“Correct. They’re shrouded in mist all year round, and the undead wander around there. In a few days, it’ll be our battlefield as well.”
After answering, Gazef took a deep breath and then let it out forcefully. The fresh air filled his body, and he hoped it would drive out the uneasy feelings he had about Ainz Ooal Gown.
“This is a magnificent view. It was worth becoming the princess’ subordinate for this. Is this what magicians who can use the ‘Flight’ spell see all the time? No wonder they have so many crazy people among them.”
“Do you think their perspective changed after seeing the wide world?”
“I doubt it. Why don’t you bring a few nobles up here and see it if works? If they don’t change their tune, we’ll chuck them off the side of the wall. Either way, it all works out.”
Gazef smiled wryly at Brain’s joke. If people could be changed this way, he would drag them over in chains if need be.
Climb looked like he did not know how to respond, which made Gazef feel better.
“Ha… Coming here with you guys was the right thing to do. I feel relieved now.”
“Well, that’s good to hear. Then… why did you call us out here? Are you sure nobody’s watching us? Don’t tell me you gathered three strapping men together just to look at the scenery? Or is there someone you want dead?”
Brain’s sudden surge of aggression perturbed Gazef.
“Well, I guess I won’t be able to protect the Princess and it’ll be a shame to not be able to train Climb any more… but Gazef, I owe you. I’ll do any dirty deed you want with a smile on my face.”
Brain wasn’t kidding. The look in his eyes was serious.
“It’s nothing like that, Brain. I don’t want you to do that sort of thing.”
“…You do know my hands aren’t exactly spotless, right?”
“Indeed, they aren’t. Brain, your sword was quenched in blood. However, so was mine.”
“In your case, it was the blood of the Kingdom’s enemies, right? I’m the result of my own desires, and the blood I’ve shed is nothing like yours.”
“…Are you trying to atone for your sins?”
“No, nothing like that. I’ve done all sorts of things to beat you. I dedicated my life to it. But even after finding out that the goal I’ve been working toward is nothing special, I don’t feel any guilt for what I’ve done. But because you were kind to me, I want to return the favor. That’s all there is ―
don’t think too much about it.”
“Then, my request is that you not think of doing such things. Besides, what did you mean by ‘kind to you’? Was it when we met again in the Capital?”
Brain’s answer was a bitter smile.
“Don’t worry about it, I just felt like you helped me out.”
“The more you tell me not to worry about it, the more I end up worrying about it…”
In the face of this unyielding refusal, Gazef decided to change the topic.
“Ah, speaking of which, you do know I had no particular reason for bringing you here, right?”
“Eh?”
Climb spoke, but Brain merely raised an eyebrow.
“…I was just thinking that it would be good for the three of us to have a chat while we had some free time, and that this was the only place where I could take my time to talk without worrying about what others would think of me. If we were in the capital, we could have a quiet drink too.”
“What, that’s really it? I thought you had some secret orders for me…”
“No, it’s not like that. How shall I put it…”
We could die at any time on the battlefield, and this could be the last time we see each other. Yet, how could he say such inauspicious things?
“Never mind. Oh, that’s right, Climb, that armor is extraordinarily distinctive. Wouldn’t it be better to paint it a different color? As it is, you might become a priority target on the battlefield.”
“I’m sorry, Stronoff-sama, I’m afraid I can’t do that.”
Climb’s quiet refusal was delivered with an iron determination.
“When I wear this distinctive armor and achieve excellence on the battlefield, I will bring credit to Princess Renner. In addition, many of the nobles know I wear white armor. If I change its color because I fear death, I will become the butt of jokes for them, and it will reflect badly on the Princess as well. Rather than that, I would prefer to meet my fate bravely on the battlefield, and serve her in death as well as in life.”
As he looked into Climb’s eyes, Gazef swallowed the words he wanted to say.
“Princess Renner doesn’t want you to die.”
“Don’t confuse bravery and foolhardiness.”
“Endure a little hardship now for a better future.”
He had prepared all these lines beforehand, but none of them were persuasive enough to change Climb’s mind.
It was as Climb said. His armor was like Princess Renner’s flag. His heroic actions would improve her standing, and conversely, shameful actions would stain her reputation as well.
Climb had been saved by Princess Renner, and in his heart was the notion that “my life belongs to the Princess”. Gazef had no way to shake that kind of conviction.
It was the same sort of thing as his loyalty to the King, and therefore―
“I would gladly throw my life away for Princess Renner.”
Gazef had no idea how to respond to the youth who had already made up his mind.
“Oi, oi, oi. Why’re you saying this like you’re going to die at any time? Don’t worry, Gazef, I’ll keep an eye on Climb. I won’t let him do anything stupid. No matter what kind of trouble he gets into, I’ll pull him out of it.”
“If it were only the Four Knights of the Empire, there’s no question you’d win, Brain. However…
against that man, Ainz Ooal Gown… I fear even you would lose your life.”
“…Is Ainz Ooal Gown really that powerful? Ah, I remember you mentioned him before at your place.”
After the demonic disturbance, Gazef and Brain had discussed how their lives had gone ever since the grand tournament over wine. That was how Ainz' name had come up.
“I can confidently say no Imperial knight can beat you. The Four Knights, strong as they are, will be no match for you. Even if the Empire’s mightiest magic caster, Fluder Paradyne, took the field, you could probably escape if luck was with you. But against Ainz Ooal Gown-dono… Brain, I’m sorry, but your life will end there.”
“That strong, huh. How powerful is he, really?”
“…All I can say, Brain, is that he’s beyond your imagination. And then you can take whatever you imagine after that and multiply that by a few times.”
“Well, if he’s that strong… I wonder if he could stand against Sebas-sama?”
“Sebas? Is that the old man Climb was speaking of? Although that old gent does seem to be astonishingly powerful, I still feel Gown-dono would be stronger than him.”