"You should already have some understanding of the Great Tomb of Nazarick," Ren Kuroda said, his voice calm but firm. "Most of its members are undead or other non-human races, and their feelings toward humans aren't exactly warm."
"With the power that Nazarick possesses, it wouldn't be impossible for them to flatten the entire continent. And when that time comes… where would you stand?"
He paused, letting the weight of the question settle. Then he continued. "As for me, I'm different from most in Nazarick. I won't side with humans, but I also don't condone the senseless slaughter of innocents. My role is to limit the excesses of my companions in Nazarick—to restrain them from needless killings. Do you understand what I mean?"
The "Four Strategists" froze at his words. Then they turned toward him, disbelief etched on their faces.
The information was staggering. The creatures within Nazarick—the monsters they had glimpsed firsthand—actually intended to invade the entire continent?
The strategists had agreed to accept their contracts because survival had left them no choice. But if these creatures carried out such a plan, it would make them, by association, criminals in the eyes of all humanity.
Arshe and Heclan aside for the moment, the good-natured Roba could never have agreed to a contract under any circumstance.
"The rule of Nazarick is inevitable," Ren Kuroda continued, "and no one can oppose it. Even if you had died inside the tomb, that outcome couldn't have been changed. But by choosing to accept the contract, you have a chance to influence events, to help ensure that more humans survive the coming calamity."
Ren's words finally persuaded the Four Strategists. They gained not only understanding but also a newfound allegiance—four capable subordinates ready to serve.
Though their combat abilities might seem laughable to him, Ren Kuroda knew that as humans, they each had inherent value.
As elite operatives of the Empire, they possessed an instinct for intelligence and rumor that even seasoned adventurers often lacked.
Roba, a former church official, provided insight into the inner workings of the clergy. Imina, a half-elf, offered Ren a chance to learn more about the elves of this world—an area of personal interest. And Arshe, from a noble family, had her own motivations that could prove useful.
Meanwhile, in the royal palace of the Bahas Empire, Emperor Gilknifer sat on a velvet sofa, flanked by the Empire's Four Knights. Outwardly, his expression was calm, almost lazy—but inside, he was panicking.
Just minutes ago, a report from the frontlines had reached him. He had expected a routine update on the adventurers sent to explore the ruins.
But nothing went according to plan.
The Empire's workers sent to explore the ruins had been annihilated. The only survivors? Those deliberately returned by the tomb's master, so that the Empire might understand the terror of Nazarick.
And among the returning party, in addition to Ren Kuroda and the Four Strategists, was a breathtakingly beautiful young woman.
She wore a striking outfit of white and red and introduced herself as an envoy of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Her purpose was clear: she demanded that Emperor Gilknifer provide an explanation to their lord, Ainz-sama.
Gilknifer already understood that the ruins at the kingdom's edge were connected to the immensely powerful Ainz Ul Gown.
But still—Ainz, after all, was just a spellcaster. Gilknifer was the Emperor. For someone to demand an explanation from him? That was insolence beyond belief.
With a subtle glance from Gilknifer, one of the Four Knights, Fudou, bristled with indignation. He hefted his massive shield and charged at Ourelle.
In Gilknifer's mind, the adventurers sent to explore the ruins had perished, but that was no great loss—they had been nothing but a rabble. Even if Ainz Ul Gown could have killed them, it didn't matter. The Empire's army could have dispatched them just as easily.
But Ourelle made no attempt to hold back.
As the tomb's envoy, she had to demonstrate her power. Failure to do so would earn her no respect—and Nazarick itself would be shamed.
With a delicate grip on her sword's hilt, she drew her blade "Sakura Fall" from its sheath. In an instant, several cherry blossom petals seemed to bloom in midair, each carrying a faint pink glow. A sweeping slash erupted from her blade, surging forward toward the charging knight.
Fudou, taken aback by the sheer force of the attack, froze. He slammed his enormous shield onto the ground, hiding his body behind it.
The shield, thick and imposing, should have provided ample protection—but the moment the blade struck, it proved utterly ineffective.
Blood sprayed into the air as the mighty steel shield was cut through effortlessly, like a hot knife through butter. Fudou himself was cleaved in two, yet the slash continued on, unstoppable, slicing through the emperor's sofa, severing half of it, and tearing through the palace walls—cutting the entire structure in half!
A single strike, beginning from the ground at Ourelle's feet, extended far beyond the palace. The entire area looked as if a giant cake had been sliced cleanly, and one of the Four Knights had been sent flying in the process.
Gilknifer and the remaining knights could no longer maintain their composed, indifferent facades.
The girl may have appeared human, but her power far exceeded any expectation.
It was now obvious: she might look ordinary, but she was certainly not human. No amount of training could allow a human to reach such a level.
"If this is the stance of the Bahas Empire… and the will of His Majesty the Emperor… then I believe I can return to report to Ainz-sama. I trust he will be quite interested in the Empire. I wonder how long it will last in our hands… should be fun to find out."
Hearing Ourelle's words, Gilknifer clenched his fists, his face darkening.
Earlier, her tone had been polite—now, it was a direct threat.
And the root of the problem lay in his own misjudgments: recklessly sending imperial workers to provoke Ainz Ul Gown, and then underestimating the tomb's envoy.
"I am Gilknifer Luenfarod El, Emperor of the Bahas Empire. I apologize on behalf of the Empire's workers and my knight who acted disrespectfully. Regarding the explanation required by Ainz Ul Gown, I will personally visit in due time to provide a satisfactory reply."