Since humans can train to become stronger, obviously even monsters can do so as well. Naturally the same applies to goblins.
Therefore, the goblins in front of him could very well be much stronger than any of the previous demi-humans the Dark Sword had fought before.
Then a different voice blew down with the wind past the wheat fields, Lukeluther hurried looked to the rear.
“… Hey, hey, have we already been found out?”
A goblin lifted his face out of the field, sticking his tongue out. It was possible that it wanted to sneakily attack from behind but didn’t have good enough sneaking skills to fool the ranger Lukeluther. Even though he had noticed the goblin, it didn’t improve their situation at all.
Calmly looking around, they noticed that the fields were full of movements, looking as if there were still things hidden inside. All of them seemed to move towards the carriage, slowly closing the encirclement.
They were in an extremely disadvantageous position.
The members of the Dark Swords could no longer think of a way out of this dilemma.
Ainz used his hand to stop Narberal, who was going to slaughter all of them, and after observing the goblins he confirmed that his guess was correct.
“These are the goblins and goblin archers summoned by the 「Horn of the Goblin General」.”
If these goblins were under the control of the girl he gave the item to, then they should avoid any hostile action. They should think of some countermeasures, but since they were no match for Ainz or Narberal, there shouldn’t be a problem.
Looking at the calm and easy-going Ainz, the goblins said:
“That man wearing the full body armor, if possible please do not act rashly. We do not wish to fight.”
Ainz once again stopped Narberal's actions and with a guarded and stiff voice he said:
“Don’t worry, if you don’t attack us, we won’t move as well.”
“I thank you. These guys may be strong, but they aren’t really scary… You on the other hand, along with the lady next to you… my instinct tells me it would be terrible if the two of you become my enemies.”
Ainz didn’t speak up, but shrugged in answer.
“Please wait here for a moment until elder sister comes over,”
“Who is this elder sister you speak of! Is it that person occupying Carne Village!”
Nfirea’s agitated shout surprised the goblins.
“Nfirea, calm down. I don’t need to tell you has the upper hand right now. Looking back at what Narberal has said about the village, there are still some strange areas. So before we know more about the situation, I hope we can avoid any unnecessary conflict.”
Although he had heard Ninya’s advice, Nfirea could not conceal his anxious mood.
Only that his face showing his determination to fight to the death, turned into a face of discontent, his clenched fists slowly relaxed.
Seeing such drastic changes in Nfirea, Ainz felt both surprised and confused.
Of course, since it was just a short journey he didn’t know everything about the youth’s personality, but even then he didn’t think his reaction would be that extreme. Maybe this village was more to him than just a place he got his herbs from.
Feeling suspicious, Ainz looked at the youth. The goblins on the other hand felt Nfirea’s anger, and were looking at each other with puzzled expressions.
“Eh— This feels different from before…”
“Elder sister’s village was recently attacked by Knights of the Empire, we are just being careful.”
“The village was attacked…! I hope she’s fine!”
Seemingly responding to Nfirea’s cry, a girl under the protection of the goblins appeared at the village entrance. Seeing the girl, Nfirea opened his eyes wide, shouting the girl’s name loudly:
“Enri!”
Hearing his shout the young girl also replied with a voice that sounded like they were good friends, full of kindness and warmth:
“Nfirea!”
At this point Ainz thought about what he heard before.
“A-hah, her pharmacist friend… wasn’t a woman, but a man.”
Interlude
Demiurge was walking on the ninth floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. His shoes clopped on the floor, making a “da da da” sound, the echoes of which faded into silence. Although a number of servants were on duty as a precaution against an invasion, that still didn’t harm the mythic atmosphere. Demiurge looked around, a smile appearing on his face.
“How glorious and majestic.”
He was admiring the ninth floor in all its majesty. He admired the scenery here because the scenery and the forty-one supreme ones complimented each other well, to the extent that it was worth Demiurge pledging his life to protect this floor. That's why he was fond of the scenery.
Every time he walked on the ninth floor, he would be filled to the brim with joy and would vow once again to devote himself to the creators. This sentiment applied not only to him but also to the boisterous clowns and musicians. Whenever they tread on this floor, they would also be filled with awe, doing their best to not utter any sound that would disrupt the tranquility.
If anyone disliked this scene, they were either disloyal to the 41 Supreme Beings or harbor ‘thoughts of disloyalty’.
Demiurge turned the corner as he thought about that, his destination right before him. That was the room of the last Supreme Being in the Great Tomb of Nazarick, their overlord Ainz Ooal Gown.
When the door was within sight, he saw some people opening the door and exiting.
They seemed to notice Demiurge too as they waited respectfully for them to draw close.
One of them was dressed like a butler, dressed entirely in black except for his white gloves. But instead of a butler, he looked more like a combatant.
He was one of the ten male servants in Nazarick. But even Demiurge was unable to differentiate which of the ten servants he was. This was because all of them wore masks covering their entire head, and they could only utter weird noise.
And there was that thing standing before the male servant.
The strange thought of ‘naked with tie’ emerged in Demiurge’s mind.
That was a penguin.
It’s appearance was totally that of a penguin and it was wearing a black tie.
“Long time no see, assistant butler.”
When it heard Demiurge’s warm greeting, the penguin smiled cheerfully— It seemed to be doing that— and it returned the greeting:
“It’s been a while, Demiurge-sama.”
It bowed deeply.
Of course, this was no simple penguin, but the assistant butler of Great Tomb Nazarick. A heteromorphic race birdman known as Eckleya Eckleyer Eeckleya.
Birdman should normally be similar to the Pelucino of the 41 Supreme Beings and possess wings and the head of beast, their limbs should be similar to the talons of birds too. But this man had the appearance of a penguin for some reason. But Demiurge wasn’t fazed by his appearance.
Because he was undoubtedly the creation of the 41 Supreme Beings.
“Is Albedo inside?”
“Yes, Albedo-sama is in there.”
With Ainz away, Albedo was in charge of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. But she didn’t work in her own room, shutting herself in this one instead, something everyone knew.