His increased speed compared to before was probably due to a martial art.
He was surprisingly fast and huge. The overwhelming power of that synergistic pairing would surely paralyze some. No, any normal person wouldn’t be able to move. But those kinds of psychic effects didn’t work on undead.
Ainz glared calmly at the martial king.
He was fast—but that was all.
Perhaps because the shoulder Ainz had stabbed wasn’t moving, he was off-balance.
He’s definitely inferior to that guy…
But more importantly—
Have you figured out the true nature of my detainment ability? If not, this is it for you.
Ainz activated the same ability as before.
Aura of Despair I (fear).
There were five levels to this ability:
I caused fear.
II caused panic.
III caused confusion.
IV caused madness.
V caused instadeath.
Fear was a status ailment that debuffed all sorts of functions.
Panic was a strong version of fear that demanded full-speed flight—which meant that the target couldn’t take any combat actions.
Confusion was literal. Unless it was cured, the confusion would continue for a set time period.
And madness was a particularly troublesome negative status effect that lasted. With magic or other treatment administered by a third party, it would never go away.
It goes without saying that instadeath meant death.
The effect changed in that way as the level increased.
Of these, the one Ainz used was fear. He activated it just for a moment and then canceled it. By doing that, Ainz created a gap between what his opponent’s brain thought it was doing and what the opponent’s body was actually doing. That induced a feeling of being frozen.
But the martial king must have known that would happen if he went at him swinging. He brandished his club despite the collapse of balance between his brain and body.
There were debuffs from Ainz’s touch and the debuffs from fear. All things considered, it should have been easy to dodge his attack, but—
“Strong Blow! Godly Flash!”
Ainz saw a light.
The same moment, a horrible pain—which was instantly suppressed to a bearable level—and the feeling that his body was floating assailed him.
“Flow Acceleration!”
Then from above, a dull pain and another in the next instant.
For a moment, Ainz had trouble grasping his situation and was nearly confused, but then he returned to himself.
It had probably been a chain attack. He had been thrown up with the first blow and slammed into the ground with the second.
Satoru Suzuki probably would have descended into confusion, unable to figure it out, but Ainz Ooal Gown wasn’t affected by such negative status effects.
He knew he was on the ground and that the club was swinging again.
“Tch!”
Ainz rolled out of the way just as the club crashed down. Perhaps it was a martial art? The shock traveled through the ground to hit Ainz.
But it didn’t do him any damage.
Just as Ainz jumped to his feet, the club jerked out of the ground where it had burrowed slightly. The scoop-like blow contained enough impact to indicate that the martial king intended to end the fight with it.
Ainz made the split-second decision to take it with the dagger in his hand. He went flying again. The crowd roared even louder than before, but the martial king emitted a disappointed curse, “Shit!” He had probably wanted to keep the pressure on and finish him off.
After flying a few yards, Ainz rolled, nimbly regained his stance, and murmured bitterly, “No way to come back, ’ey? You tricked me. Squishy Moe would give me a talking-to.”
Like Ainz, the martial king was keeping his ace moves under wraps until the last moment. It meant he was also a first-rate warrior.
Ainz put away one stiletto to free up a hand.
In his arrogance, thinking he would end the fight quickly, he had taken not one but two hits. He was done being so naive. He would decide this fight by precisely shaving down his opponent’s energy.
Geez, they’re loud…
The yells from the crowd were annoying. The shriek had turned into a huge cheer. Especially—
Jircniv, what the heck! What do you mean, “Kill him”?! Sheesh.
Ainz slowly began to move. The damage wasn’t much, but he had learned the pain of carelessness. He wouldn’t make that mistake twice.
Still, I really don’t understand martial arts. Those moves didn’t exist in Yggdrasil… Could they have been created as a way to counter Yggdrasil players, or am I overthinking it…? Whoops, so should I assume that that earlier art was for putting some speed on that strike? He may come at me with the same move again, so…if he draws blood, I’ll…be sure to pick a bone?
Ainz entered the martial king’s attack range, and the martial king swung his club down. Ainz didn’t dodge.
He barreled straight ahead, taking the blow.
Along with the heaviness, some pain coursed through him, but with their gap in HP, he could pull this off. Everything was fine. Plus, Ainz’s body instantly suppressed pain. A living being might not have been able to endure it, but for him, it was no problem.
In the same motion, he touched the martial king. Right after attacking—and with the effects of fear from Ainz’s aura—sure enough, it was too hard for him to evade.
Hugging in close, he moved around the martial king’s back to touch him more. Of course, while he was debuffing his stats, he was also pumping negative energy into him through his armor.
“Uohhhgh!”
This time the one to roll and take some distance was the martial king.
Ainz wondered if he should follow up or not, but he stayed still, unsure if the martial king had a secret up his sleeve.
The king sluggishly held up his weapon. His breath was rough, and he had none of the vigor he had when Ainz first met him.
Ainz clenched his hand around the stiletto.
He had made his preparations. All that was left was to finish him off.
Perhaps the martial king noticed the change in his energy. He took off his helmet and hurled it away.
As Ainz watched, perplexed, the martial king removed the rest of his armor. Despite the debuffs, the armor shouldn’t have been so heavy that he couldn’t move freely.
But when he saw the king’s expression of resolve, he understood what his plan was.
Aha! The armor might block the stiletto, but it won’t do anything against the debuffs. And I sure threatened him enough. So he’s gotten even just a little lighter and will throw himself into attacking, betting on my HP being low.
That was his last—bad—bet.
“Tell me… Am I weak?”
“What?”
“Your Majesty hasn’t been fighting seriously at all this whole time. Though your wings of magic are clipped, I can see that you’re still at ease. Am I really…that weak?”
Ainz closed his eyes, thought for a few seconds, and then opened them. “Yes, you’re weak.”
“…………Oh.”
The arena had fallen silent.
Their voices couldn’t have reached the crowd. But maybe it was obvious to their eyes, too, that the fight had been decided.
“In this duel, I’ve made all sorts of magic items off-limits and prohibited myself from using all sorts of abilities.”
“Because if you didn’t, it would have been over instantaneously?”
Ainz nodded, affirmative. “Yes. But I know all about you. Which is why…” Ainz shook his head. This couldn’t be consolatory. “Well, it’s just too bad you had to face me. If you’re the strongest in the empire, then…I’m probably one of the strongest in the world.”
“I see… But…this has been fun. Knowing there are heights above the heights makes for good training motivation.”
/> “I sort of get what you mean.”
Some of his old friends, like Touch Me, he had never been able to beat in PvP, but coming up with the strategies and equipment to try was a fond memory.
Ainz smiled at the martial king, and the martial king smiled back.
“…Now then, shall we?”
“Ainz Ooal Gown, King of Darkness. In the end, I would like Your Majesty to show me your true power, even just a small part of it. I want to experience the peak!”
The martial king raised his weapon with determination.
“Ah… All right, then… Know the heights!”
Ainz unleashed a skill as he walked forward.
He entered the martial king’s attack range. The martial king swung his club.
The speed of it coming down was on another level from the windup. Maybe it was being supported by an art. But it was still awfully slow compared to before the debuffs.
The club smashed into Ainz’s body, but he didn’t pay it any attention.
The martial king could no longer deal any damage to Ainz.
He continued walking forward as if the blow had been a spring breeze.
A storm of hits rained down on him, but he continued walking, looking the martial king in the eye.
Just as the martial king smiled in defeat, Ainz stabbed him—he didn’t even try to back away—through the chest with the stiletto. Then he unleashed the spell inside it.
Ainz looked down at the fallen corpse of the martial king.
Then he activated the magic item he had borrowed. It was just a megaphone.
“Listen, people of the empire! I am Ainz Ooal Gown, King of Darkness!”
The way his voice echoed forever in the silence gave him nerves. He decided to get this over quickly.
“I’m currently forming a state-run adventurer training organization in my country—because I think it will benefit my nation to cultivate adventurers, protect them, and have them travel the world for me. Many adventurers are tasked with surviving on their abilities alone. But how many of those meet a tragic end before their gifts blossom?”
Ainz thought of the adventurer team he had traveled with briefly.
“…That’s why I’m making the Adventurers Guild an organ of the state to back them up! I’m sure some people worry that they’ll be robbed of their freedom and chained down in a state-run organization. And I can’t say that isn’t one factor. But as I proved just now, we have plenty of martial power. I don’t intend to make adventurers pawns of war. What the Nation of Darkness seeks is people who want to go on true adventures! If there is anyone out there who wants to seek the unknown and learn about the world and dreams of becoming an adventurer, come and see me! You probably can’t even imagine the power that will be assisting you until you’re full-fledged. I’ll give you a peek right now!”
Ainz walked over to the martial king.
“The martial king is dead! Does anyone care to confirm this?”
There was no response.
“Death is the end. But…if there is anyone here with the knowledge, then they know—that it’s possible to overcome it!”
Ainz took out a rod and touched it to the martial king’s chest.
If he didn’t resurrect, it would be a huge embarrassment. The heart Ainz didn’t have was pounding.
“Behold!”
As he activated the rod, a breath escaped the martial king’s mouth. And a beat later, his chest moved.
“Normally, only a high-ranking priest can use resurrection magic! But it’s not difficult for me! That said, it does take a fair bit of money! I have overcome death, and I will back you up and support your training! Come to my country if you aim to be a true adventurer!”
Amid the commotion, Ainz cast Fly.
He was headed for the box where Jircniv was seated.
When he peeked inside, only Jircniv and two guards were there. It seemed like everyone else had left. Ainz was glad to have fewer nuisances, but he didn’t say so.
“Apologies about before, Sir Jircniv. Oh, it looks like you’ve got some color back in your face. That’s a relief.”
Apparently, it really was just a head rush. Yeah, he was cheering so energetically, so it must have only lasted a second.
“Sorry to worry you, Sir Gown.”
“No, no, never you mind. It’s only natural to be worried if a friend seems ill.”
“I’m grateful for your concern. And what a magnificent match that was. I’d expect nothing less from you, Sir Gown. You utterly crushed the empire’s strongest warrior; the only word for it really is magnificent.”
“No, it was a good fight. Either one of us could have won, but it seems luck was on my side.”
Jircniv was rooting so hard for the martial king, he must have been quite a fan. So it shouldn’t hurt to praise him.
Or more like—
Dude, you didn’t cheer for me at all. I was paying attention, you know.
Of course he didn’t say any of those things. If he thought it over calmly, it was obvious which a person would pick if offered a choice between their own country’s warrior and someone from a different country.
If he had rooted for Ainz, his likability gauge—Peroroncino used to use that word—would have filled up some, but oh well.
“It didn’t look like that to me, but if you say so, then it must be true. Now then, er—I beg your pardon. What are we doing chatting like this?”
“Really, ha.”
Ainz agreed. Or rather, he didn’t want to talk to Jircniv for so long in a place like this.
He wanted to avoid anyone noticing that Ainz Ooal Gown was just an ordinary guy.
He had been curious if Jircniv would say anything about the Nation of Darkness’s proclamation or the fact that he had entered the country in secret, but it didn’t seem like he was being reproached. In that case, all he had to do was get out of there.
“Well, this time…” He was about to say was unofficial, but he held it back, realizing that would be tightening the noose around his own neck. “…was nice, but I’ll be going now. Let’s meet again another day, Sir Jircniv.”
Personally, he wanted to teleport away, but he had to go retrieve Ainzach. As he was thinking that he would land, grab him, and then teleport, he noticed that Jircniv was watching him with a sober expression.
He’s definitely going to say something weird.
Ainz looked back at Jircniv with a feeling that was familiar to him from being a company employee.
“Your Majesty. I have a suggestion, if I may.”
What a wonderful world it would have been if he could have said, You may not.
Ainz cut the escapism and smiled—though his face didn’t move—as he said, “Sure.”
“Then I—no, the Baharuth Empire wishes to be a subject state to the Nation of Darkness.”
“…………Huh?” Ainz murmured in spite of himself. It was so unexpected.
The words took a moment to sink in.
“S-subject state?”
The guards—Ainz remembered seeing them before—were also shocked, their eyes huge.
Ainz suddenly had the urge to put a hand on Jircniv’s forehead.
Why was he suddenly asking to be a vassal? What kind of relationship would a subject state have to the kingdom anyhow? Though he understood the words, he wasn’t sure what the definition would be. How autonomous would it be, and so on?
In any case, Ainz couldn’t decide something this important on his own. He needed to consult with Demiurge and Albedo before replying.
“…Sir Jircniv. When it comes to your country being a subject state or whatnot…”
What happened to building a friendship and being king buddies? Er…
What was he supposed to say after “a subject state or whatnot”? Was it fine to say he had never even considered the possibility?
And it was possible that Demiurge wanted to have the empire as a vassal in the future, so he didn’t want to screw himself over here by saying something that
could be taken the wrong way.
What he needed to do was fudge it.
Having decided on a plan of action, he considered what words to use.
“It’s dangerous to proceed with such an important conversation on a verbal basis. I’m afraid I can’t respond immediately, so if I could at least get it in writing…”
“So you’ll accept the proposal if I present it in writing?”
What? You have it on you? Ainz wanted to ask, but he managed to hold back. Perhaps because his psyche stabilized. The agitation he had felt up until a moment ago was also gone. He couldn’t be thankful enough for this body.
But the problem hadn’t been solved.
That’s not what he had meant. He was merely trying to buy time. But it wasn’t as if he could say that, so he had no choice but to come up with some way to make him understand.
“…That’s fine. Then please draw up a document explaining the empire’s proposed relationship to my kingdom as a subject state and send it to me. Then I’ll think it over.”
“All right, that’s what I’ll do. I’ll have the proposal sent over in the next few days. For now, I’ll continue addressing you as a fellow ruler, but I’m looking forward to your response.”
Still unsure why this had happened, though his mental unrest had faded, Ainz nodded in reply.
Then, taking care not to appear hurried, he used Fly to land back on the arena ground.
“What the heck is going on? Or more like, what am I supposed to say to Demiurge and Albedo…?”
Ainz’s shoulders slumped like those of a child who knew his parents would scold him when he got home.
After the King of Darkness left, the vacant atmosphere in the guest box smoldered. As if to break through that atmosphere, Nimble shouted, “Your Majesty!”
Jircniv appeared to frown on purpose and looked at him. “Why so loud? I’m not going deaf yet.”
“D-do excuse me. But what was that all about just now?!”
“You mean you want to know why I made that decision?”
Nimble nodded. When he looked over, Baswood seemed to feel the same.
“I see… Well, what should I do?” Jircniv asked masochistically, with a dry smile on his face. “Because he showed up, the— Arrrgh! The negotiations with the Theocracy fell through. The shrines probably aren’t happy with me, either. How long will it take before I can try again? Is it even an issue that time can solve?”
The Ruler of Conspiracy Page 30