Warmonger

Part 1

The plains now surrounding Nazarick didn't stretch particularly far, leading Hàfdan to muse whether they could, in theory, be considered just another floor of Nazarick itself. At the very least, they were perfect for developing some form of settlement, ensuring the area wouldn't be improperly occupied. Nazarick already presented itself to the outside world as a dungeon of immense magnitude — akin to an imposing Greek pantheon — which typically discouraged unwanted visitors. Still, the idea of fortifying this surrounding area was worth further consideration.

As Hàfdan traversed the plains, inevitably keeping a certain proximity to Shizu, he chose not to use any long-distance travel magic. Spells like [Airpass] were available but would might cause him to overlook important details on the ground level.

As a hemophage, Hàfdan had a natural inclination to learn and effectively utilize high-level spells across various magical schools. YGGDRASIL employed some particularly intriguing magic systems: 1) the Tiers system, with spells of increasing complexity, power, or utility, organized into levels; 2) the Natures system, which united spells categorized into Alteration, Restoration, Destruction, Illusion, and Conjuration, alongside the ability to enchant items and weapons; and 3) the Classes system, often restricted by race and class, even among magic-focused roles.

Players typically specialized in one of these systems to match their playstyle. However, it was also possible to master all three simultaneously, as members of the Circle partially or fully devoted to magic — Momonga, Ulbert Alain Odle, and Hàfdan — had done. Racial limitations, however, imposed constraints. For instance, Momonga, being an undead, couldn't use Restoration spells, and Ulbert, a demon, couldn't even learn Holy-class spells. Both of them were also highly vulnerable to these types of magic.

Hàfdan often relied on nature-based spells during combat but faced significant limitations due to his hemophage lineage: he was incapable of enchanting weapons, a key strength of Momonga, and struggled with Illusion magic, an arcane school Ulbert had mastered to a fearsome extent.

"Hàfdan-sama, there's a forest ahead" Shizu informed him.

"Yes, take your position. Follow me as I move; stop when I stop. Do not act without one of our agreed signals."

Shizu nodded, though Hàfdan couldn't see it, and veered obliquely toward the forest at a pace her attributes clearly favored. The meters separating them from this new sight were quickly covered.

Ahead lay oaks and other species of trees sparsely distributed among short shrubs. Upon closer approach, faint signs of skittish wildlife — rabbits, deers, and some birds — became apparent. This terrain was not unlike what new YGGDRASIL players might encounter once they first logged in.

Upon entering the forest, the sound of birds filled the air. Otherwise, there was little of note apart from the animals who chose to take their distance from a unusually threatening bipedal figure — that is, until Hàfdan stumbled upon something that seized his attention.

A battle?

Within a section of the forest lay trees with partially destroyed trunks, accompanied by the bloodied corpses of what seemed to be villagers and knights. There were also dead horses, presumably used by the latter. The only surviving equestrian around bolted upon noticing Hàfdan.

Had someone been able to see beneath his helmet, they would have noted his grimace as the stench began to spread. YGGDRASIL wasn't particularly graphic when depicting such scenes, and Hàfdan's experience in other immersive VR games was all that prevented immediate nausea.

There are far more villagers than knights among the dead, he thought, carefully stepping around the corpses. The knights wore black plate armor with red engravings that seemed expensive to forge, though Hàfdan's lack of metallurgical knowledge prevented certainty. Were they trying to conquer this area? How far am I from these villagers' settlement?

"Y-You..."

Hàfdan spun at the sound of a voice. Among the bloodied bodies, a villager struggled to crawl toward him, clearly recognizing he wasn't part of the attacking force. Using his arms for support, the man couldn't manage much; one of his legs had been severed.

He was also suffering from extensive blood loss, which miraculously hadn't yet claimed his life.

"Speak" Hàfdan commanded.

"In my pocket... Enri... Please..."

Something in his pocket meant for this 'Enri' guy  Hàfdan mused. He stepped closer, unsure about how to handle the man. He couldn't restore the severed limb himself but could stop the bleeding and transport him to Nazarick for further treatment. The real question was whether it was worth the risk.

Would aiding this man jeopardize one of Hàfdan's objectives? As far as he was aware, the invaders might control most of the region and could retaliate if Hàfdan aligned himself with a resistance.

As he approached to every occasion he didn't really have the means to make a proper choice, Hàfdan resorted to his risky yet habitual decision-making method.

Even, I'll help him. Odd, I'll preserve the body for this Enri — if I find him alive — for a proper burial, he made up his mind.

He then cast [Message].

"Shizu."

"Yes, Hàfdan-sama?"

"Pick a random number, if you may."

"3.14159265..."

As Shizu continued reciting the digits of pi as the poor, desperate man awaited his decision and Hàfdan felt an overwhelming urge to facepalm. He should have anticipated such an answer from an automaton.

"A natural number, Shizu. A natural number."

"Oh, I see... Six, then."

"Very well. You've just saved him — and possibly others. Congratulations, or not. Anyway, while I handle this, scout the area for a village or signs of battle. Contact me once you find something. Know that we're siding with these people. From this point, act as you see fit."

"Understood."

Shizu's presence faded — there was a subtle change in the air that made it possible for Hàfdan to be sure of it. Whether this was due to their master-subordinate relationship or his heightened senses, he wasn't sure. Not that it matters, in the end.

"Now, I should probably make sure you won't keep bleeding to death." Hàfdan told the man as a green light gathered in his palm. Kneeling closer to the gruesome wound exposing the femur, he proceeded to say "This spell will hurt, I suppose, so do your best do deal with it. If you must, bite that stick next to you — or your arm... No, not the arm. Stay with that stick, will you?"

[Wild Healing] was akin to a stern parent: effective but surely not gentle. The spell lasted just over three seconds, but the man's agonized cries suggested it felt like an eternity.

-Δ

CZ2128 Delta, or Shizu, was one of Nazarick's inhabitants with the greatest ability to draw attention at first glance, though she herself cared little about it. Naturally, this could only be said when compared to the other Pleiades, as the Floor Guardians were in a league of their own — both in terms of their immense power and the imposing forms many took when fighting seriously. The Area Guardians, their direct subordinates, were far more varied and bizarre enough to stand out in any crowd.

As an automaton, Shizu could simply be described as a robot. According to traditional concepts of such beings, she was theoretically devoid of the capacity to feel anger, sadness, happiness, or any similar emotion. Her primary function was to follow orders to the letter, not to make decisions, question, or judge the commands of her superiors. Yet, she was still a creation of Garnet, one of the Supreme Beings of Nazarick, therefore like the other creations of these divine figures, she retained the ability to say and do things that displayed respect and allegiance toward them.

This curious characteristic, paired with her highly developed sensory abilities — sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell — made her all the more enigmatic. Such attributes were simply expected when considering the greatness of the Circle's members.

Did someone escape from there?

Shizu slowed her pace. Since she was dispatched by Hàfdan, she had opted to follow a particular trail of blood leading eastward. Much of it still appeared fresh, suggesting that it was recent and that someone — enemy or ally, as per her master's words — had managed to flee the gruesome scene.

Paying attention to such details was part of her role.

"Now, did you really think you could just run away? Our eyes are pretty good at finding beauties like you..."

Her eyes narrowed, and she quickly sought cover upon hearing a nearby voice. A normal human, like those they had encountered earlier, wouldn't have detected it, but her enhanced hearing, augmented by the ability [Scout's Hearing], easily picked up the venomous tone in the man's voice. It appeared he wasn't alone.

Scanning her surroundings, she spotted three figures. Two men clad in dark armor with golden accents, similar to those worn by the dead soldiers she had seen earlier, were present. Both sets of armor bore minor signs of recent battle. The men themselves looked strikingly alike, like brothers, with jet-black hair and blue eyes. However, the age gap between them was quite evident.

The younger man stood behind a caramel-haired girl dressed in soiled brown garments typical of a farmhand. His gauntleted hand covered her mouth as she cried in terror. Shizu noticed that one of her feet was bare, suggesting she had lost a worn boot during her desperate attempt to escape.

"We should hurry, brother," the younger man said. "The Theocracy's messenger has already reported Nigun-sama's arrival, and the imposter we sent to mislead them about the 'Baharuth Empire's advance' will soon make Gazeff's forces march here."

One shot for each. Perhaps keeping one alive might be wise. These names sound important, and Hàfdan-sama wouldn't dismiss the value of such information.

As expected, the pair were far too vulnerable in the current situation. The older man smirked lewdly as he reached for his belt, clearly enjoying the girl's futile struggles.

"Yes, yes... I'II be quick."

So should I

[True Shot]

Though she carried a rifle on her back, a pale pistol engraved with intricate runes materialized in her left hand as she invoked the ability. This one was for the older man.

[Stun Gun]

The younger man chuckled, oblivious. A second weapon, darker in color but similarly designed, appeared in her right hand. She aimed for the younger man's left leg.

Shizu determined she needed to act swiftly as the older man's actions grew to compose a quite unfortunate scene. That being said...

"Bang."

Even before either of them could react to the sound of the trigger, two shots were fired simultaneously. One bullet struck the back of the older man's head, causing a gruesome explosion of blood and brain matter. The surrounding grass, along with the girl and the other man, were splattered with the aftermath.

The younger man's eyes widened in sheer terror as fragments of his brother's skull landed nearby. Yet, he soon succumbed to a wave of weakness and drowsiness, dropping the girl as the paralysis from the second shot overtook him.

Garnet-sama, I wish you could see this... Another perfect precision shot.

The terrified farmer, now free, stumbled away, horrified and nauseated by the gruesome scene. Unable to contain herself, she began to vomit.

Part 2

Enri Emmot knew she lived in a particularly dangerous place. The Carne Village, where she resided, was located in a region of the Re-Estize Kingdom not easily accessible to an attack by the Baharuth Empire. Because of this, she had always lived under the impression, heavily influenced by her parents, that although sudden disasters like a siege could happen one day, they were unlikely. However, like all who live on the brink of danger, it was precisely during a moment of calm regarding this matter that the worst occurred.

News about the current state of the war between the Empire and the Kingdom rarely reached their isolated village. Still, they knew enough to discuss the subject sporadically. A year ago, once he came of age and consolidated all the regency powers in his hands, the Bloody Emperor had publicly announced his intent to revive the expansionist ambitions of his late father. Beyond the Katze Plains, a natural border with the Re-Estize Kingdom, he began conquering territories one after another, toppling ancient kingdoms and expanding the resources that fueled his luxuries and maintained his well-equipped army of knights and spellcasters.

This time, however, they seemed to have bypassed the Bálgares Mountains, located further east of the Kingdom. This detour brought the Carne Village directly into their path. But there was a troubling detail: the lands beyond the mountains belonged to the Slane Theocracy. If the Empire had passed through those territories unchallenged and with such a large force, something far more significant and terrifying was at play.

When the siege formed around the village, Enri volunteered — against her parents' protests — to take a horse and ride to the capital for help. Unfortunately, she was spotted by soldiers. Two of them, confident in their ability to capture her, gave chase. Even as she diverted into the forest, she couldn't lose them, and soon found herself in the degrading situation she was in moments earlier.

That was when it happened. A deafening sound caused one pursuer to fall unconscious and the other — who was about to violate her — died instantly. It was quick and painless for one, but utterly brutal for the other. For the first time, Enri saw human entrails, so much blood spilled, and felt the horror of witnessing a death up close.

Enri vomited, violently. The adrenaline that had fueled her during the chase and the struggle to escape evaporated like a drop of water on a hot skillet. Her remaining strength gave out, and she collapsed near a tree. She struggled to breathe, her heart threatening to burst from her chest. Tears stained her face – not out of pity for the two men, they could just go to hell for all she cared – from the lingering terror for her own life, from all the conflicting and confuse emotions she felt quick and sequentially.

Then she heard a branch snap. She looked toward the origin of the sound and saw what seemed to be her "savior."

It was a small, strikingly beautiful girl. She had long orange hair, a strange, emotionless green eye, and wore accessories that could easily have camouflaged her in the surrounding vegetation if she had wanted. Her attire resembled the dresses worn by noble maids, except for the strange metallic plates that seemed to be part of it.

She carried a bizarre object on her back and two equally strange ones in her hands. Enri had never seen anything like them, but judging by the smoke emanating from their tips, they appeared to be the weapons used to do what she had just witnessed.

"You... you did this?" Enri summoned the strength to ask.

"Yes. Thank you for not making me chase you any further."

As if I could...

Her voice matched her appearance, it was one you'd expect from a teenager. Everything about her — the inexpressiveness, the casual attitude towards killing —made Enri certain this was no ordinary girl. She had no idea where this person had come from or what she wanted but was grateful enough to attempt to show her appreciation.

Wiping her face with one hand and smiling with difficulty, Enri stood and took a few steps toward her. The girl didn't flinch at her approach.

"Enri. Enri Emmot... Thank you for saving me. It's a pleasure to meet you."

She extended a hand, but the girl didn't reciprocate. Instead, she stared at Enri's outstretched palm with what could be described as mild confusion.

Does she not know what this means? Enri wondered, lowering her arm awkwardly.

"CZ2128 Delta," the girl finally said. "I did what needed to be done."

Enri froze. What?

"CZ... What?"

"You can call me Shizu... or Delta. I don't see why, but people always prefer one of those two, never the full name."

Now Enri was sure: this girl wasn't from around here—not from the Re-Estize Kingdom or any neighboring lands. With all due respect to her savior, that name was... peculiar, to say the least.

"Can you tell me what happened?" Shizu asked.

For a moment, Enri glanced at the corpses of the two knights, feeling disgusted again. She couldn't look for long and instead nodded toward Shizu.

"The Baharuth Empire laid siege to our village. We always knew they might advance into the Re-Estize Kingdom someday, but we didn't expect them to come through here. The lands beyond the mountains belong to the Theocracy, after all."

The girl tilted her head, an expression of confusion that Enri found oddly cute. How can someone who just killed those two in cold blood act like this?

"Many names I don't recognize... but I understand the main point. Your village is under attack by this Empire and needs help; that's what matters." Shizu commented. Enri nodded again. "Have they taken the village?"

"I don't think so... Most of the time, they've just been threatening us and staying close, as if waiting for something. They could've taken it already if they wanted to, but they haven't," Enri replied thoughtfully.

"I see. Then there's still something that can be done. But if they haven't advanced, why did I find so many dead villagers and knights before I got here?"

"You... you did?" Enri placed a hand on her chest, lowering her gaze. "They... they were meant to distract them, to buy time. We don't have an army of our own to protect us, so they took whatever they could — some horses from the stables — and went a different route to draw the soldiers away, hoping I'd make it to the capital."

It was a desperate strategy, with slim chances of success. But they were simple people with no experience in warfare and had to try something to gain time for help to arrive. They failed miserably, as Enri now realized, but they had died bravely — this thought brought her some comfort.

"Alright. Where is your village?"

Enri blinked. "What?"

"Tell me where your village is, Enri Emmot. You said they were just surrounding it, so I can still help. These are my master's orders, and I intend to carry them out."

Motionless, staring at her, Enri felt a growing admiration welling up inside her. Who was this man who had understood her plight and sent help?

She felt grateful, joyful, and — after witnessing Shizu's display of power — oddly confident that Carne Village would not fall today.

Yes, those men didn't die in vain, she thought. She had found help — not the kind of help she expected, nor in the way she expected — but help nonetheless.

"I can retrace the path I took before they knocked me off my horse. But my horse ran off, so it'll take some time to get there."

Without ceremony, Shizu startled her. Tossing her weapons to the ground — where they dissolved mid-air as if made of magic! — the girl stepped dangerously close. Enri's world spun as the girl suddenly, and with astonishing speed, lifted her into her arms.

How is she so strong despite being so small?!

"W-Wait!"

"I'm fast enough. Just point out the directions."

"What about that man there?" Enri pointed to the unconscious soldier. "Isn't he still alive?"

Shizu turned to look at the man lying immobile amidst his brother's viscera and fluids. He couldn't even move his lips to speak, but he was looking precisely at them, and if he could, he'd likely curse her with all his will.

"The poison in the [Stun Gun] rounds spreads quickly. Its effects last about three hours if the shot is precise and the attack is stealthy. The shot was precise and the attack was stealthy, so he won't move for three hours. I'll deal with him later." Enri only pretended to understand half of what Shizu said. "Now, let's go, shall we?"

She started running. Fast. Much faster than any rogue human could ever manage. Despite her heart finding some comfort in Shizu's arrival, Enri couldn't help but fear for her life once again.

Part 3

The cardinals of the Slane Theocracy were emphatic about the significance of the mission to kill Gazeff Stronoff, the 'jewel of Re-Estize,' in advancing the ambitions of the Pontifex Maximus¹ with the Supreme Executive Council in the region. Nigun Grid Luin, leader of the Sunlight Scripture, understood all too well why this task was critical and was confident of its imminent success despite recent losses among his forces. After all, the formula for killing heroes was always the same: force them to act precisely like they want – as heroes – and exploit the vulnerabilities that unfailably arise along the way.

'Nigun-sama!'

As he pulled the reins of his horse to bring it to a halt near the perimeter of Carne Village, a soldier clad in the traditional heavy armor of the Baharuth Empire greeted him. Naturally, this man, like all others wearing similar attire, was merely in disguise, acting like Nigun solely on behalf of the Theocracy. Under no circumstances would the cardinals allow the troops of either Jircniv or Ramposa to roam their territory, no matter how amicable their relations with the former had been, leading him to consent to the use of his Empire's armor and insignia for the ambush.

''Report'' Nigun ordered, his gaze resting on the mages and knights encircling the village just a few meters away. Among them, however, were unusual creatures that stood out from the crowd: the 'Angels,' powerful winged summons sent by the Gods to assist in battle, the result of a spell long granted to the Theocracy.

It was on these creatures — not the soldiers or mages – that the strength of the Scripture primarily rested. Not only could they fly, but they also wielded high-level divine magic and possessed considerable physical speed and strength. Moreover, the angels present now were far from the most powerful they could summon, such as [Principality Observation] and, notably, [Dominion Authority].

The outcome of the day was clear: neither Gazeff Stronoff nor anyone else from that kingdom could possibly survive.

''We've surrounded the village at four points, and everything is under control now'' the soldier began, as Nigun joined him near the eastern contingent by the village. ''Some villagers banded together and tried to flee, intending to distract us while a girl escaped to the capital for help. They were neutralized, though we suffered some casualties. We've also sent two soldiers after her; they should be returning soon.''

A suicidal plan from the outset, Nigun couldn't help but laugh at such foolishness, even as he felt a tinge of annoyance knowing his men had died to mere villagers despite their numerical advantage. What else could those poor souls attempt against the Theocracy in the end? The only commendable aspect of their plan was its courage, no matter how reckless it was.

''And what about Gazeff?'' he inquired.

''We disguised one of our men and sent him to the capital to request aid in the village's name. This will help guide them into the first ambush and weaken their forces significantly...''

A deafening sound interrupted them, startling the horses and everyone present, who immediately assumed defensive positions while searching for the source. Nigun, who had been smiling, now wore a grim expression as he saw the soldier's head suddenly explode, spraying blood and viscera into the air.

''From the forest behind us!'' he shouted, taking command. Wiping blood from his face, he pulled at the reins to steady his horse. ''Mages, barrier!''

A group of Theocracy mages quickly formed a line facing the forest, gathering a great deal of blue magical energy in their hands. Then, they extended their palms, and a large, shimmering blue wall materialized before the eastern detachment by the village.

Magic, there's no other explanation, Nigun thought, even though he couldn't fathom the nature of the spell. He considered the possibility of weapons like bows or crossbows, but none could operate in such a manner.

He was soon surprised again. By pure reflex, he ducked close to his horse's neck when the same sound occurred three more times in rapid succession from another direction. Three mages from the line were struck down in the same grotesque manner as the earlier soldier.

The remaining mages scrambled to form another barrier, this time facing southward.

''What the hell is this...? This isn't Gazeff's army. They're too foolish to attack like this...'' He was beginning to lose patience and pointed to a man carrying a battle horn. ''You! Twice!''

The man nodded nervously at the restrained fury in Nigun's words and promptly blew two signals. As the sound of heavy armor moving in from the other points around the village filled the air, more attacks rained down on the barriers created by the mages. The power of the strikes was so expressive that cracks inevitably formed, forcing the mages to exert significant effort just to maintain the shields on both fronts.

Then something peculiar happened.

''Is that... a doll?'' a soldier asked, puzzled. Though the scene appeared absurd, everyone remained on guard.

Emerging from the forest and approaching them awkwardly was not a doll but a plush figure resembling a chubby penguin with large eyes and yellow curls atop its head. It waddled clumsily toward them, much like a real penguin would.

''This is ridiculous, and too obvious...'' Nigun gestured to an archer nearby.

The archer took aim and fired an arrow obliquely, predicting where the penguin would be. Yet, just seconds before the arrow could strike, the plush figure sidestepped awkwardly, avoiding the projectile. To everyone's astonishment, its pace seemed to quicken, and its movements grew less cumbersome.

Nigun gritted his teeth. 

''Enough. I want three–'' Another attack interrupted him. Though a new barrier was swiftly erected, the first one shattered into countless fragments, causing fear to spread among the soldiers at the relentless nature of the assault. ''I want three archers! Three, I said! Let's see that stupid thing dodge now! Someone is toying with us, and they'll pay dearly for it!'" Nigun barked with clear frustration.

Three archers took their positions. After aiming towards the sky, they released their arrows, which whistled through the air before descending toward their target. Meanwhile, Nigun motioned for five mounted knights to prepare to enter the forest.

The arrows streaked through the air at varying speeds, targeting different points, anticipating where the creature might dodge. But it was futile. The penguin spun, leapt, and glided over the grass as if skating on ice, and after avoiding each arrow one by one, it began running at high speed.

Then, five more attacks from the enemy followed. Five heads exploded, five pools of blood formed, five horses whinnied in terror and fled as fast as they could.

"Retreat to the North, everyone!"

It was humiliating, but soon those who could began to flee in the indicated direction to escape the penguin, which would undoubtedly cause massive destruction —though no one could predict how — if it got too close. That seemed to be enough for the unknown attacks to intensify. After the barriers were shattered one after the other, scenes similar to the previous deaths began unfolding.

"Lord, what do we do? We have no idea where this is coming from!"

"Just shut up, will you?! Let me think and keep moving, damn it!" Nigun grumbled as he urged his horse to run faster. He knew the penguin was still following them, so the only thing they could do was flee, as firing more arrows at it would be pointless.

An idea struck him. If arrows couldn't stop it, area-based spells certainly could.

"Fire mages, destroy that thing!"

A line of mages halted and organized themselves as the rest of the soldiers continued to retreat. They gathered orange energy in their hands, which quickly took the form of sizable fireballs that were immediately launched toward the penguin.

"[Fire Blast!]" they shouted.

The fireballs cut through the air and struck the grass near its yellow feet, as the mages had intentionally aimed beside it. A massive explosion of embers and smoke erupted. The soldiers, relieved by the apparent success, stopped running.

But then...

"Wait... What is that? It did nothing!" a knight said, fear in his voice.

"Damn it, keep retreating! What the fuck is this?!"

From the thick curtain of smoke, the plush figure, despite the dirt and some scratches on its fabric, kept running towards them, much faster than before. It seemed that with every counterattack, its speed increased, no matter how unbelievable it was to see a 'penguin' behave this way.

There was no time to escape when it closed in on the mages' line and a considerable number of soldiers gathered nearby. That's when it happened.

Exploding, the plush released a massive gust of cold air that almost instantly froze the mages and extended to reach the other soldiers not involved in the previous attack, as well as knights who weren't far enough away. The ambient temperature dropped just enough for those still somewhat close to feel the shift. Snow replaced the grass, and more blood would soon follow.

Shit, shit, shit... What is this?! Should I...

Nigun tried to come up with something else, but more attacks followed. One by one, the frozen soldiers were reduced to small fragments scattered in the artificially created snow. Whoever the enemy was, they hid themselves very well, because their Scouts and Sensors couldn't detect them.

He had no idea how to counterattack something like this effectively, nor from which part of the forest the attacks were coming, as the enemy seemed to move quickly, firing from multiple directions. The magical barriers were useless, and even if he sent the angels ahead to block the attacks with their commendable magical defense, how long would that hold?

He could try sending more men into the forest to search for the enemy, but what guaranteed that they wouldn't meet the same fate along the way or there? The forest was the enemy's domain, so they would have the advantage, even if he managed to penetrate their operational base.

The best he could do now was gather everyone and pray his head wouldn't be the next to be struck. Shamefully, retreat was looking more and more like the best option. He had already enough of his men.

"Sir, look! Is something else coming out of the forest?"

Not again!

That's what he thought. He feared another attack like before, as there was nothing they could do. His soldiers had done nothing to the plush creature, fire magic (the specialty of his mages, according to their Scriptures) had proven ineffective, and risking the angels would be the same as declaring defeat.

However, when he turned around, he was as surprised as the others to see a small girl slowly approaching the now fully gathered army, which had reluctantly come together. She had orange hair, as far as he could see from a distance, and wore clothes similar to those of a maid. Part of a large, strange object she carried on her shoulder rested there. Was she the cause of all this? Was that long-barreled object she carried what she's been using to attack them?

Why show herself now? She had the advantage...

It didn't make sense. Like before, she could have just kept killing them like rats in a cage, without them having the slightest idea of how to retaliate. Why expose herself like this if she was clearly specialized in long-range attacks?

Another trap. For all he knew, this might not even be her real "self" but a clone, similar to that plush, which would explode and cause more deaths once again.

"Should we attack?" someone asked.

"No." He gestured with his fingers. All ten angels summoned up until that point stood close to Nigun. "It might be just another. Wait for my signal."

Determined to try to communicate anyway, maybe because that was the only real option he had instead of just running like a coward, he spurred his horse forward, forcing it to advance in the girl's direction for about three seconds. She stopped walking, and Nigun was still at a relatively safe distance.

"Hey, you! What do you want here? What's the meaning of all this? Who are you, damn it?" He fired question after question, clearly agitated.

She was definitely very beautiful, though everything about her suggested she wasn't human. She had several metal plates scattered across her body as part of her attire, striking silver boots, her left eye covered by an eye patch, and the visible one, greenish, had a strange symbol resembling a cross submerged in the iris.

An inhuman scum, like all those the Theocracy despised.

"That's a lot of questions. You should be more objective" she replied. Her voice was very soft, so she had to exert some effort to speak loudly enough to be heard. "What do you really want to know?"

"What's the meaning of all this?"

The girl placed the object on the ground and used it to support her body. This infuriated Nigun, but he did his best to suppress it in the situation he found himself in. The angels floating beside him had their weapons ready, merely awaiting a command that he was barely holding back from giving.

"You're surrounding this village," she pointed first at Nigun and then at the Village Carne. The ancient wooden stake walls surrounding it were visible, and a few citizens watched the scene from behind, though they quickly hid when the girl glared at them, even if it was just for a few seconds. "And I'm here to put an end to that. My Lord decided that we would defend these people."

Upon hearing that she was defending them, astonished voices of villagers came from within the walls. Nigun narrowed his gaze.

Her lord, she said. Possibly a noble? If so, where was he from?

"Who is this lord of yours? You're certainly not from the Re-Estize Kingdom, are you? I'd like to know why some nobody from somewhere far away decided to interfere where they don't belong."

He didn't mince words. He never did. Boldness coursed through Nigun's veins simply because he had always been used to having the power to back it up. It was a critical situation, yes, but this girl only had the advantage at a distance, and now that had become something he could handle.

And he would make sure to resolve the matter himself. She would pay for every loss caused so far, head for head, once he had the answers he needed in that moment.

Some other answers he would only have when he captured her, of course, but that was a concern for the distant future, for now.

"You should be more careful with the words you chose. Hàfdan-sama, the Lord of Nazarick, is far beyond the level of filthy insects like you." Despite her expression remaining unchanged, her tone of voice did. She took the object in one hand and aimed it at Nigun. "I intend to keep you alive because you seem to be the leader of this army, and you might be useful, but I can easily kill you whenever I deem necessary, as my Lord hasn't shown any particular interest in your life."

"Hàfdan... Nazarick... So, these are your Lord and the kingdom you come from?" Nigun said, feeling confident despite hearing such unfamiliar names. "I've never heard of them, but it doesn't matter, because no one will in the future either." He smiled, quite satisfied with how simple a provocation had produced such results. "Anyway, I don't know why you did this, but you made a fatal mistake by..."

A shot. The projectile came directly from that strange object. His horse was struck in the neck, throwing him off balance, and Nigun jumped to the ground as best as he could.

Clearly, he had pushed the girl's patience too far with his previous attitude, which meant it was time to proceed with everything he had.

"What are you waiting for?! Attack!"

The angels, understanding the command, flew toward the girl with impressive speed. Some prepared their spears to strike her at the smallest opportunity, while others had their swords and shields raised to deal with her from every direction. In any case, the girl was done for.

She remained motionless in the position she had quickly taken to shoot at the horse. Nigun didn't understand why she wasn't reacting, and he feared this, even though victory seemed so certain.

It was then that, just before reaching her, all ten of Nigun's angels stopped. He widened his eyes and felt his mouth go dry, unable to understand what had happened. They had simply "given up" on attacking.

No, they hadn't given up. He noticed they were trying to move towards her but couldn't get past whatever they faced. A barrier?

It was then that the girl spoke:

"You seemed quite eager to meet Hàfdan-sama. Well..." She pointed upwards with her finger, and Nigun's eyes followed. "Here he is."

In the burning sky, a monumental figure appeared. He struggled to keep his gaze steady when he realized it was staring back at him, and he felt, like never before, a genuine fear.

The beauty of the armor worn by what seemed to be a knight levitating in the sky indicated that he had passed through many dangerous places and overcome numerous challenges in his life journey. The feathers, resembling those of harpies, combined with the wolf pelts on his shoulders like a small cloak and the crimson fabric around his waist extending to the rose-gold greaves on his knees, blended the traditional aspects of an explorer warrior with those of a noble. His face was hidden, and the helmet designed to conceal it, shaped like the beak of a raven at the height of the nose, contributed to sustain the dark aura surrounding him.

Hàfdan of Nazarick. Nigun immediately just knew it was him.

He calmly descended, hovering just inches above the girl, near the motionless angels.The men at a distance had their weapons and spells prepared. They clearly sensed the power emanating from the newcomer.

"You know, most of my friends have had long discussions with Garnet-san about the best way to bring Shizu's talents to fruition on the battlefield, and many days were spent trying to make her see that ranged attacks and stealth should be a priority. So you understand that it would be such a disrespect for her creator to allow her to get involved in a direct confrontation like this, right?" He continued the tradition of involving unfamiliar names in the conversation. His voice was deep, projected itself easily even from a distance, and Nigun noticed that the mere mention of the name "Garnet" made the girl, presumably named Shizu, look away towards the man. "Ah, yes, yes... The introductions! I almost forgot. I am Hàfdan, from the Great Tomb of Nazarick, home to the equally grand Ainz Ooal Gown. And you? Who might you be?"

That man was strong. Nobles from these areas often had enough arrogance to compensate what they lacked in strength, but this man seemed capable of displaying both in large proportions, if he wanted to. Since he appeared to be a close-quarters combatant as well, things would only get worse now, as the girl would have free rein to get distance from the battlefield and attack the way she liked.

"Nigun, head of the Scripture of the Solar Light of the Slane Theocracy... You're the lord she spoke about, aren't you? Tell me then: what do you want here? Why are you so keen to get involved in this?"

It was essential to stall him.

His best bet was [Principality Observation], a high-level spell that only magicians at least at Tier 4, like him, could cast. This meant it was extremely powerful, and no one in the human continent, except for Fluder Paradyne of the Baharuth Empire and the great mages of the Black Scripture of the Theocracy, could cast it. If he managed to cast it, he would be safe, no matter how strong that man was.

"Before I answer, you may relax as you prepare this spell of yours. You can't hide it, as you well know, and I don't intend to stop you. I'm curious about the spells that someone like you, considered strong is these lands since you have an army of your own, has access to."

That might have been a sincere attempt by Hàfdan to help Nigun calm down, but a vein threatened to pop on the man's forehead as he heard this. He could only think about how much he would make him pay for underestimating him once his spell was completed.

"Continuing with your question... Well, you're asking for more details than I consider appropriate to give, but I would say that I'm on a pilgrimage looking for knowledge and simply sympathized with these people. That's a good way to explain things... And it's not a lie now that I think about it."

Nigun narrowed his eyes.

"Pilgrim or not, it doesn't matter. You and your servant will pay dearly for interfering in Theocracy business. I won't kill you, but I'll make sure you suffer greatly with me, and much more when and after we interrogate you." The magic concentrated in his hands intensified, and a magic circle appeared around him. It was complete. They were finished. – "[Principality Observation]!"

"Well, would you look at that..."

A large orange sphere, more resembling a portal, appeared in the sky just above Nigun, and from it emerged an angel who, in both actions and appearance, was superior to all the other angels traditionally used by the Theocracy – these, in fact, disintegrated as if they were parts of him, gradually becoming part of his form. He was tall, wore white armor with a long tunic covering his legs, and wielded a mace and a rounded shield adorned with a sun symbol. Two pairs of wings extended from his back, unlike the single pair the previous angels had, indicating his superior ranking.

Immediately after being summoned, the angel gripped his mace with both hands and began to gather divine energy at the concentrated attack point. It would be a fatal blow to destroy both of them at once.

"Angels are the messengers of the Great Gods, symbols that they are on the side of Humanity in this struggle against the cursed demi-humans who have appeared here." He declared, intoxicated by the feeling of an impending victory. "[Principality Observation] is the best of them all, the result of a Tier 4 magic that grants me a sentinel with speed, power, and resilience never before seen in the human world. You, your little friend, and this Nazarick; we won't rest until we destroy all of you, now that I've met you!"

"I see. You have strong beliefs, and you're very stubborn. Neuronist will have his hands full with him, won't he, Shizu? Maybe she'll even enjoy this..."

"She will, Hàfdan-sama. I've always heard she was dissatisfied with the last ones sent to the Hall of Truth because they 'broke too easily' for her to enjoy herself." The girl assured.

Nigun's fury grew stronger and reached its peak when he realized that they didn't seem to care about anything he said, about anything they saw, and now they were just talking about things only they understood, as if he couldn't threaten their lives!

But it didn't matter. They would regret not begging for mercy now.

"Attack!"

The angel pointed his mace at the two, and a great beam of light was fired with impressive speed, raising dust and even leaving a trail of earth in the grass, no matter how far it was from it. Shouts of admiration and encouragement came from the soldiers behind Nigun.

An explosion occurred, smoke was raised, and Nigun smiled. Applause sounded, and, arms outstretched, he tried to encourage his companions to forget the stress.

"Well, well, calm down... They couldn't have known what was waiting for them. Maybe I overdid it a bit, but it was necessary..." It was then that he noticed that, little by little, the clapping stopped. This intrigued him. "Wait, why did they stop? You can keep going..."

"I have to admit I expected something more impressive than a Level Four magic. [Steadfast Ward] is a fairly low-level spell, but it turned out to be more than enough."

Nigun's heart began to beat much faster.

He turned around and saw him with only the palm of his hand extended. In front of him and the girl, something like a large mirror with bluish edges, oscillating, remained intact after performing its protective function. This brought despair to Nigun, who unconsciously took a step back.

"I-It's not possible… How… No man could withstand an attack from [Principality Observation]…"

"A man, I really don't know if there is one, so you might be right, no matter how unfortunate that is. I'm not a human being, so I can't answer for sure." He countered. "Anyway, Momonga-san would probably be gentler dealing with you since he's enthusiastic about this kind of thing, but I'll be more direct: this spell is the kind of junk I learned in my rookie days, and nowadays, it would just sit as decoration in my grimoire²."

Nigun's heart was racing, sweat poured from every part of his body, and a funeral-like silence descended upon him and the soldiers accompanying him. They were all completely paralyzed, observing the man dismantle the magic barrier and then levitate a few meters higher.

"Let me ask you, Nigun: have you ever seen a Tier 7 spell? Your face says you haven't."

"What kind of nonsense are you talking about?! No one but Fluder Paradyne can do something like that!" he said, but the words were more for himself than anything else. He didn't want to believe what was happening.

When had such a monster appeared in this world? What did he want in the human continent? What was the real extent of his power? Was he from Valandor, perhaps?

No, he must have come from there. Only places like that would produce such aberrations.

"Colleagues like Ulbert-san and Momonga-san could probably put on a better show of strength than this, as they are much more specialized mages than I am, but I think this will serve to help you understand the difference between us and why Shizu said what she did earlier." Dark energy gathered in one of his gauntlets, but he didn't aim it at Nigun or the summoned angel, but rather at all the soldiers gathered near the village, who didn't even have time to react. "[Oblivion Banishment]"

A chill spread, as if reality itself was being challenged. Suddenly, the clouds seemed to close in, and the setting sun's light left the area for a moment. Around the soldiers, a circle of black and purple energy formed, swirling and growing in intensity.

There was a cacophony of distant, desperate, unknown whispers; forgotten voices. The vortex expanded, engulfing all those within the marked area. Then, the grass under their feet gave way to an immense blackness that inverted gravity, pulling them like quicksand.

There were screams. One by one, they began to be pulled by unknown forces that warped space; they, their horses, anything the circle encompassed. They tried to flee in vain, crying out, but in the end, they were all swallowed up and taken to some place that terrified Nigun just by the thought of knowing it.

In the final moments of the spell, the vortex collapsed with a sonic snap, leaving a silent void and returning the grass to life, previously hidden. There was no sign of those who had once been there.

Nigun fell to his knees, feeling helpless, useless after his entire army had been reduced to nothing with such minimal effort from that being.

"H-How… All of them just... It can't be..."

Minutes after that spell was cast, there was no one left from the Theocracy but him, the Leader of the now completely annihilated Solar Light Scripture.

If any of the villagers of Carne Village had witnessed this, and hadn't just hidden in their homes waiting for the conflict to pass, they would surely just as terrified as he was. This kind of thing was far beyond of what even the elves, known for their exceptional arcane abilities, could do.

It was the level of a Lord.

No, more than that: it was the level of a God. A real God.

"It can't be… This… This can't be happening." Placing his hands on his head, Nigun felt like an ant. Perhaps he really was one.

Tears stained his face in despair. It felt like he was losing his mind. He had completely given up on trying anything else with the summoned angel. That failed attack and that subsequent display of devastating power were enough to make it clear there was nothing he could expect to do against that guy.

May the Great Gods protect us from the darkness to come...

He thought as he glanced once more at the figure hovering in the air. He couldn't hear what he was talking with that girl who know surely was just toying with him until the real deal arrived. Nigun was numb in such a state of surrender that he didn't react when Shizu, with calm steps, started walking toward him.

In his mind, only regret remained for not having cried for mercy the moment Hàfdan made his appearance. Yes, that was what he should have done to at least have a minimal chance of returning to the Slane Theocracy after all of this…

Without offering any more resistance, he simply felt the painful blow that forced him to close his eyes and surrender to unconsciousness.

Part 4

Perhaps by the influence of the NPCs from Nazarick, perhaps due to the excessive caution that YGGDRASIL forced the members of Ainz Ooal Gown to adopt, the power levels in the New World were one of Hàfdan's primary areas of investigation, along with the current geographical setup. Thus, when Shizu contacted him via [Message] to indicate the way to the threatened village and the conditions of the attack, he took care to equip some additional protective items, such as the Insignia of the Conqueror, a ring that provided 55% additional protection against physical damage, and the Jade Necklace, which, combined with his passive abilities that already offered considerable protection against magical attacks, granted him 75% resistance to such offensives.

It was understandable, then, the disappointment he felt when he witnessed firsthand how weak Nigun and his so-called "Solar Light Scripture" were. It was rare for strong individuals to act as Nigun did, and perhaps the arrogant stance he adopted against Shizu and Hàfdan, even after all the damage caused by the former before their arrival, was a clear indication of how pathetic they truly were, however, the hemophage couldn't avoid feeling a shattered glimmer of hope that his previous concerns had some justification.

There was an even greater reason for this disappointment: despite [Oblivion Banishment] being a Tier 7 magic, the power scaling in YGGDRASIL made it completely useless. Had Hàfdan opened his spells list to view the spell's description, he would have seen that its effect only applied to those whose level didn't exceed 43, making it virtually ineffective in the types of confrontations faced by a guild with the size of Ainz Ooal Gown, or even in the dungeons Hàfdan explored when out on his own. Even though in YGGDRASIL, the spell was much "lighter" and resulted only in the presumed immediate death of the player hit, its Tier 7 ranking was justified more by its effect — which "banished one or more creatures within its range from the plane of the living", according to its description — than by its utility, regardless of early or late game.

Still, it was nice to have the opportunity to use that magic again. He remembered how excited he was when he first learned it. Good times at the beginning of that Profession...

Regardless of how he chose to demonstrate power, after Nigun surrendered willingly and the Teocracy's army was neutralized,a girl, that Enri Emmot that guy mentioned, who happened to be the same one mentioned by the man he had saved, approached them. Joining the cheers and celebrations of the villagers from Carne Village, she insisted several times that they, their saviors, stayed, now that night-time was threatening to fall.

At first, Hàfdan didn't know what to say, as he was keen to continue exploring the area and, especially, take Nigun and the soldier captured by Shizu to be interrogated in Nazarick. But he gave in to the desire to see what that place was like behind those wooden stockade walls.

They were guided by Enri and the Village Chief to the Chief's house, where they could converse more freely and perhaps spend the night. Along the short path, Shizu didn't seem particularly affected by the occasional applause and looks of admiration — in fact, she ignored them as if they weren't directed at her at all — but Hàfdan felt as skittish as a cat in a new house forcibly taken on a trip.

For him and Shizu, the effort put into that 'good deed', although Hàfdan wasn't aiming for anything other than a personal benefit at the end of the day, was minimal. He had to make an effort to understand why all this 'exaggeration', in his initial view, was happening. In the end, though, he recalled the words of Touch Me, one of the first members of Ainz Ooal Gown.

"It's not the effort made that determines the gratitude felt by someone after a good deed, but the effect of what you did on that person's life."

Perhaps that was what motivated Touch Me, beyond the grateful looks and applause, to maintain his conduct of justice and protection for the weak, always demonstrated in his actions and passed down to his creation, Sebas Tian, the head of Nazarick's Pleiades. That was what made him a "man" in the truest sense of the word.

"I must admit, many of us were scared to see that happen, and I don't even like to think about where those men might have gone... On the other hand, we thank you and Miss Shizu for what you did. If it weren't them, it would have been us, for sure, because help from the Kingdom wouldn't have come in time." The Village Chief spoke as he lit some candles in his house.

Hàfdan had noticed from everyone's attire and the condition of the houses that the village was rather modest in terms of economics, but still couldn't help but wonder if they could go to some large commercial center in search of magical lamps. At least in YGGDRASIL, it was hard not to find them even in the simplest homes, as they were a very cheap and accessible technology.

He decided to keep this thought to himself, though.

"Um... About that... Something has been on my mind..." Enri caught everyone's attention for a moment, though she was looking more at Shizu, due to the closeness built in that time. "It was just before you, well, did what you did, Shizu-sama, but those two men mentioned a fake messenger being sent to the capital, right? What happened that the Kingdom's troops haven't appeared until now?"

"Actually..." Shizu, in turn, looked at Hàfdan, preferring him to explain.

Ah... Yes. There's this detail.

He cleared his throat, realizing that Enri and the Village Chief's attention, now diverted by Shizu's actions, was back on him.

"Right after I saved you, Miss Enri, perhaps while you were already on your way to the village, Shizu passed me the necessary information about the situation. On my own way here, some inconveniences forced me to take some detours, which led me to encounter a man using an illusion spell to make himself look very much like you, riding along a road that would probably take him to that capital... As Shizu informed me about you, I could recognize the ruse and act accordingly. I believe you can imagine why the Kingdom wasn't alerted, then." She nodded, murmuring a thoughtful "Ahhh..."

In truth, the "inconveniences" were some forms of flora that had caught his attention since he had never seen them in YGGDRASIL. He had been intrigued to discover their alchemical effects when possible, and reassured by the fact that Shizu could manage on her own for the time being, he took some time to collect them...

... Not that anyone besides Hàfdan needed to know that, of course.

"By the way, you sir mentioned on the way here that you were a noble pilgrim from a distant land and needed help with directions, right? 'Nazarick,' isn't it walls? It really sounds far, because we've never heard of that name. Perhaps no one here has." The Village Chief unfurled a scroll of old paper over a wooden table, revealing that it was actually a map. "I don't know how much you're situated so far, so please feel free to point out exactly what you want to know while I speak, Hàfdan-sama. I'll try to provide as much information as I can."

Hàfdan nodded. He was completely "not situated" about the geography of this world, so he certainly wouldn't make the man hold back any information.

"You are currently in the continent of Nirathia, which is said to be the human continent, although it also houses, here more isolated, the lizardman kingdom, and in many more isolated and dense forests, there are inhuman life forms that are quite hostile. This continent is composed of the Re-Estize Kingdom, of which our village is part, governed by King Ramposa; the Slane Theocracy, located beyond this mountain range we call the Bálgares Mountains; and, excluding these smaller kingdoms here and here, and this island to the northeast where the Holy Kingdom rules, there's also the Baharuth Empire of Jircniv... He has some surnames, but I don't remember all of them."

Understandable. Hàfdan could imagine how long the names of the great kings here were, if the YGGDRASIL standard was followed.

"This Theocracy was, in the end, responsible for the siege of this village, according to my subordinate. They have an alliance with the Empire against the Re-Estize Kingdom, I assume?"

"Er... I can't say, this world's politics are more complicated than they seem, as you know. They were wearing the Empire's armor, so at least they might have wanted to convey some relation to it." The Village Chief said, scratching his head. "But it's also possible they just wanted to give the impression that the Empire was the one behind it, without the Theocracy being involved. Not long ago, all three of them were at war with each other."

"I see..."

"Um... Still, in the Kingdom, since you're a pilgrim, it might be useful to know that from this road that leads out of Carne Village, you can reach E-Rantel and then the capital of the Kingdom, Re-Estize, without many detours. The capital is a city entirely focused on accommodating the nobles and the royal family, it would hardly be useful for someone like you, unless you want to report what happened here, I don't know, but E-Rantel is definitely a stop you should pay attention to. It has many interesting shops, and it's home to the Adventurers' Guild, if you ever need their services, though I doubt that's the case. I don't know if it exists in the Theocracy's territory, but I know there is one in the Empire too."

The Adventurers' Guild... Perhaps the custom guilds from YGGDRASIL players, like Ainz Ooal Gown, had given way to this more centralized type of guild in this new world. If there was a way to learn what truly mattered about the place he was in, it was certainly with people from places like that.

"I'll be sure to stop by on my next trips... Now, what are these incomplete strips of land here on the border?" He pointed to the northern edge of Nirathia, then to the western one.

"Oh, yes... I can't say much beyond the names of those places, honestly, because in one of them, we humans don't wish to go at all, so the information is pretty restricted, while from the other, many who've gone didn't manage to return." The Village Chief commented. "To the north is Valandor, the continent of the truly inhuman. As far as we know, there's no civilization like ours there, and it's a place constantly at war due to the variety of different races fighting for supremacy."

"And this one...?"

"Eldoria... There are only legends and more legends about it, most of which can hardly be trusted, because out of all the expeditions sent by all the kingdoms and empires that have ever existed here, at least none are known to have returned. Some say it's from here, in a distant past, that all the existing races came, through a common ancestor or something... Again: rumors. No one has gone there for as far as I'm aware."

Valandor and Eldoria definitely seemed like places where his caution would indeed be required. As long as he didn't encounter anyone at least three times more powerful than Nigun in Nirathia, he imagined wandering around the continent wouldn't be too risky. But he still needed to explore more to be sure.

Valandor, as the home of all inhuman races, was likely where he could find more creatures similar to himself and other inhabitants of Nazarick who fell under the heteromorph or humanoid categories, like elves, slimes, and demons. That meant a completely different level of strength compared to Nirathia, so he would need to come up with a good plan before venturing there, which he had no intention of doing now.

Eldoria, on the other hand, seemed like a continent where he could definitely find information not accessible to everyone who existed here. If it truly was "the home of all races," as the Village Chief suggested, then some answer about why he was here could be found. It was useful to stay alert to any new information from that place and try to learn as much as possible about it.

"Well, that's all I can tell you, Hàfdan-sama. Should I prepare a room for you and your subordinate?"

"No, please don't bother. We appreciate your kindness, but we really need to leave." He raised his palm. Nigun, unconscious and placed near a wall since they arrived at the Village Chief's house, was picked up by Shizu, who effortlessly slung him over one shoulder.

To the surprise of both the villagers, a purple magic circle soon appeared around Hàfdan, who gestured for them to step back. Shizu, in the meantime, moved close enough to be within the radius of the spell as well.

"Well, it's expected that wandering through the night wouldn't be a concern for a magic caster of your level..." The Village Chief chuckled, slightly embarrassed for thinking they wouldn't want to wander around at night. "Feel free to return whenever you wish. We will always welcome you with open arms!"

"Please, do come back!" Enri added. Then, she bowed twice — once to Hàfdan, once to Shizu, and the Village Chief mirrored her gesture. "Thank you so much again, Shizu-sama! Hàfdan-sama!"

Though they couldn't see it, Hàfdan smiled beneath his helm, feeling a warm sense of reassurance in his chest that, in the end, he had made the right decision, despite everything having come down to sheer luck for them. Shizu didn't smile, of course, but she gave her thumbs-up, which, for someone like that automaton, was a pretty significant reaction.

Soon, both of them were enveloped in a flash of light and disappeared without leaving a trace, leaving Enri and the Village Chief alone in the house.

"They... What did they do? This isn't normal. Somehow, Kruger-san, I'm sure this won't be the last time we hear about them or this 'Nazarick.''

"They're heroes, Enri. You recognized them as such, even though you didn't realize it, just as everyone has throughout history, in the stories we've heard since we were children. This truly won't be the last time we hear of them."

Definitely not.

——————————————

¹ Pontifex Maximus is the Latin term for 'Supreme Pontiff.' In Ancient Rome, it referred to the supreme priest of the College of Priests, the highest authority regarding Roman religion at the time. Thus, integrating this concept into the context of the story, the holder of this position acts as the primary ruler of the Slane Theocracy, although greatly advised by the cardinals of the Supreme Executive Council.

² Grimoires can be understood as books that, particularly in the medieval context, contained supposed spells, enchantments, and rituals. However, it should be noted that in the previous chapter, the process for Hàfdan to use his magic (visualization + desire) was already explained. Therefore, the term here takes on a different meaning: it does not literally refer to a book he possesses where all his spells are recorded, but rather to the knowledge he holds of his arsenal, since he does not depend on a menu selection to use a spell, as seen in the instance when he heals an injured person with Wild Healing. 'Grimoire,' in this context, can also refer to this same player menu — which, as made clear at the beginning of the previous chapter, still exists and can be accessed — in the section related to spells.