Chapter 406

Happy New Year, friends.

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"Congratulations on your victory, Your Highness." Alain said it reflexively when he sat up, it was the only thing he could think to say when he found himself confronted by the monarch who slew him. Nearby he saw three other tables, empty now, he could still sense the lingering presence of his comrades. 'They were here, so where…' His wondering was cut off by the monarch himself.

"Your friends are fine, most likely they are drinking or being fitted for suitable clothing." Ainz preempted the question on seeing the darting eyes of Time Turbulence. "Now here is the question I saved for you alone. What future do you want? One of a peaceful transition?" Ainz held his right hand down and out away from his body, "Or," he extended his left hand in the same fashion, "one like what you saw in your vision? Your attempted 'rescue' and assassination of the Frost Queen would bring the violent end out, I'm sure you can see that, can't you?"

Alain pursed his lips tight and sucked in air between them anyway, 'Now that I know what I know about Demalbion, there's just no way the place will collapse as easily as they think. Even 'if' we succeeded in killing her, everybody will know it was us… our denials won't matter…' It was so easy to imagine an invasion from all sides, so… so easy…

He gave a silent series of small nods. "I-I can. They've bought their own bullshit, but I-I know better. Even if I didn't before, there was no question of it after going through Tovijar."

"A hundred thousand demi-humans, thirty-thousand elves, fifty-thousand Draconic Knights, two legions numbering forty-thousand under Emperor Unglaus and your former trump card… the Wolf Queen and her people would love to have a word… and to their armies to 'make their grievances heard'. And the Golden Queen long ago figured out your nation was trying to topple hers. Re-Estize has a fairly good army now. Can your nation beat them all alone?" Ainz pointed out the obvious and a cloud of dread seemed to descend on Alain's thoughts, leaving him lost in a dark vision of his country's future.

"And that is without my magic brought to bear." He added the cherry to the shit sundae, and Alain's shoulders drooped.

"We were already beaten from the moment it began, weren't we, Your Highness?" Alain asked.

"Yes." Ainz answered with a decisive nod.

"What do you want from me, from us?" Alain asked, his voice low, sullen… "I'm not a traitor."

His protest was more for himself than the Allfather, and so Ainz let it pass.

"Save your nation. Join hands with your Captain, bend the knee to his service, and let him save you." Ainz extended his hand, "The others will follow your lead. You're not betraying your country, you're saving it from fire and death." Ainz pressed the issue home, and the grim vision of Zesshi's broken hearted look ripped through him like a blade.

"Does Zesshi know about this, Your Highness?" He asked.

"Some. Nobody knows it all. But she knows 'some'. Enough that she sent a buyer into the Theocracy, found the girl in the vision, and had her brought to live in Arwintar." Ainz answered, and that straw broke the camel's back.

He slid his legs over the table, taking the offered hand of the monarch, Alain went down to one knee and pressed his forehead to the back of the Allfather's right hand. "I pledge myself… to the salvation of my country, through to your servants, the Frost Queen and Black King of Demalbion."

'The others were too far gone in that vision… but now… with the Captain, and I, and the others convinced…?' Alain could see a far better outcome possible than the one in the nightmare world where his country was reduced to ashes, there was still however, only one chance. 'The hatred that brought that nightmare, doesn't exist here, at least not yet, not from those who have armies to back their grudge. We can fix it all before it happens… one way or the other.' Alain, convinced that he was making the right call, gave his oath with all sincerity.

'I'll help save them from themselves, even if I have to drag them away from the cliff by their god… damn… necks!' He thought as Ainz withdrew his hand.

"You will need to repeat your oath to them… and explain a great deal to your other comrades. The four who did not join you here today." Ainz pointed out, and Alain raised his eyes to the Lord.

"I know, Your Majesty. So… what happens now?" Alain asked with a sense of dread that was rapidly fading away as it was replaced with serene confidence that he'd made the correct choice.

"You join your comrades, one of my maids outside that door will escort you to be refreshed, then to a fitting for some wedding attire, then after that you will be returned to the care of the Captain and his wife to be." Ainz replied, and Alain's eyes sparkled with such luster that it briefly caught Ainz by surprise.

"Is there alcohol? I don't know the customs there…?" Alain asked, and Ainz immediately nodded.

"I will be supplying the vintages as a royal gift to the Queen, she was a soldier, once. Alcohol went with the territory, and you know your captain well already…" Ainz let the statement hang.

"Then your majesty will witness the power of a Black Scripture's alcohol consumption, we can drink minotaurs under the table." Alain promised and smacked his lips together as if he could already taste the stuff.

Ainz snorted, "I'm sure within your little realm you are true giants. Just like hills loom over flat plains. However," Ainz couldn't restrain himself from smirking at some of the few fond memories of his old life in the dying world he once called home, "you are no match for the powers of a Japanese salaryman."

"We'll see about that.. Whatever that is..." Alain promised when Ainz stood aside and gestured toward the door.

"Yes, we will." Ainz replied, allowing Alain to pass by to greet the maid waiting outside.

When Alain was well and truly gone, Ainz focused his attention on Demiurge, who stood aside, quietly waiting for his master's eye. "Now, about the ones in the vision who died, the ones who remained behind. Are you finished with those?"

Demiurge restrained himself from giggling with the excitement of a school girl. "Yes, My Lord. They are thoroughly brainwashed, we'll return them to their room before the Sixth Seat returns, and he'll find nothing amiss. I can't wait to see if there is any real difference between levels of loyalty from choice versus brainwashing!" He pushed his glasses close to his face again and cleared his throat, "And… what about the Sixth Seat and the Thousand Mile Astrologer, My Lord?"

"They are the control group. They can't change anything on their own, except maybe themselves. And maybe not even that, who can say?" Ainz asked with a shrug and strode toward Demiurge, he clapped the archdevil on the shoulder and said with the utmost sincerity… "Good work, my boy. Good work."

Happiness burst in the archdevil's heart as Ainz simply made his day.