"Yes. At the moment there are no other Undead Ships sailing on land other than you guys. In other words you are valuable just by being here and there is currently no reason for us to give you this special opportunity."
In the end, it all comes down to wanting it because it's rare.
"I didn't understand why Ainz-sama who is an overwhelmingly powerful person needed us, but it's like this isn't it? Strength alone can be easily replaced, but uniqueness and rarity makes us irreplaceable."
That's a nice way of putting it. In the future, I would like to use this line, perhaps in a different form. Ainz nodded as he wrote it down in his memory pad. (word play on memo pad and memory)
"That's right. Of course, it may be rare here and common in other places, but we can think about it again when the time comes."
"...if we are valuable just by being here, and irreplaceable, will we end up being displayed somewhere?"
"No, I won't do that. It's not all about just keeping you safe. I need to look into various things, such as whether it can be used outside of this land, and if so, what kind of uses it might be suitable for. Also, if beings like you are common in other places, then I need to consider the possibility that they may appear as an enemy, and I need to look into your weaknesses. I'll thoroughly examine every nook and cranny to see what attacks you are weak to."
A fleet sailing on land doesn't seem like a particularly strong idea, but there may be some hidden merit that Ainz hadn't thought of. No... it's possible that Nazaarick's way of thinking is fundamentally wrong. At the very least, there are no neighboring countries with users who can use <Gate>, so a ship capable of transporting large amounts of supplies would be extremely valuable.
"Damn it! You're going to search every inch of my wives body!"
It sounded different to him, so Ainz closed his eyes slowly. Of course, he had no eyelids. Then Ainz suddenly had a thought. So, this guy must be crazy after all. The undead have almost no sexual desire. For a moment, I thought I saw the face of a certain female vampire that my companion created. I would like to ignore it, but I can't.
'No, Shalltear is an exception!'
Although, vampires as a whole have a lot of exceptions in various ways. I seem to remember someone saying that this was a result of them trying to resemble vampires in stories, but anyways normal undead do not have sexual desires.
The minuscule amount of sexual desire Ainz has was only thanks to the remnants of Suzuki Satoru. Perhaps his statements come from that. In other words, this is a transcendent being from the realm of the undead.
Ainz thought about it as he looked at the undead before him, but he couldn't accept it. It is only natural that people would not admit that they have deviated in the wrong direction.
'It seems a bit stupid to take it seriously. Besides, it's not about strength, but being a sexual deviant seems like a really reverted thing. Or maybe there's some purpose to being thought of as stupid? I just don't know...'
"Ah, Enough already! I have yet to hear your answer. What are you going to do with us? Will you beg me for my loyalty?" (greyrune)
He tried to say "I'll do my best" but stumbled over the words.
This... is something like this... Am I allowed to treat such a bizarre undead as a subordinate of the Sorcerer King Ainz Ooal Gown? If he were to carry an emissary from another country, what kind of conversation would they have? What if he said that I seduced him and made him my subordinate by force? Isn't this the worst situation?
No matter what kind of government one implements, that alone will undoubtedly be viewed negatively. And what if this story spreads to another country? Wouldn't it be better to kill them... to destroy them? The scales in my heart are tipping from alive to dead.
However, Ainz's collector's spirit spoke to him. 'It would be a shame to kill'.
"Will you devote yourself to me? Or will you die alone? Choose whichever you prefer, but I recommend the former.
Still, it seems hard to believe that his is the only Ghost Ship. Since there is one, it wouldn't be strange if there were more. Perhaps one day I will visit this place again with Cocytus and Demiruge. What was this place after all? If this were a game, it might end with 'I guess there are places like that', but in this world, such events occurring is a mystery. The same can be said about the history of this place, where traces of a past civilization remain. When the time comes, I'm sure Demiurge with his extraordinary wisdom will be able to find out who once lived here and if they are still around.
EPILOGUE
Standing on top of the city walls, looking south. A thin mist hands in the distance, and every time I see it, I'm overcome by an inexplicable sense of unease. When I first set foot on the plains, I was so on edge I forgot to breathe. But, looking at it from a distance like this, those same feelings suddenly come back to him. Of course, it's not because they're afraid of the undead that calls it home, but the mist itself.
That thin mist clears when the Empire and Re-Estize Kingdom are fighting, but always seems to return. Yet it never changes size, not even a centimeter. When faced with this phenomenon, which is fundamentally different from normal weather changes, one's senses become sensitive. It's similar to witnessing the vastness of the Azerlisia Mountains.
Antwari's friend standing next to him asks. "What should we do now?"
Normally, I should have mentioned this earlier, but I couldn't do that on my way home. The Skeletal Dragon has come this far out. Considering the possibility that the situation might have changed, we could not let our guard down, so chatting was out of the question.
"It would be a bad idea to goto the Sorcerer Kingdom now. We shouldn't do that until Momon-san returns. No, even after he does return, we shouldn't go until we know the situation."
"I wonder what kind of horrible things are going on in the Sorcerer Kingdom right now."
No one has ever found it until now... the Ghost ship of Katze Plains exists only in rumors heard over drinks. What purpose did the Sorcerer Kingdom's Prime Minister have in asking Momon to discover it?
There are three possible reasons. The first reason is that he believes Momon will be able to find it. The second reason is that it will send Momon far away, so the Sorcerer Kingdom can do something they couldn't while Momon was there. Upon investigation, it appears that Momon was having a dispute with the Sorcerer Kingdom over the treatment of its residents, so that must be what it is.
"It's something that can only be done after the hero has been driven out, so it must be extremely cruel. Or so I think, but it does irritate me a little. By making it a formal request, they've taken away his right of refusal and forced him to accept the job whether he wanted to or not. I suppose if Momon had refused, that would have been that, but I guess they're exploiting his weakness as an adventurer."
"It would be better if he became a worker, but that may not be possible. The Sorcerer Kingdom's aim may be to split up the Adventurer's Guild and Momon."
There are many benefits to separating oneself from the organization.
"I heard that the Sorcerer Kingdom's Prime Minister isn't human. I don't want to praise them, but there is no doubt that they are quite intelligent."
"Have you not considered that if an atrocity had been committed, Momon would be enraged and turn against us if he returned and found out about it?"
"I would like to clear this up, but I wonder. It may be to late to say anything when they return. Aren't they aiming at something like genocide?"
"But if that's the case, then surely that would make Momon-san a potential enemy. Is that what the Sorcerer Kingdom is aiming for? In other words, are they aiming to make Momon-san their enemy?"
The others voice their opinions one after another. Having an Adamantite-class adventurer under your commander or even in a cooperative relationship with them is a pretty big deal. If you think about it normally, it's all common sense.
However, if there was an even greater advantage to it, then it would be okay to make Momon their enemy. Normally, there would be no such benefit. However, this is the Sorcerer Kingdom that can summon horrifying monsters with just one spell and trample over many people, so there may be something to it.
"That's true Neji-san, you think it might be more of a collar than an ally. Well, even though I can't think of any solid examples of what that might be."
I might find out something if I go to the Sorcerer Kingdom, but I have no desire to go.
"Momon-san seems to understand that as well, but did you accept the offer because you knew you had a way to turn it around?"
Everybody was silent in unison. The third reason, it weighs heavily on my heart. This is the worst possible reason for Momon, Antowari, and the others. This is a story that everyone knows. When a certain Sorcerer Kingdom went to war with the Re-Estize Kingdom they used the excuse that 'This land was originally theirs and the Kingdom was illegally occupying it.'
Of course, no one believed that story. However, if you think about it rationally, this area was once filled with undead from Katze Plains. Is this a coincidence? If this wasn't a coincidence, then perhaps the Sorcerer Kingdom was gathering its forces in this fog. That's why he was able to get hold of information about things like Ghost Ships that no one knew about. If so, it's a trap.
This is the bottom of the pot where the most horrifying parts of the Sorcerer Kingdom have been boiled down. If it was intended to be an execution ground for rebellious heroes, it would also explain the appearance of so many Skeletal Dragons.
Momon was able to slaughter them with ease, but if undead of that caliber attacked one after the other, even Momon might be in danger. However, if there was such a secret, it's unclear why the Sorcerer Kingdom does not put pressure on the administration of the Free City of Vadis to stop the Workers.
Although it was only a small amount, Antowari and his comrades had been fighting to reduce the Sorcerer Kingdom's military power and prevent it from growing. This is an activity that should be put to an immediate halt. Although, Undead that can be easily defeated is unnecessary as a fighting force. Are they trying to think out their population?
Or perhaps they are deceiving us into thinking they are successfully exterminating the undead while in the depths of the mist, they are gathering even more cursed forces. Every hypothesis has something that doesn't fit. Because most of the stories fit together, the few inconsistencies cause concern. It makes you feel like you're missing out of something important.
This is exactly my feeling when Maryuyama doesn't give us character sheets.
After thinking in silence for a while, I noticed something moving through the thin mist. It wasn't just me, but everyone on the team noticed. It was something huge, the size of a mansion. Something like that is about to emerge from the depths of the swirling fog. What should we do?
Is it really okay to make such a fuss just because I saw a black shadow moving through the fog? It's far away and there's fog, so it's not impossible that the size was misunderstood.
While glancing into the mist, "...the fog has spread!"
This is an abnormal situation. The fog, which had been motionless until now, is expanding in area. Perhaps the appearance of the Skeletal Dragons was not brought from the depths of the mist, but rather a result of an abnormal situation occurring. Or was it a sign of something to come?
"immediately..."
"...Don't move! Everyone can see that the mist has spread! We need to stay here and wait. Hey! What's That?!"
It was a ship that glides along the ling.
"...That's stupid."
"That... Seriously..."
The ship then glided past the side of the city and headed onto the highway, heading towards the Sorcerer Kingdom. My line of sight was only for a moment, but through the mist I saw a figure standing on the deck. It was a strong man in armor uncrossing his arms and pointing into the distance, but crimson cloak fluttering wildly in the wind. Then the ship slowly changed course to follow it, heading away from Vadis.
"…was it that person who did it?"
Yes. The two of them were the members of Darkness, Momon and Nabe. They didn't look undead, but it's hard to tell. Should we assume that there was nothing behind this? Could it be that the Sorcerer Kingdom simply sent Momon off because they thought he could do it? Or...
"Momon-san has overcome the Sorcerer Kingdom's schemes... No, perhaps this is the move that will turn it around."
Antowari's colleagues overhear his mutterings and exclaim, "Ah," or "I see". The three reasons mentioned above. Whatever the answer, there is one perfect solution that can be applied in every case. That is, no matter what conspiracies the Sorcerer Kingdom is plotting, or what fighting forces they might have, all they had to do was complete the job with strength and speed far beyond their expectations, and return to E-Rantle before they could do anything. But, is such a thing possible?
"Ah," Antowari sighed in admiration.
...Once upon a time, there was a terrifying Skeleton King. The Skeleton King wanted to torment his people, but one warrior stood in his way to protect them.
"That is the highest rank for an adventurer...Adamantite class."
We live in a different world. The Skeleton used his demon subordinates to try and trap the warrior in some devious way.
"You're an incredible person, Momon-san..."
I silently agree with what my friend said. I've seen a few people who just can't win, but Momon is the pinnacle of that. In battle, he used his wisdom and bravery to outwit the villains and thwart thwart their plot.
"And they lived happily ever after...", Antowari laughs.
"I may not have the talent of a bard, but to be able to witness a heroic tale worthy of praise unfold before my very eyes isn't such a bad thing."
Then the ghost ship faded away with the mist. No, no, it would be more accurate to say that the ghost ship disappears into the mist, and then the mist clears. For a while afterwards, Antwari and the others continued to stare in silence towards E-Rante where the ghost ship had disappeared.
As the group watched the ship disappear into thin air, they noticed something. It was so strange its hard to believe it isn't an illusion. What they noticed was the presence of a creature sitting heavily on the deck. It was a crab.
"...Hey, why did that ghost ship have a crab on it?"
"That can't be the case... Maybe they were out fishing...?"
"I think a big fishing flag would look good on it..."
"...What exactly was that?"
No one could give a satisfactory answer to that question.
<END>
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