Chapter 11 - Growing Shadow.

A slender, elegantly dressed woman looks at two girls dressed in cheap worn-down clothing. She takes a puff from her pipe and exhales a small cloud of purple smoke.

All of her plans have almost fallen apart. Hilma is furious.

'I can sell you only these two.' Cocco Doll had said.

'Fucking asshole, what will I do with these two street whores.'

Two girls in front of her are half beaten, missing teeth, and have the manners of peasants. One is lightly shaking, a clear drug withdrawal sign. How could she gift them to an important client?

The Situation was this bad only because a half year ago one of Eight Fingers division chiefs decided to not pay 'Golden Princess' her cut. Underground's elite knew how psychotic and vindictive that little monster was, why that moron double-crossed the princess was beyond her. Within a short few months 'Golden Princess' managed to outlaw the slave trade, burn down about one-third of Hilma's drug plantations, and the division chief that wronged the princess was caught in bed with a kidnaped and drugged-up concubine of a great noble. A now there even were rumors about something even darker covering her back.

Hilma shuddered at the idea of someone like a princess taking the throne. But that was a long-term problem. Now she had to deal with the two girls in front of her. She takes another long puff from her pipe and says in an annoyed tone,

"You two, strip and get wet."

Both girls dropped their simple dresses and stood naked in front of her. She could see there was no arousal. Of course, they weren't trained for wealthy clients. Losing her patience, she shouts,

"I said you two stupid whores, get wet. I don't care what you need to think about to get off, but when clients as much as show mild interest, you both get wet and willing on command."

Her yelling understandably didn't work, and she just made them more afraid. Normally one would train a proper high-class prostitute for about a year. Hilma just rubs her temples, feeling incoming migraine, and says,

"If either of you is not ready by tomorrow, I will send you both to the 'Meat Grinder'."

Seeing the panicked faces of both girls, Hilma knows she got the message across clearly. The 'Meat Grinder' is a nickname for the vilest brothel in the Re-Estize. A place where the most disturbing clients go to fulfill all their fetishes. No girl lasts longer than a month there.

The problem, however, remains so Hilma changes tactics a bit and addresses them in a kinder tone.

"This is your chance to get up in life. I bet both of you don't want to return to be fuck-holes for lowlifes and thugs, no?"

With the little motivation speech over, there were many other problems to solve, mainly their poor physical state. With theocracy taking back about ninety percent of all priests, prices for healing skyrocketed. If you could even find a priest to begin with. A regular healing potion will repair some damage, but the poor state of their teeth will remain an issue.

With no other options remaining, Hima drilled both girls to speak while looking down and not open mouths too wide.

Next was to drill in some basic manners and for a tailor to make them suitable dresses in a hurry. Such a task she left to her assistants.

After dealing with two 'gifts' for the merchant, Hilma takes another tomorrow look at each room of the mansion to double-check if anything is in order.

The morning of the next day Hilma awaited the important business partner at the mansion she is renting out. Both girls stand behind her dressed up and smiling shy, forced smiles.

Old merchant and his daughter arrived right on the clock. Hilma had only heard their descriptions, but they paled compared to the incoming people. Even from a distance, Hilma could see that the old man was powerfully built and would turn the heads of many ladies despite his age, and his daughter's beauty was simply unrivaled.

Normally Hilma would try to corrupt a girl with her looks, but Zoran had expressed his worries about how dangerous both of them most likely are, so she decides against it. Although the girl wore a shy, pleasant smile, Hilma felt goosebumps just by looking at her. In her long career as a prostitute and now as an Eight Fingers division chief, she had learned to tell the difference between a genuine smile and a fake one. That blonde girl wore a perfect fake smile, one, someone of her age, shouldn't be able to make with such ease.

Hilma curtsied with a smile and addressed both her new tenants as girls behind clumsily tried to mimic her.

"Mr. Sebas and miss Salsa, welcome to your new home."

Solution curtsies, and Sebas makes a polite bow before replying.

"Thank you, Lady Hilma."

"Oh, just Hilma will do, I'm not a noble you know." She says with a charming smile adding "I'll show you around before we sign the lease."

With graceful movements, she comes closer and wraps her hand around Sebas' arm. She expected to feel muscles under the nice silk suit, but what she was touching felt like made of steel. Hilma gets over the surprise rather quickly and guides Sebas deeper into the mansion.

As hostess of many events and owner of many properties, she is used to showing around the guests and guides them in a practiced manner.

The house itself is about medium-sized two-story mansion suited for a minor noble or a reasonably wealthy merchant. Hilma had furnished it in standard Re-Estize nobility style, with lots of gold accents and extravagant decorations. Although Sebas' unreadable face vexed her a bit, she was under an impression that he was satisfied with the quality of the house.

The last stop is the master's office with two copies of leases laying on the massive office table made of solid oak. Hilma gives one copy to Sebas and speaks.

"As you can see, this is a standard lease used in Re-Estize, rent payments are collected weekly. Of course, if you find it bothersome you can pay in advance and I will only send a servant to inspect property twice a year."

Sebas reads the document at a quick pace and then signs it, saying,

"Terms are acceptable."

"Excellent, Zoran was adamant to pay for the first month of the rent so you will only need to pay rent only after a month, and those two ladies are on the house at your disposal," Hilma says with a wide smile and motions for two girls to introduce themselves.

A blonde, average height girl with blue eyes makes a clumsy bow and says with a quiet voice, "My name is Tuare, and I'm in your care, my Lord."

A shorter brunette with brown eyes repeats Tuare's motion and says with a slight stutter, "M-My name is Lusja, and I will be in your care as well m-my Lord."

Sebas responds with, "Pleasure to make your acquaintance, young ladies, call me Sebas."

Once the introduction is out of the way Hilma hands Sebas a sealed letter and says, "Before I go, here is a list with types of enchants clients seek the most."

"I will look over it and inform you what is available in the next few days if you don't mind."

"Not at all, please send an answer to me or Zoran when you are able."

Once Hilma departed, Sebas told both girls to choose rooms and once they were out of sight, addresses Solution,

"Solution, I will report to Lord Ainz our situation, you, meanwhile, set up the perimeter around the property."

"Yes, Lord Sebas. What shall we do about the two spies left behind?"

"I doubt they are any threat to us, but I will include them in the report. For now, let them be."

Solutions bows and leaves Sebas to contact Ainz and report undisturbed.

After about thirty minutes, Demiurge arrives through the gate with two doppelgangers and few demons carrying crates. He looks around and then addresses Sebas.

"Sebas, excellent work. Lord Ainz approved the entire list you provided. For now, continue the beneficial trade with Zoran Romenof. These two doppelgangers will replace the spies left behind."

"Thank you, Demiurge. What about this woman, Hilma, any orders about her from our Lords?"

"Don't worry about her. Lord Ulbert already included her in the greater plan. Your part is to pose as a merchant and not worry about the bigger picture." Says Demiurge with a half-smile, half-smirk.

"Understood." Replies Sebas in a neutral tone seeing that Solution has already dragged in the two girls who are shaking with fear. Doppelgangers quickly copy their memories and assume their looks.

Demiurge, busy as always, leaves through the gate with the rest of the demons as it closes behind them.

Solution then asks smiling, "Lord Sebas shall I eat them to not leave any evidence?"

Sebas silently contemplates what to do. Girls have done nothing wrong and it would appall his creator to kill two innocents. Both looked at the floor, shaking in fear, and begged to be spared. Solution is already drooling, he had to decide fast.

"No, for now, put them in one of the empty rooms and put shadow demons on watch."

"Lord Sebas, with all due respect, leaving them alive is an unnecessary risk."

Solution was questioning his decision. Understandably so, none of the floor guardians would leave them alive. He had to come up with something fast.

"These ladies may be useful in the future, they stay alive for now."

"Yes, Lord Sebas." Solution says, grinding her teeth and dragging two girls back to the holding room. She tosses them on the floor and says,

"Enjoy this while you can."

Solution then locks the door and walks off. To leave them alive makes no sense to her. For what reason Sebas could need them alive, as playthings? At least their fear is delicious. She could feed on that for a while.

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Newly finished, 'Dummy Nazarick' stood in view. A one-on-one copy of Nazarick's overground structure. Ainz and Bukuma stand outside with Aura and Mare behind them. For a moment Ainz silently observes the wonderful work of Elven twins. Everything is copied to the minutest detail, even gravestones. Even Ainz himself would have a hard time telling if it was outside of the real Nazarick or the Copy.

They start the walk inside with Bukuma showing a satisfied smirk, being proud of her children's work. Aura and Mare, however, are sweating bullets and awaiting Ainz's verdict. Inside is vastly different right away. The first three floors of real Nazarick are catacombs built full of traps. Dummy Nazarick on the other hand is built with much more practical utility in minds as a short-term base.

First, it only has three underground levels and they are much smaller. The first floor is the throne room. On the second floor are a war room, storage, and dining area. The third is made as a living area.

With Ainz in lead, they walk in. After a short corridor, they arrive at the throne room. In middle stands a single throne made of bones and decorated with human and monster skulls.

'So this is the so-called surprise from Demiurge that Ulbert mentioned.'

The throne is both gruesome and intricately made. With fine details carved into the conjoined bone structure and light golden touches. Not wanting to dwell on it, Ainz moves on to inspect the rest of the Elven twins' work.

After finishing inspection Ainz turns to Aura and Mara who look like they will have heart attacks and says,

"Wonderful work. This is even better than I expected. Bukuma must be so proud of your accomplishments," and gently pats the heads of both children. They lean in his skeletal hands with relaxed smiles.

"I told you Lord Ainz will like it," says Bukuma with a bit of a gloat.

Ainz chuckles at her statement, "You two go take a rest, you more than earned it."

With Aura and Mare dismissed, both Lords go to the war room. On a round table, a map including the forest of Tob and surrounding areas is laid out.

Ainz explains while pointing to various areas.

"This is lizardmen territory split between five tribes. This one here, closest to Nazarick, is the village of the Dragon Tusk tribe, the ones who attacked the patrolling death knight. Here further away is the territory of toadmen who are competing with lizardmen for territory around the great lake."

He then points away from the lake and says,

"These are territories of the Giant of the East and the Demon Snake of the West, but for now we can ignore them unless you want to tackle the entire forest in one go."

"Might as well, if we start our conquest with this forest, better not leave loose ends." Bukuma remarks, while looking over the map and then asks.

"I presume we have intel on their fighting power?"

"Yes, here is a full report from Ulbert's reconnaissance." Ainz says and hands Bukama a thick folder.

She looks over it and asks,

"What forces are you giving me? I assume you don't want for me to just walk around and bitch-slap leaders like Aura did with goblins and ogres."

"Since the forest is isolated from the rest of the world, I thought a test on commanding and tactical abilities would be better than the use of raw force. So I plan to give three thousand skeletons and seven liches for a start."

Bukuma looks over the numbers and remarks,

"Mmm, that would barely work only if all opponents remain separate but I doubt that is likely to happen." She then twists her face to look more childish and says with a cute voice,

"Did big brother Ainz wanted to set me up for failure and then spank me like a bad girl?"

Ainz groans at her response and says,

"Looks like you already can plan military operations better than me. I didn't think it would take you only a minute to notice."

"Well, it makes sense that you wanted to see how I would handle it, but if we want a conquest, we need at least eight to ten thousand skeletons and a lot more of field commanders to coordinate it. I personally would go with smaller old guard detachments and do multi-front shock attacks."

"I see you can handle it with no problems, however, I have a proposition. How about you test how Cocytus will handle the conquest as one of your generals. I give you full permission to use the auto-spawn troops however you like and request more powerful soldiers if needed."

"Yes, that would be interesting, but I'm using the same pitch you did on me to see how long it will take for Cocytus to figure out that it's not enough."

"I'll leave it to you then, report if there are any difficulties."

"Got it Ainz."

Ainz then uses the gate leaving her alone. Moments servants arrive to prepare the base for living. With Dummy Nazarick's location, they can use it as a long-term military center for the entire forest.

With a bit of free time before Cocytus arrives, Bukuma walks outside to spend a bit of time with her children. With all the training, she hadn't been outside for some time. It feels nice to take a walk in the quiet forest with the sounds of waves hitting the shore of the great lake in distance.

After a short walk, she finds Aura sitting on a tree branch with a leather ball in her hands and Mare sitting under the tree shade with a book in his hands.

"Come on, Mare, you can read that stupid book later. I want to play ball." Shouts Aura with a pout, prepared to strike Mare with said ball.

"L-Leave me alone sis, you will just cheat anyway." Mara shouts back in a much tamer tone.

"Kids, what did I say, be nice to each other," Bukuma finally gets in the middle, scolding both of them.

"Yes mom, we are sorry," twins respond in unison with almost a practiced manner.

Bukuma sighs internally. Too much of her's and her brother's personalities have spilled into twins. She remembers fighting with Peros all the time when they were kids, to the displeasure of their parents. The irony of it is not lost on her while breaking up the childish fight.

"Lets all play ball and if someone tries to cheat, I will pull her by the little cheating ears," Bukuma says with a melodic laugh while Aura's cheeks get red and she protests,

"No fair, mom, you taught me those tricks."

Bukuma responds with fake shock,

"I don't know what are you talking about Aura!"

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Zesshi strolled the streets of Kami Miyako. One of her 'servants' was walking behind her, keeping his distance. She knew the main reason annoying priests accompanied her everywhere was to report every single thing to their masters, the six cardinals.

At this point, she didn't even care. Zesshi has lost all direction, any goal in life. After the fight with the new gods, she wasn't sure she could even defeat her bastard father, and loss to him would mean the same fate her mother had, to be raped until she bore children for him, the mad Elven King.

People are staring at her ears as usual. She wasn't one of them in their eyes; she was less, trash to be collared. So much for her country and home. Zesshi knew she had no home, no one cared beyond her fighting capabilities.

She notices a street merchant selling apples and takes one while just walking on. Before the merchant could shout at her, the priest hurried up paid for it, and in hushed tones explained to not anger her, like she couldn't hear the entire speech.

'They only tolerate me out of fear. If I ever become weaker than them, I will be slave just like any other elf in this damn shit-hole.'

Until recently, she arrogantly thought of herself as the strongest in the world, as there were no actual threats to her. Not anymore, a loss can change perspective even in the most arrogant of minds. With the safety of being the strongest taken away, a rude awakening came. She had no one to rely on, no one would save her from trouble or give support when she needs it the most.

Then her ruminating is interrupted by a string of loud bells. She looks up, confused, and sees an angel up in the sky. People around her rushed inside buildings and she feels the priest grabbing her arm and trying to drag her.

"Lady Zesshi, we must get inside, angels are attacking again."

She pushes the priest aside and continues staring at the figure in the sky. Soon other less luminous angels appear around the prime angel and descend on the city. Zesshi jumps on the nearest roof and starts running towards the prime angel jumping from roof to roof.

Angels she met on the way ignored her and just destroyed anything connected to the religion of six gods. After a ten-minute run, she was was finally in presence of the prime angel who was in the middle of tearing down a statue. At first, she just watches from a distance the angel who radiates a warmth Zesshi had never felt before. Like something missing inside had finally been found.

Zesshi jumps down from the roof and carefully walks closer to the six-winged angel in an almost hypnotic trance, who notices and turns to look at the Elven girl approaching her. Before Zesshi gets too close, she speaks with a gentle voice.

"Why are you approaching, to fight me in the name of your false gods?"

The question startles her as a reminder 'Next time don't stand in our way' rings in her head. Zesshi stops few meters away from angel and asks,

"Where are the real gods, what do they want?"

"It's not for me to answer child, I sense his touch on you."

"I am not a child. Where are they, I need to know?"

"Why?"

Zesshi didn't know how to answer that. She already knew that six great gods were just powerful mortals that died centuries ago, and she didn't have any reason to believe that the newcomers were any better. Angel in front of her was most likely just a powerful summon belonging to one of them. But something ate at her inside. Some part of her wanted to believe that gods really had descended to fix this miserable world. She finally says,

"I don't know, I just need to."

Angel comes close to Zesshi, her silver eyes staring at her. The radiance of her aura makes Zesshi tear up. Angle touches the side of her head at the same spot the undead god touched her to reveal her ears and says gently,

"You are lost, child, you hope he will give you purpose. You hope God will fill the empty part of your heart. Do you believe he will?"

Why would they? Theocracy cared only because she was the strongest. Gods were stronger, they had no reason to care about her. Even this angel was just a tool owned by one of them, a devious tool that preyed on her weaknesses. That made it painfully obvious that it was only a matter of time before they wipe the Slane Theocracy off the face of the world.

Zesshi stepped away from the angel and ran. She wasn't sure she could win the fight and even if she killed the angel, it would only bring the wrath of gods. With no apparent goal in mind, she just tried to keep a distance from the angels.

After a while, she just stopped and sat on the roof at the edge of the city. Angels retreated after a while and peace once again set in. People went around their business as nothing had happened.

'Ignorant fools. Like little rodents, they hide their heads at the sight of angels. How could they still believe the bullshit clergy was spewing? I need to get away from this place.'

There was one problem, however, Zesshi couldn't just go to any other country. The holy country was not an option. With the same human-centric policies the New Gods will most likely crush that country too. Elven kingdom with her insane father sounded even worse. Baharuth Empire enslaved elves as far as she knew.

Finally, she settles on Re-Estize. There was a hope she would find gods there and with them some goal or meaning in life.

With a plan in mind, Zesshi returns to her quarters and starts packing all the things she plans to take with her. Her newly made cross scythe is the first item she picks. No one knew how to repair her old one after it was broken. A sizable amount of money and a spare change of clothing. She looked around her rather luxurious living space and realized that there was not a single item of nostalgia. No gifts, no memorabilia. No one has ever gifted her something small and personal. The only thing she has is the Rubick's cube her mother played with and even that she just took from the vault by herself.

She was lost in thought for a moment. Was it her fault she never made a single friend, she couldn't remember ever trying, even in childhood. In the end, it didn't matter. She put on the backpack, rested the scythe on her shoulder, and walked out of her quarters towards the exit. As usual, one priest was a walking distance behind her.

Walk through the city was the same, filled with stares of disdain. She soon reached the city gate and only then priest hurried closer and asked,

"Lady Zesshi, where are you heading?"

"Away from here."

"What do you mean, away?"

"Away from this city."

"Wait, you can't just…"

She turned around, stared at the priest, and asked,

"Or what, you going to stop me?"

"N-no."

Zesshi didn't bother to say anything else. She pushes aside the guard, trying to stop her at the city gates, and disappears into the countryside.

Walking alone on the dusty road surrounded by greenery and no one trailing behind filled her with strange serenity. To think about it, she hasn't been outside of the city for over fifty years. In the past greenery reminded her of her Elven side, as elves are much more attuned to nature than humans, so she avoided it. Now she didn't deny who she really is anymore.

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The capital of Re-Estize was covered in dark clouds, a windy drizzle made walking outside uncomfortable. Gazef Stronoff, the head warrior of the kingdom, walked through the smaller side streets towards his house. With mostly unpaved streets it was more a slog through the mud, not a casual walk.

It gave Gazef a great shame to see his home in such a state. Nobles gave a damn only about their pockets and nothing else. It was getting worse and worse lately. His king, Ramposa III, was old and was still holding the throne because neither of his sons was a good option for the next king.

Barbo, the eldest son, the crown prince, was pompous and arrogant, thinking only about himself and his 'glory'. The support of the Noble faction inflated his self-importance even more. Lately, Barbo has openly defied kings' wishes more than once and declared himself the next king any chance he got.

Zanac, the second son, on the other hand, was a capable politician but lacked the support of nobles, as they saw him too smart for an easy-to-control puppet. And then there was the 'Golden Princess'.

Knowing that Gazef had no future if Barbo was a king, Ramposa III pushed him towards the service of his youngest daughter, hoping to spare them both from his eldest son's reign. Last month alone there were two attempts on Gazef's life.

The first was at Carne at the hands of Slane Theocracy, which failed only because of the powerful strangers saving him and his men, and the second was a few days ago when a group of assassins ambushed him on his way home. Gazef thwarted the attempt rather easily on his own, even so, it reminded him it wasn't safe anymore, and thus he even slept with his eyes open.

As deep in thought as Gazef was, for no moment, he stopped to pay attention to his surroundings. There may be an assassin waiting in every dark corner. He hears someone incoherently mumbling in a side street.

On high alert, he turns and sees a blue-haired man sitting against the wall, soaked in a puddle with a sheathed sword in his hand. An empty bottle between his legs. The man continues to mumble in alcohol-induced delirium,

"Let me go… eyes… eyes… mistress… hide…"

Gazef gives a passing look and then stops. He recognizes the man.

"Brain… Brain Unglaus?"

When the man doesn't respond, Gazef goes closer and gives a light shake to his shoulder. Man screams and unsheathes his sword with a slash making Gazef jump backward.

Brain opens his eyes confused then looks at Gazef and says with slurred speech,

"Garzefff… get awy… she fnd us."

"Brain, what has happened to you?"

Brain continues staring at Gazef, sobering up a bit and waking up fully.

"Gazef, where…"

Gazef extends his hand to help Brain get up and says,

"Brain, come let us talk somewhere dry and warm."

Brain gets up with a stagger, leaning on his sword to stand.

With Gazef's home nearby, the walk takes only a few minutes. His servants had already started to the fireplace, making his home warm and cozy. Gazef guides Brain to the chair beside the fireplace and sits down on the chair opposite to him.

For a while, there is a silence, and then Gazef finally asks.

"Brain, what happened to you?"

Brain stares into the fire as he speaks.

"Ever since that tournament, I trained day and night to one day defeat you, to be the strongest in the world. Then a monster showed me how weak I am, how weak humanity really is. We are nothing to likes of her. The move I honed five years to defeat you. She, a monster that looked like a young girl, blocked it with her fingernail."

"Believe me, I know how it feels. If not for people whose power I can't even comprehend, I wouldn't be sitting here with you today. How did you ever escape such a monster?"

"She did some spell to me and dragged me along until some weird people stopped her, after a short talk fight broke out and they made her freeze on the spot with, what I guess, was a spell. Once that happened, I bolted."

"Weird people, you say, how did they look?"

"Every single one was dressed in strange armor and artifacts, I think they mentioned representing Slane Theocracy, sorry Gazef my memory of that is hazy."

"Slane Theocracy? What else you remember, this might be very important?"

"Not much I think they searched for some group Lords of, I don't remember the name it was weird sounding. But during the conversation, they called the leader of the group human and mis… vampire flipped out and yelled that Lord Ainz isn't a pathetic human. Sorry, that's about all I can recall."

It clicked to Gazef. It all made sense now. This monster was serving his saviors and the attack on her is what most likely caused events in Theocracy that forced the entire country to isolate itself from the rest of the world. Their sudden move was unexpected, but now it made sense. He knew the Lords of Ooal Gown were powerful enough to scare Theocracy into isolation. Gazef had witnessed their power.

'But Lord Ainz looked human. Could he be a monster using human disguise?'

"Brain sounds, you were lucky to escape. Why was that vampire after you, anyway?"

Brain didn't answer for a while, just stared at the fire.

"I was a part of a mercenary group. We were nothing more than bandits, really. Why that vampire came after us, I don't know, but everyone was killed or taken somewhere. Call it some divine punishment if you want."

'Vampire wiping out bandits. Would they try to fix my homeland from the shadows?'

These Lords were moving in shadows but Gazef couldn't even guess what their goals are. Fear that one day he would have to stand against them crept up.

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Captain of the Black Scripture sits on the chair in his quarters. Opposite to him sits Cardinal of Earth, Raymond. An uncomfortable silence between them. Raymond basically barged in his quarters five minutes ago with a bottle of wine and just sat down. Finally, Captain couldn't take it anymore and asks,

"Your excellency, is there something you want to discuss?"

"Yes… what do you think our country's future, our future, will be?"

"Our future… honestly, I don't know. I pray gods will guide us through the turbulent times." Captain says, unsure where the conversation is heading. By the expression of the cardinal, it seemed he was gathering the courage to say something.

Raymond lets out a heavy sigh and says,

"You are our last defense now."

"What do you mean, your excellency?"

"Just call me Raymond. Captain, yesterday Zesshi left the city and I doubt she will come back."

"But… but where could she go?" Captain asks, confused. With the recent defeat, she had dropped her goal of killing her father. He did not know where she could have gone with no relatives and no place who would openly accept elves.

"I don't know. Scouts have reported that she walked in the northern direction, but that's about it. What about you boy, do you want to go find your destiny somewhere else?"

Was Cardinal accusing him or just testing his faith? It was expected, with angel attacks, many have fled the country. Would he leave?

Captain looked in the eyes of the cardinal to see if it was an accusation or something else

"Boy, you are young, with a full life ahead of you. As long as you keep your faith, it would not be a sin to leave. Our country is a sinking ship, the evil gods want to destroy our very faith. Renegade angels are testament to that."

"Cardinal… Raymond, this is my home I will not abandon it. Even if I will have to stand against the evil gods or their lapdog angels. Humanity depends on it."

"I applaud your conviction, boy, but I fear a day will come when those who survive will have to practice our faith in secret," Raymond says with his expression growing darker. He then ads.,

"I fear there are traitors to our faith. Even among cardinals, this country needs a figurehead to gather around, a young and powerful figurehead."

"Raymond, you are not suggesting…"

"That I am, it is time to come into the light. I can see you are a true believer. Become king, the blood of Alah Alaf flows in your veins, you are the last true Godkin. Dominic, Ginedine, and I will support your ascension as a king. A god-king for our people to gather around and look up to."

'A king, how can I? It will lead to the cleansing of unfaithful. Can I kill my people for losing faith?'

Captain is lost in thought for a while, with Raymond just sitting silently and waiting for an answer.

"Yes, I will take this burden. Together we will preserve our faith."

"I knew you will come around. I will make preparations for your coronation, King Alaf I," says Raymond, standing up, bowing before him, and leaving with a resolute expression.

The next few days were hectic, to say the least. Slane Theocracy went through the most rapid transformation since its inception six hundred years ago. The coronation announcement led to Berenice's and Maximilian's open opposition, the two cardinals opposed the idea of a king. The newly crowned king promptly arrested both of them and publicly executed them as heretics.

The execution was followed by purging of all nonbelievers, the biggest mass slaughter in countries' history with about three percent of citizens lost in under a week. Religious fanaticism rose to new heights. People openly sang hymns during the angel attacks, calling them the puppets of evil gods.

With a need to fight angels, a special extermination unit, Hand of Surshana, practicing dark and unholy magic, is formed to combat them. With Hand of Surshana rapidly gaining prominence, the Zurrernorn cult resurfaced and pledged their alliance and necromantic skills in service of it.

Black Scripture is publicly announced as saviors of humanity and reorganized in the new king's personal guard. Black Scripture's Fourth seat, the Divine Chant, takes the name Lumina and becomes King Alaf's first wife just a few days later to continue the bloodline of god.

Finally, the country starts the rapid process of mass militarization and radicalization to preserve the one true faith. Almost every city and settlement builds underground places of worship. As a side effect, the living conditions of Elven slaves go from bad to hellish.

A month after the coronation Kings stands on a podium of a new massive cathedral constructed under the capital, addressing the most faithful with his queen standing beside him.

"We are standing at the age of strive. We the last hope of humanity, we the faithful will stand against the tyranny of evil gods. I applaud you all for your courage to face the adversary for your very beliefs. Fear not, the evil gods will be defeated and the righteous order restored. I, King Alaf, swear in the name of the Six Great Gods to lead you all to the greater future. Stand with me and we shall guard humanity against the evils together. FOR THE SIX GREAT GODS!"

The crowd moved by his speech chants in a mad frenzy.

"FOR THE SIX GREAT GODS! FOR THE KING ALAF!"

Bonus Story 1 - Pet.

Relzanu sat in the corner of a room and patiently watched as her mistress ate her morning meal. She herself has eaten nothing for a few days already. Her owner simply didn't care enough to give her anything. Sometimes food was left on the plate and she could lick off the remains before the plate was taken away.

Her new life was miserable. Given to the very monster, she committed a sin against, was a cruel punishment from the new gods. Misstress enjoyed dragging her around her by the chain connected to her collar during her patrols. She had to pleasure mistress regularly. And if she did even the smallest thing wrong, a heavy beating followed.

Relzanu stomach growled at the sigh of delicious-looking desert and to her horror mistress heard that.

"Did I let you make a sound pet?"

"No mistress Shalltear, sorry mistress Shalltear." Relzanu mumbled, trembling. Last time few of her teeth were knocked out for making a noise.

Shalltear was already standing up to punish her pet when a knock on the door is heard. Seeing that her father is coming to visit her, Shalltear forgot about punishing her pet and ran into her father's arms, gigging.

Peros lifts her and asks, "How my little girl is doing?"

Shalltear answers with a pout, "I'm not little."

Relzanu turned away to not look at the scene. First, to not anger mistress for looking at her father the wrong way and second, it was too weird to see the monster turn into a little girl happy to spend time with her father.

Both soon sat at a table and ate some sweets together. Relzanu's stomach growled again, this time in presence of God. She closed her eyes and awaited the pain.

"Shalltear, when was the last time you fed her?" Peros asked.

"Feed her?"

"Come on Shalltear, you have her for a week, you haven't given her food once?"

Shalltear blinked, confused and asked,

"I needed to give her food?"

Peros' facepalms then sends one of the vampire brides to the dining area to bring food and hands one cupcake to Relzanu sitting in the corner of the room, saying,

"Here, eat this while we wait."

She opens her eyes, scared that is some cruel joke and for a few seconds doesn't take it.

"Take it!"

Relzanu carefully takes the cupcake and shoves it in her mouth, wolfing it down without even tasting it. First food in a week, gods are merciful after all. Then came the full meal. To her poor, weakened body, it felt almost like a divine blessing. She overheard Lord Peros explaining to his daughter how to take care of a pet. It was dehumanizing, but she hoped her basic needs would be met, at least.

Her hopes got fulfilled, and her mistress indeed took care of her. Regular meals and daily bathing were now the norm. Mistress even gave some strange vibrating thing for her 'other needs'.

Maybe life as a pet isn't so bad after all. Relzanu, not having hope for any better future, resigned herself to being a pet for Shalltear. Over time, her mistress even pampered her with various outfits.

Bonus Story 2 - Heroes.

Team clad in dark bringing in bloody trophies to show results of their almost unbelievable work was getting a usual sight in the adventurer's guild E-Rantel branch. Satoru's or the team Darkness was the guild's rising stars. First gaining prominence after the graveyard incident, this team was on their way to be the third adamantite team in Re-Estize.

As usual, a group of curious onlookers gathered around the table to inspect the team's most recent bounty. They unceremoniously dropped piles of shiny basilisk scales on three different tables.

Killing a basilisk was a feat reserved for heroes. When one appeared near the E-Rantel guild master's first reaction was to call for one of adamantite teams to E-Rantel. Luckily Satoru convinced him that team Darkness can take care of it by themselves. Reluctantly, he gave the team permission to engage it.

His worries were proved unfounded and now with the heroic feat done Re-Estize got its third adamantite team and they planned to remain stationed in E-Rantel making guild master Pluton Ainzach a happy man.

With newly crafted tags team left the guild building, heads holding high. Once away from prying eyes and ears, Itsuki spoke.

"Lord Ainz will not be disappointed in us. We finally reached the goal he set for us."

"Yes, but remember it was his plan from the start to provide us with basilisk to kill," says Satoru.

All five doppelgangers posing as a team could be more proud to play the roles supreme ones set up for them. Lord Ainz had even mentioned that he didn't plan to pose as an adventurer anymore, giving them permanent roles.

With the impressive reward for killing the basilisk, they rented a house for a more permanent dwelling and reported the news to supreme ones.

Lord Ainz reward them with more free rein on their operations with only one condition. They had to keep up the reputation of genuine heroes.

Doppelganger who posed as Nabe was jealous of others as she represented the lowest ranking counterpart of Nazarick. Of course, luckiest was one who took the role of Satoru, who bore the look their beloved Lord Ainz once had at least there were some rumors that supreme ones once all looked like humans with similar features.

In fact, three of them were blessed with the honor to wear faces that supreme ones once had. With doppelgangers often not having a core personality until they took form, over time it stopped being just a role played and in Nazarick's name, a team of heroes upheld the duty of protectors.