Chapter 23: Hideout
The night sky shimmered with countless stars, resembling precious gems encased in a velvet box, gracing the heavens with their endless splendor.
A carriage traversed the open plains, drawn by a pair of horses led by two men up front, while two passengers occupied its interior.
One of the passengers possessed striking blue hair and a remarkably handsome face, while the other exuded an air of stoicism. He had olive-toned skin, brown hair, and well-defined muscles.
"How long until we arrive at the Marquis estate?" Brain inquired, shattering the peaceful silence of the night.
"Not too long. Since we only rested recently, the horses will carry us until we reach our destination. About half an hour or so." Gazef responded, his grip firm on the horse's reins.
"Not as bad as I thought. You think we'll be safe there?" Gazef looked at Brain, then back on the road.
"I believe so. Raeven is, if not the most loyal noble to the kingdom. He will surely aid us." Gazef reassured him.
"I hope so. I never thought it would get that much out of hand. A brother killing one of his own. I guess greed and envy can drive one to do such things." Brain commented, and Gazef nodded in agreement.
"Barbro was always misguided, as it pains me to say, by his father. He has this ideology that he is the one who deserves everything because he was born as the first son. I won't lie. The way King Rampossa raised Barbro made him spoiled and narcissistic." Gazef explained, his eyes reflecting the weight of his observations.. He had only watched how his king had treated his first son, yet he was not there to teach his king how to raise a kid but to protect him. Thus, he did not say anything.
"Wow. Guess he was really treated as royalty." Brain couldn't resist a wry joke, at which Gazef made a sarcastic laugh. "No, but seriously. Kinda feel bad for King Zanac. I mean, he was a good guy at the end. Just for his brother to come and destroy everything."
"King Zanac, despite his appearance, has a good heart. He wanted to bring the kingdom to a new age. Yet, the circumstances did not make it easy for him." Gazef remarked, his thoughts briefly focusing on a particular individual.
"You mean this Ainz Ooal Gown? You think the war with him and the empire caused King Zanac to be killed?" Brain inquired, eager to hear the Warrior Captain's perspective.
"Perhaps. I have met Lord Ainz Ooal Gown, as you know. He seemed to be a good man, one that I respect. Yet, his actions show something different. He did not seem any different when he met with the king." Gazef said. Still, he held no grudge against Ainz Ooal Gown and still respected the man.
"I see you hold him in high regard." Brain commented.
"I do." Gazef affirmed.
Laughter emanated from inside the carriage, capturing the attention of the two warriors.
"It seems the Princess and Climb are having fun." Brain remarked, a faint grin touching his lips.
"It seems so. The two have been together for a long time. No wonder they would grow close." Gazef agreed., almost having expected this to happen.
"If not for the Princesses' position, they would do it." Brain added confidently, earning a playful smack on the head from Gazef.
"Ouch!"
"As the Warrior Captain, I cannot allow you to talk that way about a member of the Royal Family. But if I'm to guess…Definitely." Gazef joked his sense of humor shining through, their friendship strong.
"That's unfair. If I say something like that, you hit me on the head!" Brain protested, to which Gazef burst into hearty laughter.
"Well, you had to beat me in the tournament to do so. Now I'm Warrior Captain, and you're not!" Gazef teased. as he continued to laugh. Yet Brain found nothing funny about it.
"We have to do a rematch sometime, see who is truly the strongest now." Brain suggested, piquing Gazef's interest.
"If all of this is over, I will gladly duel you, Brain."
In the distance, a manor loomed, its faint lights casting an elegant and modest silhouette befitting a noble's residence.
The estate gates swung open, and guards guided Gazef and Brain to park the carriage at the entrance.
Out stepped a familiar figure, Marquis Raeven, as he was called.
"I would have prepared my estate if I knew I would get a royal visit. What calls for the occasion, Captain Stronoff?" Raeven inquired, drawing closer to greet Gazef and Brain.
"There have been some complications in the Capital. It would be best to explain it inside. This here is Brain Unglaus, a formidable swordsman and my friend." Gazef introduced Brain, who, in turn, greeted Raeven.
"A pleasure, Marquis Raeven." Brain greeted.
"Likewise. If I remember correctly, you must be the man who almost beat Stronoff in the duel for the title of Warrior Captain. I can see why you two grew to be friends." Raeven remarked before noticing another passenger exiting the carriage.
"Greetings and welcome Your Royal Highness." Raeven said, bowing courteously.
"Marquis Raeven, a pleasure to see you once more." Princess Renner replied, offering a respectful curtsy.
"Let us head inside then." Raeven proposed, leading the way. Servants lined up in two rows, bowing as the Princess made her entrance.
They entered an opulent office, where a grand table crafted from a magnificent tree stood as a centerpiece, emanating an aura of luxury.
"So, now that we are not under prying eyes, I suppose you can tell me what is going on. From what I can gather, it must be something grave." Raeven concluded, sensing the urgency of their visit.
"The King was betrayed, and the one who committed treason was Prince Barbro." Gazef stated after taking a deep breath, his words sending shockwaves across Raeven's face.
"That cannot be! No, King Zanac told me it was going to be much later. But then, mmh. We must leak information somewhere. Yet if you are here, Stronoff, I suppose the king has already passed away." Raeven said in a dim tone, his voice sounding with grief as he knew Zanac personally. He was not a bad man, not even a harsh one who would punish his servants for the smallest mistake. No, he was beyond such things, a king who truly wished to make Re-Estize a better place.
"My brother is dead. There is no denying that. But we came here with a purpose, Marquis Raeven." Princess Renner stated, and Gazef continued.
"That is right. You are the only hope we have left to fix this mess. Barbro has made himself king, and you are, if not, the only noble who is still loyal to the kingdom. That is why we came to you, Marquis Raeven." The Warrior Captain explained. Raeven appeared uncertain, his emotions visibly swirling as he processed the gravity of the situation.
"I am unsure of what to say, Warrior Captain. I certainly can give you a place to hide. Yet the staff has already seen your presence here, meaning you won't be able to hide forever." Raeven remarked. He understood that he had a limited number of trustworthy servants; rumors among commoners could spread like wildfire.
"I suppose you are right. But I worry about the kingdom as a whole. As I know Barbro, he will likely want to take revenge on the Sorcerer King. If we want to prevent that, we need to remove him from power immediately." Gazef said, his words prompting worried expressions from those assembled, for they recognized the truth in his statement.
"I understand your concerns. I could feel that even the other nobles somehow acted differently, more akin to aggression. As if they were possessed by some sort of wrathful spirit. Maybe they are just tense because of the empire, yet the price of raising all the levies at this time of year could be devastating for the kingdom's economy. Even now, we're low on wheat, meaning that there would be mass hunger all over the kingdom." Raeven shared his concerns, struggling to find an ideal solution.
"Perhaps we should rest first. The Princess had a long way behind her, as have all of us." Gazef suggested, and Raeven promptly agreed.
"Of course. The staff will guide you to your guest rooms. Choose whichever you like. And only the best for the Princess." Raeven declared. With that, Princess Renner and Climb departed for their respective rooms while Gazef and Brain remained behind.
"Now that they are gone, there is something else I have to tell you, Marquis Raeven." Gazef said in a solemn tone.
"Please, Raeven will suffice. There is no need for titles right now." Raeven responded, his willingness to forego formalities surprising for a noble of his stature.
"Of course. Then you may call me Stronoff. But about what I wanted to say, I believe His Majesty still lives. I do not think Barbro to be so cruel to kill his father." Gazef asserted, and Raeven concurred.
"I suppose he is holding him in some room, keeping him hidden from the public to strengthen his claim on the crown. If we were to release His Majesty, we might be able to overthrow Barbro. Yet the question is how." Raeven pondered aloud, and Gazef seemed to have a plan in mind.
"I am sure me and Unglaus will be able to do it somehow. I know the palace inside out, so I know of the secret tunnels that lead outside of the city." Gazef explained, offering a glimmer of hope that they could infiltrate the palace and end this madness.
"Are you sure you two will suffice? Perhaps I might inquire about the help of some adventurers of mine." Raeven offered, and Gazef, recognizing the value of additional assistance, accepted.
"I suppose so. We can always need more hands. But now we rest. Tomorrow, we plan the mission." Gazef expressed, casting a tired glance at Brain, who appeared equally sleepy.
"Have a good rest, Stronoff, Unglaus." Raeven said as he departed.
"Likewise." Gazef and Brain replied in unison before heading to their respective guest rooms.
"You think we're gonna make it alive out of this one, Gazef?" Brainasked, to which Stronoff smiled.
"Giving up already? How can we be so sure if we haven't tried yet?"
"I guess you're right."
"Goodnight, Climb."
"Goodnight, Princess." Climb closed the door behind him and made his way to his chambers.
Renner was left alone, her facade of courtesy melting away. She kicked off her shoes and spun around in a carefree dance, reveling in the freedom of solitude.
"My Climb the Prince. The only one I love. My Climb the Knight. My Climb-"
"Hello, Princess."
A voice interrupted her mirth, emanating from the balcony. She hadn't remembered leaving the door open, but the voice was unmistakable.
Without hesitation, Renner turned and curtsied, showing due respect to the one who had visited her countless times, issuing orders she dared not defy.
"Lord Demiurge. What occasion calls for such a visit?" Renner inquired, her voice tinged with deference.
The demon but grinned, his sharp teeth gleaming in the moonlight.
"You may raise your head. And what reason do I have to visit you? Aren't we friends by now? Maybe I have simply come to play with you." Demiurge said, openly displaying his sadistic nature.
"Of course. You may visit me whenever you want. I was just surprised." Renner replied, deciding, for once, to speak the truth. Yet she knew that Demiurge's visits were never predictable.
"Ah well, excuse me on that part. I am truly sorry for having startled you." A lie. And the demon did not even try to hide it well. To him, it was all a game, one that transcended Renner's own schemes.
"But my arrival here does have a reason." Demiurge continued, drawing closer to Renner as he whispered something in her ear, meant for her ears alone.
At his words, Renner's eyes widened briefly, but she quickly composed herself, regaining her regal composure as she took measured breaths.
"That was all for now. Farewell, Princess."
Where the demon had stood a moment ago, there was nothing but empty air, as if he had been a mere figment of her imagination.
"I see." A deep voice intoned, bearing a hint of melancholy for those astute enough to discern it.
'King Zanac is proclaimed dead, and Prince Barbro has taken the crown for himself. A shame, I quite liked him. He was a good man.' King Zanac's death was grieved by the Overlord. He had held a fondness for the fallen monarch, recognizing his virtues. Regrettably, sacrifices were sometimes necessary, even in the eyes of Ainz.
With his bony hand, he seized another document, a report from Demiurge.
'It seems the preparations to fuse a last [Leaf of Yggdrasil] with the staff are ready.' Ainz pondered as he inspected the staff. Strangely, it felt closer to him than ever before, almost as if it resided within his mind.
He guided the staff to move back and forth, and it did exactly as he wished.
"Speak." Ainz uttered.
The staff seemed to emit something, a form of communication. It was not in words but rather a series of impulses akin to a beating heart.
'It was worth a try. But I suppose an item can't spea- Wait! The orb that the cultist had in E-Rantel could speak, but I am not sure how I can replicate the effect with the staff. It has a small sentience, yet to speak is still out of its reach. Mmh.' Ainz contemplated.
The Overlord stared at the staff, sensing its intentions and messages, even though they were not conveyed through conventional language. It was an inexplicable form of communication.
"Tomorrow, you shall receive one final leaf, one last gift from another world. Let us hope there are no further complications."