Chapter 7

Jircniv stood at the head of his Imperial Guard outside the Imperial Palace. When he had received the news that a emissary of Ainz Ooal Gown was due to arrive in his capital, Jircniv felt nauseous. The stress of dealing with any of his Majesty's servants made Jircniv consider crowning someone else as Emperor.

A familiar carriage approached, flanked by six Death Cavaliers.

'I wonder why Prime Minister Albedo has decided to visit.'

The carriage stopped and Jircniv noted that many of his guards shifted their heads so that they could get a better view.

'I don't blame them, anyone could lose themselves over Albedo's beauty.'

However, the person that exited the carriage was not the elegant figure of Albedo, but rather a person in shabby armor and a ghost white woman in a leather trench coat.

Jircniv felt nervous, who were these people? He had received notice that guests from the Sorcerous Kingdom were arriving, but it did not specify who they were or what they looked like. However the lack of information, he could not afford to offend them if they are from the Sorcerous Kingdom.

Jircniv stepped forwards as the two people approached.

"Welcome to the Arwintar, I am Emperor Jircniv Rune Farlord El Nix, but please refer to me as Jircniv. Forgive my ignorance, but could you introduce yourselves? I am not privy to much information on the Sorcerous King's personal servants beyond my interactions with Demiurge and Albedo."

Before either of them said a word, the woman cast a spell that was unfamiliar to Jircniv.

"[Antipathy: Divination]"

The guards shuffled uncomfortably but nothing seemed to happen.

"It is a pleasure Emperor Jircniv, I am Azirim and my companion is Medulla. This location is a bit inappropriate for our discussion so let us continue inside."

Jircniv racked his brain for any recollection of the names.

As they walked Azirim spoke: "I assume that you are very busy and so I will make this quick. As the leader of a vassal nation I believe that you should be one of the first to hear this news. I am the newly appointed Sorcerous Kingdom's Minister of Interior and Foreign Affairs."

"I see, congratulations on your position."

Azirim did not speak again until they had entered the palace.

"My main reason for coming here is that I am investigating various stories and legends. I understand that the Empire is not the oldest nation in this area, but under the supervision of Fluder Paradyne, the Imperial Academy has amassed quite the wealth of knowledge."

"Legends?"

"Yes. I am specifically looking for stories of the Thirteen Heroes, the Eight Greed Kings, the Dragon Lords, and the Six Gods of the Theocracy."

"May I inquire as to why you are interested in old stories?"

Azirim stopped moving.

"I was created to ensure the safety of Ainz Ooal Gown. If these creatures of exceptional power exist, they will be removed."

Jircniv swallowed nervously. Normally he would expect these words from a madman, but he was well aware of the strength of the servants of the Sorcerous King.

"Since you plan on staying for a while, could I make a request Minister Azirim?"

"You may."

"How do you feel about attending a banquet?"

Three days later.

Deld wiped his brow before entering the grand hall of the Imperial Palace. Deld Vai Zethos Tel Naden was the current head of House Naden. He inherited this role after his parents were killed by the Emperor in his purge. Left alone, Deld worked a minor government position and slowly made his way up the ladder as his intellect and charisma allowed him to climb the meritocracy that was the Empire. After years of hard work he found himself in the office as a governor of a province. Deld would transform the province from an unassuming agricultural region to the Empire's breadbasket using imported farming techniques and equipment from the Slane Theocracy.

However Deld felt no devotion towards the Emperor. He often dreamed of taking revenge on him. Using his position of power, he found other like minded individuals and he organized them into a sizable secret faction. Many members had family members killed in the purge and occupied a variety of different positions within the Empire. These spanned from palace maid to provincial governor. After the recent vassalization, the faction had a huge increase in new recruits, many of which either opposed the vassalization or the Sorcerous King.

Passing through the entrance, Deld glanced at one of the guards stationed by the door and smiled. The guard was one of the many mercenaries he had hired to infiltrate the Palace Guard. The man who should be in that armor was one of many naked corpses floating down the Chelimber River. The hall was also filled with many of his faction members and sympathizers.

Deld casually took a glass of champagne from a passing servant and made his way to the Emperor. The Emperor was currently speaking to a wealthy merchant while two people unknown to Deld stood near him. Neither were properly dressed for the party. Deld made a mental note to watch them more carefully as he strode up to the Emperor as his conversation with the merchant seemed to have finished.

"Magnificent party your Majesty, you manage to outdo yourself every time."

Jircniv smiled.

"Of course, of course, we cannot afford to be frugal, especially with the current occasion."

"Current occasion?"

"We are celebrating our vassalization into the Sorcerous Kingdom. Did I forget to mention that in my invitations?"

"Well, being the Emperor is very stressful and I am sure your eminence is very busy."

"Regardless, let me apologize on behalf of my scribes. I shouldn't keep you here, go on, enjoy yourself."

Deld made a slight bow and moved away. This was slightly troubling information as it likely meant that the two strangers standing by the Emperor's side were representatives from the Sorcerous Kingdom. While Deld was not expecting the presence of the Sorcerous Kingdom, it did not affect his plans. He simply needed to beg for forgiveness from the representatives and swear that the Empire would remain loyal to the Sorcerous Kingdom; the undead should hold no love for his puppet ruler and the anti-Sorcerous King subfaction could also be sacrificed to appease the undead king.

As he moved around the hall one of the "guards" bumped into him and slipped him a dagger.

'It seems that they are in position.'

The sound of a commotion could be heard coming from the entrance of the great hall as fifty well equipped mercenaries then entered the hall. Cries of surprise could be heard throughout the hall as panic began to spread.

"What is this? Guards! Protect me!" Jircniv cried out.

The guards drew their weapons and suddenly turned on each other as the few real remaining guards were quickly dispatched.

On seeing the bloodshed, the panic rose as a mass of people pushed their way to the exits, only to find them blocked off by mercenaries and fake guards.

Deld and his fellow conspirators drew their weapons and made their way to the Emperor.

"Stop! What are you doing? As your Emperor I demand to know what is going on!"

Deld's lips curled, his smile resembling that of a wolf. He walked up to Jircniv and punched him in the stomach and kicked his legs out from under him. Jircniv fell to the floor gasping for breath and looked pleadingly towards the representatives from the Sorcerous Kingdom.

Deld grabbed him by the hair and yanked his head upwards.

"Do you recognize me? Do you recognize any of us?" Deld gestured to his fellow conspirators as they circled him, waiting.

"Of course you would not, why should you care about the hundreds of lives you ruined? You stripped us of everything! You killed our families and threw us to the streets!" Deld yelled, his normally calm demeanor gone, his spit flying onto the face of Jircniv.

"Now you will suffer!"

Deld thrusted his dagger towards Jircniv's stomach, but instead of piercing through flesh his wrist was grabbed by the man in the strange armor.

"Emperor Jircniv is the property of Ainz Ooal Gown."

Deld tried to break free of the grip but the strange man held on and Deld could not move. It felt like he was chained to a mountain.

"L-look, the Empire will stay loyal, we respect his grace, the Sorcerous King we jus-"

"Then what do you call this coup?"

"It's not a coup! We will remain loyal after we kill this tyrant!"

"The Empire and its Emperor is the property of Ainz Ooal Gown. You have harmed the Emperor and threaten to disrupt the peace of the Empire."

Deld shivered at the strange matter-of-fact way he spoke. His mind raced as he desperately tried to think. He could not risk offending the Sorcerous Kingdom since it had the power to bury the Empire but he had to kill the Emperor now that his treachery had been exposed. However, his fellow conspirators could not see the bigger picture.

"To hell with your damned undead king! Let's kill these delegates and send their heads to their undead lord!"

The angry mob began to move forwards, intent clear in their eyes.

The armored figure stuck out his free hand and made a slow pulling motion. Deld's eyes went wide as he seemingly pulled a weapon out of thin air. It was a strange jagged rod of metal and it's unexpected appearance made the mob pause.

Azirim stepped forwards and swung his weapon.

Seventeen severed torsos were flung into the air as blood splattered on those lucky to survive.

"What the hell!?"

"How did he hit so many people!? Is he using magic?"

"Not even members of the Four Knights could do something like that!"

"It must have been his trump card! He shouldn't be able to do that again! Let's get him now!"

The delusional man found the serrated spike in his mouth and those around him watched in horror as the envoy of the Sorcerous Kingdom suddenly appeared in their midst.

Deld was not lucky enough to have been carried along.

"ARRRRGGGHGHHHHHH" Deld screamed as he grabbed at where his right arm should have been.

Due to the pain, Deld did not notice the armored figure bludgeon his fellow conspirators to death with his arm. He also did not see him paint the walls with the blood of his hired mercenaries.

xXx

Azirim relaxed as he shifted his grip on his weapon. He still held onto what remained of the noble's arm; a half-broken humerus.

He walked up to the would-be kingslayer, now a sobbing wreck on the floor. Deld slowly looked up as Azirim approached.

"P-please, s-s-h-how, m-m-m-ercy"

Azirim unceremoniously shoved the bone through Deld's eye and into his brain, killing him instantly.

"You can drop the illusion now."

Medulla made a slight gesture with her hand and the frightened nobles and servants that occupied the great hall vanished.

Azirim walked over to the Emperor, who had gotten back up onto his feet and surveyed the room with a pale expression as unfamiliar armored figures filled the hall and began dragging the bodies out.

"The traitors who were not present are currently being attended to, there is always demand for bodies in Nazarick."

"O-of course, I-I uh-ahem, reaffirm the Empire's loyalty to his majesty the Sorcerous King."