บท 7: Reactions
Calca POV
In the Holy Kingdom, things had been turned upside down.
A letter had arrived from the Sorcerer King saying that the Abelion Hills had been conquered and that the demon king Jaldabaoth had been eradicated.
Additionally, it kindly asked when the next meeting, which the Sorcerer King called a "bilateral meeting" or whatever that means, would be.
This was communicated to some surrounding nations: the Dwarf Kingdom, Re-Estize, the Baharuth Empire, and the Dragon Kingdom.
As if that weren't enough, a number of merchants and adventurers from the Sorcerer Kingdom claimed to have passed through the Abelion Hills without incident.
Of course, these merchants came with golems and adventurers as their bodyguards, but even so, passing directly through the Abelion Hills is considered suicide.
To top it off, the letter referred to the Abelion Hills under the term "Sorcerer King's territory pending colonization."
"Do you still think the demon brings anything good?"
"It... seemed reasonable when I spoke with him..."
"Demons are known for being cunning, though I admit he made a good first impression," spoke Kelart, the High Priestess.
"I agree with One-sama, you have to be careful with demons."
They were heading to the court to speak with the nobles about what the course of action should be in this case.
"Your Majesty, you have to do something, an undead or whatever it is is at the borders of our kingdom, says he rules over the demihumans. Let's attack the demihumans before they attack us," a noble with lands in Loyts spoke, and he was echoed by several nobles from the north.
The northerners were the ones who received most of the demihuman attacks, so they were the most susceptible to this.
The southerners, however, had a different opinion. "Even if he is a disgusting undead, his products are of high quality and even innovative," another noble, this time from the south of Kebe, said.
"The southerners would give the country away for his gifts," a noble from Prart (north) responded.
"The merchants sell us runic weapons made by dwarves, an item that lets you see the enemy's mana, golems as labor, and even a strange purple potion more efficient than the usual ones," said the same noble from Kebe.
"It's a trap!"
I had to stop this; it's not good for the citizens to argue.
Ainz Ooal Gown did not seem like a demon to me; he sought to adapt and even had the audacity to propose to me...
"Gentlemen, do not fight. I will go to speak with the Sorcerer King myself to discover his intentions."
"We cannot let the saint near a demon."
I sighed internally; all the men treated me like an object, not as their queen.
"Do not worry, my loyal servant, I have the Nine Colors to protect me."
"Yes, Your Highness."
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Ramposa POV
In the Valencia Palace, the king was experiencing the worst days of his life.
"A demon killing another demon, eh."
His informant had told him that Jaldabaoth died in the Abelion Hills at the hands of his son's killer.
Because of the Sorcerer King, his champion had died, as well as 2% of his nation's population.
The death of Warrior Captain Gazef Stronoff had driven him a little mad, to the point that when the Blue Roses adventurer couldn't resurrect Gazef, he didn't hold back and struck Miss Aindra.
Was it his fault? His weakness for not being able to contain the corrupt nobles?
Even his eldest son, Barbro, was dead.
Had he messed up so badly?
And now it turns out that that damned undead wants his merchants and adventurers to pass through my country to do who knows what with the Abelion Hills. Do they have a death wish? Being subjects of the Sorcerer Kingdom has driven them mad? No one came out alive from the Abelion Hills.
And lastly, it seems that Queen Calca will come to the kingdom to go to the Sorcerer Kingdom to talk with the undead or demon or whatever his informants say.
All this is a disaster; it seems I will have to abdicate the crown.
I only hope the Gods help Zanack.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Jircniv POV
I had just recovered from my chronic stomach pains, but I received news of the so-called "trade agreement" between Calca and Ainz.
This showed him that Ainz Ooal Gown was not a normal undead demon lord. Apart from his power, he could be as kind to those who followed him as cruel to those who threatened him.
That was what made him so terrifying in Jircniv's opinion: he was a monster that could disguise himself.
This was something everyone had realized.
He had an idea based on Pe Riyuro's accounts, like how he killed half his species in a blink and later, as if nothing had happened, moved him to the Abelion Hills with a portal.
Nimble still had recurring nightmares of the massacre he had witnessed.
I only hope the empire is not destroyed.
x-x-x-x-x
Raymond POV
Even the Pontifex Maximus is worried.
I have always believed that I am one of the calmest cardinals. As the Earth Cardinal and commander of the Six Scriptures, some tranquility and calm are necessary.
However, the situation was making us all a bit nervous.
In half a year, an incredibly powerful undead had settled in a city in Re-Estize, made it his own, and improved it considerably, according to spies. Lastly, he had turned into a demon and defeated the other demon that attacked Re-Estize: Jaldabaoth.
Well, saying he improved it considerably would be an understatement.
He had improved it unimaginably.
His contacts in the empire told them how much wealth and growth they had been experiencing due to the policies the Sorcerer King had established. They had heard about the establishment of mandatory education centers and state-sponsored trade schools where students would learn multiple trades and decide which suited them best, an idea that even Dominic was impressed by.
Not only that, he created new potions, new magical items, sold golems, created orphanages, and used undead in large numbers as labor.
The informants even said he created new 'games' for entertainment called soccer and basketball, all for the citizens' enjoyment.
"It's a trap," Dominic shouted. "He's gathering people for a grand sacrifice. We have to act now."
"We already know that a Demon cannot be good, Dominic. It's just that we don't want a Pyrrhic victory; we need to be informed first," said Berenice, the Fire Cardinal, to the Wind Cardinal.
"Before the Demon takes over the known world? He already has E-Rantel, the Baharuth Empire, the Abelion Hills, and somehow he is making deals with the Holy Kingdom of Roble despite them being almost as religious as we are. Damn it, he's even taking our influence in the Dragon Kingdom with his damned death knights," said Maximilian, the Dark Cardinal.
At that, everyone fell silent. It was clear that the demon was attracting people with his influence.
"We cannot do anything. We cut relations with the Holy Kingdom a long time ago due to the demihumans cutting off access. As for the Dragon Kingdom, we must deploy the scriptures to regain our influence or simply cannot compete," said Zinedine, the Water Cardinal, pragmatically.
"Or we can assassinate the whore queen if she seeks relations with a demon," Dominic gave his opinion.
"It's too risky, though we can pose as citizens of Re-Estize. It would make sense; Re-Estize was their main trading partner before this 'trade agreement,'" said Yvon, the Light Cardinal.
"You forget something; we don't know if King Caspond would act the way we want."
"No, but the nobles did not want anything with an undead or a demon. We will spread rumors that Queen Calca died because of the Sorcerer King."
"Votes in favor of sending the 12th seat of the Black Scripture, Tenjho Tenge," the Pontiff spoke seriously for the first time.
"Against," I said. It is too dangerous.
"In favor," Dominic did not hesitate.
"Against," Berenice, the Fire Cardinal.
"Against," Zinedine.
"In favor," Maximilian.
"In favor," Yvon concluded.
"It's a tie. Do you want to put an end to this nonsense, Pontiff?" I said.
There was no way we would send an agent to kill the ruler of a human nation.
"Yes, to prevent the demon's influence in this human world, we must take drastic measures. We cannot let another human nation fall into the hands of the Sorcerer King."
It can't be.
"I vote in favor."
"Well, it seems we are done with this nonsense," Dominic gave me a mocking look.
May the Six help us.
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