“Are you out of your mind?”
“How rude. Lord Ainz has no intention of ruling this city through slaughter and despair. It’s not as if he gains anything by killing humans, you know. But even if he said that, the people here won’t believe him, so you must work at his side.”
“…What do you mean?”
“Going forward, there may be others like that imbecile who threw the rock at Lord Ainz. If that happens, take off that person’s head. That way, Lord Ainz won’t have to make the innocent people of the city suffer. All you need to do is stand watch.”
“…I see. So I would serve close to him as an observer?”
“Not quite. As I said, you will kill rebels with your own hands. He’s telling you to be a representative of the city, as well as the law enforcer.”
“I have no interest in following your evil laws.”
“We’re not planning on enacting any that are so evil. So what will you do? If you won’t devote your sword to Lord Ainz, you’re a dangerous individual, meaning I’ll have to kill you now—no matter how many bystanders become involved.”
Momon looked around.
“I was traveling on my way somewhere else. I didn’t plan on becoming anyone’s underling.”
“If that’s your answer, that’s fine. Then shall we begin our death match and wrap up all these humans in the ensuing battle?”
“Wait! Don’t jump to conclusions. I haven’t said what I’m going to do yet. Also, I have a partner. What will happen to her?”
“She can serve with you. What other answer could there be?”
“The old me would have prioritized reaching the destination of my journey, but…I seem to have gotten unexpectedly attached to this city. Will it work for you even if I don’t surrender?”
Ainz approached the woman again and whispered in her ear.
“He says he’ll allow it. Momon, work hard for Lord Ainz.”
“…Got it. Just remember that if you ever make the people of this city suffer for no reason, this sword will take your—both your heads off.”
“…Then if anyone from this city ever tries to revolt against Lord Ainz, take their head off. Even if they’re a child. I’m looking forward to it—to seeing these people rebelling, that is. I can’t wait to see you writhe in agony as you kill them. Well, we’ll be off now. Come along later.”
Ainz Ooal Gown’s party leisurely moved on. Once the unusually long procession had passed and the group wasn’t visible anymore, people poured out of their houses. Had there really been so many to begin with? There was such a surprisingly large crowd, it was enough to make anyone watching wonder.
Many were praising Momon.
Momon was awkwardly gesturing with both hands to calm them down when he heard a dry smack. He turned to look and saw the mother had slapped her son.
“Why would you do that?”
She slapped him again.
Both mother and child were crying.
But she kept slapping him.
Momon grabbed her hand.
“Maybe we could call that enough? I’d like to ask him something.”
“Sir Momon, I’m so sorry my son made trouble for you!”
“Don’t worry about it. More importantly, excuse me. All right, you, don’t cry. I want to talk to you.”
Momon soothed the boy as best he could and asked him why he did what he did.
Everyone must have thought all the boys wanted to avenge their fathers, but this one said a strange man egged him on, so he thought throwing the stone was the right thing to do.
“I see. Ma’am, you shouldn’t scold him anymore. He was probably under the influence of a spell. I’m guessing it’s a Theocracy plot to drive Ainz Ooal Gown and me to go against each other.”
“…But…why would the Theocracy do that? Don’t you think it must be Ainz Ooal Gown’s plot? To force you to become his henchman?”
It was the owner of a shop that opened a few years back who spoke, and Momon nodded sincerely.
“I suppose that’s another possibility. But that works in our favor if it’s true. I’ll be standing by near him, watching how he operates. If he seems like he’s going to do anything that will harm all of you, I’ll slice his head off right away. But in return, please don’t rebel against him.”
“Why not? With you on our side—”
“Please don’t finish that sentence. They’re already waiting for it. If you start a rebellion, they’ll order me to kill you all—for their own amusement.”
Momon spread his arms, facing the people in the street, and stated with confidence, “I can’t break that promise I made just now. That’s why, as long as they aren’t being unreasonable, I want you to accept what they say. If you think anything they ask is unreasonable, please tell me.”
Realizing that to Momon, they were all hostages, the people’s expressions turned sorrowful.
But Momon gave them a gentle laugh. “Please don’t worry too much. Besides, maybe he’ll actually be a decent ruler. Let’s see how things go. And if the Theocracy has been active, there might be someone trying to incite you to rebel. Please be wary.”
There was no way that sat well with any of them.
But no one offered any opposing opinions.
Ainz Ooal Gown was an undead. None of them could trust a dangerous being who hated life. But there wasn’t a single person who didn’t believe in Momon. And Momon had just given up on his own objective for their sake. It was only natural that they would want to repay his kindness.
The people all agreed with what Momon said, promising they would tell the other people they knew before scattering into the city.
As a result, the rule of E-Rantel changed over more bloodlessly, more peacefully, than the neighboring countries could ever have imagined.
Afterword
To everyone who picked up Volume 9, you must be tired. For some reason, it was another thick, heavy volume.
When I started writing, I’m pretty sure I asked my editor, “I don’t have anything to write for this volume, so is it okay if it’s over in two hundred pages?” but when I finished writing and printed out the manuscript, I was like, “What’s this crazy-thick thing?”
It’s mysterious, isn’t it?
Truly mysterious. Where did those other two hundred pages come from?
But yeah, pretty soon I’d like to try ending a volume in three hundred pages. Not a two-part story of three hundred pages each, either.
And so for some reason, I don’t know why, the next volume will develop in a completely different way from the web novel, so I’m quite terrified, but I’d be happy if you’d stick with me. I’ll take the liberty of declaring ahead of time that Volume 10 will be three hundred pages long.
Last week, the manga version of Overlord that Hugin Miyama is doing went on sale, and this week, the ninth novel came out. Then next week the Overlord anime starts airing, so it’s three weeks of nothing but Overlord.
So many people have worked with me to create something wonderful (especially hardworking so-bin, about whose various contributions I can’t speak without tearing up. I mean, really…I always get the feeling you’re wringing your own neck!). I hope you’ll all enjoy the manga, novels, and anime.
On to the customary thank-yous.
Thank you, so-bin, for the truly wonderful illustrations and for working so hard on the anime and manga, as if your life depended on it.
To the designers at Code Design. You not only design the light novels but even did the logo for the anime—and it’s an extremely cool logo. And to Murata for working so hard on the maps, and Osako and Ito for proofing in such detail, thank you. To Fta for helping me make such a thick book—is what I was going to say, except Overlord probably isn’t the thickest book she works on. Thank you. And to Honey, who is a parent and said about the Marquis Raeven scene, “Kids are so great.” Thanks as always.
There’s no way I can write all your names here, but thanks to everyone involved in not only the novels but the
manga and anime, as well!
And my biggest thanks goes to all the readers who read this book!
KUGANE MARUYAMA
June 2015
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The Caster of Destruction Page 30