“This Giant of the East fellow doesn’t seem to be very tidy. I’ll settle for enough intelligence to have a conversation, though…”
“Seriously. But I don’t know how much we can expect. From the footprints, it seems like there are numerous inhabitants of this cave, but none of them is wearing anything on their feet. Calculating from the large foot size, I’d say they have to be at least eight feet tall.”
“I see… That must be one of them.”
As they proceeded steadily down the slope, they could make out a monster at the bottom.
“Lord Ainz, they’re…ogres.”
There were two of them ripping something apart and bringing it to their mouths. A new bloody smell filled the air.
Ainz slowly aimed a finger but then smiled bitterly. If they were raiding a dungeon, they would kill the ogres without a sound and quietly proceed to the back to clean the whole place out, but their objective this time was different.
“…Well, we didn’t come here to wipe them out. We have to start by striking up a friendly conversation. Hey, you ogres, there! Sorry to disturb you at mealtime.”
The pair of ogres looked up at Ainz in a synchronized motion. Then they roared.
The cave echoed a lot, so it was hard to tell for sure, but it seemed like there were similar roars coming from farther back as well.
“What a vile racket they’ve got for an intercom system. Aura, fall back.”
Ainz sighed a “sheesh” as he watched the ogres charge up the slope at them. They didn’t seem at all interested in talking.
“Skeleton! Skeleton! Enemy!” When the ogres arrived before Ainz, shouting in their raucous voices, they unhesitatingly raised their clubs.
“I’m sorry—”
With a snarl, the ogres attacked.
“—we entered your house—”
They whacked Ainz, but he wasn’t injured, of course, since the clubs weren’t magic.
“—without permission.”
The ogres raised their clubs again.
They bashed Ainz’s skull, and his vision wavered slightly. He didn’t feel any pain, but they were annoying him. That said, Ainz himself would be furious and ready to kill anyone who barged into the Great Tomb of Nazarick. In that sense, it was only natural that they attack him, so it could be said that he should reconcile himself to that and accept it.
If the messengers of peace drew their weapon, it was too much of an endgame scenario.
The ogre who arrived later thrust out not his club but his empty hand. Ainz figured he had come to capture him, seeing as how the others’ attacks weren’t working.
His brow twitched but not really, of course, since his entire face was made of bone.
He was fine with being captured, but his eyes could see through the darkness that the hand was covered in blood.
“Gross.”
He immediately took a wand out of space and waved it. It didn’t have any fancy magic, but one hit from the item specialized in dealing battering damage was enough to burst the head of the ogre reaching for him. A mixture of blood and brains spattered the ogre standing next to him, who dropped his club as he retreated a step. “Y-you…not…skeleton…”
“Yeah, don’t lump me in with skeletons. We came to see your boss, the Giant of the East. Could you call him for me? Well, I imagine he’ll show up if we wait, but…”
Ainz waved his hand at the ogre to be gone, and the creature turned his back to them and scurried into the depths of the cave.
“…Sheesh. This would have gone faster if they had realized the strength gap.” Ainz rubbed the spot where he had been hit with the club and descended the short remaining slope.
In the ogres’ original position lay the half-eaten corpses of something that seemed like goblins. How many was unclear, since it was just scattered remains, but it had to be more than one or two.
Ainz and Aura gave the area a wide berth to avoid the mess and arrived at the bottom of the cave.
“Damn. I got so annoyed that I accidentally drove them off. My plan was to hold off on massacring and proceed in an amiable manner unless negotiations failed…”
“You had no choice, my lord! Those vulgar ogres tried to lay their hands on you!”
“I’m glad you think so. Squishy Moe always said, ‘Punching someone to get them to listen to what you have to say isn’t a bad move,’ or was it the Warrior Takemikazuchi?”
“If one of the Supreme Beings said it, it must be true!”
Before he could remember which of his two extremely different guildmates had said it, a ton of monsters walked out from the back of the cave. They were all far larger than humans.
“A mob of trolls? Calling a troll a giant is sort of false advertising, but I guess it’s not a total lie.”
Trolls were giants with long noses and ears, incredibly ugly faces, and brawny bodies that were repulsive in the same way as a deformity. They wore clothes made from skins of an animal similar to a tiger, with the heads decorating their shoulders.
They were taller than the ogres, easily over eight feet, and possessed a shockingly powerful regeneration ability that, unless stopped via fire or acid, would regenerate them from even a lump of flesh. There were six of those, plus ten ogres.
The one Ainz paid special attention to was the troll at the head of the group.
Not only was he physically superior to the other trolls, but his hideous face projected self-confidence.
Compared to the other trolls, he was also better outfitted.
He wore leather armor that seemed to be made of a number of different animal skins, and in his huge hands, he held a great sword even more gigantic than the ones Ainz used as Momon. The sword seemed to be enchanted, and some kind of slimy liquid flowed continuously down the groove in the center to the edge of the blade.
“Does that one look as strong as Hamusuke?”
“That’s the sense I get, yeah.”
Then this troll must be the Giant of the East. So what kind of troll is it? Ainz observed the Giant of the East closely.
Trolls were highly adaptable, so they were as diverse as the places they lived.
For example, volcano trolls were resistant to fire. Sea trolls were great swimmers and could breathe underwater. Mountain trolls were big and strong. The rare toll trolls that inhabited bridges were another of the many varieties.
So what was the specialty of the troll standing before Ainz?
The ones adapted to caves were called cave trolls, but this one looked different from those.
Seeing an unknown type of troll for the first time in this world activated the merch collector within him.
The Giant of the East was a troll with an extremely rare mutation.
With countless battles behind him, he had adapted to combat and was now specialized in it. To give his variety a name: war troll. Of all the troll-derived races, his was the most exceptional. Compared to any other troll the same age, his combat ability was superior.
Certainly, in terms of size, war trolls lost to mountain trolls, but when it came to muscles and ability level, their bodies were better. And they wielded not a primitive, easy-to-use battering weapon but possessed natural prowess with bladed weapons, which were inferior to clubs without proper technique. They were trolls awakened as warriors.
“So you’re the Giant of the East?” After confirming there was no objection, Ainz pointed a little to the right of the giant. “Then if you’re the Serpent of the West, I’d be thrilled, so how about it?”
Someone with only ordinary vision would think he was pointing at empty space. But Ainz, who could see as if it were broad daylight, plainly noticed a grotesque.
“You might think you’ve disappeared with Invisibility, but my eyes can see through that. Why don’t you give up the futile tricks and answer me?”
It must have canceled its Invisibility. Where there had been nothing a moment before, a monster appeared.
It was indeed a serpent. Well, it would be more accurate to say
it had the body of a serpent. It was a grotesque with the thin, withered body of an elderly human from the chest up and the lower body of a snake.
This type of monster was in Yggdrasil, too; the name came to Ainz’s tongue immediately. “A naga, huh? I guess serpent isn’t wrong, but it seems like there would be a better way to describe it. Well, given what the Wise King of the Forest turned out to be, maybe I should have guessed…”
“I can’t believe you saw through my Concealment; you’re nothing but a—”
“Why are you here, Skeleton?”
The naga’s voice was drowned out by the scream that echoed through the entire cavern. The Giant of the East took a step forward.
Ainz faced him head-on in order to negotiate. “First, allow me to say this one thing: I’m not a skeleton. I’ll take the liberty of having you correct your mistaken impression.”
“What are you if not a skeleton?! I permit you to call me Gu, ruler of the eastern lands!”
For a moment, Ainz wasn’t sure what the troll was saying. First, he thought it was a word like king or chief, but then he realized the monster had introduced himself.
“I see, Gu… Apologies for the belated introduction. My name is Ainz Ooal Gown.”
Laughter filled the cave.
“Hwa-hwa-hwa-hwa! That’s the name of a coward! It’s a pathetic name, not a powerful one like mine!”
In response to those remarks, the other trolls began emitting grating laughter in imitation.
“How dare y—”
Aura stepped forward, but Ainz stopped her.
“It’s fine. I’m not even offended. Keep your head. We’re here as friendly messengers to talk, but just for my edification, I’d like to ask why you think my name is cowardly.”
“Oh, these fellows believe long names indicate a lack of courage, Mystery Undead.”
It was the naga who replied. The old-man face wore a sarcastic grin.
“So he’s not an old knickknack but just a piece of junk, huh? And do you also think I have the name of a coward?”
“No, I don’t think that way—because my name is long, too. I am Ryuraryusu Spenia Ai Indaloon, whom you call the Serpent of the West, invader Ainz Ooal Gown. I constantly wish his brains were on par with his magnificent body. But if that were the case, he surely would have conquered this forest, so it’s tricky.”
“…Well, that just saved your life.”
When Ainz let slip his feelings, Ryuraryusu gave him a questioning look and was about to ask what he meant, but the timing didn’t work out. Gu and the other trolls’ laughter died down.
“So, weakling, why did you come? Do you want to be eaten? Crunchy bones are so tasty! I’ll start with your head!”
“I’m the one building a fortress in the center of the forest using golems and undead. Maybe you’ve heard of me?”
The atmosphere changed. Gu and his men grew intensely hostile, while Ryuraryusu grew intensely cautious.
“I have, interloper! If this snake hadn’t been so whiny, we would have gone to kill you already! Well, you saved us the trouble, puny black coward!”
“Well that makes this quick. The reason I came is to negotiate with the two of you.”
Ainz gestured at them to bow down. “If you value your lives, submit to me.”
“You idiot! Why would we obey a coward like you? We’re going to eat you! Then we’ll eat the runt behind you!”
“Gu, he’s the master of that horrible building. It’s a big risk to take him lightly! And that’s a dark elf behind him. They were the rulers of this forest until they fled from the evil tree. They’re strong—listen to me!”
Ainz couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into refreshing laughter. “Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! You bark better than a dog, you meathead! Then how about this? The guy you call so weak challenges you, with the tough name, to a duel. You’re not gonna get scared and run away, are you? If you’re frightened, bow your head down to the dirt. I’ll keep you as a slave!”
“Interesting! I didn’t think I needed help to fight you anyway! I’m going to tear you apart and devour you!”
“Okay. That’s your choice, then. As of this moment, negotiations have fallen through. Aura, back up a bit. I’m going to play with this one by myself.”
The moment he finished speaking, a sword came swinging down at him from overhead—a blow from Gu’s nearly ten-foot-long blade.
Ainz didn’t move. He stood facing the sword and took it head-on.
“Uh?”
“What is it? You seem puzzled.”
Ainz didn’t so much as flinch. Gu, his ugly face warped in surprise, swung his sword from the side this time, but Ainz let it hit his body, the same as before.
“Ngh?!”
Gu retreated a few steps and looked between Ainz and his sword. Then he confidently turned his back and stood before one of his subordinates.
All of a sudden, the sword sliced through the air into the troll that should have been on his side. The blade entered at the shoulder and cut smoothly through the flesh, sending fresh blood spraying everywhere.
The troll emitted a dim-witted shriek.
Gu nodded in satisfaction at the body that tumbled to the ground. He must have been happy to know nothing was wrong with his weapon.
“Ah, right, trolls can regenerate. Seeing it firsthand like this really is impressive.”
The cut rapidly healed. Rather than the damage rewinding, it was as if the healing process were fast-forwarded.
Although he had probably tested it due to the regeneration ability, Gu looked down at his subordinate with a sinister expression that made it seem like he would have done it regardless.
“Deciding the fate of the weak is the privilege of the strong. But you’ve made me extremely…uncomfortable.”
Ainz stepped forward. He felt less and less like playing around any longer.
“Gu! This Ainz Ooal Gown is no normal adversary! We should work togeth—”
“Shut up! Stay where you are and watch in silence, you coward. Grraaoohh!”
What came at Ainz was like an explosion of blows. The chain of attacks unleashed by this body far surpassing human physiques delivered destructive power on par with those of the highest-class beings he had faced in this world.
But how much pain would a hit that couldn’t knock down a tough castle wall or put a huge crack in the ground cause for Ainz?
He let the sword slicing through the air hit him.
“Sheesh. Could you stop making wrinkles?” He looked away as though he had lost interest and tugged his robe, disheveled by the impact, to straighten it out. Then he suddenly looked up at Gu as though he had just remembered he was there. “Oh, are you satisfied now?”
“Grraaoohh!”
Having realized his sword wasn’t very effective, the troll cast it away and charged with the intent to punch Ainz. The attack was a swing of a giant hammer. If it had hit a human, they would have no doubt gone flying in a splattered mess.
The blow would have been lethal for some, but Ainz took it head-on. Afterward, he brushed off the place where he had been hit as if something unclean had touched him.
Gu’s attacks stopped. His hideous face warped to be even uglier, and he stared at Ainz, who remained unflinching.
“You with the heroic name, is that the end of your confident attacks?”
“Your defense is pretty—gyaaaaah!”
Ainz rushed the troll and waved his wand, blowing away half of one of Gu’s legs. Unable to stay upright, his huge body crumpled to the ground.
“So have you got it through your pea brain that just because someone is a coward doesn’t mean they’re weak?”
The trolls and ogres watching the battle gasped in shock at the shameful state of their ruler.
Ainz emitted an annoyed sigh. If this monster only just managed to understand his situation, he was worth nothing. One with the intelligence to make a run for it with good timing, however, was a different story.
“Aura. Don’t
let that one get away. Capture it.”
Aura instantly understood what Ainz meant despite his vague instructions. The naga was attempting to sneak away under cover of Invisibility, but she arrived at its side instantaneously.
“Lord Ainz, I caught it. Now what?”
Ainz ignored Gu and looked over to where Aura had a one-handed vise grip on the naga’s neck. His attitude spoke volumes to Gu and everyone else in the room: He didn’t consider Gu anywhere near a worthy opponent.
When Gu bared his teeth and growled in response to the scalding condescension, Ainz didn’t care.
“Hey, kid!” The naga wrapped its body around Aura until she was completely covered. “I’m going to constrict until you pop!”
From inside the ball of snake body came a composed voice. “Uh, I can’t see Lord Ainz’s majestic figure like this. If you make a fuss, I’ll crush half your throat—I have to be careful you don’t die.”
Sensing the power gap from that tiny fist, the naga shrieked and unwound its body.
“Aura, time is money, and only fools spend unwisely. Please move somewhere a bit out of the way so it doesn’t get killed in the cross fire.”
“Understood!”
Aura had no trouble dragging away the naga, though it was several times her weight, and Ainz shifted his gaze from that scene to Gu, who was finally able to stand up after the flesh around his stump bulged and his muscles healed thanks to his regeneration ability.
“You’re patched up? Then shall we continue?” Ainz tapped his wand on his shoulder and readied himself in an unconcerned way. His attitude made it clear he wasn’t going to bother defending himself.
“Wh-what d-did you do? What are you doing? Magic?”
When Gu, with his sword up, withdrew a few steps, Ainz stepped forward after him. Ainz’s gait was short compared to Gu’s, so there was more space between them now than before they had started the fight.
“Hmph,” Ainz snorted. “What’s this? How strange. I’m the one with the cowardly name, but I stepped forward, while you with the brave name are backing away. Why is that, Gu?”
The answer came in a monotone. “It’s because Lord Ainz’s name is brave, and Gu is a weird, cowardly name, right, snake?”
The Two Leaders Page 26
