Chapter 376 / Epilogue
…Three months after the coronation…
"The Elf King is… dead? Are you serious?!" Dominic exclaimed with a mix of glee and horror alike.
"Zesshi beat him to death in the arena. It was the most brutal killing I've ever seen, except for maybe the one of Cerebrate by the new Emperor." Raymond said to those who sat around the council table.
The cardinals around him rumbled with a mix of emotions, and for several minutes Raymond allowed them to continue before he cleared his throat.
"That is the least of our concerns, the Elf King's death was always a given, we'd been promising Zesshi that since her power first manifested and she was enrolled in the Black. Sending her there was fulfilling our promise, unfortunately, it backfired. She learned the truth, and she's more than a little angry with our country. I tried to warn you in my letters before I even rushed back here, but based on what I've seen on the way since, you haven't listened." Raymond looked at them reprovingly, one by one, compelling their sullen silence.
"So?" He demanded.
"The Draconic Kingdom has cut off all trade with us." Berenice acknowledged. "So has the Kingdom of Carne, the Kingdom of Re-Estize, the Baharuth Empire, the Empire of Nazarick… as they style themselves now, and the Roble Holy Kingdom. Demalbion has never been a trading partner, but we've sent overtures to King Mare of the Elf Kingdom, and their ambassador is waiting to join us now."
"Speaking of the elves, Raymond, you still haven't explained what happened with the slave I sent to you. That animal was exceptionally expensive, and you came back without it." Dominic made a sour face and put on his perpetual frown.
Raymond kept his face carefully neutral. "Personal matters can wait until the end of public business." He said, and the others gave sage nods when the leader of the scriptures nodded to the guard at the door. "Go ahead and send the ambassador in, we should get this done."
The guard opened the door, and Nua walked through it, clad in the green and white silk clothing of a royal traveler, with her pants running into high brown leather boots and a black cloak shimmering in the light that shone through the tower window, her hood was back and her ears danced up and down the moment she caught sight of Raymond.
"I am Nua Calen Aiwenor, ambassador from King Mare the First, here on matters of trade, will you hear the words of the Elf Kingdom?" She asked, keeping her face neutral and her lips tight when she saw Cardinal Dominic seated at the far side of the round table.
His eyes bulged in outrage and fury, his fingers closed into fists when he looked at her, and she let her lips turn up ever so slightly at the corners, turning his face red in the process.
"Go on, Ambassador Aiwenor." Raymond said benignly as he claimed his seat again.
"The elf Kingdom is now a vassal of the Allfather of the Empire of Nazarick, while the then Kingdom of Nazarick called you allies in the brief skirmish against the elf Kingdom, he and King Mare have both expressed disappointment that the prisoners of war have not been returned to their homes. As such, all trade is prohibited between the lands of the elves and the Slane Theocracy. We demand the immediate return of all elven captives taken since the war against the elf King began, and furthermore, we propose and expect that a program of repatriation will begin the return of all slaves held in bondage within the territory of the Theocracy, to begin within one year and to take no more than seven years of implementation."
Dominic's mouth opened to shout her down, his rage ready to fly off of his tongue in a torrent of hatred and vitriol, it was only the kick of a foot to his ankle that stopped him.
"I am afraid we can't comply with that." The Pontifex Maximus answered, "We depend on the labor of the elves, despite the… writings of our comrade here, even if we wished to do what you're asking, we simply can't. The elves plow our fields, harvest our crops-"
"I'm aware." Nua answered, "I remember. But the rest of your neighbors are telling you that if you continue to insist on doing as you've always done it is going to get very expensive. No more wheat from Re-Estize. No place to take Theocracy coin, no place will receive Theocracy products, you may lash our backs to make us work, but nobody wants what you produce. How long will you last then?" Nua made the practical point, and except for Dominic's red face, and Raymond's serene, but serious expression, the others turned a pale shade of gray.
"We still refuse! Your kind belong at human feet! That hasn't changed! The will of the gods is perfect and must always be followed! Get out! Go back where you came from before I take you and show you again that you should never defy humanity!" Dominic's temper exploded, but Nua met flaming face with eyes of flint.
"If you try it again, what happened to me will happen to your entire country. I promise you." Nua said without averting her gaze. "I've said my peace, delivered my message, "Cardinal Raymond, would you see me out?" She asked, and Raymond got to his feet to do exactly that.
The arguing was audible all the way to the bottom of the stairs as they left.
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Layali looked down at the stump where her leg had been, strangely enough, there was no pain. The crystalline eyed man seemed indifferent to her one way or another, and she finally asked him, "What's the point of this, Mr. Urge?"
"To see if your leg will start to regrow. The same as when we had your eye removed yesterday." He said as he used various chronomancy spells on her and studied the flow of blood and mana alike.
"Oh." She scratched her head. "I guess it's fine as long as I don't have to remember and there's no pain… and… I'll remember the ice cream and stickers, right?"
"Yes, as always you will remember the good parts." He said as she reached up to touch her eye, trying to recall what she had completely forgotten.
"Is this really helping?" She asked him from where she sat on the metal table.
"I believe so, I'm closer than ever to finding out the secrets I need to ensure the success of our experiment on our lord. And when it is complete, he will be immortal, unkillable, and unstoppable, instead of simply unstoppable and slightly immortal." Demiurge explained to the precocious, curious half elf child.
"Well, alright then, as long as there's ice cream and it doesn't hurt, I guess it's fine, but how long do I have to hold these crystals in my hand, my arms are getting tired, Mr. Urge." She pouted a little until he said…
"Just until I've removed your arms, we'll put them back when I determine how long it takes for the mana to stop flowing after they're removed." He explained, and Layali sighed with relief.
"Good. Mama and Papa are taking me riding, and then we're going to see the Bald Scholar, so I'll need my arms after we're done here." She said, and waited patiently for the experiment to end.
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Cocytus held the soft toy sword down to the infant in the cradle. The young boy's hands went for it immediately. "Is that a gift from CZ?" Calca asked when she entered arm in arm with Kelart.
"Yes. I. Think. He. Likes. It." Cocytus answered when he looked over his shoulder at the two.
"I'm sure he does." Kelart gave a little grin up at the insectoid guardian. While at first his settling in had been uncomfortable, the warrior made a name for himself among the martial soldiers and lords alike within the capital, and quickly became a fixture in court life for his manners, valor, and reverence for the honored dead.
"But how long will it be before he can really use one?" Kelart asked, and Cocytus answered by letting go of it when the infant had it, then watching the small child begin to swing the little plush toy around like wild.
"When. He. Can. Walk. We. Begin." Cocytus answered.
Calca reached down and poked the boy's nose, "And magic, as soon as he can talk. The children of Ainz Ooal Gown will be a force that causes the whole world to tremble in awe. I'm sure we'll be very proud of them all."
As if he agreed with them, the baby began to laugh.
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Queen Draudillon looked down at the array of elves kneeling in front of her. Newly ennobled, they constituted the ranks of those who shared her time in captivity with the elf King, and as such, they knelt in fine robes befitting formal occasions. Embroidered with the dragon logo of the Draconic royal line, silver on bright blue in practical designs that could be quickly secured or shed, and which would protect against the elements if one had to leave in haste without proper preparation.
"Who suffers beside me is my brother, my sister, my shield and sword." The Draconic Queen said, "and as such I know I can trust you to carry this out. While you have been given towns and lands in the east of my Kingdom, I trust you will not forget your mission."
"My Queen." They said in unison. "We will run slavenapping operations all across the eastern Theocracy, we will bring them here and settle them in our lands, far from their oppressors' reach, and never show mercy to the whip bearers who must die along the way."
"Very good. This is for your people, my people, and myself. The Slane Theocracy caused a great deal of suffering to us all, and for that, we will pay them back. Now rise, go, secure your homes, and then get to work."
"My Queen!" The elves said as one, and rose to carry out her orders.
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The push and pull of body against body went back and forth for hours as Zesshi reveled in her lover's embrace. He too, savored the feel of her fingers clawing at his back as they tumbled over a bedroll the size of the royal tent in which they slept. As 'The Wandering Crowns' enjoyed the feel of the air wafting through the mesh screens, so also did they enjoy the feel of each other's hot breath and the taste of each other's heated skin.
It was only when they came to a climactic release together that the urgent motions slowed, stopped, and they lay entwined in one another's arms at rest.
"I like living like this." Zesshi said, tracing her hand over his chest.
"Most Empresses do." He said with a cocky smile, she bonked his nose gently and replied…
"I mean the traveling, I've already seen so much, but now I know how little even that much is. I hope we can live like this for a good long time."
"I do too, it'll be a long time before we have to settle into one central place at least." Brain suggested, "Being seen, swapping out ineffective nobles for effective ones, stamping out any remaining criminal elements… at least we're on good terms with the lizardmen, and trade in fish for goods is helping make things better along the border with the lake. Being Emperor and Empress may be a lot of work, but it does have its benefits."
"Like the way our little Princess is thriving?" Zesshi suggested. Nor was she wrong, they both thought of the way Layali was learning to handle a sword, not to mention her court etiquette was much better than that of her parents, and she returned from Nazarick every week, happier than before.
"We still have to make the Theocracy pay." Brain remarked, "That country put her in Cerebrate's hands, I won't be happy until they've paid a heavy price for their hand in all of this."
"Nor I, and I have to know the truth… did Cenna have a hand in the attempt on my life, or not? Other than Raymond, do I have anyone there who-" She would have said more, but Brain silenced her with a kiss that devoured her lips before her emotions could get the better of her.
"Don't think about that right now, think about something else." Brain whispered into her ear and gave it a little love nip.
"Like how I have a husband, a child… and maybe another along the way?" Zesshi winked.
"Are you?" He asked, blinking as he was caught off guard.
But she answered with a breathy whispering moan, "Not yet, but as you've helped me with so much already, I was hoping you'd help me with that too." She suggested and reached for his shaft with her nimble fingers.
"What kind of husband would refuse a request like that?" He asked, and did not keep her waiting. His lips fell over hers, and they set to the task with all the vigor it deserved.
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Cenna stretched out under the white flowering trees. The scent, at least to his nose, was fair to good and with his arms crossed under his head, he let out a steady groan of comfort. "Gahhh, that's better." He said to nobody at all. The long vines hid his presence, and the shadow cast overhead was thick enough to create a comfortable shade from the summer sun. At his side sat a bow worth more than a prince's ransom, as well as a spear for serious defense if it were needed. On his body was a simple ashen gray cloak with streaks of black, green, and brown that served as camouflage. But there was nothing to be worried about. Not that he could tell, his hunt was successful enough that a few beasts sat wrapped in wild preserving vines, waiting for him to roast them after what he was about to do.
His favorite part, to be precise, or so the smile on his face said. One foot crossed over the other and he gnawed idly at the sweet twig in his mouth while he waited to drift off to sleep and nap for hours. The sweet twig was of a peculiar variety of tree only found there in the Abelion Hills, it was his second favorite part about his 'hunting expeditions'. 'And they think I'm hunting out in the woods near Ikari. Ha!' He laughed at that. The monsters in the Abelion Hills were few, which was the point. A little hunting and a lot of laziness, that was the real point.
The demihumans who occupied the region were now fairly tame, they moved in larger groups, but more predictably as fixed paths were laid down and fixed settlements were forming. 'They wouldn't believe it back home, but it really is turning into a kingdom over here.' He thought and yawned deeply, he could feel himself starting to doze off and thought about the shock he faced when he first saw actual humans, but strangely enough, they appeared to be neither frightened nor abused. 'They won't like that in Kami Miyako.' He snorted. Nonhuman and human enmity was a staple of their religion and politics, the two groups getting along was almost as big of a threat to the state as war itself. But for Cenna? 'Pain is pain, dead is dead. Maybe something better will come of all this, like a longer nap for me.' He smirked, spat the sweet bark stick out of his mouth when the tip lost its flavor, yawned once more, and fell asleep.
He didn't know how long he lay there, but when he awoke, it was instant. The pressure above caused the tree he lay against to sway, and that was all it took, because the scent it carried with it was very much like a dragon. The noise hit next, he could hear the beating wings, but the thick cover of the flowering trees and the dangling vines obscured his vision. 'It doesn't matter how far I can see if I've got things in my way...' He mentally cursed, the sound was slowing down, coming closer.
He reached for the spear that lay beside his hunting bow and took it into practiced fingers while he rose silently to his feet.
"Alright, poacher, you've got some nerve hunting on the private reserves of the Queen of Frost... now you've got a choice, either I come in there, or you come out!" A voice called from beyond when he heard the blades of grass bend as the interloper landed.
'That doesn't 'sound' like a dragon...' Cenna thought with confusion in his mind. It was far, far too feminine.
But one thing he knew, if he went out, a fight was probable, if he waited, it could be avoided. The peace trees were known to be sacred, even as far away as the Theocracy, and as such... he chose to wait, but not in silence. "Why don't you come in?! If I go out there, I'll have to fight, and this is my vacation damn it! I have no bloody intentions of having it ruined by killing the royal piss pot carrier of some purple assed noble!"
Neia fumed. Her pale face didn't blush as much as it used to, but the scaled skin turned a shade darker. 'Nobody has talked to me that way in... a damn good while... sonofa...' She took a deep breath, her tail lashed behind her, but going into the trees and committing violence would not be acceptable. "Listen here you pig sticker, I'll have you know my ass is not purple, at best my ass is an off white with shades of blue from the scales! And I'm no piss pot carrier! I'm the damn Queen of this country, and you're on my land hunting my private stock!" She snapped, "Do you have any idea how long it took to clear out the monsters that tasted terrible from this area, and restock it with the kind I liked?! A long time and a lot of work! Now get your ass out here and your Queen may show some leniency as a gesture of respect for at least being good at poaching!"
She huffed, and frost chilled the grass in front of her, a drift of white that melted under the summer sun almost as soon as it settled.
'The Queen? Okay... this is different... kill her, and I may solve a real problem before it begins... or start a war... but also... my vacation would be ruined. Shit!' Cenna cursed.
"I'm no subject of the Queen!" He shot out in frustration, only to immediately cover his mouth.
Neia heard the words and the slap of skin over a mouth, human skin was a little more malleable than that of orcs or goblins, and other races didn't smack a hand over their mouths when they said something they didn't mean to. 'A human? From the Holy Kingdom?' Neia was now intrigued.
"You're a long way from Hoburns, human, it was only a few boar and a cockatrice... come out from the peace trees, and I promise I will be lenient... I'll charge you for the cost of your stolen stock and send you back to the Roble Holy Kingdom alive." Neia said more diplomatically, she opened her hands as if the one hidden within could have seen them, and took a step forward.
Cenna laughed involuntarily, "That would be a problem... damn it... listen... I'm armed, but I'll set down my spear... but come inside and I'll explain myself."
Neia frowned, "Are you running from something? An exile from the civil war? That ended years ago, how are you only here now?" She asked, and the voice within cleared his throat.
"It'll be easier if we talk where I know I won't have to kill you. I think my vacation is probably already ruined... I'd rather not make it worse with some unplanned regicide." Cenna called out as calmly as he could, but a playful lilt hit his voice anyway.
Part of Neia knew she should have been furious by the implication of regicide, but his voice was so playful and his attitude so nonchalant... and his obsession with his time off was so damn disarming, it was difficult for her to feel any real anger.
"Fine, I came all the way out here already, what's twenty more paces?" Neia said back, and walked to the trees, she pushed her way through the dangling white and found a black clad man of slender, athletic build. His cloak was different from the rest of his clothing, designed for simple magic-free camouflage, but his bow and spear, not to mention the rest of his clothing, it all screamed wealth and status. He was seated cross legged with his back against the tree, and she did the same, her tail lashing behind her as she went, her wings folded in, and she cleared her throat.
"Queen Neia Baraja of the Kingdom of Demalbion. And you, poacher?" She asked, gesturing to him with an open hand, palm upturned and talons clicking.
"Cenna. Cenna Tachoni, Captain of the Black Scripture of the Slane Theocracy." He inclined his head, and waited for the Queen to leap to her feet and call for her guards, only for her to instead cock her head, raise her brow and ask...
"Did you hit your head? Are you quite well, human?" She asked, and he tapped his skull several times.
"Seems fine to me." He smirked. "You don't believe me?"
"No, but if you share that meat, I'll forget about this, cook it, and we can eat together. At least after we share a meal, I can promise I can't kill you. You'll be an official guest." She pointed out, her finger leveled at the delicious looking haunch of monster meat.
"That's a hell of an invitation… how can I say no." He said so dryly that Neia wanted something to drink just by hearing it.
"You can't, it's good to be the Queen." She smirked, baring her fangs.
"We've got to start somewhere." He said with a shrug, and got up to his feet, and taking up his kill, he followed after her.
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"As before, everything falls into place again." Ainz said as he walked the hall of Nazarick with the available Guardians in tow. 'I have no idea how, but it worked out exceptionally well, so I can't very well complain.' He thought to himself.
"Ja, mein vater, but one thing I must ask, have I permission to join the Wandering Crowns to further court mein little vampire?" Pandora's Actor asked.
"You still call her that, even though she's-" Ainz stopped, "Never mind, I won't ask why. You may. She is still 'herself' after all?"
"Ja, and believes I have always been Lord Momon. When I revealed myself to be your son, she was both surprised and pleased." Pandora's Actor explained, though he added, "Lakyus however, her shame is immeasurable. She weeps at night and pleads for forgiveness in her dreams, and in the morning she pleads with her sisters. Whether they forgive her or not, I," he clutched his heart melodramatically, "I pity her, but do not also! If the love of sisters be as great as-"
Ainz cleared his throat to cut off the dramatic guardian. "Time will tell, some things shouldn't be lightly forgiven, no matter the reason. But yes, you can go. Take a few magic items with you if you like."
"My beloved, I know you were set on going to the Throne room, but… if it is not too much for me to ask, could we call… no, not Pestonya… she and Yuri Alpha went to investigate the matter of our orphanages after Emperor Unglaus's complaint… yes, Lupusregina Beta, and could you join me, it seems it is time for you to become a father." Albedo said, and Ainz stopped in his tracks, though Albedo was showing considerably, he'd thought it was early nonetheless.
"Now?!" He exclaimed as his blood ran cold. 'All that time with my firstborn, asking how to do things, watching how Calca and Kelart did things… and somehow I'm as nervous as before.'
"If it pleases my lord," Albedo said and put her hands over her belly, "I suppose I could try to hold them in until it's more convenient, but I don't know how long I can manage." She looked at him with a hopeful smile, one that looked almost amused at his surprise.
'Now, but I assumed that… no, I've been thinking in terms of humans. But elves are a little longer than humans unless they're half elves, orcs are faster, it's not like I know how long a half demon child should take…' He thought and cursed himself for his foolish preconceptions.
"Yes, now, right now!" Ainz exclaimed, and all thoughts of the throne room fled from his mind, and they did not return to his head for the hours of waiting, nor for days after the first moment he held his firstborn daughter, nor, unexpectedly, his secondborn son. His mind was elsewhere, and there was not anyone present who would have had it any other way.