Valkyrie's Shadow

Chapter 12

They rendezvoused with their transport without further incident, but Dawn did not arrive over the Katze Plains.

Or at least it was a dawn absent of daylight. Thirty kilometres from the nearest border, the ever-present mist had grown so thick that it choked out any trace of the sun, shrouding the land in perpetual darkness. It was commonly said that the Katze Plains was a cursed land where nothing could grow, but Ainz figured that it was not the direct result of any curse: it was simply because sunlight did not reach the ground. Limited to Darkvision and shrouded in the mist, visibility was no better than it had been the previous night.

“Zahradnik-dono,” he called out to the figure standing at the bow of the ship, “can you see through this mist with your Truesight?”

The Baroness looked back, shaking her head in response.

He figured that was the case, but one could never be sure in this world. When it came to the things familiar to a Yggdrasil player, there seemed to be as many differences as there were similarities. And then there was everything that did not exist in Yggdrasil, which complicated things all the more.

With the lack of scenery, Ainz had summoned four Wraiths, sending them under the river’s surface to look around. A gargantuan Water Elemental appearing to capsize the ship was decidedly undesirable. His summons periodically reported to him, describing the various Undead lurking in the murk. There were even things like skeletal fish swimming around.

Some sort of incorporeal Undead crossed over the billowing sail, and Ainz nodded to himself in satisfaction. It appeared that they were finally crossing the point where local efforts at Undead suppression fell off. Now that he was here to see what it was like, it was no surprise as the vast majority of Humans would become helpless if plunged into the pitch dark environment around them.

Under the canopy beside him, Shalltear closed her eyes and a pleasant smile filled her expression. Her chest rose in a deep breath as if she was savouring the atmosphere.

“Isn’t this place wonderful, Ainz-sama?” She said, “We should create something like this in the Sorcerous Kingdom.”

Ainz frowned internally. The closest thing they had was the E-Rantel Cemetery, and even that was treated as a constant source of issues by the local population. Shalltear’s proposal would be overwhelmingly unpopular.

“That’s probably not a good idea,” he told her. “I was going to do it eventually, but considering Countess Corelyn’s plans, it would be prudent to claim the Katze Plains for the Sorcerous Kingdom soon. No one else can use it anyway, so I doubt there would be any complaints if we extended our control over the area.”

“Mah, what a wonderful idea! We could find a nice place somewhere and build a cosy lair for just the two of us! Together, we could…”

Shalltear’s expression turned slack, and she wiped a trickle of drool from her lips. Ainz idly wondered what Albedo would do if she discovered such a location.

Weary of sitting in one place for hours, Ainz rose to walk around the ship. Crossing under the taut sail, he made his way to the bow, wondering if a better view could be had from there. He came up behind the Baroness, watching the mists swirl around her figure. Beyond, the dark waters of the Katze River stretched out before them.

“How nostalgic,” he half-muttered to himself.

“Nostalgic, Your Majesty?”

“Long ago, my friends and I would use ships like these to go exploring. This was mostly before we could maintain flight magic or had access to teleportation, but some places could only be reached by ship as well.”

Baroness Zahradnik turned at his account. Traces of her reaction to him could still be detected in her posture and expression, but she seemed to have wrestled it down for the most part.

“It’s hard to imagine what you say,” she said. “For such an unfathomably wealthy and powerful ruler to be resorting to this sort of transport…”

“It would be strange if I was always as I am now,” Ainz told her. “In addition, I was not always a ruler. Long ago, I looked out at the world in wonder, dreaming of the possibilities that lay at its furthest reaches. I explored unknown lands, fought monsters both mighty and strange. I sought ways to learn and improve, and at one point my eyes would have lit up in joy upon finding one of those weak magic items that you currently wear.”

“…that almost sounds like how the New Adventurer Guild markets itself.”

Ainz allowed himself a slight smile, crossing his arms and peering out into the mist.

“Well, the New Adventurer Guild was my idea, after all. I considered myself an Adventurer once. I still do. Exploring the unknown; uncovering ancient mysteries and forgotten treasures; meeting new people and seeing new places…my appetite for these things has not waned in the slightest. When I saw that collection of bounty hunters, mercenaries and monster exterminators that called themselves ‘Adventurers’, I was both saddened and incensed.”

“I’ve heard that the changes to the Adventurer Guild were the result of Your Majesty’s initiative,” the Baroness said, “but I wasn’t aware of the reason why.”

“Does that reason disappoint you?”

“I…am not much of an Adventurer,” she admitted. “The way that I think and perceive things seems to differ drastically from most of the Guild’s members.”

“Is that so? You seem like quite an Adventurer to me, Zahradnik-dono.”

The Baroness grew visibly confused over his assessment. Ainz gestured to where she stood with his left hand.

“One of my good friends – a Paladin – always stood where you are right now, looking out over the water. He was ever ready to stand between our party and the dangers that faced us, and he fancied himself a leader of sorts. He sought a path that was upright and just, pursued noble quests and went out of his way to protect the weak and oppressed…I suppose that doesn’t sound much like an Adventurer to you, does it?”

“I’m afraid it doesn’t, Your Majesty. Some Adventurers claim that they work to protect the people, and some may earnestly believe this. For the most part, however, it is as you’ve said before. The Adventurers of the old Guild exchanged their power for coin – personal gain was their bottom line.”

Ainz leaned back on his heels, stroking his chin.

“Things are so different now,” he said. “One may as well consider what I knew to be a different world. In my time, Adventurers truly Adventured, but even the idea of Adventuring has become alien to the Adventurers here. Exploring the world; discovering new knowledge; undertaking great challenges; going on quests to save cities and nations; defeating vile foes and world-ending threats – everyone had their disparate interests, as well.”

He turned around, looking back across the deck. Memories of the past superimposed themselves over his surroundings.

“For instance,” pointed to a spot near the mast. “We had an Alchemist who would sit right there at the bottom of the hold, making potions and consumables. He was very meticulous and explored the world for new alchemical knowledge and rare materials, so he’d often fall behind the party because he’d stop to pick up every herb and potentially useful material in our path. I’d be sitting with my legs dangling over the hold, researching our destination and trying to figure out what would be best for us to do. I suppose I was the sort to try and make sure things went as smoothly as possible. Peroroncino-san – our Ranger – would be up there at the top of the mast for the best vantage and sniping position. He was the type who constantly sought to improve his capabilities, no matter how insignificant the difference.”

“I’ve heard that name before…Lady Shalltear has mentioned Lord Peroroncino a few times.”

The crimson points of his eyes travelled to the rear of the ship, where Shalltear was watching him like a hawk from the shadows of the canopy.

“It’s not surprising that she has,” Ainz told her. “Peroroncino-san is Shalltear’s father and a dear friend of mine. His personality is somewhat similar to Shalltear’s, but his sister usually kept him in line.”

“…I wasn’t aware of that, Your Majesty,” the Baroness said. “Lady Aura did mention something about them being cousins, however.”

Ainz paused at the odd definition of the relationship between the three Floor Guardians.

“Cousins…? Yes, that’s right. Bukubukuchagama-san is Aura and Mare’s mother, as well as Peroroncino-san’s older sister. You must be well acquainted with all of them to have learned that, Zahradnik-dono.”

“I won’t presume how well acquainted I am to them, but I have spoken with them on many occasions. Lady Aura always seems like she’s out and about, but Lord Mare comes over for dinner once in a while. The three of them appear to get along well – they act like close siblings even when they’re not together.”

“I’m happy to hear you say so,” Ainz smiled. “Many misinterpret their interactions, but you have the right of things. Aura and Mare are two with whom you can entrust the knowledge of your Undead state, by the way. It’s not something that they would mind.”

Ainz returned to his seat, memories of the past and circumstances of the present intertwining in his mind.

“Did you hear all that, Shalltear?”

“I did, Ainz-sama…I’m always gratified to learn more about the Supreme Beings, arinsuga – especially Peroroncino-sama – but to share it with the Baroness…”

“Though not by name, this wasn’t the first time I’ve mentioned them to others,” Ainz told her. “The connection of those people to us was nowhere near as significant as hers. You claim that she is an excellent, loyal vassal. Since she is Undead, she’ll be with you for the long term. Sharing a little about yourself goes a long way towards bringing them closer.”

“I-I see.”

Shalltear pulled a notepad and a pen out of her inventory, writing something down with a look of great concentration.

The hours passed with only the mist and eerie stillness of the Katze Plains accompanying them as their vessel plied the river. The Death Warrior captain shifted their course slightly, and the ship drew close to the northern shore.

Ainz went over to stand along the starboard side of the vessel, grasping the railing with a bony hand. The first sign that they were drawing close to their destination was not the appearance of a looming, broken tower in the mist, but piles of rubble along the shore. Their progress slowed as the crew carefully navigated the ship forward.

“An old harbour…?”

The remains appeared to be composed of what could withstand the elements over the centuries. Their vessel drifted to a stop at the end of what looked like a stone jetty. Baroness Zahradnik disembarked first, taking point as she usually did.

At least she doesn’t leap off and strike some pose like Touch Me always did.

If anything, she was the exact opposite: quietly observing their surroundings as she made her way forward on soundless steps like some grim spectre. Ainz and Shalltear stepped off to follow several dozen metres behind, and he took inventory of the Undead all around them.

Low-level Undead could still be seen everywhere, but he noted stronger types amongst them. There were more of the spectral Undead he had seen over the river on their way here, though they all appeared to be basic Wraiths. The figures of Skeleton Mages, Ghouls and Ghasts could be seen on the streets and around the remains of the harbour’s buildings. Dozens of different Undead Beasts were scattered about, and it all made the ruins a strange caricature of its former existence as a living settlement.

Ahead of them, Baroness Zahradnik knelt down to pick something up. When she turned around, he saw an Undead Beast cradled in her arms. The Undead Beast – which looked like a cross between a squirrel and a rabbit – seemed quite docile.

“Erm, you do realize that you’re holding an Undead Beast, right?”

“I always thought that Undead Beasts all took the form of threatening animals,” she said. “I’ve never considered that there might be Undead Bunnia.”

“Technically, you can apply Undead templates to anything,” Ainz told her. “The rules apply no matter what you use, however – mice, squirrels and such will result in a pitifully weak Zombie or Skeleton or whatever it’s been turned into. You’re not thinking of keeping that as a pet, are you?”

“No, I’m more likely to eat Bunnia than keep them as pets. My people have some delicious recipes for them.”

Don’t you dare eat that thing in front of me! Revenants don’t have some flesh-eating trait like Ghasts and Ghouls, do they?

A clump of desiccated fur came away as the Baroness gently stroked the Undead Beast. She made a face and put it back down. Ainz suppressed a sigh of relief.

“It seems the idea that unsuppressed regions of the Plains have stronger Undead is holding out,” he said. “This place doesn’t look like it fared any better than the previous one, though.”

The ruins were more like rubble, with piles of debris where many structures once stood. Baroness Zahradnik continued moving forward, scanning the remains on either side of the street as she stepped around the Undead. He couldn’t be sure since the mist obscured his vision, but the place seemed to be at least as large as a town. If they were as thorough here in their investigation as the previous location, they could be stuck for days.

He, too, was interested in unravelling the mystery surrounding the towers of Katze Plains, but examining every pebble didn’t seem very efficient. There are also several other objectives on his list, and limited time to do everything.

They caught up to the Baroness, who was carefully picking through the first set of buildings along the shore.

“Is there something in particular you’re searching for?” Ainz asked.

“A cellar,” the Baroness answered, “or a building that looks like it held out better than the others.”

“In that case,” Ainz said, “how about we make things more interesting?”

“Interesting, Your Majesty?”

“Umu,” he nodded. “Instead of squeezing through all of these Undead as we look around, how about you clear our path? You lost levels upon your return as a Revenant: this appears to be a prime opportunity to get them back.”

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