greeted by the various chiefs, who had climbed up onto the dirt walls to avoid the cold. There were no other Lizardmen around.
They had probably done so because they were looking forward to discussing matters in private. Sensing this, Shasuryu decided not to mince words and told them the events of the dialogue that was not a dialogue.
There was no great reaction to Shasuryu's somber narrative, only mild surprise. It was probably because they had expected a conclusion like that.
"I see... but will the ice melt? If it doesn't, we won't even be able to fight."
"It'll be fine. They said they would melt the ice."
"Did you bargain for it?"
Shasuryu did not answer the question from the Small Fang Tribe's chief, merely smiling by way of reply. The chief knew what that meant, and shook his head in resignation.
"While you were heading out for those talks, we looked around... and we found traces of the enemy in the lake. probably skeletal troops. In all likelihood, they were surrounding us and awaiting orders.
"Don't think... enemy... will let us go."
"They seem quite serious about this, which means..."
"It's probably as you're guessing."
The four chiefs who did not take part sighed deeply. They had probably reached the conclusion that what awaited them was a live sacrifice.
"Then, what should we do?"
"...Mobilize all the warrior Lizardmen, and... the ones present..."
"Ani-ja... can you allow only five people to take part?"
Zaryusu glanced at the baffled Crusch from the corner of his eye, and pleaded with all the males present.
"If the enemy's aim is to demonstrate his power, they will probably not exterminate the Lizardmen. That being the case, we ought to have someone who can lead the surviving Lizardmen. If all of us here perish, it will be a great blow to the future of the Lizardmen."
"...He's got a point, doesn't he, Shasuryu?"
"Mm, Zaryusu... you're right."
The two chiefs looked at Zaryusu and Crusch, and nodded.
"—That's fine. I approve of it."
After receiving the approval of Zenberu, the last chief, Shasuryu could no longer find any reason to deny his younger brother's request.
"Then it's decided. I also thought that someone would have to stay alive to lead the united tribes — Crusch ought to be good for that duty. Perhaps her albinism might affect her duties, but her priestly powers are irreplaceable."
"Please wait, I want to fight too!" Crusch shouted as she protested her exclusion at this juncture. "Besides, if one of us has to stay behind, wouldn't it be better if it was Shasuryu? He's the chief that everyone trusts most!"
"It's for precisely that reason that we can't spare him. The enemy wants to fill us with despair and make us tractable with a show of overwhelming force. However, do you think they would spare a Lizardman who could inspire hope like him? I don't think so.. right?"
"Also... Crusch is the least popular of the chiefs due to her albinism."
Crusch was speechless. It was an unarguable fact that others thought poorly of her because of her condition.
Crusch knew she could not persuade the others, and instead turned to Zaryusu.
"I want to go too. When you called me here, I had already prepared myself. Why are you still saying something like this?"
"...At that time, I thought we might all die, but now there's a chance that one of us might live."
"Are you kidding me!?"
The air trembled, as if in response to Crusch's anger. The sound of slapping resounded from the dirt wall, as Crusch's tail thrashed wildly in the grip of her emotions.
"—Zaryusu, go convince her. See you in four hours."
Shasuryu strode off after leaving those words behind. Then, there was the sound of ice cracking and water splashing. The other three chiefs leapt off the dirt wall, following behind Shasuryu. Zenberu waved to the two who remained as he left.
After watching them leave, Zaryusu turned to Crusch.
"Crusch, please understand."
"What's there to understand!? Besides, you might not lose! If I contributed with my priestly powers, we might win!"
How hollow those words sounded. Even Crusch, who had spoken them, could not bring herself to believe what she had just said.
"I don't want the female I love to die. Please grant the last wish of this foolish male."
Crusch embraced Zaryusu, a pained expression on her face.
"You're too selfish!"
"I'm sorry..."
"You're probably going to die..."
"Mm..."
Indeed, his chances of survival were very slim. No, he could conclude that they were nonexistent.
"In just a week you won my heart, and now you want me to watch you die?"
"Mm..."
"Meeting you was my fortune, and also my misfortune."
Crusch poured her strength into the arms embracing Zaryusu, as though she never wanted to let go.
Zaryusu could not speak.
What should he say?
What could he say?
His mind revolved around the same question.
After some time, Crusch raised her head, her face filled with determination.
A wave of unease washed over Zaryusu. He had the feeling that Crusch would insist on following him. Then, Crusch issued a simple and forceful ultimatum to Zaryusu.
"—Get me pregnant."
"—What?"
"Hurry!"
-x-X-x-