“Cough cough! No. It’s simple, I want you to keep a close watch on whether there are ‘lizardmen thinking of rebelling’.”
“There are no such lizardmen.”
Ainz laughed at Crusch’s confident reply.
“I am not dumb enough to assume that. I am not familiar with how lizardmen think, but using the race of humans as example, betrayal is common. That is why I want an agent on the inside to watch over things.”
Crusch turned expressionless again, making Ainz panic on the inside, wondering whether the deal was a failure. There was a backup plan not involving the resurrection of Zaryusu, but doing so had the goal of binding Crusch with gratitude. What should he do if she rejects him here?
I shouldn’t be too greedy and go for broke… That must be what they mean by no use crying over spilled milk.
“… Before you lies the chance for a miracle. But this chance won’t be here forever. If you don’t grab it immediately, it will be gone forever.”
With a shiver, Crusch’s expression moved like a cramp.
“I am not going to use irritating rituals. Resurrection spells exist in this world right? That is what I am going to use.”
“That is the legendary…”
Facing Crusch who swallowed her words back, Ainz adopted an arrogant attitude and gently said.
“Crusch. What is the most important thing for you? I want you to consider.”
As Ainz observe Crusch’s eyes starting to waver, he seemed to be seeing the illusion of scoring a client in a business meeting.
Next, Ainz had to let Crusch understand this miracle was not a free service. Providing free service will make others suspicious, but they will be more receptive of it with a request for adequate amount of money.
“I just need you to watch your fellow lizardmen in the dark. Depending on the circumstances, you might need to make hard choices. To prevent a betrayal, I will cast a special magic on the resurrected Zaryusu. If I think you have betrayed me, I will end him immediately. It must be troubling for you, but the resurrection of Zaryusu is not something you can get in a fair deal, right?”
Actually, there is no such magic.
Ainz acted as if he had said everything and stood up slowly. He then opened his arms.
Ainz looked at the struggling Crusch.
“Oh, right, tell the resurrected Zaryusu this in my place. I revived him because he is of use to me. I promise not to mention your name. So, Crusch Lulu. Choose now. This is the last chance for you to get your beloved Zaryusu back. What say you? Yes? Or no? Choose.”
Ainz reached a hand out to Crusch slowly. At the same time, he said to the Guardians.
“Do not do anything even if she rejects— Alright, ready to answer now? Crusch Lulu?”
Epilogue
Zaryusu felt a gentle sensation covering his entire body. A hand which wanted to pull him out from the abyss, but Zaryusu brushed it aside. He felt something disgusting from the touch of that hand
After a period of time between an instant and eternity, he felt the hand stretch out towards him once again. Just as he was about to brush it aside for a second time, he hesitated. Listening closely, he could hear a voice coming from that side. As it turned out, this rude awakening was the voice of the female he so deeply loved.
Hesitation.
Hesitation.
Still hesitation.
In this world where it was uncertain if time existed at all, Zaryusu kept on hesitating. Eventually, he seized the hand despite being very reluctant to do so.
And he was then pulled into a world of clear.
Fatigue permeated through his entire body.
As if his insides had turned into paste.
Then he felt abnormally tired. He had never felt this tired even after overexerting himself physically.
Zaryusu struggled to open his heavy eyelids.
Blinding light entered his eyes. Although lizardmen eyes would automatically adjust to light intensity, it could not do so instantaneously. Zaryusu blinked his eyes—
“Zaryusu!”
Someone was hugging him tight.
“C–Crusch?”
There should be no way he would ever hear this again, this female’s voice.
Zaryusu finally adjusted his eyes, and saw the female that was hugging him.
That was indeed his beloved female, Crusch Lulu.
Why? What was going on?
A flood of questions and unease rushed towards Zaryusu. His last memory was— the moment his head had dropped into the wetlands. He had most definitely been killed by Cocytus.
Then why was he still alive? Unless—
“—Was Crusch killed too?”
“Eh?”
Zaryusu opened his mouth to ask, yet his mouth seemed numb, unable to move properly.
What gave him his answer was the look of very confused expression on Crusch’s face. Seeing that expression, Zaryusu was a little relieved, knowing that Crusch was not dead. Then why was he still alive?
A hint was given to him by a voice to his side.
“Well. There is some confusion after resurrection. It seems his level also dropped… thus it can be determined that there is not much difference from YGGDRASIL.”
Realizing who was speaking to him, Zaryusu looked with surprise at that direction.
The one who stood there was the king of death; the magic caster who possessed incomprehensible power.
In his hand he held a glowing short stick of about thirty centimetres in length, it emitted a sacred aura that appeared out of place in the hand of the Overlord of death. It was an extremely beautiful item which seemed to be made out of ivory, with the front end coated in gold and the handle inscribed with runes.
Although Zaryusu did not know, it was a resurrection wand, the item which revived Zaryusu. Only faith based magic caster could use items imbued with faith based magic. However, this magic item was an exception to this faith based system and could be used.
Zaryusu slowly turned his gaze, and recognised this place as the lizardman village.
As if they were intending to surround the entire place, all the lizardmen were prostrating. Even more shocking was that they were motionless— that posture was one of worship towards an extremely powerful being.
“What is happening…”
After witnessing such power, prostrating was only natural. However, the surrounding lizardmen were not just showing respect, but something more. Lizardmen did not have gods. Strictly speaking, their objects of faith were their ancestral spirits. The feeling given off right now by the surrounding lizardmen was like that of a reverence towards a god.
“Hm. Step down, lizardmen. Without instructions, nobody is permitted to enter the village.”
Nobody objected to these words. More than that, it was accepted without a sound being made. The only sounds which were heard were of bodies getting up and the splashes by walking along the wetlands. Leaving them behind, the lizardmen departed from the clearing.
Seeing as he was so powerful that he had such a degree of strength, their wills should have been completely defeated. The lizardmen culture of submitting to the strong played a part as well. This meant that everything was developing according to the other side’s script.
“Aura, are all of them gone?”
“Yes, they are.”
The one who replied was the dark elf girl. Although there was also the factor that she had been behind him, out of sight all along, the girl surprisingly gave off no presence, therefore Zaryusu had not detected her at all.
“I see. Then first, a few words for you, Zaryusu Shasha. Congratulations on your resurrection.”
Resurrection.
Until he registered the meaning of this word, Zaryusu required a little time. Then after he understood it, he also felt a shudder throughout his body.