It made no sense for one to be here.
But compared to the average height listed in the book, this one is awfully small. Maybe it’s a dark elf–dwarf mix? Or is that just a dark elf child?
Having thought those various possibilities, Hejinmaar shifted his gaze to the larger figure behind the dark elf, and the moment he did, his eyes popped wide open.
Huh?! An elder lich?! What is that doing here?! This’ll be a pain. He has perfect resistance to Chill Breath and he can use Fireball!
Fire was a frost dragon’s weakness. In other words, Hejinmaar’s greatest attack wouldn’t have any effect, while his opponent could deal massive damage.
And what…the…? What’s with the expensive robe?
Dragons had something of a nose for treasure, a vague perception of how much things were worth. And at the moment, Hejinmaar’s nose was telling him that the elder lich’s robe was incredibly valuable.
…But now that I look at it, the dark elf leading their band has similarly fancy clothes. I get the feeling I’ve never laid eyes on anything so valuable.
It was possible that his instinctive sense for treasure was off due to him holing up in his room for so long and staring at prices in books the dwarves had left behind. Even instincts could get rusty if they weren’t given the occasional workout. But he couldn’t believe that was the case here.
The next one seems like a female from the shape, but…is she an elf? Or a human? I don’t know. And she’s wearing awfully expensive clothes, too… Hmm, maybe my nose really is off. But if it’s not…
When he saw the dwarf bringing up the rear, he was relieved.
A normal dwarf. And his clothes don’t seem to be worth much.
At that point, he shook his head.
But I can’t underestimate him! The other three aren’t anywhere near normal. There could be something different about him, too. It’d be dangerous to drop my guard.
As he watched, the dark elf pointed at him and seemed to be alerting the others to his presence.
He wondered what he would do if they suddenly attacked—perhaps with Fireball—but they only stopped walking and discussed among themselves for a moment before continuing to walk toward him.
…Should I assume the worst?
If they had attacked right away, he could have assumed they were wary of him. What did it mean that they hadn’t?
Ugh. My stomach hurts. Please let this be a kind-hearted undead who only came to negotiate!
He could be killed. The time until the party came to a halt was too suspenseful for Hejinmaar, who had lived all his life until this very instant in safety.
They eventually came close.
Hejinmaar took a breath and spoke, taking care not to appear too threatening.
This group walked right up to him even though he was a dragon, so he figured doing anything that could be perceived as a threat would be dangerous.
“Up ahead is the lair of the kuagoa and we dragons. What are you d—ahem—? Why have you come?”
The dark elf in the lead traded places with the elder lich. That was the moment Hejinmaar learned who the leader of the group was.
“Hmm? We’re invading and yet there’s only one dragon here to meet us? As far as I know, dragons grow larger and more powerful with age. Given your size, I doubt you’re terribly strong… What’s the big idea?”
What did he mean by, What’s the big idea? Hejinmaar didn’t know. But as he suspected, this elder lich wasn’t the least bit intimidated by him.
Ah, this is actually awful. I don’t have the words for it—aside from that it’s awful.
“Even if you’re trying to collect information about us, one dragon is a joke. Is this part of the enemy’s greater plan? Or am I just being overly cautious? Given what we learned from the kuagoa we captured earlier, I’d say the latter…”
Hejinmaar still had no idea what the elder lich was talking about. And the lich didn’t seem to care whether this lone dragon understood or not. In other words, it was sort of like the undead creature was talking to himself. But then, why was he so frightening?
“…I’m sick of thinking about it. Let’s see how much of a dragon you are.”
A shudder went through Hejinmaar’s entire body.
He spoke so casually, as if he was going to pick up a pebble that happened to be lying on the ground. He sounded confident that he was capable of it.
When Hejinmaar saw the lich raise his hand—
“Gr—”
“Wait!” he roared and laid his head on the ground.
This was a dragon’s most reverential, submissive gesture.
“—asp, what?”
Hejinmaar pleaded frantically before the elder lich, whose hand had stopped half-raised. “Wait! My name is Hejinmaar. May I ask yours?”
He could see the dwarf gaping at the edge of his field of vision. But he didn’t get a similar reaction from either the dark elf or the elf-like person. In other words, they seemed to think it was a matter of course.
Hejinmaar was confident his choice was the right one.
“…My name is Ainz Ooal Gown… What’s that pose about?”
“Sir! If I remember correctly, other races are often addressed by their last name—Sir Gown! This is the most reverential gesture we dragons can offer!”
“Hmm… Then, why are you making it?”
“Because I realized immediately what an exceptional being you are, of course! How else could I greet such a great personage? Anything less would be unthinkable!”
This was a gamble. Hejinmaar was betting everything.
The dwarves called the heat of taking a risk being “in the forge,” but Hejinmaar felt chilled to his core.
After a few moments frozen like that, the elder lich finally hmmed. “…You’re submitting to me?”
“If, indeed, you’ll allow me to, Sir Gown!”
When he glanced at the dark elf and the elf, they still seemed to think this was nothing unexpected.
“…There are lots of uses for dragon meat, skin, teeth, scales, and whatnot, but… Wait, what’s this? Get up for a minute.”
He seemed accustomed to giving orders and unfazed by Hejinmaar’s surrender. This elder lich was clearly not the least bit concerned about facing a dragon.
True, dragons were the strongest race, but they weren’t invincible. There were innumerable beings that could kill dragons. The frost giants were a good example.
Still, when comparing the two races, the dragons came out on top overall.
The reason was their growth. Dragons developed as time went on and only then became the strongest. With long lives and continuous growth, they became strong automatically.
From that perspective, it was possible to say that undead were actually stronger than dragons. Elite undead didn’t have bodies that grew and developed, but they could amass knowledge and gain experience.
Hejinmaar had read about legendary undead in a book before.
There were soul eaters who ate the souls of the living just as their name implied; wriggling pestilences that spread infectious diseases; legions of wizarding undead led by an elder lich; the undead dragon Kuphantera Argoros, who lurked in a mountain of corpses and could use psychic magic; astral reapers, shadow undead that wandered shadowy valleys; and more.
Was this elder lich another one like them who might have his name in a book somewhere? Maybe he just happened to not appear in the dwarves’ books.
Hejinmaar slowly raised his head.
Sensing the lich’s staring eyes on his body, he felt ashamed of his un-dragon-like physique.
“I see. So dragons who live in such cold temperatures store lots of fat under their skin. I thought frost dragons had racial resistance to chill, but… Or is it because you’re worried about being able to get enough food that you end up with that body type?”
“N-no. I’m the only one like this…”
“Ooh. You mean you’re rare…?”
I doubt I have any special value, but
given I’m the only dragon like me in my family, he’s not wrong, right? “Perhaps, Sir Gown.”
“I see,” said the lich. And then, with his sharp dragon ears, Hejinmaar heard him murmur, “Then, I guess it would be a waste to kill him.”
Hejinmaar did his utmost to steady his breathing. Apparently, he had made another choice that would connect to his continued survival.
“Are there other dragons here?”
“Yes, there are: four larger than me, six around the same size as me, and nine smaller than me.”
“Wow!”
Hejinmaar was sure the lich sounded so happy because he was making sinister calculations in his head.
“So how many of those are stronger than you?”
“All of the ones larger are also more powerful than I am. The ones the same size as me are also probably stronger.”
He couldn’t say, I might also lose to my little brothers and sisters. If his worth fell, he could very well be killed instantly.
“I see. And up to what tier of magic can the large dragons use? Is it only arcane magic?”
“The most powerful one can use up to tier three. And as you say, it’s arcane magic.”
It was a racial quality of dragons that as they grew, without having to specifically learn it, they would acquire arcane magic. The number of spells, however, was limited. Even Hejinmaar’s father knew only three tier-three spells.
“What? You can only use up to tier three…?” It was apparent that he lost interest in that angle, but he seemed to think of something, and then his voice grew energetic again. “Well, let me ask you this. Is it possible it’s a bluff? They say a skilled hawk hides its talons. Could it be that the immensely powerful dragons are hiding the fact that they can use up to tier eight?”
“No. That is to say—” Was it appropriate to tell this lich the truth—that an eighth tier didn’t exist?
He couldn’t. Sometimes the truth hurt more than a lie. Nothing good would come to Hejinmaar if he shamed this elder lich here.
“No, he can’t use such high-tier magic. I recall hearing that he had acquired tier-three spells to defend against fire.”
He figured that was something he needed to convey; his father was not to be taken lightly.
“Hmm, I see. Well, it’s only natural to come up with a plan to cover for your weaknesses.”
It worried Hejinmaar that the lich didn’t seem to be taking this very seriously.
“Aura.”
“Yes, Lord Ainz?”
Apparently, the dark elf’s name was Aura. From the scent, she seemed to be female.
The other elf-like being didn’t smell like anything. She seemed to have no body odor, just like the elder lich.
“I’ll give this dragon to you. You wanted one, right?”
“Thank you. But I wonder, can he fly?”
Her doubtful look and his more satisfied look both turned toward Hejinmaar.
“I—I believe I can.”
I may have been cooped up, but I must still be able to fly. To a dragon, flying was as natural as walking. As he spoke, he regretted not flying on his way to this place.
“All right, Lord Ainz. I’ll take him. Uh, so I have to make sure he understands that I’m his superior.”
Before he could even wonder what was going to happen to him, thousands of icy blades pierced his body.
I died. I definitely died. The fear that assailed Hejinmaar was so intense that his primal instincts told him he had been killed, the terror piercing his body as though it was an invisible blade.
For a moment, his consciousness faded. Through the haze, he distinctly felt his heart stop beating.
“Wagh!”
The dark chills enveloping his body dispersed with a flutter.
His heart muscles hesitantly resumed their motions. His limbs shuddered, and his lungs frantically worked to take in oxygen.
He had read about this in a book. It had to be what some called “bloodlust.” In other words, this dark elf, Aura, who was going to be his mistress, had a murderous presence so overwhelming, it nearly frightened a frost dragon to death.
So then, if she calls this elder lich her master, what in the world is he capable of?
The answer was clear. He didn’t even want to think about how powerful that undead had to be.
He was an absolute being—an overlord.
All of Hejinmaar’s choices had been correct.
Once he came to his senses, he realized everyone was standing a bit farther away with surprise on their faces.
It was as he was wondering what that was about that he noticed the gross feeling in his nether regions. When he peered down, the sight he was greeted with gave him a shock.
Apparently, his muscles down there had relaxed and he’d had an accident. He was standing in a puddle of his own making.
“Oh…”
What should I say? If they were disgusted, he could even be killed.
“I was just so happy that I peed myself!” That was a desperate play. He didn’t think they would actually buy that, but it seemed better than saying it had happened because he was scared. “From now on, I will obey Mistress Aura—she has my absolute loyalty.”
“Uhhh…”
She seemed less than thrilled.
This is bad. If she thinks I’m worthless, she might throw me out like a piece of garbage. That’s what the powerful do. My dad is the same way! But a helping hand appeared from the most unexpected place.
“I see… Well, I guess it’s not too much of an issue, then.”
“Huh? Really, Lord Ainz?”
“Yep. I heard once from my old friend Ankoro Mocchi Mochi how her dog’s piddle parties always caused her trouble. I suppose it just happens sometimes, when emotions are running high.”
“Oh, Lady Ankoro Mocchi Mochi said that? I see! Maybe it’s kind of like how Fen and some of my other magical beasts mark their territory?”
“Maybe so. I’m no expert on the habits of dragons, but if that’s what he says, then it must be true.”
The one who was maybe also an elf, who had been quiet until now, cocked her head and asked the elder lich, “Lord Ainz, should we do that as well?”
“Shalltear. Did you really just open your mouth to say that…?”
“Mm. Aura’s right. If you guys did that, I’d collapse in shock. This sort of thing is only cute because little toylike animals do it… Well, I guess part of the reason Ankoro Mocchi Mochi was annoyed was the age of her dog. Remembering how she would always try to calm it down before it got too excited is so nostalgic now.”
The three of them had a totally different attitude from before; none of the murderous mood remained. For the moment, Hejinmaar moved out of the puddle and wiped himself on the wall to clean up.
“So what are we going to do now?” The dwarf who had been watching in total silence spoke up. He didn’t seem very strong compared to the other three.
Had the dwarves hired these three as mercenaries and sent this one along to supervise them? Did Hejinmaar need to show him respect as well? What exactly is my position under these people? Those sorts of questions crisscrossed through his mind amid the vague anxiety over what sort of orders he would be given.
“Right. We’ll leave the kuagoa up to Aura and Shalltear. I’ll take this dragon and kill any hostile dragons.”
A cold wave traveled down Hejinmaar’s spine.
The lich’s tone was so easygoing. It was clear he hardly thought anything of dragons. It was a fitting attitude for someone so powerful.
Hejinmaar wondered what to do. He couldn’t decide if it would be wise to beg for the lives of the other dragons at this juncture or not.
Weighing his interests carefully, he opened his mouth. “…Lord Gown, Mistress Aura. May I have permission to speak?!”
“Sure. What is it?”
“My lord! I was thinking. No one here knows of your greatness. What if you showed these fools mercy? In other words, I think the other dragons should know of your
greatness, Lord Ainz!”
“Hmm. What do you think?”
“You should do as you wish, Lord Ainz.”
“Indeed. How could anyone object to something you decided?”
“As long as they leave the capital, isn’t that fine? Dragon, can I ask you a bit more about this?” It was the dwarf who inquired.
Hejinmaar glanced at his masters. Frankly, he didn’t know how to address this dwarf. That said, being arrogant was probably risky. But if he bowed and scraped like a minion, he feared it would inadvertently lower the status of his masters. “Yes.” After mulling it over, he simply answered in a concise manner that could be taken either way.
“Mm… I’m still amazed that she tamed this dragon completely… Well, I guess it’s only natural given how much of her strength she revealed… Oops, sorry. Are there dragons somewhere else besides here?”
“There might be.”
“There might be? If there are, can you give them orders?”
“No. They’d be from a different tribe.”
“Hmm. Then, the first thing we should do is report in that we’ve succeeded in driving everyone out of this land as requested. If we inform everyone there may be other dragon tribes, they’re sure to ask Your Majesty to assist with defending the newly retaken capital. No one will want to lose it again. I imagine that’s the most profitable plan.”
That was a word Hejinmaar couldn’t ignore.
Apparently, this elder lich was a king. And he had elves and dark elves as his subjects?
“It doesn’t bother you to pull one over on your own people?”
The dwarf gave a jocular shrug that meant, What are you saying? “If someone asked which is more important, I’d answer Your Majesty, since you chose us. That devotion goes both ways.”
“I appreciate that, Gondo.”
“Oh, don’t say that, Your Majesty. I don’t know how to thank you enough. All the anguish that had been tormenting me has been cleared up within a few days of meeting you. You saved me.”
“I’m glad we were able to build a relationship that benefits both of us.”
“I hardly think I’ve repaid you yet. I promise I’ll make it all worth your while!”
Hejinmaar could understand their relationship even as an outsider.
The Dwarven Crafter Page 26