“…But I really don’t understand.”
In Albedo’s eyes, there was an unnaturally rigid look. She looked towards a corner of the room.
The reason she did not let any maids in the room was to make sure she could monopolize her Ainz dolls and that nobody could touch them. But there was another reason as well.
That was a flag with the emblem of “Ainz Ooal Gown” embroidered on it. The flag which should have been visible as soon as someone entered the room, laid crumpled in a corner of the floor. There was no sign of admiration or respect towards it, only hatred and hostility.
“Ainz Ooal Gown… How boring.”
In place of the flag of Ainz Ooal Gown, Albedo had raised a different gigantic flag instead. A flag so large, it resembled an opera curtain.
“This, Great Tomb of Nazarick is only yours. I, Albedo wish to only serve you. Ah… One day, I want to hear your great name once again…”
Chapter 7
Attack Preparations
Part 1
Brain stuck around until the guards Climb called for arrived. When he started to head back to Gazef’s house, the sun had already set and his stomach stung in hunger.
…If I kept Stronoff hungry, I’d feel bad.
He pushed open the doors as if it was his own house, but it was only because he had permission from Gazef to do so.
As he started to walk towards the room Gazef loaned to him, Brain heard footsteps heading towards him. He thought it was probably Gazef, and confirmed it when the footsteps were heard coming downstairs.
“You’re late Unglaus. Where did you go?”
There was no hint of criticism in his voice. Seeing that Brain didn’t reply and fell into deep thought, Gazef’s eyes beamed with curiosity.
“If you’re okay with it, do you want to tell me about it over a meal?”
It was a true sight for sore eyes. Brain replied as he rubbed his stomach.
“That sounds like an amazing idea. So, where to?”
With a slightly surprised expression, Gazef guided him to the dining room.
“Do the servants cook for you? Or do you cook the meals yourself?”
Gazef smiled bitterly at the empty question.
“No, I’m quite terrible at cooking actually.”
He continued after pondering a little.
“Maybe the servants are getting old, since the food always seems under-seasoned. After a day of hard work, you want to have something strong, but the servants don’t seem to be too understanding.”
“The Kingdom’s mightiest Warrior Captain is forced to eat under-seasoned healthy food?”
Brain smiled as he teased Gazef, but Gazef replied tensely as always.
“Unglaus, I would love to present you with the gourmet under-seasoned healthy food of my home, but we’ll have to do with food I bought from outside.”
“If it is so, I must thank you for being so considerate.”
Seeing Brain smile, Gazef broke into a little laughter. However, his counter-attack commenced.
“But what about you, can you cook?”
Gazef’s sword of rebuttal missed and slice through thin air.
“Nothing complex and only simple stuff. It’s a big problem if you can’t cook during training trips or expeditions.”
Nodding slowly, Gazef brought a little basket that was tucked away in a corner of the dining room. The basket was big enough to fit a baby and a smell that stimulated the nose and stomach wafted into the air.
The two men sat facing each other.
After taking out several dishes from the basket, they filled their glasses with wine and raised them for a toast to each other. There was no particular reason they shared a cheers and gulped down the wine in silence. Brain took two big gulps before setting down the glass.
He let out a deep sigh and murmured with shaky heart.
"… It’s been a long time since I had a drink.”
“It’s the same with me. I haven’t had a meal in my house lately either.
"… The palace duties must be difficult.”
“Ever since I became the Warrior Captain, there seems to be always something.”
“Defending the royal family as well?”
“That too. As a matter of fact, that’s the main duty.”
After hearing Gazef’s stories Brain could feel how puritan Gazef was. He could afford to stray around from time to time, but he kept moving forward in a straight line.
‘A person like this is sure to be hated by the nobles.’
As if Brain’s assumptions were right, Gazef’s stories barely contained any mention of nobles. Despite being in a high position like Warrior Captain, most of stories were about his life as a soldier or about the royal family. There were no stories of some hoity-toity dance gala.
Changes were happening in neighboring countries such as the Empire, but in the Kingdom a large wall of different status stood between the nobility and commoners.
For Brain, this whole situation was hilarious.
He devoted all his time training to defeat Gazef, and he expected a fight to the death the next time they met. Now, they sat drinking as friends. As if his thoughts were read, Gazef smiled as well.
Their glasses clanged once again, but feeling a little drunk, they clinked too hard and some wine spilled onto the table.
“Try not to spill it onto the food.”
“It might taste better with some wine on them.”
“I don’t know much about taste… Unglaus, perhaps you are the same too?”
“Brain. Just call me Brain.”
“Alright, then I am Gazef.”
“Ok, Gazef.”
They laughed and clanged the glass once more.
Gazef’s stories were diverse and there were plenty of things Brain did not know about. As the atmosphere heated up, Gazef asked shamelessly.
“So Brain, just what happened to a man of your calibre?”
As if treating an open wound, Gazef treaded carefully. His gauging of Brain’s reaction was not to determine whether he was telling the truth, but out of genuine concern.
“Thanks.”
Looking at Gazef blinking profusely from receiving a thanks out of nowhere, Brain eased up as well. He took a moment to recollect himself before speaking.
"… I met a monster.”
“A monster? What kind?”
“Probably a vampire… Called Shalltear Bloodfallen. The attack I devised… to defeat you was deflected by her with just a pinky finger.”
He could see Gazef’s eyes widen.
"…Is that so.”
Gazef took a sip of his wine. Brain took a sip as well and recount the battle— No, the massacre that took place.
Of course, he did not mention anything about banditry. Gazef might already have guessed how Brain used to live like. However, he didn’t have the courage to tell Gazef that he was the kind of man who had done anything in the name of getting stronger.
Thankfully, there were no signs of suspicion in Gazef’s eyes.
“Will you believe me?”
"…The world is big and wide. It won’t be strange even if a monster like that existed. Looking back in history, there were beings like Demon Gods and Dragon Lords as well. But a monster like that… it’s above my ability.”
“Yea. I don’t know how strong you are now, so I won’t speak irresponsibly, but I will say it’s impossible for you to win against it. A monster like that is beyond our realm of ability. Even if two of us fight together, we would only last 1 or 2 seconds longer.”
“Hey, please say that’s not so.”
Gazef complained in joking tone, but Brain pleaded with all earnest.