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-Back at the meeting room-
“Moving on then since all the kingdoms around us are allies or vassals. Which areas should we focus on next? I would like all of your input before saying which I think are most pressing.”
“What about Carnival and the last three dragon lords?”
Kettor glanced at Punitto. It was something even he didn’t know luckily; they had the eye in the sky. Waving over to Jester as she stood up, the void avatar took them all in.
“Rita already found a lead. I have another avatar looking into. We both suspect they have allied with the kingdoms across the sea. I also saw Rigrit left my range with another player headed to the demi-human and beast-men kingdoms east of the empire.”
Ainz spoke up next. “What about Carnival.”
Jester gained a faraway look as she answered. “She will die off before 1000 years pass, or Kettor-sam, and I will take care of her before she becomes a problem.”
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-Jester’s fifth void avatar on a faraway island-
She silently looked through the window, unaffected by the countless traps around the small hidden hut. Seeing how Ayane was talking to a few low-level players, but this was the path she chose. Jester ran her hand over the window plane in guarded longing with how everything went; Jester couldn't risk getting close, not only because it hurt too much. If Ayane said something that even too vaguely sounded like a threat to Nazarick, she would be forced to act or suffer her deals’ backlash.
Smiling sadly under the mask, she took out the letter, gently putting it on the base of the trunk to the hidden hut. Knocking before creating a small mailbox near the cabin with Muketsu on it shimmering away.
She would prove to Ayane her plan would work with Nazarick even if her sister kept trying to get in the way. It wouldn’t be easy, and she might never physically talk to Ayane again before she passed. Still, they were both alive and mostly happy for now. Maybe someday they could be real sisters once more after she saw the new paradise she was planning.
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-Meeting room a few minutes later-
With no other suggestions, Ainz was about to bring up his idea before the doors opened as Tabula and Albedo came in.
"Hello, lor…hum...Ainz, I wanted to say sorry if I have been overly critical in the last few years. As an apology, how about I give you full command of all three of my creations until further notice."
This was definitely strange given how possessive Tabula was; he was tempted to use his corruption spell [abyss gaze]. Forgoing the idea, Kathrin could be trusted to whatever the three said must have gotten to the illithid. He would have loved to see what they said that got him to change his mind. Maybe they brought up some rare occult knowledge. The illithid could talk about that for days.
With that out of the way, they got to Ainz plan, which he really had been improving on, probably thanks to Albedo and Demiurge’s help. ‘I know the only reason I even unlocked and maxed out emperor class was thanks to Kathrin.’ He settled in, for now, then he could show Jorōgumo around the capital, and Kevlar should be back by the time this meeting was over.
"I think it's time team darkness and team Prismatic warriors travel to the other lands. Kettor, I assume you will stay close to Nazarick and keep watch while we are information gathering.”
He gave a fatherly smile at this obvious statement. “Of course, I have to raise my daughter. In a few years, I will be ready to give Rita one after I am sure nothing damaging will come of a biological child; due to my true Eldridge physique.”
After maxing out World corruption to level 15, he couldn’t change form in large cities without the natural aura of madness breaking the weak minds in a five-meter radius around him. Didn’t help that his humanoid shape felt so tight and uncomfortable all the time. He wasn’t even sure how an 8.68 meter or 28 feet tall mass of tentacles, eyes, maws, death, and madness. Fit inside an eight-foot-tall muscular form was beyond him even with his deep understanding of his powers.
The room filled with cheers as Rita stared at him with a blush. He returned it by drawing his warrior close into a makeout hug. Life was good for now, and Kettor would enjoy the downtime. Because he was sure, new threats would arise given time. The dragonlords were already making testing attacks from the shadows. Carnival was using what time she had left to create a group to unite players against them.
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-Empire-
Kevlar, dressed in his dripping wet clothes, stepped out of the [gate] annoyance clear on his face. Grumbling about stupid pirates as he tried to get out of his thick sailor clothes. It was another successful mission on his long 16-year career as lady Kathrin’s best spy. Didn’t mean he liked getting wet or the idea of a giant sea dragon showing up like Rita hoped. Thankfully it didn’t, and he didn’t have to swim for his life to avoid getting drowned, crushed, or eaten.
“What happened to you, Kev?”
He gave a ‘really’ look at Miskes, gesturing to his state of being drenched. Feeling his short hair matted by water.
“Ugh, of course, this had to happen a few hours before my date.”
“You could always reschedule again.”
Kevlar gave grank a warning gaze. “Unlike some of us, I plan to have a girl that lasts more than a week. Besides, Arche will kill me if she finds out I had to skip another chance to date Kuude-chan. After all the hoops, she demanded I jump through in the first place to not have Fireballs raining down my way.”
“You know she will be busy up near the border for like a month? You will be fine, Kev, you got us this far. Gods thinking back, I had no idea how much would change in 17 years.” Tammy hummed as she halted reading her book to reminisce of the past.
“Guys, you know how powerful Fluder’s is, and you know who his student is. I wouldn’t be surprised if she is spying on us right now with long-range magic. Plus, I need to live longer than one date to get a kiss from an angel, then I can die happy.”
They chuckled at his joke and gave him words of encouragement for his date. Rechecking the watch before going into the palace’s fancy bathroom, taking off his clothes to shower and get ready again for his date.
Planning out who would get which jobs while he was on the date. Miskes could handle checking all the empire contacts for this week and their income. Tammy and Grank should be able to safely check up on the old Slane Theocracy territory. Then he could replace his lost weapons at Ureirika and kuudes shop before the date.
Drying up quickly and leaving, giving his orders to his gang while he went on a date, much to their groans. They should know to finish quickly, then they would have the rest of the day off. After all, few would cause problems in the moonlight empire these days.
Waving to people as he passed down the paved streets and grand rows of houses of the capital. Tammy was right. He couldn’t have asked for a better break finding the lord and lady. Work was good, and the days where easy. Under the new gods’ rule, which reformed the world, even the criminal underworld with groups like eight fingers didn’t dare oppose them for good reasons.
The people thrived under them so long as they followed the rules and keep the faith. He still wasn’t sure about the whole divine being’s thing, but they were definitely the most powerful people he knew. ‘Wonder if anty Rita knows Eight Fingers is still around? Probably not, or she would wipe them out for good.’
Coming up to the three-story building opening the door as the alarm spell went off. Seeing Kuuderika working at the front desk with a few customers, the shop was filled with weapons, armor, other supplies, and even metal art. This shop was the best place to find any top-grade gear in the empire and one of the few places to get the slowly emerging new metals better then Adamantite most of the best ones where still being kept under wraps for now.
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It was hard for blacksmiths to work with metal so resistant to heat and magic that it could survive being under lava. Magic below third was useless against it, either bouncing off or doing little more than small scratches to the armor. Kevlar was still amazed. The two of them found a way to work with the stuff at all. They had grown a lot over the last few years instead of the 5-year-old girl he met a few years ago.
Kuuderika was now a beautiful young twenty-year-old woman, with those flowing locks of light and smooth golden hair, those blueish light green eyes, most of all, that stunning smile that lit up the room.
He quickly composed himself, unwilling to be caught staring at his hot date before his date started. Casually approaching the desk after picking up more potions, a new short sword, and daggers. Waiting till he got up to the front, Kuuderika gave him a disappointed gaze at the weapons.
“This is the third set this week! How are you losing these weapons so quick? You are rather low on mana too; what did your job need this time, hum.” Kuuderika leaned closer, making him sweat a little.
Kevlar chuckled nervously at the piercing stare. Sadly, she didn’t need to know about his work yet. Kathrin was clear he would have to wait a few months and a minimum of 30 dates or some amount of time together.
Kevlar shrugged with, “Had to survive a sinking ship and a small war at sea?”
Kuude-chan giggled like he was joking if only that where true. “Come on, be serious with me. I never see you leave the capital and rarely leave the palace. Anyway, 40 gold, either way.”
“Ok, you got me. I was chasing down an evil criminal, and he was about to ambush a beautiful woman like yourself. So I throw my daggers to stop him only to have them miss as he skillfully dodged. I have no idea where they went off to then. While I had him at sword point, he casts a [flash] and steals the sword you made for me, but I save the lovely lady though they pale in comparison to you.” He gave a charming smile at the lie, getting a lovely giggle for his tale.
Kuuderika only crossed her arms with a smirk, not changing the price.
“That seems a little higher than usual. Did my valiant tale not sway you to spare my wallet?” Kev gave his best pleading eyes already knowing that wouldn’t work, but he had to try.
“Well, I am adding a new rune from Lady Kathrin’s book I learn so the weapons will teleport back to you. As much as we love the business, I can’t have my possible boyfriend losing his weapons sets. I keep spending days of hard work to make all the time now, can I.”
Kevlar couldn’t turn down the offer, not that money was really a problem for his group. The boss lady was rather generous with pay now that they were old enough to be leading their own lives.
Paying Kuuderika called out to another staff member to take her place at the front desk while they both went out on the streets. He had plenty of time to think about this date for the last few days. He could only hope Lady Kathrin would not have any urgent jobs for today and tomorrow.
First, they went to a nearby restaurant which had recently opened up run by Tesera and Revie, her brother supplied with exotic food out of a mouse demi-human village. Enjoying the great food and each other’s company and talking about random stuff like they had for years. The date went great as they walked out of the place before they could enjoy it more, Kev spotted lady Kathrin and the emperor with his usual group. Most of all, his eyes spotted the little metal golem child with what looks like spider legs on her back running around with the demon maid Entoma following.
“OH my gosh, she is so cute; come on, I want to see the emperor’s daughter. I can only imagine all the complex rune work and molding, which must have gone into making such an adorable golem.”
“Wait, they have a daughter now?” Kev didn’t get an answer reminding himself to get the little thing a gift later.
Kuuderika dragged him over to the metal golem in a royal gown with steam and the sound of gears following. As Kuude-chan talked a storm up with the boss lady. Which went right over his head. Seeing Kuuderika would be busy for a few hours, he let her enjoy herself while walking over to Rita.
“So, they have a child now don’t suppose you know if we will get more downtime.”
Rita grinned at him with a knowing look. “Maybe, though, do you really feel like testing your luck.”
Kevlar didn’t find her humor funny, sidelining the thought. It would probably end up with him, helping to entertain the little devil.
They watched the two as Jorogumo joins into the complex theories and technical speak of creating metal golems. As she got to ride on the emperor’s shoulders only a few minutes later. A heartwarming sight made Kevlar think of his passed away father before his debt with eight fingers caught up to him.
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-Near the border-
Arche flew behind Fluder and his researchers and a few true blood paladins as they passed the mountain forests below them, keeping their eyes on the road as they flew over the land.
Imina and Hekkeran sent Arche lovely smiles as they talked among themselves. Arche could admit it was nice to see and talk with them. They became royal guards for the emperor and empress, but it allowed them to see each other a lot.
All three of them quieted down upon arriving at the site where the caravan of merchant’s carts overturned, and the Ghoalests laying dead and rotting.
Flying down the ground was covered in arrows, and hoof prints scanning around magic lingered in the air, land, and bodies. Kneeling down, she took note of the odd rune circle in the ground.
“Do you know What kind of magic this is? It almost feels like wild magic, which should be gone, but this is different somehow. Whatever it is, this looks like it took out the undead guards first.”
The other researchers scanned around the area, Fluder rubbing his beard before grinning happily at this strange new magic to research. “No, but this is definitely shaman magic of some kind. It is even keeping the undead guards back.”
Arche frowned, copying the circle down on her notebook along with the magic lingering around it before shooting a fireball at it, which destroyed it. However, using a few spells to check the area around whoever attacked the trade caravan was long gone. Noting a few teleporting traces yelling at a few magic helpers to get tracking on it while the magic was still dull.
“At least they didn’t use [gate], but this is still worrying. I thought the minotaurs and Centaurs were on friendly terms with us?” Arche knew it was almost impossible to track back a [gate] spell; by the time they did, the person could have already moved on.
Fluder was overflowing with joy as he took notes and samples of the magic used here. It was not tier magic (not all of it at least) that did this, to be sure. It was still powerful enough to kill all the level 35 undead and the level 40 Ghoalestes in a few minutes.
The battle couldn’t have been longer than an hour. Finding the body of a human [discern enemy] showed it to be level 45 way higher than any adventurers around this area and not wearing any gear or symbols of the moonlight empire.
“Get Xennessa here and inform Kathrin we got possible avatar energy.” Arche kneeled down over the body [dimensional collision] struggling with the relatively newly discovered sixth-tier spell. The space above the body cracked but didn’t shatter. Casting it thrice more did the trick as the pocket dimension broke open, popping out potions, rations, coins, weapons, and other gear.
Picking up one coin, it was definitely YGGDRASIL in origin; some strange weapons, coins, and papers were not. Nor was it the regular currency of the empire. Fluder found interest in the peculiar scrolls which had fallen out. Clearly magical in some nature, but as the old wizard channeled magic through it, nothing happened.
When the mighty demons appeared, dressed in the empire's lightly armored dress with her spell still on, she could see the Demoness was up to level 55. Arche tried to keep the scowl off her face at the site of the evil demon.
“I see their pet mage has gotten stronger.”
“I see you have been toying with the dead players again. How many demonic rituals and dead bodies did it take this time to gain another level?”
The head demoness walked up, putting an arm around her shoulder. The 37-year-old magic caster keeps her guard up. Stopping as her eyes landed on the new player.
“Only the weak ones as agreed with lord Demiurge. Besides, the stronger we are, the better we can all protect the empire right. Unless you disagree, would you like to risk letting this one go and come back at us later? I am sure lady Kathrin would love to hear how you begged to spare some of them. Only for them to try killing us later.”
Arche looked away, unwilling to test the Demoness, which could be persuaded to spare some for a few favors. Knowing they would come back, forcing Arche to give the killing blow each time. As much as she hated seeing such vile rituals, they kept her sisters safe. She avoids the area as Xennessa’s group got to work. This would be the third lost trading convoy to these new attacks. Luckily, she would get to see Rita again soon, hopefully before a fourth was lost.
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- Jorogumo a few hours later-
She was so overjoyed to see and learn so much on the first day, along with getting to play with so many new people. Then her mother took her to a room in the place filled with tons of metal scraps. Her eyes sparkled, marveling at the sight, not bothered by the lack of light.
“Now, I know you don’t require sleep at least; I don’t think you will. So, while your father sleeps, how about I show you how to make your grown-up body.”
She jumped around, supporting herself on the four spider legs to try and match her mother's height. “Like you, mom?”
Kathrin giggled at her childish antics lowering to eye level with her. Pulling out a book for beginning blacksmithing, putting the book in those fragile hands, confusion clear on Jorogumo’s loveable face.
Kathrin gathered her thoughts, figuring now would be the best time to tell her about how she met Lord Kyuketsuki so many years ago. It was part of what made them so different.
“No, I was initially organic before I met your father, a simple human girl close to dying in the cold snow alone in those howling winds. Sacrificed by my people to the monsters of the mountains to keep them safe for a few years. I thought I would die alone. When he found me on death's doors, he killed all the monsters and put me back together as best he could.
Sigh, his eyes at first looked as cold and merciless as the mountains around us. Even half-dead and passing in and out of consciousness, I could see the hidden kindness my own people lacked in my cold, logical home town. He fed me, healed me, and when that wasn’t enough to fix me, he shared his own levels and exp to help me get better. In his home, as a final gift to his perfect creation, he gave me eternal life. He asked nothing in return, merely stealing a single kiss. I knew from that day forward; I would always protect him and return such unconditional devoted love.
Your father gave me another reason to live after my own home threw me to the monsters. I have never felt so happy in all my life, and I cried for the first time in happiness. After my change, I now know I cannot bear children, and I thought I would never feel such joy again. Until we started to put you together.”
Jorogumo was silently absorbed into the romantic tale with large sparkling eyes. Intently listening to her mother's heartfelt words.
“My little spider. I still have some of my original body under all this metal and nanobot goo. You were born of pure metal, magic, and love. To grow up when you are ready, you must learn to forge your own body parts to keep our gift of love to you safe. The magic core which gives you life. Like my own core, which keeps me alive.”
Kathrin brushed her hand over the center of the child's chest. Enjoying those warm, loving eyes.
“Unlike me, your body will not self-repair itself or revive naturally. This is why I want you to read this book to start learning how to do it yourself. In time perhaps you will learn secrets we don’t know and gain abilities like my own.”
“Well the two human blacksmiths come to help?”
Kathrin put up a stern but fair motherly face. “Sometimes, but to start, I will help guide you on how to Forge armor and weapons. First, you must pick the metal you want to use, then I can show you how to forge. Remember our magic fire safety lessons. Be careful. Some of the metal scraps have sharp edges.”
“Ok, where is the nice red-haired lady and friends? I want to do this with anty Rita.”
Kathrin watched her daughter as she started quickly reading through the book. Never taking her eyes off the task at hand. She found another rush of motherly pride at how quick her little girl was learning.
“They had a small errand to run for mommy and daddy, so for now, it will be just us, Sinadra and Normikc. Is that alright, or would you like to do something else for now?”
Jorogumo deflated a little before quickly regaining her delightful mood with a blast of cold mist from her vents.
“No, I want to grow big and strong like you and daddy.”
Kathrin’s heart was filled with nothing but a mother's joy at her small, determined face. It might not have been what she initially hoped for but seeing her daughter now. She didn’t regret agreeing to this option. Feeling tears of joy fall down her face for the second time in her life. Hugging her daughter close even if she would miss out on somethings, this was all she needed and wanted. A loving husband and such a cute child not minding the burst of warm steam from the smiling girl.
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-End of Story-