Chapter 49 – Ice Queen

Exusiai: "Ha-ha, makes sense, if he were easy to kill, our Boss wouldn't be flirting with death every single day."

Shinobu Kocho: "…Some people want to die yet can't, others want to live but are killed…"

Sitting in the Butterfly Mansion, the usual smile on her face was replaced by rare sorrow. "Big Sister…"

…

Those unintentional, heartfelt words from Shinobu made the group chat's mood grow slightly heavy. Matters of life and death always struck a chord.

Thankfully, the chat group's notifications disrupted the gloom.

[Ding! Little Fox Spirit has joined the chat group!]

[Ding! The Ice Queen has joined the Apocalypse Chat Group!]

"Huh? Newcomers?" Just as Tatsuki was about to shut off the chat and fully enjoy Eriri's "nibbles," he halted.

Aqua: "New arrivals! Join the Axis Cult! Revere the Water Goddess!"

Nami: "Um… is she always like this?"

Nami recalled that when she first joined, Aqua had tried to recruit her, too.

Tatsuki: "Yup. Don't bother. Anyone in the Axis Cult… let's just say they're not quite normal."

Aqua: "How dare you insult my faithful followers, Tatsuki!"

Tatsuki: "You think your believers are completely sane?"

Aqua: "…"

Aqua: "Ahem! That's just how they express their devotion and admiration for me!"

Exusiai: "Cough, cough. Maybe we should focus on the new members?"

Wishing to change the subject—feeling she'd just brought down the mood earlier—Shinobu Kocho spoke up.

Shinobu Kocho: "Ara, welcome to our new arrivals."

Saeko Busujima: "Welcome, newcomers."

Tatsuki: "In case you're confused, this is the Apocalypse Chat Group—a platform for worlds facing apocalypses to communicate and help each other."

The Ice Queen: "Heh, are you some new species? Or wielding Imperial Arms?"

Aqua: "See? Just like always, the new folks start off doubtful."

Ainz: "Well, who'd believe such an outlandish story right from the start?"

Exusiai: "We really ought to have a pinned introduction or something—explaining all this every time is a hassle."

Tatsuki: "Doesn't matter whether we explain or not. People who want to believe will believe; if they don't, even writing it in front of their face won't change anything. Whether they believe or not doesn't affect us. Love it or leave it."

March 7th: "You're not wrong."

Shinobu Kocho: "So… are we just ignoring the newbies' confusion?"

The Ice Queen: "…"

The Ice Queen: "Are you trying to toy with me in this manner? Heh… interesting. You've captured my attention now."

March 7th: "Eek, she sounds kinda scary."

Scary? Indeed, there was something distinctly intimidating here. "Ice Queen," "other races," "Imperial Arms"—piecing it all together, Tatsuki realized this must be the female general from "Akame ga Kill," Esdeath.

Aqua: "What about the other newcomer? Why so quiet? @LittleFoxSpirit."

A while passed with no response.

March 7th: "Maybe they don't believe us, either."

[ Ding! Aqua has sent a red envelope! ]

[ Shinobu Kocho has claimed it! ]

[ March 7th has claimed it! ]

[ Saeko Busujima has claimed it! ]

[ The Ice Queen has claimed it! ]

[ The envelope is empty! ]

Tatsuki: "? That was fast!"

Ainz: "Pfft, you guys didn't waste a second!"

Nami: "Right? I didn't even have time to react. Anyone mind sharing what was in it—Points?"

Shinobu Kocho: "Hmm… looks like a cabbage?"

March 7th: "A flying cabbage?!"

Saeko Busujima: "An otherworldly flying cabbage?"

The Ice Queen: "…"

…

In the imperial northern frontier…

Within a vast military camp's tent sat a blue-haired woman in a white military uniform—long hair flowing to her waist. Esdeath.

She stared wordlessly at the cabbage that fluttered around the tent.

With a casual wave of her hand, a burst of frost engulfed the cabbage, instantly freezing it and sending it thudding to the ground.

"A flying cabbage… so this is the other world? Interesting."

Esdeath smiled, excitement gleaming in her eyes. She was beginning to believe in the Apocalypse Chat Group's reality.

"If there truly are other worlds out there, there must be plenty of strong opponents, right?" The thirst for battle in her veins began to boil!

…

Nami: "Huh? A flying cabbage? The heck is that?"

Aqua: "It's just edible cabbage that happens to fly. I caught it just now."

March 7th: "Uh… can't imagine how that tastes."

Nami: "I agree."

Esdeath: "I see I need to reassess this chat group."

Exusiai: "Oh? So you're starting to believe in it now?"

Shinobu Kocho: "Ara, you've even changed your display name, hmm?"

Esdeath: "Doesn't matter what it's called—I only want to know if there are any strong fighters here."

March 7th: "I'm super strong!"

Esdeath: "Oh? How strong?"

March 7th: "Well… enough to match a three- or four-story building in height!"

Tatsuki: "…"