Everyone’s eyes focused on Sebas who had suddenly appeared.
The caution in their eyes was strong, but there was also hints of mocking. While they believed that he was not no one since he had reached this point, but they saw him as a simple old man and thus could not be on their guard.
This was especially true for the two strong ones Zero and Lubelina.
“Ojii-san, did you come to the wrong place?”
“I apologise for this. Everyone has gathered here and thus I had wondered what was going on.”
“You can’t find any woman to sleep with here, so could you return to your room?
Lubelina spoke in a teasing manner, but Zero interrupted her.
“Lubelina stop talking. He’s an intruder.”
“Yes. I think so too.”
“How foolish. Your luck is bad, just like the kid. You chose a time when I’m here.”
Sebas made a wry smile.
That smile made Zero unhappy. It was a smile that made him seem that he was carefree.
That was not a good smile to make in front of a man like Zero.
That was why Zero chose to finish it in one blow.
“Hmm. Die, Jijii.”
Zero’s three tattoos released a light.
The class that Zero had, the Shamanic Adept, allowed one to channel animals into their bodies. In Zero’s case, he had the legs of the panther, the back of a falcon and the arms of a rhinoceros. The number of times he could use this per day was limited, and thus he usually chose to activate one at a time. But he did not do this.
He used them at once.
Zero used the abilities of all three animals at once to create a powerful single attack.
“—Ah!”
Climb had prior information of this, and tried to cry out in a panic.
This was Zero’s trump card.
This was a simple punch, but the speed and special power of it gave it a destructive ability that was off the charts. It was a blow like if a several ton rhinoceros running at 80 kilometers an hour tapping you lightly. If one took it they would die.
Zero closed in on Sebas in an instant.
On the other hand, possibly due to the speed, Sebas did not move. His defense was too slow.
Zero’s fist was thrust out.
The fist connected with Sebas’ vulnerable belly. It was a perfect, immaculate strike.
Sebas was blown back.
It was natural. If he used Fortress he would not have been blown back, but there was no sign that he used it.
Basically this was a fatal blow.
At least, that was how it should have been.
Yes—
That was what everyone expected— And he went against it.
Sebas— Did not move an inch.
He blocked the punch which Zero had thrown with all his might head-on, using nothing but his belly— His own muscles.
Nobody who saw it dared to believe it. One could say the scene before them was unreal.
The difference between their bodies was obvious at a glance. However, the outcome had been completely the opposite of what was expected.
The person who could least believe it was naturally Zero himself. This was the most powerful blow he could make. He could not believe any living being could take it and remain unharmed. That was how it had always been until now. That was what he had always thought until now, but then this scene had unfolded before his eyes. Thus, he did not react even as a black object flashed before his eyes.
Sebas raised his leg to the air. The foot raced past the tip of Zero’s nose — like the motion of a flying swallow.
His leg went higher and higher, until it fell.
An axe kick.
That was the typical name for a move like this. However, its speed and power were anything but typical.
“…Who are you?”
Zero muttered, and the corner of Sebas’ mouth curled up slightly.
A gruesome sound of cracking filled the air. Zero fell to the ground, his skull pulverized and his neck and spine shattered, as though he had been crushed by a several-hundred kilogram weight.
The room was silent.
In a word, everyone in this room was transfixed. Sebas shifted away from where Zero’s smashed skull was gushing fresh blood and patted at the place where Zero’s fist had struck.
“Whew, that was close. If not for your timely warning, I would probably be dead.”
Are you kidding me? What warning are you talking about?!
The three people present did not speak, but they shouted the same thing inside their hearts.
“You have saved me. My disciple.”
“Wha… ah. Er… yes.”
Climb was speechless. It was natural. What could he say? In front of such a nonsensical scene.
“What? What? What happened?”
Lubelina could not believe the scene in front of her, and switched her gaze between the kneeling Zero and the unharmed Sebas.
“Just what happened!”
She could not believe what she saw. Lubelina knew Zero’s strength the best and this was a natural reaction.
“It was nothing much. It seems I was just a little bit stronger than him.”
Not just a little bit.
Everyone there was thinking more or less the same thing.
“Now, the two of you.”
Sebas looked at Lubelina and Succulent. Succulent fell back in fear, but Lubelina stepped forward. Their different reactions showed their differing confidence in their skills. Lubelina was the strongest excluding Zero but Succulent knew that he was far from Zero’s level.
Her opponent was here to kill her. Then she had to attack first. Lubelina believed so. She ignored the fact that something unbelievable had occurred in front of her eyes.
It was a fluke. A coincidence. She could only believe that.
Gazef Stronoff was the strongest warrior in the surrounding countries. Compared to him, Lubelina and Zero would lose. However, it would be a tough battle. Even if they could not win, they had to confidence to wound him. There was no way that she could lose to an unknown old man.
Thinking about it, he could have used a trick. Such as using a magic item that invalidated blunt attacks.
It was not that he did not avoid Zero’s attack, rather that he could not avoid it.
That was why Lubelina stepped in. She putting everything in her skill.
“Ha!”
Heart Penetrate in Lubelina’s hand left a platinum afterglow and aimed for Sebas. There was no trace of her relaxed attitude like she had with Climb. This was the fastest blow she could make. Her target was his throat.
To Climb and Succulent on the outside, it was an unstoppable flash of light.
And the sound of metal bending rang out.
Not only that. There was one more. The sound of bones breaking.
“….Now one left.”
A bent Heart Penetrate fell from Sebas’ finger onto the floor. Then, Lubelina, whose neck was bent 270 degrees also fell.
“What….”
Succulent whispered. Climb turned his shocked face to Sebas. In just a few minutes, no, not even that, the situation changed. No, one could say it changed too much.
“Oi, no, you.”
Succulent unconsciously backed away. He did not expect that man he met at the mansion be such a person. No, he could not make such an prediction that they had stepped into the world of fantasy.
With every step Sebas took forward, Succulent took one back.
“Please wait! I surrender! I’ll give you everything you want. I have quite the position in our organisation. If it will make you happy I will give it to you! Please wait!”
“I have no interest.”
Succulent continued backwards until his back hit the wall with a thud. Realising that he could not retreat further, Succulent became as pale as a sheet.
“—Please wait!”
At the distance where his fist could reach Succulent, Sebas’ legs stopped, and his face turned to Climb. Returning his now empty potion bottle into his bag, Climb again spoke to Sebas.
“Could you leave his punishment to us?”
“….”
“If he tells us everything, we can cut off everything from the roots. We can make a system to prevent such a thing from occurring ever again.”
“….”
Seeing Sebas’ slight change in air, Succulent saw a path to survival and frantically begged. He did not try to attack the seemingly defenseless Sebas. No, it was even scarier that he seemed defenseless.
“Y, yes. I will. I’ll spill everything. I promise. I won’t lie.”
“Hmm….”
Sebas moved his hand. No, the two did not have the kinetic vision to see Sebas’ movements. Thus they did not understand what happened. Succulent simply lost consciousness, and only by confirming his chest was still moving, Climb understood that Succulent had lost consciousness.
“….Understood. I’m weak to you saying that this will never happen again.”
“Thank you very much.”
Climb bowed his head while his wounded body quivered from the pain.
“Pay it no mind. Since you can bring him back alive, I can spread better information.”
“?”
“Just my musings. However, you have such terrible wounds.”
Sebas moved closer to Climb and stretched out his hand.
It seemed like a normal hand but the scary thing was the strength behind it. He froze for a second, but then Climb realised that running would be extremely rude, and stopped himself. Sebas smiled, as if understanding Climb’s thoughts.
“I just healed your wounds.”
Sebas’ hand touched his armour. That instant, he felt something warm flow into his body.
“It is healing using ki. It cannot heal old wounds, but I believe that it can heal the wounds you recieved.”
He felt his wounds warm, and instantly cool. At that moment, all the pain in Climb’s body beautifully fell away.
“Thank you very much!”
Sebas shook his hand at the deeply bowing Climb.
“More importantly, you….Hmm? What is it?” Sebas placed his hand on his forehead as if he had been talked too. “….Is that so. Understood, I shall retreat immediately…. However some are unconscious and I cannot confirm if they want to come…. Of course, our master is…. Understood. The conscious people number eight. Eeh, Eeh. Understood.” Sebas sighed. “I apologise. I originally intended to take everyone someplace, but some are unconscious and I cannot confirm their desires and have to leave them here.”
“What to you mean confirming their desires?”
“Just my musings. Please don’t mind me. By the way, did you come here to save someone specific?”
“No. Not anyone specific, but I am here to saving those in pain.”
“Hou.”
Sebas raised a voice of admiration.
“So there are people like that. The people I have met are terrible people. Then I shall leave the remaining people with you. I shall take the rest.”
“Understood. Then I shall leave it to you. I am very sorry that I am unable to save them now.”
“No no. If I recalled what you said when we met, I understand that you have made quite the determination to come here. I will not do anything that would criticise you.”
“Thank you very much. Then will you be going together with the people you saved?”
“I intend to.”
Did Sebas intend to leave together with the saved? That was the gain from coming here. Climb understood.
“Can we meet again?”
“I’m afraid not.”
“Is that so…. I would have liked to train together again…. But…. That’s too bad.”
Sebas smiled.
“Should we have the chance to meet again, I shall train you again…. Now I shall return. You have many things you should do here, do you not?”
◆
“Good work Climb.” Climb had reported to Renner and she smiled in return. “I am happy that you have returned safely.”
“Thank you very much.”
Climb deeply bowed his head.
He stifled a yawn that tried to make its way out.
Returning to Renner, he had reported various things to the point that the sun was about to rise. Climb was trained as a soldier and could function a day without sleep. However, he had fought a battle where he faced death, and his mental fatigue was huge. He was so tired that if he lost focus, he would fall asleep.
Renner had felt it. She smiled kindly at Climb.
“You should be tired. Go back and rest.”
“Ha!”
Climb’s gaze moved from her to Marquis Raeven. Renner instantly understood what he thought. This was because it was Climb.
“I intend to talk for a bit more with the Marquis.”
“Then shall I remain here?”
The two thoughts of even though Renner was not sleeping, how could he sleep and if he did not get enough sleep he could not help Renner fought inside Climb. There was another reason for that.
It was his master’s intention to put an end to that fight.
“No. You cannot. Climb should get some sleep. Since it is later than usual I shall allow you to use the guest room. Make sure you do not have any fatigue tomorrow.”
Climb deeply bowed and left the room. Hearing the door close, Renner’s face rose slightly as she smiled at Marquis Raeven.
“That is jealousy isn’t it.”
“….I believe so.”
“….Thank you for going along with it.”
Renner spoke in a lonely manner. Climb worried that Renner spending the night with Marquis Raeven would spread weird rumours and felt that he should remain. It was an unnecessary worry, but she felt happy about Climb’s feelings.
She had learnt countless things this night. She had to grit her teeth and unifying their opinions.
Especially since the appearance of an unknown figure was an large part of it.
“Now, what do you think?”
“There is too little information but…. Sebas and the man on the roof—an unconfirmed existence. The two of them definitely have a relationship.”
“Their objective is the same. However, I cannot say that they have an amicable relationship.”
The mysterious existence that Evileye met— an unconfirmed existence. And the old man known as Sebas that Climb met. Both seemed to have come to [save] people, but the problem was to what point they should believe them.
It was true that the actions of Sebas did match his words. However the unconfirmed existence was merely paying lip service, and there was no proof that his words were true.
“If they are hostile…. The option of observation disappears. From what I can tell from Evileye’s conversation, he does not have such skills. And even if we assume that he came to attack Sebas, we did not discover any traces of a large-scale battle.”
“There is a possibility that the meeting with Evileye-dono changed his plans.”
“Anyway, should they be in a hostile relationship, since Sebas and the unconfirmed existence did not battle, they should have the same level of strength.”
“Isn’t that a leap in logic? It is true that Evileye-dono and Climb-kun have vouched for their strength, but Evileye-dono and Climb-kun have different levels of strength, and so it is difficult to say they are equally strong.”
The strongest adventuring group in the Kingdom, [Blue Rose]. The magic caster who was part of that and a simple soldier had vastly different qualifications.
“The reason why Sebas did not fight the unconfirmed existence is unknown. Sebas brought out several people. If they are not of the same level, he could have attacked him there.”
“Hmm.”
If they were not equals, the only other option why the unconfirmed existence did not attack was that Sebas was stronger. But if so, why did he come? Only questions were left.
“Personally I believe the unconfirmed existence was working together to transport the people Sebas brought out.”
“If that is the case then I do understand. Then do the two have a amicable relationship?”
“Maybe not. Well, it is not unimaginable.”
“Then their relationship is?”
“They should be subordinates of someone.”
Sebas, who Climb ran into, was working for a merchant, but that was probably a lie. However, his figure and his attitude showed that he was an excellent butler. There was no way that Climb would mistake this since he had worked for Renner for so long and had seen the world.
“What about the possibility that Sebas is working for the unconfirmed existence?”
“I cannot say there is none, but it is low. They are probably working for someone who did not come here.”
The reaction of the unconfirmed person to Evileye. The reaction of Sebas to Climb. It was completely different. It was true that Evileye and Climb’s first meeting was different. However, it was too different. If Sebas worked for the unconfirmed person, Climb might have been killed.
Rather than that, it was more likely that they were working for the same master but had different orders. And since the two did not work closely together, their master did not come.
“What do you think their master is like?”
“He probably does not hold hostility for the Kingdom. However, that is for now. The master’s thoughts are within the range of common sense and so it can go either way.”
Saving people required one to properly recognise others and to have mercy and other emotions. For example, if it was a dragon that was far above humans, even if humans suffered, it would continue on with no interest.
It was the same thing as how one would not even see a bug at the end of the road. However, one would help it if were a dog or cat. This was as they stimulated the sense of pity.
Basically Renner deduced that the person behind Sebas and the mysterious existence felt pity for humans. Since he or she had emotions like humans, he or she could become an ally or enemy.
However Renner saw that there was a hole in these thoughts.
That was if Sebas was lying.
However, having the confidence that one was not wrong, on top of having a person of a different level work for them, they themselves must be of another level.
Marquis Raeven changed his expression as if he had recalled something.
“By the way, Your Highness. Do you know about Ainz Ooal Gown?”
“No, I do not.”
It was a lie. She had heard some rumours about that name. However, Renner wanted to hear the pure thoughts of Marquis Raeven and acted dumb.
“Is that so…. There have been rumours that an extremely powerful magic caster has appeared near E-Rantel, and that is the name of his master. The powerful people in this matter, and the powerful man in E-Rantel. I believe there is some relationship.”
“The possibility is very high.”
An unknown powerful figured appeared in the Kingdom once. Then it would not be strange for them to have a relationship. Were they friendly, or hostile to each other. That was unknown.
“If he can use Tier 6 magic, he has the same ability as the Head Magic Caster of the Empire—”
“—1. Ainz Ooal Gown is more powerful than that…. 2. Ainz Ooal Gown, Sebas, and the unconfirmed existence have no relation. Which is more likely?”
Renner spoke to interrupt Marquis Raeven’s words.
Marquis Raeven tilted his head in puzzlement. Ignoring the second, the problem was the former— The first.
The Head Magic Caster of the Empire, Fluder was the strongest magic caster in the surrounding countries, and only the 13 Heroes were superior. There was no reason to place anyone above him. However, Renner seemed confident enough to not be randomly saying this.
Then was it a lie that she did not know? But, what was the reason for lying?
“Why do you view this person called Ainz so highly?”
“It’s simple. Sebas and the unconfirmed existence. I worked on the assumption that they have a relationship.”
Marquis Raeven was confused. He did not understand how one could connect the two simply by virtue of strength.
If one thought about it simply, it would seem that Rener was saying that Sebas and the unconfirmed existence were stronger than Fluder. He could not understand how one could say that they were stronger than Fluder because they are stronger than Evileye.
As if reading that Marquis Raeven was confused, Renner continued.
“Do you know…. Evileye’s true identity?”
The strongest magic caster in the Kingdom. She had an identity that was above that.
Was she one of the 13 Heroes? However, Marquis Raeven’s expectations were dashed.
“She is [Landfall].”
The bomb quietly exploded.
Marquis Raeven opened his eyes in shock. He then unconsciously stuck his fingers in his ears and twisted. This was as he distrusted his ears. However, he found nothing wrong.
Opening his mouth wide, he tried to form words but closed his mouth. When he finally decided to open his mouth, an unbelievable amount of time for someone like Marquis Raeven to be dumbfounded passed.
“What!”
Landfall.
She was the evil Vampire Lord who destroyed a country. She was a monster destroyed by the 13 Heroes and left her name in the continent’s history as a monster amongst monsters. According to the original legend, she was someone who a country might barely equal if they pulled all the stops. It was said that she destroyed a country and filled a city with undead, and was a monster stronger than the Demon Gods.
It was impossible to hear her name outside of fairy tales and legends. But to hear that she still existed, and was in the Kingdom.
One should praise Marquis Raeven for being able to remain seated.
“What…. She is still alive?”
“Yes.”
Marquis Raven became angry for an instant at the calm Renner.
He believe that it was not such simple information. If Landfall was true to legends, she was someone who could destroy the Kingdom. However Marquis Raeven recalled a certain information that cooled down his head instantly.
“Wait…. Just a bit….” Marquis Raeven audibly gulped. Then he recalled something unbelievable. “….Land…. Landfall….said there was…. No chance of victory? About the person on the roof?”
“Yes.”
“How can you stay so calm!!!!”
Evileye. The legendary monster said that even with all the members of [Blue Rose], she could not defeat the existence on the roof. Basically—
“Someone that can destroy a country….No someone who can destroy the surrounding countries is right here!!”
“So it seems. Well, it is unknown if they are hostile.”
“How are you so calm!! Are you an idiot!! We have to do something!!”
“How?”
That quiet voice brought Marquis Raeven back to his senses. It was true, they could do nothing. Doing random stuff was more dangerous. Breathing several times, he calmed down his rough breathing.
“….Your Highness. Please forgive my foolish words.”
“I do not mind. That is the usual thing to do.”
“Then…. What should we do?”
“About the unconfirmed existence?”
“Yes. Shall we report to the King?”
“….We should not. It does not help after all.”
Renner quickly waved her hand.
“However….”
“Should the King move, he will attract the eyes of the nobles. If he even tries, people will ask for an explanation. It will not end well.”
“That is….”
Marquis Raeven could not disagree.
Even if they only told the King, if he moved, there would definitely be people who would raise complaints about it. Then the King would be asked for an explanation. If the Kingdom was not split into two, the King could use his absolute authority and there would be no problem. However, that was not the current situation. One of the most powerful nobles would leak this information to the Empire.
If the King did not complain, the court would fall apart due to distrust.
If he explained, it would be pandemonium.
“We cannot leak Evileye’s identity leak out to anyone. She is my friend of a friend. I do not want to destroy that relationship. It would be foolish to betray our largest fighting strength right? And excluding that, information about such a person would freely flow in the Kingdom. How would the nobles act?”
“….The largest commotion in history would occur. The Kingdom would tear itself apart.”
“So it does not help.”
“What about requesting help from other countries?”
“Do you believe it? Marquis Raeven.”
“….I can’t.” Marquis Raeven hung his head. “…. I should not have come here today…. It seems my sleepless nights will continue.”
There was nothing they could do. At most they could leak information to the adventurers and have them search. However that might turn an existence that was not an enemy into one.
In the end, there was too little information.
Since they could not read the other party’s stance, they could not step in. THe main problem was that they had no analysis of their fighting strength. Basically they could do nothing but to hung their heads.
In contrast to the frantic Marquis Raeven, Renner was still calm.
Marquis Raeven felt anger in his head. Of course, this was an outburst of anger. While he thought about using sarcasm on her, he recalled something.
“By the way…. Returning to Ainz Ooal Gown, does Evileye have a disciple known as Camila?”
“No, I don’t know that much.”
Renner asked why, allowing Marquis Raeven to explain.
“A person known as Momon came to E-Rantel and called himself the disciple of Ainz Ooal Gown, and he was chasing a vampire known as Camila, who was Landfall’s disciple—”
Renner had heard most of the recent happenings at E-Rantel and nodded her head.
“….I will not know if I don’t ask, but isn’t that a lie?”
“Why is that a lie?”
“Didn’t they simply aim to infiltrate the Kingdom? If it is known that he is opposing someone dangerous, should his opponent appear, he will become more reliable. That vampire was probably working together with him. What a charade…. Then are Sebas and the unconfirmed existence part of a different group? This is quite irregular.”
If Sebas had matched his actions with theirs, then he should have some connection with them. If not then he had a different aim. Or did the occurrences in E-Rantel completely deviate from Renner’s realm of possibility.
“While unclear, I shall pray that Ainz Ooal Gown, Sebas and the unconfirmed existence are not in a cooperative relationship. If they are different groups there is the chance of them fighting each other.”
If they were working together, then the Kingdom could not do anything. Marquis Raeven nodded in agreement.
“Agreed. However then the possibility of negotiating with this Gown is—”
“Anyway I seriously desire information. Marquis Raeven, can I ask for all the information you have?”
Renner narrowed her eyes. She had saw someone who could put the happy life she had planned with Climb at risk. She only then noticed Marquis Raeven hard expression.
“….Allow me to say something bad first.”
“….What is it?”
Today has been nothing but bad news. Such a feeling welled up in the two of them.
“We already have someone on their way to the home of Ainz Ooal Gown.”
“….Can we do something about it?”
With the information they gained, the other side was an existence they had to get into the good books of. More importantly he was a person who might have a relation to Sebas and the unconfirmed person. They should not have sent a simple messenger but should have directly sent one of the royal family to such a person.
“It is impossible with my abilities. I have taken all the possible late measures. Thus anything more is impossible. I had hoped for a friendly relation at least…. That might have been naive.”
“Then how about having them attacked by bandits and killing everyone?”
Renner spoke those harsh cold words with her normal kind face. However, there was no child here to say that such methods were cruel.
“….That is not a bad idea, but I do not have anyone that can do that.”
“I can ask [Blue Rose]….” Renner then shook her head. There was no way that they could accept such a dirty job. “What about using workers?”
“That will be difficult. Attacking a carriage with the King’s symbol, it will be treason. Even if we trick them, should they see the emblem on it, they will retreat immediately.”
“What about searching for clueless people?”
“That will take time.”
“Should I go myself?”
“….That is not a bad idea, but it’s impossible. Should the person known as [Golden] show her face there will be many problems. Just by thinking about it I can come up with four.”
“….Then we shall pray that our messenger does not do anything strange.”
“We can do nothing else.”
Marquis stared at the wall. On the other side was the location of the person known as Ainz Ooal Gown. How will the situation progress? Depending on that, it might be a problem that affects the Kingdom.