“I–I won’t run away!”
Climb and Brain stood at Gazef’s side.
Amidst flying chunks of meat, the Dark Young halted in front of Gazef.
Distant screams echoed over, and only this place was silent.
It was as though this area was no longer part of the world.
Ainz’s line of sight turned from Gazef, passed unhappily over Brain, and then halted on Climb. He shrugged, and looked back to Gazef.
“…You’re looking quite lively, Stronoff-dono.”
“I could say the same to you, Gown-dono… huhu. Would that be a problem, to say you’re lively?
After all, if you stopped being a human after we parted ways back then, it would be terribly rude.”
“Hahaha. No, I have not changed recently.”
The laughing Ainz floated down from the top of the Dark Young. He must have been using some sort of magical effect, given how he slowly floated down in defiance of gravity.
Although he thought it might be that famous spell ‘Flight’, after considering the fact the Ainz Ooal Gown was a mighty magic caster, he concluded that it must be a superior version of that spell -
though how superior it was, or what kind of spell it was, Gazef did not know.
“It’s been a long time, Stronoff-dono. Ever since Carne Village.”
“Indeed it has, Gown-dono. Then… permit me to ask, why have you sought me out? Could it be that you found a familiar face on the battlefield and decided to meet me?”
“Well, yes. I don’t like fancy talk, and twisting words is not appropriate for this place. So… I’ll get right to it.”
Ainz slowly raised a skeletal hand.
There was no enmity there, but instead, it was a gesture of friendship.
“Become my vassal.”
In that instant, Gazef’s eyes widened into circles.
At the same time, one could hear Brain and Climb on both sides of him gulping audibly.
Who could have imagined that such a mighty magic caster could say such a thing to him?
“If you become my vassal—”
Ainz snapped his fingers. How exactly he had done it with skeletal fingers remained a mystery.
As though something had been done to him, Gazef’s body shuddered.
However, there had been no changes in his mind or body. He felt nothing.
“Look around you.”
Gazef turned his eyes to his surroundings. Everything was—
“I see. They’ve stopped.”
The Dark Young had stopped moving, as though frozen in place. The way their hooves had halted mid-stomp was a pose worthy of a statue.
“This is only temporary. What happens after this will depend on your decision. If you refuse, I will give orders to the lambs once more. I trust I don’t need to tell you what those orders are?”
Gazef stared dumbly at Ainz.
Even if he took Gazef as a vassal by using hostages, the bond would lack loyalty, and it would be courting betrayal from within. Surely Ainz must have considered all of this before making his offer.
Then, it meant there must have been some other reason behind his words.
But what it was, Gazef did not know.
Still, there had to be some reason why he — a being who could command an army like this— would specially seek out Gazef.
“How about it? Gazef Stronoff, become my vassal.”
Ainz extended his hand.
If he took that hand, he would save many lives.
Gazef’s heart wavered mightily.
He had been granted the chance to save the lives of the Kingdom’s people.
However — Gazef could not take that hand.
It was a poor decision.
That choice would only satisfy his ego.
A hundred out of a hundred people would curse Gazef for a fool.
Even so, Gazef could not do anything that would betray the Kingdom.
Gazef firmly shook his head in refusal.
“I refuse. I am the sword of the King. For his sake I will gladly throw my life away. On that point I cannot compromise.”
“Even if, in the end, your choice costs more lives? A brave man risked his life to challenge a mighty foe at Carne Village. Will this man now throw others’ lives away that he could have saved?”
Gazef’s heart felt like it was being carved by a knife.
But even then, Gazef Stronoff still could not take Ainz Ooal Gown’s hand.
The Kingdom’s Warrior-Captain could not betray the King.
That was the extent of Gazef’s loyalty.
His irritation building in the face of the silent Gazef, Ainz shrugged.
“Such a foolish man. Then—”
Gazef did not allow him to complete the sentence, but turned his blade on Ainz.
“—What?”
He had been injured by the Dark Young, and despite the power of the healing talisman he had not fully recovered. Still, even in this state, Gazef’s fighting spirit shone like the sun.
“Gown-dono. Please allow this one who has benefited from your kindness to atone for his rudeness… I wish to request a one-on-one duel with you.”
Ainz’s face was a fleshless skull. Because of this, one could not tell what kind of expression he had, or discern what he was thinking.
However, for some reason, he seemed speechless. That was what the two others thought as they reviewed the situation after the fact. Although he remained silent, that uneasiness shone through clearly.
“…Are you serious?”
“Naturally.”
“…You will die.”
“There is no doubt of that.”
“If you knew, then why do so? I had no intention of killing you at first… are you suicidal?”
“I do not think I am, no.”
“…What are you thinking? I cannot understand your logic. If you believed you could win and challenged me, I could understand it. If you thought there was a chance of victory under the circumstances, that would be reasonable as well. However, you firmly believe that you will lose.
Have you taken leave of your senses?”
“The enemy king stands before me, and he is within the reach of my sword. Is it not natural to see if I can take the head that presents itself?”
“It is true that our physical distance is very close. However, it seems to me that there is an overwhelming gap between us. Am I wrong?”
With a whoosh, the sagging tentacles of the Dark Young behind Ainz snapped forth, striking up clods of dirt from the earth beside Gazef.
Gazef’s eyes could not follow the tentacles thrashing the ground beside him.
“That may be so, Gown-dono.”
“Are you pushing your luck because I said I did not want to kill you?”
Gazef laughed from the bottom of his heart.