Ainz smiled evilly within his heart.
It looked like there would be many chances to sell this country favors in the future. That being the case, it might be best not to change his Death Knights’ orders to retake the bridge.
“—What?!”
Ainz’s voice set the commander-in-chief’s shoulders trembling.
“Aiiiee! What, what is it, Your Majesty?!”
“No, it’s nothing. Something on my end. There’s no need to worry. There’s no need to ask further,” Ainz emphasised those words in iron tones to shut down the other man’s questions.
This reaction — which was quite unlike Ainz — was because he had lost his composure.
There was no response from the two Death Knights he had made, which should have been in the vicinity of Feoh Gēr.
There was only one conclusion he could draw from this shocking conclusion.
— The Death Knights had been defeated.
Hoh!
Death Knights were fairly weak to Ainz. However, by the standards of this world, they were formidable opponents even for the most powerful members of a nation. Anyone who could defeat two fearsome knights like that must be very powerful.
In addition, their responses had vanished at almost the same time.
Had they been simultaneously destroyed as part of a carefully laid plan?
Had someone finished them off with an area-effect spell?
Had a powerful individual simply obliterated them in one stroke?
Whatever the answer was, there was certainly another mighty being present, apart from the bizarre masked magic caster he had encountered in the Royal Capital.
Someone who could defeat the defense-oriented Death Knights by themselves would probably be over level 45.
“Does that mean I’ve been found out?”
The commander-in-chief looked at Ainz in response to his mumblings, but Ainz had no time to worry about him.
An unknown, powerful being was most likely to be a player. If an enemy of Ainz’s level had come to this world, a measly two Death Knights would be child’s play to deal with.
If there’s a player-related entity here who’s not connected to the Dwarves, does that mean they’re on the side of the Quagoa? Then, are they related to the people who brainwashed Shalltear?
Searing fire blazed up in his chest.
Hitherto smoldering embers flared into a raging inferno, as though someone had poured gasoline on them. However, they were swiftly suppressed.
“No, it’s not possible. If they were related, the Dwarven city would have fallen long ago. It’s more likely that it’s a mighty individual from this world. However, I can’t conclude that there’s no connection. That being the case, I will need to alter my plans.”
Ainz had originally hoped that the war between the Quagoa and the Dwarves would go on.
With the obvious enemy of the Quagoa before them, the Dwarves might well choose to flock to Ainz’s banner. However, leaving the Quagoa alone — giving them too much time — would be very dangerous.
If they were a race that habitually spawned powerful individuals, then while they might only have slain Death Knights now, who knew what else they would destroy in the future? Right now — while he could still deal with them — the best thing to would be to either enslave them or annihilate them completely.
The latter might well be the better course of action.
Ideally, I would be able to subjugate the Quagoa and have them threaten the Dwarves from the shadows, but… A single misstep might lead to a fatal error. It would be safer not to do that.
“Your Majesty, the Council Chamber is in sight.”
As he turned to look in the direction where the commander-in-chief was pointing, a large building — certainly big for a Dwarf, but sizable even by Ainz’s standards — came into view.
The commander spoke briefly with the guards at the door, and they let Ainz and the others pass without inspection.
The reason why they waived the inspection for Ainz and company while still staring unabashedly at the undead Ainz was surely because the commander had exercised his authority.
“Then, Your Majesty, I shall make a full report to the Council. May I trouble you to wait here for a while?”
There was no reason to object. More to the point, it might be troublesome if he did not explain Ainz’s contribution to this nation.
“Where shall we wait, then?”
The commander-in-chief glanced to one of the Dwarf guards, and the man stepped forward.
“The, the waiting room is that way. Permit me to escort you there.”
“Really now. I’ll leave that to you, then.”
The Dwarf — who trembled in both body and voice — brought them to a somewhat cramped room. Then again, it would probably not have been cramped for a Dwarf. It was just the right size for Aura and Shalltear. However, they had Zenberu there, who was large of stature. Just waiting in the room felt very claustrophobic for him.
Given that the soldier had taken a look at Zenberu before bringing him here, this must have been the largest and the most luxurious VIP room in this building. Sure enough, the ornaments around them were all exquisitely crafted and looked as though they might actually move.
Ainz had once made Avatara of his past companions, and he deeply appreciated the difficulty of making such intricate statuary. It was possible for something to look beautiful in profile but ugly when viewed head-on.
Ainz picked up a statuette — a Dwarf riding on the back of a lizard.
It’s plainly obvious that the Dwarves have outstanding craftsmanship. Mm, I’d like to have such skills… I wonder if I could remake the Avataras? If I could, would I be able to make something better after practicing? — alright.
Ainz decided to address Zenberu, who seemed distinctly out of place here.
“Zenberu, continue with us for a bit longer.”
“Ah, Your Majesty, I’d like to stay here instead, if it pleases you. Frankly speaking, it gives me a headache to talk with those great people.”
A strange turn of phrase. It was different from how he had been during the trip here. Perhaps he had changed the way he spoke because he had come to the Dwarven Kingdom.
“…You are the overseer of a tribe, am I correct?”
“Shalltear-sama, one can be good or bad at various things. Also, I would feel bad if I inconvenienced His Majesty.”
Ainz understood Zenberu’s meaning, but he shook his head nonetheless.
“No, I will take you along. If something happens, I won’t be able to protect you if you’re too far away. I don’t think there’ll actually be any danger, but carelessness is for fools. For all we know, we might be within the palm of the enemy. Remember that at all times.”
“Yes! I have seared it into my heart!”
Even though Ainz did not feel that the Dwarves would harm someone who had saved their country, he repeated for safety’s sake.
What’s this? Shalltear’s responding pretty well today. Did something happen?
“Ah, then, Your Majesty… What should I do?”
“Hm? Frankly speaking, just listen to us, Zenberu. No matter what happens, do not take part in any fighting.”
Ainz nodded as Zenberu indicated his understanding.
“Very good. Now then — Aura, Shalltear, can you inspect my clothes and see if they’re messed up?”
The Dwarven soldier sent to show them the way arrived just after the two of them finished inspecting their attire.
Ainz was led to a room where the Dwarves waited.
Resplendent in his full panoply, Ainz strode forth with chest upthrust. His back was ramrod straight, his head was held high, and his bearing was that of a king. The obsidian radiance from the aura behind him glowed softly, as a substitute for cologne. Surely nobody would look down on him after all these preparations.