111 Chapter 111

The lizardmen did not yet have someone permanently appointed to them beyond the occasional visit by Shalltear, Demiurge occasionally visited once or twice to provide them proper supplies, but a more permanent fixture would be necessary at some point. 'Another thing to rectify, but not urgent.' The Lizardmen themselves seemed quite patient about it, content to use the paper provided with lists of supplies used, held, requested, and always sending along words of gratitude for the shipments of food that was supplied to them.

Ainz thought that it might have been because of the lack of oppression, that their growing reverence and response to him suddenly emerging through the use of the [Gate] spell was so uniform. They all at once knelt on sight and shouted for their chiefs.

Zaryusu, Crusch, Shasuryu, Sukyu and Kyuku emerged from a single building as soon as Ainz' name was announced, the many villagers had already prostrated themselves, forcing the chiefs to weave rapidly between their people to make it to the front.

Once there, they lowered themselves immediately, kneeling in submission. Crusch, at a glance, seemed larger than he recalled. 'They're eating better…' Then all Ainz wanted to do was slap himself, she was obviously with child, though not very far along.

"Great One… how may we be of service to you?" Zaryusu asked, as he was in the middle, and slightly forward in line compared to the rest of them, it seemed they had come to defer in his direction for leadership.

Ainz tried not to look too much around at the village, it still wasn't an impressive place. However, it was noteworthy that the stakes were taken up, that there were far more homes, the walls were expanded, and it appeared that there was the faint smell in the air from a smith's forge. Most especially he noticed the beginnings of a statue, a statue of himself. 'Where did they even find a rock that big?' It was upright, and the beginnings of outstretched arms were evident. At a guess it was roughly a tenth of the way finished.

Ainz chose to be brief, "I intend to visit the dwarves and wish to know if anyone here has been to their kingdom who can act as a guide."

Zaryusu bowed his head, "Forgive your servant, My Lord… but I killed the one who knew the way… please… forgive me, but my travels took me among human lands, I know of only one traveler who ventured there, and he is gone."

Crusch immediately began to grovel at Ainz's feet, "Please… My Lord… my husband is going to be a father… it was a duel with Zenberu… one Zenberu himself began. The death was not planned, nor intended to defy any future will of yours. He acted in ignorance… please grant clemency to your faithful servant and his family!"

Ainz paused, briefly dumbfounded, 'I will have to ask Demiurge just what he said to create this terrifying impression in their minds…'

"Have no fear… what is done in ignorance may sting as much as malice, but it still isn't the same. I am a just Lord." Ainz proclaimed and gave a noble wave over their heads in imitation of Queen Draudillon.

"As to Zenberu's death, was he strong?" Ainz asked.

"Very, My Lord. Very." Zaryusu said and reached over to help his wife rise to one knee again, she still shook with fear, but was at least quiet.

"Then he may survive his resurrection, do you have his body?" Ainz asked.

"Yes… My Lord, we had it retrieved and kept it preserved, intending to bury it properly on his own ground again when we expanded that way again in a few years." Zaryusu's words flowed like water, smoothly, and without fear after taking Ainz' words of 'just lordship' as divine proclamation and absolute truth.

"Good, have it brought out here. But before that… congratulations on the pending birth of your child, when they are born, send word of their birth. We have a custom among my people of giving gifts to mark the occasion of someone's arrival in the world, I would like to provide something suitable for such a momentous occasion." Ainz said, it was more offhanded, intended to ease the tension, but from the gasps among the lizardmen which followed he could only conclude that he enacted a new tradition.

'There are worse things than giving them a new pleasant tradition I suppose.' Ainz thought with a mental shrug.

"I… yes, of course, My Lord… what other things do you do…?" Zaryusu asked, and Ainz looked away as memory took him from the present again.

"My friends and I, we would throw parties, those who were dearest to us would come, give their gifts, sing songs, and play games, no matter how far apart we were… those were times of great celebration for us. Birthdays were not just that a person was born, but rather that we were happy they were in our lives. And of course, there was cake, and ice cream…" Ainz shook his head when he caught their lost expressions.

"Types of food, think nothing of it… I have things I must do but… it was good to remember those times." Ainz said with a tender reverence, cradling the memory as if it were a newborn babe.

"Yes… forgive my needless diversion, My Lord. We will bring his body immediately." Zaryusu promised, and the chiefs rose together, the whole rest of the tribe remained prostrated around him. Silence, long and uncomfortable, took over the area until what must have been mere moments later passed and the chiefs emerged carrying the wrapped body of what must have been, in life, a truly impressive figure.

The lizardmen in the way scooted to the side to allow the chiefs to pass, two abreast with Crusch at the center rear, they held Zenberu's body overhead until they came close to Ainz and laid the body of the fallen at the feet of their god to await his miracle.

Ainz held the wand out, and within the sheer cloth, a sudden intake of breath could be heard, like a person who was drowning and out of air just shattered the surface of the water and inhaled all he could at once.

Zenberu's eyes opened wide to find himself staring through the cloth up at a red and white mask.

"I'm… I'm alive?" He asked, his eyes darted around. "Is this the Everlake? Did we all die… did the frogmen kill everyone…? Are you… God?" He asked, though he fumbled a few words, the confusion was clear.

"That depends on who you ask, Zenberu, but you are not dead. The lizardmen were triumphant, Heketi and the frogmen were destroyed and have been relocated far, far away from here and will not trouble your people again. The lake belongs to the lizardmen now, and the monsters that plagued the swamps have been hunted down to the last." Ainz explained the impossible while Crusch Lulu bent over him and ran her finger-claw over the cloth and tore it asunder.

Zenberu emerged as it parted, coming out as if he were a butterfly from a cocoon.

"Then… it is heaven…" He said with reverence… "I-" He stopped when he caught sight of Zaryusu.

"You killed me." Zenberu said with a long, quiet stare.

Zaryusu inclined his head. "I did." Tension rose several notches.

"You fight good." Zenberu praised his victorious rival. "You protected my tribe?"

"We bled together and won, thanks to His Majesty, our King." Zaryusu's reply was clear eyed and he did not turn away from the look Zenberu gave him.

"Good. Then the strongest rule as they should, and I am happy." Zenberu said and turned to kneel before the masked Ainz.

"Then you are my King too, if you will have me." Zenberu said without reservation.

"You're taking all this very well…" Ainz remarked, looking half dumbfounded behind his mask at the ease with which the lizardman seemed to adapt.

"If I am not dead and we're all alive, we must have won. If they credit you, then you must be strong, and I follow the strong. What I don't know, I will find out later." Zenberu said it very matter-of-factly, and it was hard to doubt him.

'Maybe something about the simplicity of just 'follow the strong' makes it easier to accept sudden changes…?' It was something for Ainz to think about at a later time, instead in the present, he got to the point.

"You have been to the dwarven kingdom, haven't you?" Ainz asked.

"When I was a traveler, yes, My King." Zenberu answered. "They were very good to me, allowing me to stay with them when the temperatures grew too cold, and they guided me through safe paths away from the mountain when I left."

'So the dwarves of this world are clearly more altruistic than those in the game, that is good to know.' Ainz pondered that and filed it away for later recall.

"You will act as a guide and take me to them, I wish to open diplomatic and trade ties to my northern neighbors." Ainz gave the order, and Zenberu swayed a little.

"Forgive me… my body… I still feel weak… but at your command I-" Zenberu stopped when Ainz laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Rest for this day, I will retrieve you tomorrow and we will go then. There is a great deal of news for you to catch up on, and I'm sure your people would like to celebrate your return to life." Ainz replied to Zenberu, who lowered his head deeply.

"My Lord is generous…" Zenberu mumbled.

"What other lord deserves their title?" Ainz asked, and when he was gone, a throng of cheers in his name followed, and the lizardmen began to throw an impromptu feast for Zenberu's birthday.