Chapter 56: You will die if you do something wrong (Part 1)
In front of the small town hall building in Kahn Town, three luxuriously decorated four-wheel carriages were parked, and a dozen knights holding war horses stood beside them. Most of the knights wore full-body armor with exquisite coats of arms engraved on the chests. , seems to be a private soldier of a noble somewhere.
In the lobby on the first floor of the city hall, the residents who had come to do business had been temporarily dispersed. In the entire room, or in the entire small building, there was only a burly visiting soldier, who came out to entertain the guests. A beautiful maid, and a arrogant old aristocratic man.
"...so slow!"
As soon as this old man dressed as an aristocrat opened his mouth, he said unabashedly mean words to the maid.
"...It's so slow. How long do we have to wait?"
This is an old man who looks very shriveled, his skin is full of wrinkles, and he is so thin that it seems like only bones and skin are left. The hair is so small that it can be ignored. If you look at it from a distance - no, even if you look at it from up close, it seems that this person is completely bald.
Overall, this is a wizened old man as ugly as a lich.
But despite this, Baron Alziru still feels very good about himself.
"...Is there anyone who neglects a royal messenger like this? Call that guy named Ainz out!"
Sitting on a wooden chair that didn't look very comfortable, Baron Alziru stared in displeasure.
"...I'm really sorry. Butler Sebastian has already rushed to inform Ainz-sama. So we may have to wait a while longer."
The head maid of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, the dignified Headless Horseman Yuri Alpha, had a deep apology on his face as he bowed his head and apologized. The degree of bending was so low that it would even worry those who knew the inside story. Will her unfixed head roll off her neck?
If it were a man, he would probably forgive Yuri immediately as soon as he saw her face, right? However, after this conversation has been repeated several times... no, more than a dozen times, the effect of this apology has become quite poor.
In fact, Baron Alziru just rolled his eyes unhappily, then took a sip of the black tea in front of him, and immediately spit it out with a "poof", "...This drink is already cold! It's still cold!" Why don’t you go get a hot drink?”
"...Yes, I'm sorry." Yuri lowered her head deeply, picked up the tea cup and turned around to leave, making it unclear what her expression was at this time.
Facing the old baron who kept complaining, Gazef stood watching. Warrior Captain Stronov couldn't help but speak out.
"...Your Excellency Alqilu! Please be more dignified! Making things difficult for your servants like this doesn't show your family discipline and demeanor!"
In response, Baron Alziru glanced sideways at Warrior Captain Gazef. He seemed to want to say something taunting, but after hesitating for a moment, he finally swallowed his words - in his eyes, this guy Gazef Although he is just a lowly and vulgar commoner, he is the king's most favored celebrity. Although he himself is a noble, in the final analysis he is just a country baron. He has no status in the kingdom's aristocratic circle. At best, he is just a pawn in the hands of the great nobles. If there is really going to be a sharp conflict, I might be the one who suffers the most: Li. It is true that the royal family of the Kingdom of Yestije has been in decline for many years, but it is still far from the level where a country baron can attack the royal family's favorites.
"...Okay! Got it! There is really no need to be so fussy. For a guy like this who lives in a remote countryside and doesn't even know the word etiquette, it should be natural! Indeed, it is natural for the Wang family's envoy to wait for so long It is very rude not to come out to greet you, but that is only for people who know etiquette. Can you still ask the barbarian chief or the beggar chief to do the same thing?”
Therefore, Baron Alziru thought he was very generous and chose to give in, but he still continued to speak harsh words, "...But, this place is only a few steps away from the mage tower, and this Mr. Ainz has not yet stopped." It’s been almost half a day and I haven’t come to greet you. It’s really a waste of time.”
Looking at Baron Alziru who was still chattering and grumbling, Warrior Captain Gazef could only helplessly touch his forehead and sigh.
——In. After the convoy of envoys from the Kingdom of Yestije finally arrived in Karn Town, Baron Alziru and Warrior Captain Gazef went to the city hall to inform Ainz's men that a royal envoy had arrived, hoping that Ainz would come out according to etiquette. meet. At this time, in the city hall, there were only two people, the Dragon Butler Sebas and the Headless Horseman Yuri, who were handling some chores. When he learned that a delegation from the kingdom had arrived, and that the deputy was his former acquaintance, the warrior captain Gazef, Sebastian did not dare to neglect and immediately left to inform the host, leaving Yuri behind to entertain the guests.
But here, both parties clearly made a cognitive error: Baron Alziru and Warrior Captain Gazef both thought Ainz lived in the mage tower on the outskirts, very close to here. After being notified, they will come out to welcome them into the tower and stay there, and at the same time, they will host a banquet.
But in fact, the mage tower is actually the stronghold of the alien players headed by Wang Qiu, which is the "cat's nest" and the "little goblin's nest". Ainz himself had never spent a day there, but still lived in the Great Tomb of Nazarick ten kilometers away beneath the ground.
Therefore, after receiving the news, Lich King Ainz, who was preparing to host a banquet to entertain guests, immediately fell into distress:
The superficial mage tower is really not suitable for entertaining guests. There was also no venue in town that looked impressive enough. There is quite a luxurious place inside the Great Tomb of Nazarick, but how to let these people in without exposing the location of the Great Tomb of Nazarick?
Moreover, there were many things in the Great Tomb of Nazarick that Ainz did not want to be exposed.
In order to solve the above-mentioned troubles and prevent visiting guests from seeing things they shouldn't see, Lich King Ainz had to spend a little time preparing. At the same time, Baron Alziru, who was sitting in the city hall, was naturally waiting more and more impatiently.
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"...I've had enough! How long will it take for your master to come?"
After pouring three more cups of black tea into his stomach, Baron Alziru finally couldn't help but spoke angrily again.
"...Sorry, it shouldn't take too long."
Although she said this, in fact, even Yuri herself did not know when Ainz would come.
But if you tell the truth, it is obviously an idiot's behavior. Therefore, Yuri could only continue to respond with an apology tone.
But at the same time, what she was thinking was: Why don't you shut up? ! You damn old man! ! !
After being scolded with harsh and sarcastic words for so long, even the kind-hearted Yuri began to feel irritated and disgusted inside.
"...I've heard this line countless times before! Not only did it not explain the reason why your master was late, but it also didn't explain the specific time your master came over. Do you think we, the royal envoys, are fools? What! ”
At this moment, the emotion contained in Baron Alziru's words exceeded the level of unpleasantness, but was clear hostility.
"...No, that kind of thing——"
Just when Yuri wanted to say something more in defense, the thick door of this small building was opened from the outside. "...I have kept you waiting." The person who pushed the door in from outside spoke, "...I am Ainz. Ur. Gown. Warrior Commander Gazef, long time no see!"
At this moment, both Baron Alziru and Yuri were speechless when they saw Ainz.
What first caught Baron Alziru's attention was the pure black magic robe Ainz wore: the material of the robe was not the rough black linen commonly worn by civilians, but some kind of smooth and shiny silk fabric that moved with the movement of his body. Movement and rippling light patterns like water waves! Its texture is so good that His Excellency the Baron couldn't help but admire it! Then, the robe is inlaid with many precious crystal gems and exquisitely carved gold and silver decorations. Most of them seem to be magic props, shining in the room with an intoxicating beauty. Colored light.
Baron Alziru, who served as the Kingdom's ceremonial officer for a period of time, was also sent on missions to foreign countries when he was young, and saw many luxurious celebration scenes, but even in his entire work experience, he never saw anything better than this. More luxurious clothes!
Then, the other person's face was covered with a mask and his hands were covered with gloves, leaving no skin exposed at all. Moreover, there was a tabby cat following at his feet, which seemed a bit strange. However, these details are just trivial matters to Baron Alziru.
Before he noticed these trivial things, he was already frightened by Ainz's ultra-luxurious robes!
For traditional nobles like Baron Alziru, clothes have a more important meaning than keeping out the cold. That is to be able to simply and clearly explain the social status of the person wearing this dress. Just by looking at the quality and value of the clothes, he can roughly judge the other person's status, power, financial resources, etc... In other words, nobles dress like nobles, and civilians dress like civilians. They cannot override each other.
However, the luxuriousness of Ainz's clothes clearly exceeded Baron Alziru's psychological expectations, and he was stunned for a moment.
Although Baron Alziru had heard from Warrior Captain Gazef before setting off that this guy named Ainz was a very powerful magician, he did not take his status too seriously.
——In a world where everything only depends on blood, origin and family status. In the Kingdom of Yestij, ordinary magicians who are not nobles, no matter how powerful they are, even if they can destroy a large group of monsters in an instant, their social status will not be too high. Even the most respectable court magician is about the same status as Baron Alcirou.
Therefore, he had been very arrogant towards Ainz's butler and maid before. The reason was that he felt that Ainz's status as a "country boy" should be much lower than that of himself who often hangs around the palace, and he was not worthy of being treated with the etiquette of a noble. .
However, after seeing the luxurious clothes Ainz wore, Baron Alziru's original thoughts were somewhat shaken.
He is obviously a countryman who lives in a wild land on the border, but he is actually dressed more luxuriously than the princes in the capital! !
Could it be that he was not a magician from a lowly commoner background, but that he had a noble bloodline and family background?
Although his mind was in a mess, Baron Alziru quickly regained consciousness and said calmly in an emotionless tone:
"...Um...Are you Ainz. Ur. Gong?"
"...That's right." Ainz replied calmly, and then both parties fell silent. In other words, it's stuck.
Lich King Ainz didn't know what to say, so he could only wait for the other party to speak first. Baron Alziru, on the other hand, looked at Ainz carefully, thinking about what attitude he should adopt. The last remaining warrior captain, Gazef, could not speak before the sergeant according to the rules, so he could only remain silent.
After pondering for a moment, Baron Alziru finally concluded that no matter what the nobles who recommended him for this position had hidden intentions, he was still a messenger of the royal family on the surface, and he still had to convey the king's will first.
"...Ahem! I am the envoy sent by His Majesty, Baron Alzilu. Nitz. Aiko. Fondolu. The person next to me is -" Baron Alzilu introduced, and at the same time turned his face to Ge next to him. Warrior Captain Jeff, "... served as my deputy and bodyguard..."
"...This one doesn't need an introduction. We've known each other for a long time. Your Excellency, Warrior Commander, I'm glad to see you again!" Ainz smiled.
"...Well, it's nice to see you again." Gazef replied with a slight nod.
Seeing Ainz interrupting his words very rudely, Baron Alziru couldn't help but frown. The other party's tone and words were also very vulgar. He did not use the tone unique to the palace at all. There was no elegance or etiquette at all. He obviously did not look like he was born into a noble family.
Since his family background and background are not very high, and his words and deeds are very vulgar, why do he have the money to buy such luxurious clothes?
"...Yeah! I understand! He's probably similar to Gazef, a wealthy high-level adventurer!"
The next moment, Baron Alziru speculated on an answer he could accept, and at the same time he became increasingly disgusted with Ainz in his heart.
——A pesky person who came from a lowly background and had no elegant taste or noble bloodline. He should have been trampled in the mud forever, but with his powerful power, he tried to be on an equal footing with the nobles, thus disrupting the hierarchy of feudal society... This is him Baron Alziru's thoughts on adventurers.
Of course, he hates it, but Baron Alziru also knows that although those top adventurers are rejected by the nobles, they are rich. Every time they go on a mission, they can get hundreds or even thousands of gold coins, which is more than many famous nobles. Much more generous. Especially when they are on the brink of desperation, many wealthy businessmen and nobles are willing to go bankrupt to hire these strong men - if a person dies, there will be nothing left, so what's the use of keeping the money?
Therefore, if this Ainz had the same abilities as Warrior Commander Gazef, he might be able to afford such luxurious clothes!
While he was calculating and thinking over and over again, Ainz, who was impatient with waiting, began to talk to Yuri.
"... Yuri, go back first and prepare yourself for the welcome. Then call Butler Sebas who is waiting outside!"
"...As ordered." Yuli nodded, turned around, packed up the tea sets on the table, and walked out of the room.
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At the same time, Baron Alziru finally ended his silent thinking and spoke with a certain arrogant and disdainful tone:
"...Then...before conveying His Majesty's will, I need to confirm first, which mask you are wearing?"
"...This is a magic item." Ainz replied.
"...picked it."
Baron Alcirou suddenly raised his face and waved his hand, scolding him very sternly.
Ainz was stunned when he heard this. Under this mask, it turned out to be an undead skull face!
Although before he came out to meet the guests, he had considered that he might need to take off his mask and had made preparations in advance. However, when the matter came to a head, and faced with such a arrogant scolding from this old man, Ainz suddenly felt reluctant to take off his mask. .
This is probably the so-called reverse psychology!
"...I'm very sorry, do you really have to take off this mask?"
"...Of course! Are you just wearing a mask to accept His Majesty's will? Isn't this a little too unreasonable? Or do you not even know this level of etiquette? Even if you know it, you won't Are you worse than a barbarian chief who is willing to obey?”
Baron Alzirou blew his beard and glared, shouting and swearing, almost jumping to his feet.
Ainz, who had never been treated like this by that guy since traveling to another world, suddenly felt an unknown fire in his heart. He seemed to recall the scene of being harshly criticized by his picky boss in the past, but after hesitating for a moment, he finally chose to compromise for the time being. "...Okay then! I'll take off the mask! But only for now!" Lich King Ainz replied angrily, taking off the mask at the same time, revealing the face of a Japanese office worker with black hair and eyes - he used to use The original appearance virtualized by illusion magic.