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A vampiric Blade Reforged
Chapter 31 A shadowy meeting

Chapter 31 A shadowy meeting

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-Six months later-

Sitabus glanced out the window to the overcast grassy planes zooming past with Ritana riding close the other elite four out of view. She glances over with a happy grin. Before he let the curtain move back to cover the window.

Sitabus looked across from his seat at Kathrin, busy looking over reports for him while they traveled. Velvet was polishing her weapons in her usual maid outfit as spotless and clean as ever. She is staring at his side where Shalltear and Clementine were seated.

Shalltear was clinging to his side with a broad smile. Velvet narrowed her eyes as the long white and gold skirt moved around her legs. “Shalltear, can you please restrain your hands and have clementine sit on the seat, not under your skirt. In the bedrooms, I might allow such perversion, but this is stretching it.”

Shalltear stares Velvet down with a satisfied smirk patting the dress near her nether regions. “If lord Kettor’s toy wishes to please her betters, who am I to disagree. So long as lord Kettor has no complaint.”

Sitabus resisted sighing at Clementine’s want to live dangerously only encourage Shalltear. The two worked well together and had a productive work ethic. ‘I swear Peroroncino would love this situation.’ Still, he couldn’t complain Shalltear was keeping clementine distracted from boredom. A bored Clementine was annoying to deal with and dangerously hungry for action or something to break.

“Velvet leave them be. At least Clem-chan isn’t antagonizing you or Kathrin so long as her hands, mouth, and hair are full and out of sight.”

Velvet only scowled with her eyes, her lips remaining in a thin line. Letting the matter rest for now.

"Kathrin, who did you put in charge of watching Arche and her sister? while we are away."

"I had Kevlar and his friends to play with them and Fluder to teach them with some translated magic books and lore books of Yggdrasil."

Sitabus thought about the argument with narrowed eyes. Since meeting Fluder, he had found the man's sanity and attention lacking unless it was a subject related to magic.

"Was there no one more stable to teach them?"

"No, my love, the only other is his top assistant, Sophie Noia, who is as perverted as shalltear. I thought it better to have her on our potion research and monster taming programs."

Sitabus, while happy Kathrin could deal with the obsessed magic wizard. Felt conflicted about him being around Arche's sister. Still, it is nice Kathrin had come to stand on her own decisions without needing his orders all the time. Still, he genuinely worried for those directly under her control.

The disregard Ritana showed for her own safety and brutal training, which pushed Ritana to get so strong so fast, could break people. He had seen it first hand as she demonstrated the training she put the army through. Back on earth, such cruel training methods would have crippled soldiers for life either mentally or physically. Luckily they had dedicated healers who could heal most wounds like Roberyck and the new mental support system.

“Where are we headed my love, you never said where lord Ainz wanted to meet us, after the last message spell?” Kathrin put the last of the papers away into her inventory.

“To meet the leader of Crain village where we will meet up with Ainz.”

‘I still don’t know if there is a Dev' Or admit around?” Going back over the oddity of message spells working fine with Ainz and Nazarick now. It was still being investigated why the arena entrance had collapsed and the three words burned onto the rooftop.

‘What are the connections, and where is this demon deity that parasite talked about?’

Just as he was about to stow the question away and answer Kathrin. An elegant and childish voice with a joyless undertone answered.

“I can tell you my champion of darkness if you will entertain me a little.”

Everyone in view grabbed their weapons as the silhouette of a cloaked woman melted together off the floor of the carriage. It was like a shadow had gotten off the ground with two pure red shining eyes with small dots of yellow in the sea of red and a thin red line for a mouth smiling.

Sitabus growled his hands on his sabers as his bat fangs were ready to fly at this administrator. Daring to stand before him after all they had done.

“Tell me why I should listen to someone who has been interfering with myself and those around me.”

The admit smiled, giving a bow. “I have not taken any action that would hinder you. If not for my actions, Velvet and Clementine wouldn’t be as they are now. I have also forced the other admit to take the block off you and stop interfering, Lord Sitabus Karrgin.”

Halting as they revealed knowing his real name glancing at Velvet and Shalltear's skirt. Telepathically telling Clementine to stay hidden. He Watches as Kathrin’s claw blades went right through the shadowy form.

The administrator paying the attempted attack no mind taking a seat next to Velvet. Sitabus raised a hand, stopping any further attacks. Until he could be sure of how to hurt this administrator or find out if they were telling the truth. There was no point in destroying the carriage Kathrin had made if they could not cut the enemy.

“I will at least listen for now, but we are meeting with someone soon. If I don’t believe you, I will be coming after you.”

The threat only brought a broad smile to the administrator's face. “Thank you, emperor Sitabus! Now I am the real Jester Troop. I was trapped by the other Admin’, who came here with me. Since we have gotten here, she changed, she believes she is doing good. The same belief, which led you to fight and kill those of my covenant of crows. The permanent death of your Jade and until recently blocking all communication of importance between your group and Nazarick.”

“You were planning on bringing chaos and destruction? Or did you not care what they did.”

Sitabus watches Jester, but this was harder than trying to read Momonga. Even if he is having trouble connecting with his humanity, he couldn’t condone such careless destruction without good reason.

“I was merely helping them in return for their help. As I am now offering my help with your own goals like destroying the Down Fall of Kingdom and Country, I will even personally bring you the person who used it along with the item itself if I must. Something we both know you can’t reach without putting those of Nazarick at risk. or endangering your public image right now.”

Sitabus narrowed his eyes, leaning back into his seat. He hated to admit it; however, he didn’t even know where to start looking. Why change sides now and pick him over Momonga if this was the case.

“What about the crows, and how would my love, even know you will keep your end of the bargain.”

Kathrin glared heatedly at this shadow. Sitabus was sure she would be trying to kill them for this. Kathrin had harshly punished Fluder and others who helped the crows for a month to warn against betrayers.

Jester paid Kathrin no mind with a dismissive wave. “Carnival has forced my hand by manipulating both you and Ainz to hunt down my covenant of crows. So long as I am trapped in the admit realm, most of my powers are limited or locked. As proof of my need for an alliance, I will tell you if my shadow projection is exposed to light, it will vanish just as Carnivals projection will vanish if hit enough."

Sitabus turned his gaze to the door of the cabin. Then to Kathrin, he could get rid of this admit right now with just a little light? Thinking on it, he signaled Kathrin to hold.

“How can you help me against this other admit if you can’t even take a hit?”

Jester narrowed her red eyes, hiding the fear as she edged away from the curtain. “I can block her blunt tricks and illusions. The same which have kept you from noticing her and altering the perception of others. Which is what allowed Jade to get cornered, you already saw how I scraped together what was left of Jade, allowing your last resort to work.”

Sitabus glares at the wooden floor as he intertwined his hands in front of him. Could he trust this person? As much as he didn't want to, they were offering help and information. In Yggdrasil, the prospect of fighting Administrators was impossible; no player really knew what they could do or the limits they had. Yet here they could be standing right next to them and never notice if they decided to try killing him.

"Alright, but I want your total cooperation and everything you are willing to share now."

Jester's dark smile put all of them on edge. "That was already part of my deal coming here."

Sitabus watches jester the whole time she explained what she knew, which was a lot to take in, she and some other admin’ had arrived here before the six gods. Making them well over 300 years old.

As for the crow members, Jester was the one that gathered them together and helped the foremost eight leaders find their world items. Each one having there own numbers of spies and hidden minions under them.

However, the last two didn't have many and were the most united of the eight. With only one world item and a guild weapon between them.

Sitabus did his best not to show it as he silently answered a message spell from Ainz.

{Hello, Kyuketsuki. I need you to hurry to Crain. It seems I miscalculated something! Crain is under attack, and I am busy with my own battle.}

{Sure, I can speed things along.}

Hanging up, he hated the grin on Jester's face. For now, he couldn't attack without being sure he could first hurt them, and second, know for sure they were the once that had terminated jade.

Moving over to the carriage door. "Well, this was nice, but we must be going. A village requires saving. I will move ahead Kathrin catch up quickly. " Jumping out as Siegfried appeared jumping on his steed with Rita riding up close.

"What is the danger, Kettor-sama?"

"Just follow my lead. We need to help allies of Ainz Ooal Gown."

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-A few minutes later-

As Sitabus and his four knights came close to Crain village coming into view. A massive army of beast-men at least ten thousand strong, fighting against an army of five thousand goblins and some brave human villagers. Looking closer, he could see a man befitting a member of the royal family of Re-Estize near the back with a cloaked person having the mask of a wolf. This person was holding a twisting and oddly shaped spear. Which seemed to be putting up an aura of light around him and the beast-men attacking?

The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

{That is the wolf. His real name is Wolfgrand Varrow, the second in command of the crows. The spear he is holding is an old guild weapon I found only useable to Lycan’s and demi-humans. Kill him, and the spear should break for good this time.}

Jester’s voice chimed in before fading out Sitabus couldn’t be happier, even letting a fanged grin show. “Rita lead the four in to help defend Crain. Once Kathrin arrives, she and the others will help where they can..”

He charged at the leaders of this army if the spear was buffing the soldiers then by taking them out. It would destroy the line of command and allow the other side to quickly break the stalemate below.

Cutting through a few mounted knights trying to stop him once he was close enough.

“[Triple: winters death edge] and [summon true blood paladins]”

The three dark blue waves of cold cut through the back of the army, killing 300 beast-men and a few humans mixed in, right off the bat. Those slain melted down and merged into three 2.5-meter-tall winged vampires dressed in shining red armor with large shields and long swords or lances. Unlike blood knights, these monsters had a more powerful air of danger and restrained blood lust.

The three high-tire true vampires quickly started cutting through enemy beast men and humans alike, throwing back enemies bashed with their shields. After clearing a path for him and forcing the scared soldiers to give them a wide berth, they each slammed their shields down into the ground creating a shock wave of negative energy. Followed by raising up their swords, creating a dark tinted barrier of instant death magic. Around Kettor and the two leaders of this army.

‘I love these paladins. Now, if only they weren’t so expensive to summon. They are about level 60 but still. I could have created 30 mid-tire vampires and 300 low-tire vampires.’ While he would have like to help Ritana more. Even this lycan would have trouble escaping his favorite summons for being one of the best vampire tanks and high tier caster of instant death magic.

Dismounting on to the now-dead grass with one saber drawn his six bat fangs floating around him.

“Ainz must be fighting your boss. How did you get the beast-men and humans to follow you anyway?”

Wolf's answer would tell him if Jester was telling the truth. From what he was told, they shouldn’t have this many following them. Glaring at both the werewolf ready for battle and the first prince who was shaking even as he held out his sword unwilling to dismount. Not that it would do him any good.

“You should have kept hunting us. Giving me six months to rally the new beast-man kingdom was a mistake this village will pay for. once I kill you, my forces will join Blank in crushing the Re-Estize army.”

Sitabus stared at wolfgrand. Did he honestly believe he would win? Sitabus pulls out a vile of silver and coating his sabers and daggers with it. Making them shine as he activated [ability boost], this would be over quickly.

Rushing forward at the werewolf, which throws off his cloak changing into a towering wall of claws and fur growling. Thrusting out the spear, Kettor sidestepped the thrust as his daggers stabbed into Wolf's arms, gaining a hiss of pain. Before, the werewolf could move back slowed by pain. Sitabus thrust his saber into the werewolf's heart. Twisting the blade and pulling back his saber and cutting off the head for good measure.

Watching the guild weapon crumbled into dust before his eyes. Sitabus turns his attention to the trembling prince with his sword shaking in his hands. Hearing the boom of lightning and explosions of Rita’s magic in the background.

Sheathing his saber and slowly approaching the prince frozen in terror. His six bat fangs floating close to the prince's neck. “Why is one of the old royal families of Re-Estize helping beast-men to attack Crain.”

The prince glared with hate and rage momentarily overcoming his fear. “You are the undead scum that took over the empire. Like that bastard, the elder lich killed the king and fooled the people into following him. I will still be king, and this stupid village should have helped me take back what should have been mine!”

Sitabus stared at the prince, trying to figure out what he was talking about. ‘Just how much have I missed that was not the plan Demiurge had told him about.’

“The ex-first prince Barbro. You must not remember Crain and Re-Estize are now part of the Sorcerer Kingdom under King Ainz Ooal Gown. Decreed by governor Renner for saving its people from Jaldabaoth~su.”

Kettor looks over past the barrier at Lupusregina Beta's smiling face holding her huge mace. With the young blond village girl and the goblin army behind her.

“Hello, I'm Erin, Lupusreg tells me you are the new Emperor Lord Ainz asked to meet with me.”

Waving to the three True Blood Paladins to drop the barrier quickly moving to stand behind Kettor. With Kathrin landing nearby, a pleasant small smile showing as she takes a stand next to him.

“Yes, I am the new emperor, Kettor minx, and this is my lovely empress Kathrin.”

Kathrin took up Kettor’s hand, glancing over at the carriage where clementine and Shalltear where keeping watch.

“How about we all clean up this mess and talk in a more comfortable setting. I would very much like to know where this army of goblins came from. Then we can decide what to do with Barbro.”

Sitabus took in the wooden houses and walls of the village. It had the air of a small town homy and welcoming. Seeing the goblins, humans, and Ogres, it was a beautiful site if not for one problem. There were now 5000 goblins to feed. They would need help to sustain the required food.

Kathrin could easily arrange to supply them with food until they could find a solution to the issue. It helped that they didn't seem to mind his true blood paladins or his vampire nature.

"Thank you again for the help in the battle. What do you think of Crain so far, Emperor Kettor." Erin encouragingly grinned at him. As if just a few hours ago, they weren’t fighting off an army.

"It is a lovely place to live general Erin, as a show of our goodwill for any losses, please take these. The first you know of already, the second one is a wand of resurrection. It has a limited number of uses to revive your dead." Kettor reached into his inventory, pulling out one Horn of the Goblin General, and one short glowing ivory stick. Holding them out to Erin’s awe and shock.

"You have them too? why give them to me?" Erin took the ivory stick and one small horn carefully before she had no idea just how powerful they were. If used right, she might double the goblin armies size. The wand was even rarer; she could sense the power coming off it. The ability to bring back those she had lost

Sitabus chuckled lightly at Erin's sputtering. "You have discovered a secret about them and can use them much better then I can. Do me a favor; only use them when needed. As for your new supply needs, why don't you go talk with my dear Kathrin."

Letting go of Kathrin’s arm and urging her to help them. Not just as a village in need but as allies under Nazarick's protection. With Leinas and Nimble following Kathrin.

Looking through the crowding spotting Lupusregina time to find out what Ainz has been up to. Waving to a few as he approached one of the Pleiades, "Good to see you're doing well, Lupu, would you please fill me in on Ainz actions so far."

Lupusregina leads him over to a table the environment of joy and cheers after only an hour ago they were in danger of being destroyed. This didn't vanish his unease about crowds throwing up [silence zone] and [greater illusion].

Sitabus had to be cautious about information connecting him to Ainz and Nazarick. "Ok, it should be safe to talk openly. Please only call me emperor or lord Kettor to be safe."

Lupus stared at him with a happy smile, but her eyes gave away her discontent. "I’m glad to see you well, lord Kettor; many of us were worried about you with only a few letters to tell us where you went. Is there a reason you seem to be avoiding Nazarick?"

Sitabus stared at the table with a frown. He had never stopped to consider how they would feel. It had never been his intention to make them think he was avoiding them. This was the last thing he wanted them to think then again; he had up and vanished for half a year what did he expect.

“Lupusregina, I want you to remember this. Nazarick safety is my first priority, even when I am far away. I promise once things in the empire settle down, I will spend more time in Nazarick.” Grasping Lupusregina’s hand in his.

Lupusreguna met his gaze with a questioning look and disappointment. “You could ask for help none of us like the fact that you are out alone so unprotected. All of us would be more than willing to help just as we will follow lord Ainz.”

‘Yes, because the truth is, they respect him more than us.’ Sitabus resisted the urge to glare at the shadow. This thought was jealousy at best, and he knew this. It was still a fact if Ainz gave an order, they would take it over his. As much as he loves Nazarick and its beauty, he needs a place where he doesn't feel like the third wheel.

The last six months with Kathrin and the others had been fun and relieving where he did not have to be reminded, he had the burden of the title of a supreme being. “I am safe. I have Shalltear and Kathrin with me, along with many others. Ainz is better at leading then me, but I am better at fighting battles and war. If I need any of your help, you will know. Now, how has Ainz been doing.”

Lupusregina gave a weak smile before she could tell him. Ainz and Albedo, teleported next to the table. Ainz dispelled the spells taking a seat as Lupusregina moved over. Gaining awe and wonder-filled stares of all those around them.

{Really Momonga I wanted this to be private!}

Ainz waved at them, gesturing for the crowd to stop kneeling. {Sorry Kyuketsuki, I was planning on meeting you here than those two showed up. After this I have to decide what to do with Barbro.}

Sitabus forced a happy face ignoring his discomfort. He came here to talk with a friend, not deal with relations between kingdoms. “Hello, King Ainz, it brings me joy to see you doing so well, old friend. After Helheim fell to those demons.”

Sitabus was overjoyed at the twitch of a frown to the lie. If he had to do this, he might as well have fun with it. {What are you doing Kyuketsuki!} Sitabus gave a confident smirk back to his friend. {Roleplaying the moment.}

Ainz sighed. “I did emperor Kettor though I learned Jaldabaoth the demon emperor seems to have followed us here if not for Momon and Abey’s help we would not have saved the kingdom.”

{Ok I get you got Pandora to be Momon and Narberal to play as Abey but who is Jaldabaoth?}

Kettor stared at Ainz with a deep frown Ritana and Bardic shared a glance behind him having never heard such a demon name before. “Well, you dealt with him, and you and your wife are still alive. Still, what about that crow cult?”

{Demiurge came up with the plan after eight fingers tried to take someone, we had under my protection. I changed the plan after finding out two of the crows were convincing the nobles and king to attack Nazarick.}

Ainz took Albedo's hand lightly, gripping her’s for support. “Sadly, they tricked many adventures and an army of 200,000 into attacking our home. Only blue rose survived as payment for those they killed. I have them working for Nazarick.”

Sitabus struggled not to show his annoyance and rage; someone had attack Nazarick without him noticing. Balling his hand into a fist, how had he failed to even see this. If even one of them was from E-Rental, this could ruin Pluton’s deal. {Please, tell me you didn’t kill any from E-Rental if you did don’t tell Pluton. What did you do with Blue Rose really?}

Ainz lips twitch up into a small grin. “Seeing how easily the nobles and even the king was tricked by the cult. I demanded they hand over E-Rental and Crain village along with other outlying villages to better protect them and save those I could from their tricks.”

{Thanks to Kathrin’s help Rheanna Allegra Day Rettenmaier daughter of the previous mayor made sure to not allow any adventures to take the request. Blue Rose took some convincing, but I couldn’t let their part in raiding Nazarick slide without punishment.}

Kettor glanced around them. No one seemed to take offense with the demand, to Ritana and Bardic surprise. The whole village was listening with rapid attention. No one dares to speak up. watching to kings talk like old friends. “I’m surprised the old king would allow it. Jicniv, before his death at the Slane Theocracy agents, told me how proud he was.”

{Really you’re going with that lie Kyuketsuki!}

Ainz stared at the emperor with an unreadable look. “Well, with my show of force, the loss of there army and the regrettable death of Ganzeoff the warrior captain. He had little choice, then Jaldabaoth joined forces with the cult brutally taking over cities and killing all who got in his way. I had to step in, and Rheanna mayor of E-Rental was happy to have my protection for the good of the small villages and her city.”

{Clementine saw one of the black scripters wearing THAT world item! As far as I care unless they want to apologize and better yet hand it over, I won’t stop. Besides, it is not a lie while I was busy dealing with an Adrofine parasite caster class. The whole of the Empire would have been destroyed or infected before they intervened. They chose to let it get overrun and forced me to act to save those I could.}

Kettor laughed genuinely at this. “Always one for theatrics, Ainz. So how did you get Re-Estize to become part of your Sorcerer Kingdom.”

Ainz took a minute to gather his thoughts about the matter, not prepared for this question. One small victory to Sitabus, he was always better with PvP and Tactics in battle.

“I took my undead army and marched through each city, retaking it and fighting back Jaldabaoth’s demon maids. Turning them against him before finally coming to the capital. It was a hard fight, even with my wife. It took both the darkness adventurers and myself to beat him back and reclaim the last city. Only lady Renner, her personal guard climb, and Brain, the new warrior captain, was left of the royal family. After saving them, queen now governor Renner asked to allow Re-Estize to become part of the Sorcerer Kingdom.”

Kettor slightly narrowed his gaze keeping up his impressed look; there was no way the last member of a royal family just gives up the kingdom. Glancing over at Albedo. Yeah, he couldn’t read her at all still, his instincts told him Albedo had something to do with this.

He got the gist of it. Basically, Ainz tested Nazarick defenses, gathered information about any players that might be around, and changed Demuirge’s plans. Which forced the people to choose the lesser evil that wasn’t trying to kill and enslave them.

Breaking the message link as he moved away from the table taking in the village around him. Despite his out worldly happy appearance, he scans the area. Jester informing him about what had him on edge. {Carnival is not here don’t worry I will let you know if I sense her.}

“Well, Ainz now with this out of the way how about we move this to the capital. To have our alliance in writing and an end to the annual war between the old Re-Estize and Baharuth Empire.”

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-End of chapter-