I was at the orphanage again, but luckily this time I didn't have to resurrect anyone—just visiting my kingdom.
"Your Majesty, this is the boy. He's capable of using druid magic. I see talent in him," said Yuri with a smile that could be translated as excitement.
A boy named Lu had managed to grow a plant at just 12 years old.
In front of me was a group of children, most of whom were orphans because of me.
"Impressive," I said through my mask.
The boy looked at me with admiration in his features.
But this is just a minor visit. Although I take responsibility for guiding the war orphans to become productive members of society, the truth is, it's a secondary goal.
Today is the day the adventurers come to my country. I already had the speech prepared.
Blue Rose, Four Armaments, and Silver Thread Bird would come to my country.
Red Drop refused.
Other notable adventurers for this meeting included: Rainbow, Foresight, Swords of Darkness, and of course, Momon and Nabe (Darkness).
And also some non-canon characters who don't matter.
Though the truth is, even if they're not canon, they're contributing benefits to the Sorcerer Kingdom. Three groups rose to gold rank, two to adamantite, and one to platinum.
A bit of nervousness ran through my now-flesh body.
I just had to make a good impression on the new humans, especially Blue Rose, and then Swords of Darkness and Foresight would speak well of me, as I had ordered.
x-x-x-x
Lakyus's POV
We had arrived in the new country after a week of travel.
"Welcome to E-Rantel, city of the Sorcerer Kingdom. Is this your first time here?" said a young man, who stared at Gagaran for 10 seconds, much to her annoyance.
"What are you looking at?"
"I... uh..."
"Ah, yes, we're Blue Rose. We received an invitation from the king of this nation," I said, representing my team.
"Oh, I see. Do you have His Majesty's invitation on hand?"
I quickly handed it to the guard.
The guard, no longer staring at Gagaran, examined the signature and guided us.
"Please, come in. This city is different from the cities of the Kingdom and the Empire, as it has all kinds of locations within it. First-time visitors must attend a course in the room ahead."
"A course?"
"Yes. This is to minimize unnecessary disturbances. Only those who have attended this seminar can enter the city. Will you do it?"
"Then I'd ask you to surrender your weapons under custody, but since you're guests, it won't be necessary."
Whew, good. I didn't want to hand over Kilineiram—not that I want to be possessed! I just want it for its power.
"...I see. Ah. Then, can we keep moving?"
"Please, follow me."
The guard's guidance ended, and he sent us to a hall before leaving—but not without glancing at Gagaran again. Weird.
"Looks like our muscle-brain has an admirer," said Tia.
"Huh?" Gagaran was quite confused, and I laughed.
Were those looks of desire? Wow, I didn't expect that.
"He was looking at you with the lust of a wolf. Didn't you notice?"
"That handsome guy noticed me? As if that would happen."
"Try talking to him next time, see how it goes," I said.
"They didn't tell us where to sit. So it's free seating, then," Evileye said.
Just as we sat down, a non-human creature appeared.
It was a creature with a human upper body and a serpentine lower body—a Naga.
Nagas were hostile toward humanity. What's one doing here?
"Thank you for waiting, dear humans wishing to enter the city. This is one of the immigration officers of the Sorcerer Kingdom, Ryurarius Spenia Ai Indarun. Well, it's not a profession that brings me into contact with you often, so forget it if you want. Now, without further ado, let's begin. We'll briefly explain the differences between living in this city and the surrounding cities, as well as things to be aware of... First, wielding weapons within the city is strictly prohibited."
"Oh, understood, Naga-san," I replied cordially. We'd saved demi-human tribes before—maybe this Naga isn't evil.
"Many would consider this a simple reminder," said Ryurarius, pointing at their faces with a slender finger. "It's written all over your faces. However, I'd like you to remember that many races walk the streets of the Sorcerer Kingdom. You've already seen undead holding their heads high and walking proudly. Even if you consider them dangerous beings, drawing your weapons on them without provocation would be a serious crime, wouldn't it?"
With that, we stepped into the city.
Ryurarius's words had given the impression that this nation was full of demi-humans and undead. However, the reality was different: most of the pedestrians were humans.
Still, there were dwarves, frogmen, giants, lizardmen, and even trolls and goblins in the city.
I noticed three dwarves building something.
"Excuse me, dwarf-san. May I ask you a few questions?"
I approached the three dwarves working by the roadside. There were also three skeletons digging under the dwarves' orders.
The culture shock I'd received after entering the city had been so great that now I thought it wasn't a big deal to see skeletons.
There was even a hint of relief in my mind at seeing an opponent I could actually beat.
"What? Who are you? What country are you from?"
"I apologize for speaking from horseback. However, we're from Re-Estize and are looking for the 'Golden Pavilion' hotel. Could you tell us how to get there?"
"The Golden Pavilion? Ahhh, that's a classy place."
The dwarves gave us a rough explanation.
"Well, when we eat some food, we'll thank the men and women of Re-Estize for it."
"No, no need... Speaking of which, what are you doing here?"
"Hm? Don't you know? We're building roads. His Majesty himself asked us to. Although it's mainly the residents doing the work, we're here to serve as technical advisors."
Gahahahahaha, the dwarves laughed heartily.
"I see. And the undead over there are...?"
"They're skeletons lent to us by His Majesty. Ahhh, honestly, you can't beat undead when it comes to pure manual labor. It's certainly changed my view of them."
"Controlling undead..."
Well, Rigrit, my former companion, was a necromancer. I don't have to have a bad impression of them, even if I'm a priestess of the water god.
"It's not that there's nothing strange... Well, I guess it can't be helped since you're travelers. Still, it's to be expected in the Sorcerer Kingdom, isn't it? I've heard undead are working in nearby villages. After all, they can complete tedious tasks like planting and so on with just an order. Look, the undead don't get tired, don't sleep, and don't eat. Plus, they understand what we say, so they do a fantastic job when assigned tasks within their capabilities. As things are, you don't even need to work like a dog. Even our country is starting to make use of them."
"By your country, do you mean a Dwarven nation separate from the Sorcerer Kingdom?"
"Oh, yes. That's where we're from, but now we're staying in the demi-human district of the Sorcerer Kingdom."
"Demi-human district?"
"Yes. It's where all non-human races live. They say it used to be the poor district of this city, but it was demolished. Then it was rebuilt to allow races of all kinds to live comfortably. Well, it might take a while before it's complete, but work on housing for smaller races—like us dwarves, for example—has already begun."
"We're here to oversee the construction!"
The dwarf's colleague joined the conversation.
"I see. But if they demolished the slums, where did the original residents go?"
My eyes unconsciously landed on the undead.
"We're not entirely sure, but I think they were sent to villages or something. There are many abandoned and ruined villages around here, and I heard they were sent there to rebuild and work the fields. That's where being able to control undead comes in handy. If I'm not mistaken, they've started large-scale farming with undead, or something like that. That's why food prices in this country are quite cheap."
"Never mind that it's cheap! What matters is that it's good! And the wine! Ohhh, I gained weight just after moving to this city!"
"If I go back this fat, my wife will yell, 'Where's my share?' I'd better slim down before going home!"
"Ahhhhh, we were so lucky when we decided at random."
Guhahahahaha, the dwarves laughed again.
"I see. Thank you for the information. We hope to see you again."
"Likewise," the dwarves said goodbye.
"They're quite friendly," Gagaran noted.
"They also speak well of the undead," I said, somewhat disturbed.
"Gagaran, do you think you could defeat a Death Knight?"
"Absolutely," said the group's tank.
"I'm not so sure," said Evileye.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, shorty."
"They're legendary creatures that appear once every 200 years."
200 years? How did Evileye know that? And how does he have them as mere guards?
Just how powerful is the Sorcerer King? I thought while unconsciously gripping Kilineiram.
I shook off my anxious thoughts. I'm the leader of the group! I must act like it!
"Alright, we'll find out once we get to the adventurer's guild."
Suddenly, a shout came from our shorty.
"Momon!!"
??
And then I saw him.
Right in front of us was a man clad in black armor alongside a beauty with black hair.
The Darkness team.
"Oh, hello. You're Blue Rose. It's been a while."
"Momon, are you okay? I heard you stayed in this city to defend the innocent."
Momon put a hand on the back of his neck. "That's right, but things are changing here. Still, I remain vigilant."
"The Sorcerer King is going to give a speech. I think it would be good to go see it to understand his vision for adventurers."
"It's also convenient that we've met. Did the Sorcerer King send you?"
Nabe was about to say something with a sour expression, but Momon stopped her.
"Yes, he sent me to greet each group of adventurers who accepted the invitation."
"Oh, is that so? Who else accepted the invitation? Could you accompany us to the guild? We have a lot to talk about," I said.
We continued chatting idly until I saw a crowd—adventurers. There, I recognized Four Armaments and Silver Thread Bird.
We approached behind Momon, whose mere presence was enough to make room for us in the front row.
And there, I saw him—the undead I'm supposed to keep an eye on. But... his hands were flesh, and he wore a mask.
x-x-x-x
Ainz's POV:
Act natural.
I did my best not to show how stiff and uncomfortable I felt. I moved in the elegant manner I had perfected during hours of practice in front of my bedroom mirror.
According to Albedo, Blue Rose was already in my city. They were the last to arrive. I sent Momon to greet them and notified all the adventurers in my city.
There they were, next to Momon (Pandora's Actor) and Nabe.
I used eye contact and hand gestures to engage the audience and keep them interested.
....
I tried to focus my gaze on one of the audience members. My eyes rested on a small blonde adventurer near the front of the crowd, who was watching me intently.
The moment our eyes met, the girl screamed and stumbled back as if struck. She lowered her head, unwilling to meet my eyes again, and seemed to start trembling. The boy next to her tried to steady her, clearly concerned.
Okay, that didn't quite work...
Now I'm a giant human. I shouldn't be that scary... maybe it's because of the Katze Plains or something.
Damn it, I've wasted too much time. Whatever, I'll just start.
"Nations are fragile. They erode over time or are swept away by the fires of conflict. Their rulers are often small, vulnerable individuals, clinging to the reins of power, oblivious to everything around them. That's because they're fragile, full of flaws. They say the people get the rulers they deserve."
I paused for dramatic effect, remembering from a book that it's important to give the audience a little time to take in each statement before moving on.
"It seems that in this world, even the gods are destined to fall. Heroes are destined to be forgotten along with the evil that draws them. Yet, despite all this, there is one thing that is immortal."
"It's not the gods, nor the Thirteen Heroes, not even the undead. Only memories are immortal."
"We are all doomed to fall, yet memories are eternal."
This caught everyone's attention. Good.
"Fame, glory, riches—that's the goal of being an adventurer, right? To go down in history as someone who achieved the impossible."
"I'm already achieving that. Under my rule, my citizens don't go hungry or fall ill. I'll be remembered as a good leader for millennia to come. But what about you?"
"You've come here, the home of a demon or an undead, which means you're brave enough. That should be the main thing for being an adventurer."
"The rest, I'll give you. Do you lack the strength to defeat enemies? I'll give you unimaginable power. Do you lack creativity? I'll give you vision."
"I'll make your dreams come true on a grand scale. I believe the first key to unlocking my aspirations lies within the realm of adventurers. Lend me your strength, and I'll ensure your skills go beyond anything you've dreamed of. Adventurers are more than mercenaries who hunt monsters for a living. They are the vanguard of civilization, the explorers of darkness. Together, we can discover new species, resources, and even lands across the sea. All of you will have the ability to become immortal."
A wave of applause erupted, leaving Lakyus and many others stunned.
Good.
"Any questions?"
"What will our role be in your plans? Where do you plan to take us?" asked an adventurer.
Where do I plan to take you? Well, the truth is, I've thought about having them discover the equivalent of America.
"Hmm, to places where new islands or even continents can be discovered. Where medicinal herbs can be found to help people survive diseases. But if you're asking where specifically I'll take you, the answer is that you'll have to choose. The world is vast." I looked at Evileye. "For example, what lies at the eastern edge of this continent? There are destroyed human countries where we've lost contact, like that mysterious country where everyone turned into zombies, but we know nothing else."
Evileye was surprised behind her mask, as her startled reaction showed.
"Though the truth is, I have a first well-paid mission, one that would help humanity," I said, speaking of an opportunity to earn money.
"And what would that be?"
"Humanitarian aid to an allied country in the Draconic Kingdom."
Another adventurer spoke up, losing their fear.
"Aren't adventurers not supposed to participate in wars?"
"As you can see, I don't need military potential. I'll take you to heal the wounded and search for survivors in the human farms made by beastmen."
I continued.
"Of course, it's just an optional mission, but I'd like you to see firsthand the cruelty of the world before exploring it. Let's say it'll be your introduction to the job. You won't fight or be on the front lines, but you'll experience how cruel other species can be—those not under the borders of my flag."
"So, what do you say? Will you join to save a kingdom? I'll pay 20 gold individually."
That seemed to motivate some.
"If you want to save the human nation of the Draconic Kingdom, say 'yes.'"
There was a hesitant silence among the adventurers.
Wow, if no one answers, it'll be humiliating. I imagine Pandora's Actor would save my butt with his influence, but still.
The silence broke. The adventurer who had almost fallen out of fear earlier now said yes.
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
A flood of "yeses" filled the guild square.
Including Blue Rose.
I smiled. Time for the surprise.
[Message]
"Aura, deploy the dragons."
"Understood, Ainz-sama."
From the sky appeared four frost dragons, with seats on their backs.
The seats are my idea. I asked Demiurge to draw up a design, then gave that design to the dwarves.
The result was that the dragons could be used as a safe means of transportation.
The dragons landed beside me, to everyone's surprise.
"Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty."
"Your Majesty."
The dragons bowed before me, and I made a gesture.
It was my turn. "These will be your companions on the journey to the Draconic Kingdom. You'll be the first adventurers to ride them. Consider it a gift."
I looked at Ninya, who was smiling excitedly at the dragons like a kid in a candy store.
I also saw Four Armaments, Foresight, and Silver Thread Bird looking at me with respect and fear.
Finally, Blue Rose could only stare at me in awe at such a display of power.
The speech was a success.