“I’ll do it and show you!”
Sensing the powerful determination in the Forgemaster’s voice, Ainz nodded.
“Umu. Then, please take care of that. I’d like a suit of chainmail armor, if possible. I’ll lend you the shortsword too; if you need anything else, feel free to let me know. Zenberu, you should be more familiar with Zaryusu. Answer him about his body size, shape and whatnot.”
“I understand, Your Majesty.”
“Then… that’s all for my request. If it’s fine with you, I will excuse myself.”
“Your Majesty, may I ask where you are going?”
“Ahh, commander-in-chief. There was a Dwarf from the southern city whom I rescued, no? I was invited to his home, and I will be a guest there today…Let’s leave the welcome reception for later.”
Or rather, Ainz did not want to embarrass himself, so he wanted to avoid such a ceremony. Of course, he did not actually say that.
The commander-in-chief looked a little uneasy.
“I understand Your Majesty’s wishes. However, it would be somewhat distressing if word got out that the savior of our nation had to personally procure accommodations. We have already prepared a high-end room for yourself; would you consider resting there for the day?”
Ainz considered the proposal. The commander-in-chief’s words were acceptable, and there was no reason to refuse.
“Then let us do that. I shall go visit Gondo — the Dwarf who brought me here — and apologize for standing him up.”
I trust you won’t try to hinder me any further. It would seem the commander-in-chief and the others had no objections either.
3
Another Dwarf came in. He was a runesmith. There were very few people in this city who called themselves runesmiths now, and he was one of them.
The Sorcerer King had given something to Gondo, which he had in turn passed on to all the runesmiths he knew. The results were excellent. Even before the appointed time, nine-tenths of the runesmiths he had approached were already at his atelier cum research lab. There was no doubt that the rest would also arrive early.
“Over here!”
“Oh! Gondo! I’m coming!”
Anticipation was written all over the face of the Dwarf who walked over.
“All right, now give it to me as agreed!”
How many times had those words been repeated up till now? While Gondo found it irritating, he rationalized it away as a form of work, and he gave that Dwarf the same answer he had given all the others:
“The Sorcerer King has something to tell everyone. You’ll get it after that.”
“What?”
“I told you, didn’t I? Before I gave you that small bottle. His Majesty has something to say, and after you listen to the end, you’ll get the large bottle.”
“Hm, well, that does sound kind of familiar…”
“Alright, if you understand, then sit down over there.”
“Umu… Also, ah, Gondo. About that…”
Gondo knew what was coming even without hearing it. Every single smith who had come had said the same thing.
“Nobody else but His Majesty has such wine. Do you understand? Do you understand that such a wine can only be found in his country?”
“Mm, mhm. That’s true. That taste, like joy spreading through your mouth… It glides down the throat, but burns in the gut…”
“Mhm. Alright, if you get it, then sit down over there.”
Gondo pushed the smith — who was imagining delights unseen — in the appropriate direction.
“Come on, don’t be like that. You’ve tasted it before, haven’t you? You understand how I feel, right?”
“I’ve never touched it. I’m not a fan of drinking.”
“Oh, what a waste! Gondo, you’ve missed out on four-fifths of life!”
“Yes, yes, yes, hurry up and sit down. Look, those guys have all drunk it, you should go discuss it with them.”
“Ohhh! Really?!”
The excited smith began running and then suddenly stopped. Then, he turned to look at Gondo. Many of the smiths here had done that too.
“I say, Gondo.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about me.”
“Really? But…”
“It’s fine. That’s why…”
“…I understand. However, there’s one thing you must remember. You can come to me for help at any time.”
After saying that, the smith moved to sit with the others. Then, he joined their enthusiastic discussion on the joys of alcohol.
Gondo sighed, his heart aching faintly.
The Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown had given Gondo a certain item in order to gather the runesmiths.
That item was wine.
Gondo did not drink, but no Dwarf could resist the taste of delicious wine. Thus, by whetting their appetites with a small sample of exotic alcohol and promising them a large bottle of it later, they should be able to gather about half the smiths. That was what the Sorcerer King had said. However—
Every seat here looked to be filled up.
Gondo sighed again. Personally speaking, he did not want to gather them with such cheap tricks. Instead, he wanted to inflame their pride as craftsmen and have them rally round.
Or rather — that was just Gondo’s selfish wish.
The Sorcerer King had used the quickest and most effective method to gather the smiths. Relying on their pride to bring them together would have wasted a lot of valuable time.
The runesmiths were in dire straits. They had lost the proof that they and their ancestors had existed, while all that lay ahead was darkness. Mired in negativity, it was no wonder that many of them had given up on themselves. Very few Dwarves still called themselves runesmiths and practiced their craft. Most of them had taken down the shingles on their workshops and merely lived day by day of a hopeless, dreamless existence.
Could he have relit the fire in hearts like theirs?
Gondo eagerly looked forward to Ainz and what would happen next.
At the appointed time, Gondo checked the number of Dwarves which had shown up. Every single one was present.
“Well? Ainz-sama asked if he could begin.”
The girl who ran up to Gondo was one of the Sorcerer King’s trusted aides, Aura.
“Oh, can you tell His Majesty that everyone has gathered?”
“Got it~”
The girl ran off. As he watched her leave, Gondo tilted his head.
He was not quite sure what exactly that girl was. Why did that nigh-omnipotent undead lord place so much trust in her? Was she the proof of his friendship with the Dark Elves?
As Gondo pondered this, Ainz Ooal Gown stepped forward on a raised platform. Beside him was the other female who served as his aide.
“Ohhhhhhh!”
“It’s the undead!”
“An enemy?!”
The Dwarves were thrown into chaos. That was only to be expected. The undead were the enemies of all that lived.
“That—”
“—Silence.”
The female — Shalltear Bloodfallen — raised the bottle in her hand.
Everyone’s eyes could pick out the amber radiance within. They were an intensely practical lot, so their attention went to the bottle instead of Ainz’s undead face, and they fell silent.
“Ainz-sama, what is your will?”
“No, there’s nothing. Thank you for your hard work, Shalltear…Alright, thank you for coming, everyone. There’s enough wine for everyone, so after this, just take one bottle as you go. Until then, I hope you will keep quiet and listen to me. Of course, if you feel that the words of the undead are not worth listening to, you are free to leave on the spot. Of course, you will not get a bottle of this wine.”
The Sorcerer King swept his gaze across the Dwarves.
Every fiber of his being — from his attitude to his diction and many other things — was certain proof of his overwhelming power. Then there was his haughty, regal bearing which made them instinctively cower before him. It was as though every single joint of his fingers was infused with power.