Chapter 95: CH 95

Massacre Part 1

Translators: Frostfire10

Editors: Ureel

Exactly one month after the Empire’s proclamation.

The fields were ripe with the fruits of autumn, and welcomed the shining golden colour. A light breeze blew and the blue skies were clear. The white clouds were few and floated in the sky.

The months after this would only get colder, but this season was the busiest of the year. If one took in deep breaths, the clear air would enter their lungs. The warm air that was present a few weeks ago was nowhere to be found.

This was the season where one would not want to leave bed, but those who could do so belonged to a special class in the Kingdom. In fact, this season was the busiest of the year.

To the farming villages this was the time to harvest the results of one year of hard work, and when tax would be collected. Also, merchants would be rushing over to villages and cities.

Everyone was rushing about in a hurry.

Even in the Fortress City E-Rantel.

However, the hustle and bustle of E-Rantel was a bit different from those in other cities. It was not lively, but the heat being released from a different form of emotion was spreading across the city.

The source of that heat was within the outermost ring of E-Rantel’s three walls.

There were countless men there. Most were wearing a jumbled set of clothes. Most were commoners. However, their numbers were astounding. Probably 200,000.

There was no way that this number of humans stayed in E-Rantel. Since E-Rantel was in the territory contested over by three countries, it’s transportation network was often used. There were goods, people, money and various other things. And this city naturally became large.

However there was no way that 200,000 humans would live in this area.

Then why were they all here?

The ones who explained this was a group of young men.

There were many men who were making wooden and straw figures, refitting bent metal shields and armour and practising with spears without blades. It was obvious what they were doing. Battle training.

Yes— The 200,000 residents of the Kingdom assembled here were assembled to war against the Empire.

Vigorous shouts could be heard. Of course, the number of enthusiastic shouts were few. Most were filled with fear of being forced onto the battlefield. The vigour came from them wanting to learn this to avoid dying. That was why they trained.

However, not everyone was training seriously.

The war between the Empire and kingdom occurred annually. Thus there were many that were broken. There were many without motivation that were hiding in a corner lying down. Some were spilling their guts out on their neighbour. Some were hugging their knees while crouching.

The more years went on, the stronger this trend.

Their desire to fight was mostly terrible and they merely wished to return home alive.

This was the morale of the Kingdom’s troops. This could not be helped. They were forced here to do unrewarded work and their busy schedules cleared. Even if they returned alive, the loss of that time would tighten the noose around their neck.

And this did nothing to change the fact that a slow death was closing in on them.

Next to those soldiers were several carriages running past. On top of them were countless amounts of provisions.

It was extremely difficult to imagine that over 2% of the Kingdom’s population would stay in one city. However E-Rantel was the frontline of the war with the Empire and was the place where the Kingdom’s military power gathered.

As the wars with the Empire waged, the preparations for 200,000 people were being done. Their food stores were huge, and were probably the largest buildings in the city.

Then why were those carriages being shuttled back and forth?

There was but one answer. The fact that this amount of food was needed pointed to it.

Those men who were lethargically working viewed those carriages with fear. As if they were looking at the reaper.

Most of those that understood what was about to happen stared at the carriages.

The large scale transportation of food.

This meant that the war with the Empire was encroaching.

Within the innermost section of the three walls of the fortress.

There was the residence of the mayor of E-Rantel, Panasolei Gruze Vauna Rettenmaier. It was a residence that fitted his position as mayor, but compared to the building next to it, it fell down a few notches.

This mansion was the most extravagant in the city. Then if one wondered who lived in this place, there would only be one answer. This building was meant to house those who had a higher position than the mayor.

This was the Noble Guest Residence.

It was a mansion that was only opened if a king or someone of equal status had arrived.

And inside a room of that mansion, there were the figures of several men.

Sitting on the simple throne was of course, the King of Re-Estize Kingdom, Rampossa III.

Standing diagonally behind him was the strongest warrior of the Kingdom— Gazef Stronoff.

In front of the two was a table, and six men were sitting in chairs placed around it. All of them wore excellent clothes, and their faces had grace. It was impossible to gain that look in a single generation and so only those from large families with long histories could obtain it.

The table in front of them had countless papers strewn about, and half of these were parchments. Several empty pitchers were left around, and the cups in front of them were mostly empty.

One could tell that a fierce discussion had occured here, one that had gone on for a long time.

And in fact, many of those men’s faces were plastered with fatigue.

And the man whose fatigue was not yet visible was the first to speak.

“We have received the Empire’s yearly proclamation of war and where it is held.” He was a  snake-like man, Marquis Raeven, one of the Six Great Nobles of the Kingdom. “It is at—”

“—Hmm. It’s at the same place right. Katze Plains right?”

The man who stole Marquis Raeven’s words was a man in his forties. When he was young he probably had a muscular figure. One could see the effect of the passage of time on his body. Even so, his voice was full of vigour.

He was Marquis Boullope, the head of the Noble Faction, and the one who prepared one fifth of the soldiers participating in this war.

“It is as you say. It is the same location as previous years.”

“….Since the location is the same, shouldn’t it mean that the Empire’s attack will be the same?”

A thin and heartened noble spoke. His voice was somewhat tinged with relief. That was never a good emotion to have before going to war. In front of the fact that the Kingdom’s territory was being breached.

That was probably why he was relieved. Several nobles looked at him for an instant with cold eyes.

“Unfortunately Marquis Blumrush, that is not the case. This time, the Empire has moved quite the number of troops. I believe that there is some kind of aim. If you are careless you might lose your life you know?”

“True, Marquis Raeven. Isn’t this just granting honour to some strange noble? They did proclaim that ‘I will give him territory’. So he will at least move a sufficiently large force right? The strange noble…. What was his name—”

While playing with his sharpened goatee, the extremely thin noble spoke.

“—(Frontier Marquis) Ainz Ooal Gown. Marquis Pespea.”

“Yes! He was a magic caster noble right?”

“According to the Mayor of this city and Gazef-dono, he is a magic caster that needs to be kept an eye on right?”

The youngest person present spoke. His face was clean and young, but the cold smile on it did not make others feel welcome.

“Exactly. Count Lytton.” Gazef, who was standing next to the King’s side spoke. “Ainz Ooal Gown is a magic caster to be cautious of. He probably rivals…. No, exceeds the Head Magic Caster of the Empire, Fluder.”

“As an individual, a magic caster is dangerous. But what can one person do?”

Making a mocking smile, Count Lytton laughed at Gazef’s caution.

As a magic caster, Fluder was widely known in the surrounding countries. However, his true strength was not clearly known. Fluder had not faced the Kingdom in war before, and thus the Kingdom’s troops were never destroyed by magic.

Thus many of the Kingdom’s nobles did not find Fluder important. Basically they thought he was mere propaganda. Those who thought this were high ranking nobles who had no connections with adventurers or those with occupations related to magic.

Count Lytton was one of them.

To his knowledge, magic casters were a type of tricksters. Of course, priests alone were different.

“….That is not the case. A magic caster that can fly and used large scale attacks is extremely dangerous. It would also be painful to be hit from range. But unless it’s a special case, magic casters would not do such things. However, the Empire’s reception of Ainz Ooal Gown is too strange. If he were a simple magic caster, they would not do this much. Thus I believe we should be cautious.”

The remaining man of the Six Great Nobles, Margrave Urovana spoke heavily. His pure white beard and his wrinkled face had a pressure that came from being an experienced man. In contrast to Count Lytton, he was the oldest, and had the most conviction in his words. Even Count Lytton  nodded at his words. However, one man had a different opinion.

“Hmm. What Ainz Ooal Gown. As Ritton said, what can one person do? If he flies in the sky we can simply shoot him down with arrows. The same if he stands at range. What can one simple magic caster do alone! Can one magic caster change the outcome of a war! Does Earl Urovana know of such a case!”

“….I have not.”

In actuality, he had not heard of such cases. Well, stories were an exception.

“Isn’t that the answer. No matter how powerful, one person cannot affect the battlefield.”

“….What about a dragon?”

“Marquis Blumrush….” He sent a fierce gaze as if he were looking at a fool. “That magic caster is human, why did the idea of a dragon come out?”

“N, no. He might rival an army by himself….”

“When talking of humans, there is no meaning in talking about dragons. The premise is different! What are you thinking. Being cautious of one magic caster—” Marquis Boullope glared at Gazef. “—Do you not think it is shameful for nobles of the Kingdom to be scared of shadows?!”

Marquis Boullope’s words rang true.

Several of the Six Great Nobles nodded in agreement. What could one magic caster do.

However, several people did not. Even if a normal magic caster could not, they were unsure that this magic caster could overturn their past preconceptions.

“Firstly, the envoy we sent to the magic caster has yet to return, so he probably was hostile then. The envoy has probably been killed.”

“I believe so.”

Marquis Raeven nodded. While it was publicly stated that the envoy went missing, his corpse was already recovered.

“No matter what happened, do we intend to fear a boorish man who killed an envoy of the Kingdom?”

“….What is that not the case?”

“What do you mean?”

His pitch dropped as Marquis Boullope spoke to Marquis Raeven. There was a large difference between his polite past reactions and his current.

This was because Marquis Boullope viewed Marquis Raeven as his equal.

“There is a possibility that the Empire had killed the envoy. To pull him to their side.”

Despite Marquis Raeven saying this, the possibility was low. Renner agreed.

The envoy was obviously bitten to death by a beast, but Evileye had said that there was no summoned beast nor monster that was large enough. Thus the possibility of this being the work of the Empire was low.

The more probable answer, was that they had incurred his wrath.

“Hmm. That may be the case, but I do not think it is possible to change the fact that the magic caster was brought to the Empire and is being used as a pawn?”

“If we invite that magic caster into the Kingdom—”

“Stronoff! Despite receiving such a high position in the Empire, he would betray them? If he has honour he would not do such a thing. Only the lowest dreg of humanity would betray anyone!”

Without moving his gaze, Marquis Raeven focused on one of the nobles in the corner of his eye.

While thinking that if he said that ‘One of them is here you know’, it would feel great, he thought, filled with a certain dark emotion.

“If one is a part of the Kingdom, yet audaciously betrays it, I would want to make that person meet a bad end.”

“Agreed.”

“Well let’s ignore that. More importantly we have to think about the current war with the Empire. Let’s get this conversation back on track.” Marquis Boullope raised his voice. “For example, what is the Empire planning and how the war on the plains will go?”

“I believe that it will go as usual—”

The silent Rampossa III received Marquis Raeven’s gaze and spoke.

“I intend to do that. I believe that everyone understands why.”

The Six Great Nobles nodded. Well, one did not seem to get it.

The Empire’s knights were heavily armoured, and fought on horseback. Facing such a enemy, it would be foolish to battle on flat land like the Katze Plains. It would be better to barricade themselves in E-Rantel, where the casualties would be fewer, and the chances of victory were higher.

However, that was unacceptable to the Kingdom.

First was the problem of using a large number of commoners. Even though it was an important harvest period, they were forced to deploy to the battlefield. If they were not returned quickly to their work, the Kingdom’s economic power would deteriorate.

Next was that feeding 200,000 men for extended periods was difficult even for E-Rantel.

If they boarded themselves within the fortress, the Empire which had plenty of magic casters would use a different strategy. Since it was not clear what they would do, the results would be unpredictable.

One might think that this was because 200,000 troops were used, but the Empire’s knights were strong, and their trainings far surpassed the Kingdom’s. It would be dangerous to not activate 200,000 troops.

That was why the Kingdom had no choice. While they did the same as always and will accept the charge head on and it was the best choice for the Kingdom.

“Understood. By the way, Your Majesty, the Empire’s troops have been deployed.”

“I see….”

“It seems about time to let start to let the peasants start working for their food.”

“It is just as Count Lytton says. Let us ready our troops. How are your preparations, Marquis Boullope?”

“There are no issues, Marquis Pespea. Mine can move immediately. Your Majesty.”

“….Then please move your troops.”

“Now Your Majesty. Who will have overall command? I do not mind if it is myself?”

While it was phrased as a question, it was different. In his words were a pressure telling Rampossa III to hand over the right to command.

Rampossa III and Marquis Boullope. If asked who was better at command, many nobles would reply the later. And Marquis Boullope’s troops comprised of one fifth of the army, forty thousand men.

If the King were not present, the overall commander would be Marquis Boullope.

However the King was present. While it was natural for Rampossa III to have overall command, the nobles of the Noble Faction would not accept this so easily.

At Marquis Boullope’s pressuring question, Gazef’s eyebrow twitched. Despite seeing that Marquis Boullope did nothing. To him Gazef was a commoner who knew how to swing a sword. He would originally not even permit him to be present in this room with the King and Six Great Nobles.

“….Marquis Raeven.”

“Yes.”

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“I shall leave it to the Marquis. Advance the troops to Katze Plains and return them back safely. And I shall leave their deployment up to you.”

“Understood.”

Marquis Raeven received the order of Rampossa III and bowed. To Marquis Boullope it was like his desired position was stolen from him, but he could not complain about Marquis Raeven. He knew his excellence, and it was difficult to disagree. And more importantly, Marquis Raeven belonged to both factions. Several of Marquis Boullope’s aids also owed Marquis Raeven.

Speaking up strongly in front of them would implant doubt in their minds.

That was why Marquis Boullope agreed.

“Marquis Raeven. I shall leave my troops to you. If you need anything just say.”

“Thank you very much, Marquis Boullope. I shall rely on you then.”

It was a meaningless exchange, but it was necessary for nobles.

“Then we shall end this here. Marquis Raeven. I’m counting on you.”

“Understood, Your Majesty.”

As the Six Great Nobles left the room, the only ones remaining were Rampossa III and Gazef.

Rampossa III slowly rotated his neck. Gazef heard creaking sounds. As he had released tension, the king had a relieved face.

“Good work, Your Majesty.”

“Ah. I really am tired.”

Gazef made a wry smile. A small scale war between the Noble and Royal Factions had just occurred. This would make anyone tired. However Rampossa III was a person more tired than most.

“Has he arrived yet?”

“It would probably be difficult for him right?”

“True—”

When Rampossa III said this, the door was knocked on. The door was opened and the person they were talking about arrived.

The one who entered the room was a disgustingly obese man. His hair was thin enough to reflect light, and the remaining strands were all white.

His body was round enough to be called obese. His stomach was slaughtered in fat, and slabs of flesh hung beneath his chin.

He was a disgusting man, but his eyes had the spark of wisdom. He was a man with a large disparity between his personality and appearance. Rampossa III gave that man a kind smile.

“Thank you for coming, Panasolei.”

“Your Majesty.” The mayor of E-Rantel, Panasolei, lowered his head. And then he shifted his gaze. “It has been a while, Gazef-dono.”

“Mayor. Thank you very much for that time.”

“No no. I should be the one to thank you. I am very grateful for your patrols of the nearby areas.”

“You’re not wheezing through your nose today?”

“Your Majesty….” Panasolei made a wry smile. “There is no point if I do that to someone I’m close to. And Your Majesty already knows.”

“Sorry sorry. Forgive me Panasolei. Now, I wanted to use some time to catch up, but we have none. So, sorry but can we get to the point.”

“Understood, Your Majesty. Before that, one question.”

Rampossa III gestured with his chin to continue.

“There is a young knight in white armour standing outside the door, but is it fine to not ask him to leave?”

While there was soundproofing, it was difficult to make it absolute. If he pressed his ear to the door, he might be able to pick something up from this important conversation.

Hearing that, Rampossa III and Gazef immediately understood who he was talking about. The young man named Climb.

“It is fine. He guards my daughter from danger, and can be trusted.”

Panasolei’s gaze flicked to Gazef, and seeing him nodded, Panasolei agreed.

“I see. Understood. Then…. Shall we begin?”

“No….” The King hesitated but replied. “No, one more person is coming. Can we wait until he arrives?”

“Is that so. Then shall we first talk about the expenses of the provisions within the city? And I have papers about the projected national strength of the Kingdom in one year based on the materials the Marquis provided.”

“Yes. I want to get past the headache inducing stuff first.”

And Panasolei’s words caused even the domestic affairs ignorant Gazef to frown.

The amount of expenses would cause one to wonder if the Kingdom was going to be alright. The effects of collecting a large number of provisions on the Kingdom. And the largest problem was the deterioration of the national strength of the Kingdom after the commoners returned home.

Panasolei’s predictions, even his optimistic ones, were situations that would make one want to hide in a hole.

Rampossa  III understood this better than Gazef, and his face was strained.

“How did this….”

“If…. The Empire attacks again next year, the Kingdom will move closer to fracturing. The number of peasants starving to death due to tax will rise rapidly, and if not taken seriously, the treasury will empty.”

“……..”

Rampossa III placed his hand on his chin and hid his face.

It was the result of several years of them responding to the Empire however they liked. By the time they understood the Empire’s aim, it was far too late.

“Your Majesty….”

“This is troubling. If I had acted sooner…. If I had acted before the Factions completely divided and those standing by me still had power…. What foolishness.”

It was not that easy. Even if he had cleaned up then, the Kingdom would probably have fallen into civil war, and when weakened, it would be swallowed up by the Empire.

This was the result of inaction of several generations of royalty. It was impossible to clean all that up in one.

Silence fell in the dark room. And cutting it apart, were several knocks on the door.

And Marquis Raeven entered.

“I have made everyone wait.”

“Marquis Raeven, sorry for taking up your time.”

“No no, pay it no mind. It was the correct decision to throw it to me then. However, my apologies, I cannot stay here for long, so shall we solve the problems quickly.”

His snake-like face was cold as always, but Gazef felt human emotion in the man. He also confirmed that he liked the man.

—I was a fool for not being able to see this man’s true personality.

As Gazef regretted that fact, he recalled the conversation he had in the royal chambers before they left the capital. The four people that were assembled there— Rampossa III, Gazef, Renner and Marquis Raeven. The conversation he had with those two completely blew away all his preconceptions he had of the royal court.

The shock of the fact that the man that Gazef hated the most was working the hardest for the King could not be described in one word.

“I have troubled both you and my daughter.”

While making a sincere expression and the sitting Marquis Raeven, Rampossa III made a deep bow.

“Y, Your Majesty. Please stop this. I am someone who acted without Your Majesty’s knowledge. I feel deep regret that I did not use different methods earlier.”

“Marquis Raeven. Allow me to apologise as well.” Gazef bowed deeply. “Without knowing Marquis Raeven’s true intent, I was deceived by your haughty demeanor, and I have nurtured disrespect for you. Please forgive this fool.”

“Gazef-dono, paid it no mind.”

“….Even if you say that.”

Marquis Raeven detected a deep sense of regret hidden inside Gazef’s words. Then only giving Gazef some form of punishment would give him relief.

Marquis Raeven nodded in head several times in understanding. And he gave Gazef his punishment.

“Understood…. I have called you Gazef-dono for a long time. Not Stronoff-dono. Now allow me to call you Gazef-dono as friends. I deeply respect you after all.”

A punishment that was not a punishment.

His eyes were nothing more than decorative holes in his head if he could not see this man’s true worth. While thinking that, Gazef spoke words of gratitude that came from his heart.

“Thank you very much, Marquis Raeven.”

Discerning that Gazef’s words had the utmost respect inside, Marquis Raeven said nothing. Anything more would be Gazef’s problem.

“Now shall we hurry up and begin, Your Majesty?”

Confirming that Rampossa III nodded, Marquis Raeven began to speak again.

“First is…. About the adventurer called Momon who is Ainz Ooal Gown’s disciple. The chance that Ainz Ooal Gown sent him to contact the Kingdom is high, just as Renner-denka says.”

“About that, we have contacted Momon, but he said that he is not related to whatever his master does.”

“I see. Then contact is impossible.”

“Is it possible that by apologising to Momon, we will be indirectly apologising to Ainz Ooal Gown?”

“It’s probably impossible, Your Majesty. According to what the mayor says, his attempts at catching the Kingdom’s eye…. Probably failed. He now completely belongs to the Empire.”

Saying that, Rampossa collapsed into his chair.

One cannot think of Ainz Ooal Gown as a mere magic caster. He is probably a magic caster that commands great power. It would be best to think of him as someone who rivals Landfall.

“Peace and alliance, and by granting territory to Ainz Ooal Gown we can make him an obvious enemy. That was Renner-sama’s plan right?”

“Yes. While he has become part of the Empire, he has been granted such a high position so they probably understand his danger. Thus if we make an encirclement he should not be able to escape.”

Amongst the forms of power, influence was unique in that the stronger one’s influence became, the stronger the opposition’s influence became. If Ainz Ooal Gown gained territory and used his great power, his danger level would increase and more would become his enemy.

“So will this city be ceded over?”

Panasolei asked this in an unreadable voice. As mayor, his emotions were complicated.

“I hope we do not have to do that. I hope that this war goes well, and as peace agreements we can grant him the territory between the Empire and E-Rantel.”

“….The problem is what will the nobles say.”

“If we are defeated to a certain extent they will probably accept it. If not they will believe that Your Majesty desired to run away from it all.”

“Basically Marquis Raeven. There will be a need to be defeated to a certain extent in this war.”

“Exactly. Gazef-dono. It would be nice if we can reduce the Noble Faction’s power.”

The room once again fell into silence. Everyone could understand Marquis Raeven’s words rationally. It was very important. However it was difficult to emotionally accept it.

Defeat would mean the deaths of the many citizens drafted from the Kingdom.

The deaths of several hundred, thousands, tens of thousands of people. While on paper, it was not a large number, but as long as one had the slightest imagination, they would be able to hear the cries of their countless relatives.

“Since a certain amount of deaths are already unavoidable, it cannot be helped. Then we shall collaborate with the Empire, and from there, sow discord between Ainz Ooal Gown and the Empire. That will be the best way to protect the Kingdom’s future.”

The Kingdom had no other choice. While the other countries were in turmoil, the Kingdom would recover its strength. And if one of the two became an enemy, the other would become an ally. If possible, they would like to ally with the Empire.

While this was based on the premise that they would have friendly relations after the war, this was not strange.

Wars were a method of negotiation between countries. It was like how the weaker person would listen to the stronger one after a fight.

Of course, that might not be the case in a world with only humans. Differences in race, religion or language might cause them to war till extinction.

However, this world did not have only humans. They had the existences known as monsters and countries made by demi-humans. There were even undead that hated the living and several beings that towered over humans.

In such a world, it would be foolish to destroy the races that had the most similar sense of values to oneself.

If one thought of race as a class, it would be best to coexist. However even the same race would find differences and war would break out even between those with the same values.

That was why they wanted to make an alliance with the Empire.

To those who talked with Renner, Ainz Ooal Gown was someone stronger than Landfall and could destroy a country by himself. There was no way that such a person was human. No, he might be human, but someone who exceeded humanity was no longer human.

If they were to form an alliance, it would be best to form one with a race with the same values. Forming an alliance with another species would be last resort.

When everyone forced themselves to accept this, Marquis Raeven recalled something.

“And another thing. I wanted to talk about someone related to Ainz Ooal Gown, someone known as Blood-Stained.”

“Ooh. I wanted to talk about this to His Majesty as well.”

“What is he?”

“Yes. She is [Blood-Stained] Enri, a mercenary troop leader in Carne Village.”

“Carne Village?”

Gazef recalled the time when he had met Ainz in that village for the first time. It was a village that was attacked, and there did not seem to be anyone who would be called Blood-Stained.

“Yes. Blood-Stained Enri is a person who commands monsters such as goblins and ogres.”

Hearing about her relation to demihumans, Gazef immediately understood that there was some connection between Blood-Stained Enri and Ainz.

“I see. This Enri and Ainz Ooal Gown are related.”

“That is the question. Some nobles have received information that Blood-Stained Enri is related to Ainz Ooal Gown. And some of them have said to capture her.”

“That is dangerous. We do not want to anger him any further…. Shall I make up a reason?”

“No. Send out the order to capture.”

The gazes of three people fell on Marquis Raeven.

Should they anger Ainz Ooal Gown any further, it would be questionable if they could have friendly relations after the war. If the Empire does not agree to an anti-Ainz coalition, they would make an alliance with Ainz to usurp the Empire.

Even though they wanted to form an alliance with him, angering Ainz any further would be extremely dangerous.

“On top of releasing information that Momon was the one who leaked it.”

“I see. If we do not give the order, the Noble Faction will be annoyed. It would be troublesome if enmity was left with the (Frontier Marquis). So we release that information as a form of apology.”

“Yes. Exactly. If possible, we should tell Marquis Boullope this so that they send out an idiot of the Noble Faction.”

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