Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself walked the corridors with only her guard, a once young orphan named Climb, to accompany her. Her usual smile was affixed to her face. The inside of her genius mind was a little more chaotic than appearances would indicate at the moment. The vampire changed everything.
Recent dreams all ended the same way. Her climb, bound to the bed with those puppy eyes of his staring longingly at her forever. She kept the euphoria off her face as she thought of it. The rest of the kingdom was just numbers. 6 Great nobles, 2 siblings vying for the throne, 1 father, 1 head warrior, 1 man who protected the kingdom as best he could, 4 known traitors, 2 unknown traitors, 5 maids, 3 were spies for their houses… she could continue counting but did not feel the need to. Not since she met her Climb.
Oh, he was more than just a number. He was those eyes. He was that admiration, the sheer innocent joy on his face when she acted the part of princess. The way his head would hang at her inability to enforce real change.
She could give the exact angle at which his head would tilt, the reason for the refraction in his eyes that allowed them to shine and the equation that allowed it. She could even statistically predict the most probable time she would see those expressions once more. It wouldn’t do the feeling justice. That was the odd thing about feelings, they could be analyzed and to some extent predicted but never traced back to their source. There was no equation she could work back from. No numbers to run, no definitive answer as to the origins of what she felt.
Only probable causes. A troubled development where no one could understand her was likely a factor, as was the perfect timing with which he appeared in her life. She had been running the kingdom like a numbers game. Now it was an act of forepy in her retionship, one that would soon reach its climax.
The access to a means of turning herself and her Climb into immortal beings would speed up her pns immensely. She could also predict how this ‘Mistress’ would react to her offer. She seemed the type to cause trouble if left to her own devices even if she appeared to be ignoring the kingdom for the moment. Perhaps that means there is something here that would disuade her? It could be potent leverage if Renner could work that one out so she was currently running the numbers in her mind for those reasons.
She soon scheduled a meeting between herself, Blue Rose and the adventurer Momon.
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Right, I was already bored. The little stunt with Carne vilge was nice but that’s just small stuff. One rural vilge in a kingdom I don’t care about? Pfft, that’s not real trouble and I pride myself on having better taste than that. I gotta think bigger. I have enough power to be considered a deity in this world and what am I doing with it? Turning a vilge into vampires? I could have done that anyway, even if my threat to the kingdom would have been more subtle.
No, I needed to do something bigger. Also it needed to happen somewhere a little more interesting because honestly corrupting a nation on the brink of ruin already just didn’t do it for me.
So what to do? I tapped my fingernails against the Throne of kings as I thought about where I could go. The Sne theocracy was a longer term project. I wanted to slowly corrupt them from the inside before surrounding and sughtering their people in a ‘tragic fall’ simir to what they did to the vilge. It seemed poetic. The only problem was that would take a while and I’d yet to confirm if the elves were a suitable party to bme it on.
So I needed to leave the Theocracy alone. If the kingdom was a no-go too that left only the Empire and the Holy kingdom from the countries we’d already learned about. I wasn’t going to mess with a literal council of dragons until I knew EVERYTHING about them.
I knew there were quite a few areas of the world we hadn’t yet explored and I’d heard tell of a few more countries as well as tribes of demi-humans scattered about. The tribes were too small anyway though. As for the other countries, if they weren’t notable enough then the fallout wouldn’t be as satisfying and since this was my debut to this new world I wanted to do something a little fshy. Unfortunately I had pns for the Holy kingdom. Kelly’s race and appearance made her a perfect fit for that pce and I didn’t want to ruin that.
Empire it is then. Now how would I like to go about ruining a nation that is just getting back on it’s feet after a mini-revolution by the ‘bloody emperor’. The name sparked an idea in my mind and I began to grin, standing up.
The guardians were all busy elsewhere so only the Pleadies, minus Narberal who was in the kingdom, stood awaiting my command. “Alright. Call Enri, I have a job for her and the vilgers as well as some questions to ask them about adventurers. Also give me everything we have on their illegal counterpart, the workers.” I ordered.
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The knock on the door signalled it was time for my audience with the king. I took a deep breath. Then I put on my saryman’s smile, even if they wouldn’t be able to see it, before going to open the door. My pace was immediately interrupted by Narberal doing it for me. Right, stupid Momonga. You need to act the part of both ruler Momonga and adventurer Momon not saryman Suzuki. I recomposed myself as the messenger entered.
“Adventurer Momon, the king has demanded your presence. You will follow behind us and alight the carriage post-haste.” The messenger commanded rather than asked.
It was rude enough that my companions all did their equivalent of furrowing a brow but said nothing. I let out a sigh of relief. I was half worried Narberal would cut the man down on the spot and Albedo would cook up some dangerous scheme to get revenge on the man. I couldn’t have that happening to a kingdom messenger. Plus I’d heard aristocratic societies always used nguage like this and had expected something simir. It was almost a refreshing break from the NPCs’ reverence.
---
We climbed aboard the carriage and endured the rather bumpy ride all the way to the castle. I’m not sure I would’ve been impressed even if I hadn’t spent the st several weeks in Nazarick. The building was gaudy, far too rge to be practical and while the gardens were pretty they were overshadowed by the soldiers training next to them. Occasionally a spar would go too far and they would be knocked into the flowers. It was a waste of a beautiful piece of scenery, not to mention with the toxic smog covering our world I had an appreciation for pnts that made the sight somewhat heartwrenching.
We were led past the training soldiers and a young girl followed by a soldier in somewhat more fshy armour who seemed to be touring the gardens.
She possessed the kind of beauty I had forgotten could be achieved without surgery, simir to Albedo. Yet where Albedo might drag you down into the depths of passion, this girl seemed to have been touched my Midas. Everything around her shone gold. She felt like Midas too though because for some reason the golden shine to those eyes made me want to run away. Maybe I was just bad with women? I hadn’t exactly been great at interacting with Selene or Albedo since coming here either. I was a 30 year old virgin I suppose.
The sad realisation got me a little down but I refocussed quickly. I was about to meet royalty. I shouldn’t be distracted by my petty struggles with women, put that smile back on Su- no. Saryman’s smile won’t cut it, act like a hero.
With a confident stride I continued my way towards the throne room lead by the guards. Waiting for me at the door was Gazef. We gave each other a strong nod before he opened the doors and the man beside him announced my presence. “Momon the adventurer has come to greet His Majesty. Remove your armaments and you may kneel.” he ordered us.
Ah, that might be a problem. “I am afraid I cannot abide by that request.” I replied and the room erupted into mutters, jeers and visible outrage. People in fancy clothing lining the walls seemed to be doing most of the talking.
I had to clear this up before they tried to behead us and Albedo sughtered them all. “My armour is magically enchanted as are my swords. The enchantment upon them has grafted them to my body such that they cannot be removed. I would not mind letting your strongest man attempt to do so. As for my companions, the same is true for Allie while Sebastian and Nabe possess no armaments that they would be able to part from their person.” I gave them the cover story.
Thankfully I had messaged Selene st night and received instruction on how to handle royal audiences, which included inconvenient demands like kneeling or removing armour. The first would apparently make me look like less of a ruler. The tter meanwhile I obviously could not manage without revealing my undead nature.
“I have never heard of such an enchantment. From whence did you acquire it?” Asked a stick-thin man from the crowd, with the most intelligent eyes I had seen from among them. His question made me nervous but I answered confidently.
“I come from a kingdom far from here, beyond the pins. This enchantment is standard issue for high end armour or equipment that we would not want falling into enemy hands. There are multiple countermeasures to ensure they become unusable upon the wielder’s demise. In the past there was an incident where our greatest weapon was used against us and an artisan’s race was held to find a practical solution. That is where this enchantment originated, though it has been improved over the years.”
“Call his bluff!” Shouted a man from the crowd of gaudy spectators. “There is no way such a convenient enchantment exists.”
The king nodded tiredly while everyone else in the room looked on in curiousity. He looked to Gazef who approached me without hesitation. “My apologies but I must obey my liege.” He told me before grabbing my helmet and straining his muscles as he yanked backwards. Except it did not budge. He tried a few more times to no avail before nodding to the king and stepping backwards. “It is true.” He confirmed. “I cannot remove it no matter how hard I try and I suspect the same is true of his companion, though I can likely get a better grip on the horn ornaments.”
“Nonsense!” Barked that same member of the crowd before approaching me with wide strides.
He had a smile I recognised. One I knew from those arrogant middle managers I always hated dealing with at work. Cocky for no good reason, always looking for a leg up and utterly unwilling to listen to their subordinates.
He didn’t so much as ask before starting to yank my helmet. His veins bulged with the effort, his face redenning and humiliation starting to dawn on his face. I felt a little bad, but there was some schardenfreude there too. Panting he stepped backwards.
I was smiling a little on the inside, figuring that was it and he wouldn’t embarrass himself further. Then he moved over to Albedo and yanked on her horns. I was no longer smiling. It couldn’t have been comfortable for someone to grab a part of your body like that even through the armour. If Albedo squashed him like a bug there and then, screw Selene’s pns I would’ve covered for her.
Apparently, I underestimated her patience. Though her eyes started to glow under the helmet, she didn’t immediately murder the man. I gripped his wrist. Hard. Enough so that the man squeaked and tried to back away, though his wrist didn’t budge from my grip. I released him after a moment and he fell on his ass. It was cathartic, though I maintained my professional demeanour as best I could. Apparently, his colleagues did not share my professionalism.
Several small ughs could be heard from around the room. He was boiling with rage now but the king put a stop to it all before he could act. “I think you have demonstrated your point clearly enough adventurer Momon. Count Lytton, kindly return to your pce.” Ordered the king.
With visible rage, the man stomped back while gring angrily at me. Great, now I had an enemy before even establishing myself. I would have sighed but maintaining my professional facade was more important at the moment so I refrained. Count Lytton had no such compulsion, I could feel that gre pierce right through my helmet.. I returned my attention to the king so I could stop thinking about it. Unfortunately, the rage emanating from Albedo behind me was a constant reminder.
At least the old man on the throne looked like he wanted to apologise, even if his position as king didn’t let him. I understood all too well and sympathised. I gave him an understanding nod and he returned it in kind.
Mutual understanding reached I suddenly felt a lot better about this audience. Then a topic came up I was much less comfortable with. “I hear you had an encounter with a vampire while you were rescuing our head warrior. Tell us about it.” Commanded a man sat at the king’s side, bearing his features but none of his wisdom. The muscled frame he sported leaned forward with interest. “There would be great glory and honour in sying the fiend and I, Prince Barbaro, would be happy to lead the charge.”
Now I really wanted to avoid the topic. “I have told the warrior captain all I know. Though I would like to state again that I think she is currently not hostile and that we should keep it that way.” I tried.
“Peaceful?” The man scoffed. “Why, we received a decration this morning that she was taking a piece of our boonies for herself. She even had the gall to imply we should let such an offence go unpunished. That is bckmail and a threat wrapped in silk, yet you believe she is peaceful? Can be reasoned with? It is a monster of the highest css and I first prince Barbaro will set out to sy it on the morrow. Can I expect co-operation?” He asked all present not just me and suddenly I wanted to hold my head in my hands. What had Selene done this time?
If I tried to write it off with her not having hurt anyone yet I’ll seem like a coward. If I go then I could mess with some of Selene’s pns. Honestly I didn’t want to interact with her at all if I could help it, she changed when she came to this world.
We’d all been suspicious of her at some point but ever since she came here it’s like she doesn’t even try to hide it any more. She was always ruthless when destroying other guilds. I figured she’d leave this pce alone since she wanted me to adventure here and she sounded like she understood that call. Yet she just couldn’t keep to herself for long.
Selene’s intentions weren’t the main problem here however. Was there any way of getting out of this without looking like either a coward or a traitor? I was racking my brain when a solution came from behind me.
“Pardon my rudeness in speaking out of turn.” Sebas began, bowing his head in supplication even if it was more directed towards me than the king. “It was my understanding that we would be rewarded for deeds of merit to the kingdom today. While job offers can follow, is it not presumptious to hire us before we have been given promised rewards for previous service?” Once he was finished Sebas raised his head in my direction.
“I am not one to insist upon payment for a deed I considered rgely a charity effort. Nevertheless I do find the way you have handled this proposal distasteful. You speak of honour and glory, not worry for the wellbeing of your citizenry or even the possible threat to humanity.” I spoke up.
Not to mention, you just don’t make business proposals when you haven’t paid them for previous work. At that point it’s practically a loan. No stranger would trust you to do that even if you were a kingdom and I’m pretty sure a kingdom being in debt to one of it’s commoners would be even worse. Though I am an unknown adventurer. My word against the first prince of the kingdom probably wouldn’t damage his reputation so maybe that was his strategy all along?
As I’m thinking along these lines the king himself speaks up. “The adventurer has a point Barbaro. You have not even mentioned the plight of the vilgers our head warrior went through so much trouble to save.”
What? Did Selene do something to the vilgers in Carne? Why didn’t I know about this?
I had a bad feeling she had gone off the rails again and I was going to be left cleaning up the mess. I sighed.
