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[LFTAW] Chapter 371: Officially Enemy
🕑 Added 2025-01-14 01:29:38 +0000 UTCAs the information had indicated, the Slane Theocracy was a humanocentric nation with extreme hostility toward non-human races, so they would never allow their land to be invaded by a 'monstrous' being like Shalltear.
Moreover, when the Slane Theocracy learned that it was the same terrifying vampire from the Black Scripture's earlier report, they didn't hesitate to deploy their strongest combatant, Certain Death, who brought with her the equipment left behind by the Six Great Gods to wipe out the vampire once and for all.
However, the Slane Theocracy unexpectedly didn't use the World Item again or employ any other drastic measures, which made Ainz hold back somewhat.
At that moment, Albedo and Demiurge suddenly made a suggestion to the hesitated Ainz.
"Why not use this opportunity to shift the conflict toward the Re-Estize Kingdom? Let the two nations clash and further test what methods the Slane Theocracy might have?"
It was this suggestion that led things to develop into the current state.
Simply put, it was an indirect way of using someone else to do the dirty work.
From the current situation, even if the Slane Theocracy had a trump card up their sleeve, they probably wouldn't use it unless they were truly cornered.
In that case, the solution was simple—create a crisis for the Slane Theocracy.
However, since the Great Tomb of Nazarick didn't want to risk exposing themselves or suffering losses due to the Slane Theocracy's hidden trump cards, the one tasked with testing them had to come from somewhere else.
Considering various factors, the Re-Estize Kingdom was the first target chosen by the Great Tomb of Nazarick, so Albedo and Demiurge proposed to Ainz to redirect the conflict to the kingdom, using them to test the theocracy's capabilities.
In other words, their goal was to completely destroy the relationship between the Re-Estize Kingdom and the Slane Theocracy, pushing the two countries into war.
For this reason, Shalltear pretended to lose to the Black Scripture, luring them out of the Slane Theocracy and leading them to the Re-Estize Kingdom's royal capital.
Once the prey was confirmed to be within the trap, Demiurge would use a special skill that could dominate others' minds, forcing the members of the Black Scripture to cause chaos in the royal capital.
By carefully leaking some information to the Re-Estize Kingdom's royal family and nobles, making them believe that the Black Scripture had gone mad and unleashed destruction in the royal capital while fighting the monster infiltrating their lands, the royal family and nobles would undoubtedly grow to hate the Slane Theocracy, which, in turn, would lead to irreconcilable conflict.
In order to achieve this, the Great Tomb of Nazarick also deployed personnel near the royal capital to cast 'Armageddon - Good' at the start of the plan.
'Armageddon - Good' was a 10th-Tier Magic capable of summoning a large number of high-tier angels. It was well known that the Slane Theocracy was a nation of intense religious devotion, worshiping the Six Great Gods and viewing angels as messengers of the gods, so the fact that their magic casters often used angel-summoning magic in battles was also well known.
For example, the members of the Sunlight Scripture, including Nigun, all used angel-summoning magic of the 3rd and 4th Tier. By commanding angels, they spread the belief that they were chosen by the gods and divinely protected citizens of the Slane Theocracy.
If a massive number of angels invaded the royal capital of the Re-Estize Kingdom, wreaking havoc alongside the Black Scripture, there would be no way for the Slane Theocracy to wash their hands of the blame.
Especially since they were already known for their hatred toward non-human races—their reaction to the powerful monster who desecrated their lands would likely be violent and obsessive, a completely expected response.
Once this goal was achieved, the purpose of the Black Scripture would be complete.
At that point, the Great Tomb of Nazarick would secretly kill the members of the Black Scripture, avenging Shalltear while at the same time thoroughly enraging the Slane Theocracy, making the conflict between the theocracy and the Re-Estize Kingdom even more irreconcilable.
It was a natural outcome.
With the members of the Black Scripture killed in the royal capital, the Re-Estize Kingdom would be forced to take responsibility for the situation, and ultimately, a war between the two countries would become inevitable—an outcome that the Great Tomb of Nazarick wanted.
In fact, the Great Tomb of Nazarick even intended to drag the surrounding countries, like the Baharuth Empire, the Roble Holy Kingdom, and the Argland Council State, into chaos, triggering a war that would sweep across the western countries of the continent.
In this way, the Great Tomb of Nazarick could stay hidden in the shadows, weakening the big countries while scheming against the Slane Theocracy and probing their trump cards.
If everything went smoothly, they could annihilate all the surrounding countries in one fell swoop, bringing the Great Tomb of Nazarick fully into the open and spreading the name 'Ainz Ooal Gown' across the entire continent.
For Shalltear, this was a grand plan for revenge.
For Albedo, Demiurge, and the other Guardians, it was a conquest plan to gradually allow the Great Tomb of Nazarick to dominate this world.
For Ainz, it was a plan to make the name 'Ainz Ooal Gown' famous, attracting any of his guild companions who might have also been transported to this world.
In short, this plan had many layers and countless benefits.
Ainz had already designated it as the Great Tomb of Nazarick's top priority for establishing itself in this world.
Naturally, that was assuming everything went smoothly.
So far, things have been going pretty well.
Not only had the Black Scripture been drawn out, but Demiurge had also already used his special skill to take control of the members of the Black Scripture who had just retreated.
Except for one person who managed to resist the control and had to be temporarily detained, the only other exception was Certain Death, who had stayed by Riezel's side and thus avoided capture.
Now, the controlled members of the Black Scripture were causing chaos in the royal capital, while those from the Great Tomb of Nazarick who were lurking in the capital had launched 'Armageddon - Good', summoning an army of angels to cooperate with the Black Scripture in attacking the royal capital.
Once the chaos reached its peak, the Black Scripture would meet its end, and Shalltear's revenge would be fulfilled.
Additionally, with the Great Tomb of Nazarick having also taken control of a princess of the Re-Estize Kingdom and Eight Fingers, it gave them countless ways to stir up trouble and force the kingdom to send troops against the Slane Theocracy.
Ainz had dispatched the other Guardians to different countries as well, ready to sow discord and chaos, ensuring that if one country wasn't enough to provoke the Slane Theocracy, others could be drawn in to force their hand and reveal their trump cards.
At this moment, the only remaining wildcard was one.
Riezel Brynhart.
Because of this, Ainz had appeared personally now, bringing four Floor Guardians with him to corner Riezel, not letting this variable disrupt his plan.
Naturally, Ainz wouldn't disclose any of this to Riezel since if any information leaked, the entire plan could fall apart in an instant.
Now, as Riezel questioned him, Ainz had no intention of being truthful.
"I just want to return the favor to the theocracy, tooth for tooth."
Ainz spoke calmly, brushing off all explanations with a single sentence, making Riezel look at him in silence.
After a moment of staring, Riezel seemed to give up thinking about it.
"Fine, it doesn't matter... In any case, what I intend to do isn't gonna change."
Riezel spoke casually, making Ainz react to his words.
"...So, you're determined to oppose us, become our enemy?"
Ainz asked in a deep, low voice, making it clear that if his skeletal face had eyebrows, they would be furrowed deeply by now.
At Ainz's question, Riezel responded with a calm expression.
"Seriously, you're talking as if this is something unusual or strange."
Riezel spread one hand and pointed to the city below.
Down there, buildings were still burning, angels continued their rampage, and innocent civilians ran for their lives—screams, cries, and wails filled the air without pause.
"As long as one remains human, with even a shred of humanity left in their heart, they wouldn't be indifferent to such a scene, right?"
Despite saying such words, however, Riezel's expression remained unnervingly calm, almost indifferent.
"...You don't strike me as the kind of person who'd go out of their way to fight injustice." Ainz remarked, sharing his opinion.
"Of course, I'm not some noble hero..." Riezel shrugged, his gaze fixed on Ainz. "But let me ask you this... if you were the old you, what would you have done in the face of this scene? If it were you back when you were still... human."
Upon hearing this, Ainz fell silent, but the silence didn't last long.
"I would have run." Ainz admitted honestly. "If I were my old, ordinary self, what else could I have done? I could only run away, right?"
"I see... that's the biggest difference between you and me then..." Riezel nodded before a faint smile suddenly appeared on his face. "If it were me, I'd probably charge straight into them because it looks thrilling?"
In other words, even if he were just an ordinary human right now, he would still choose to charge.
"I'm surely not some selfless hero who hates evil with all my heart, but if I happen to see someone fall while passing by, I'd still help them up if I can—unless they were trying to scam me, of course."
"I'm not saying there aren't people who would stay indifferent to someone screaming in agony right in front of them, but I don't think I'm one of those people."
"You know, this is what we call human nature."
Riezel's voice spread slowly.
"If you were still human, you'd understand what I mean, but sadly, you're not human anymore. You've become undead inside and out, a monster who's gradually losing the emotions that come with being human."
"That's why you can coldly make cruel decisions for the benefit of Nazarick and yourself—even starting wars that leave entire nations devastated doesn't faze you at all."
"Given that, isn't it perfectly understandable for someone to come after you, oppose you, or wanna bring you down?"
At this point, Riezel's smile became somewhat excited.
"Of course, that someone is none other than me."
"But honestly, even without all of these reasons, I actually hope I can face off against you guys."
"I sincerely hope you all can put pressure on me and make our battle somewhat exciting."
As Riezel made such a declaration, his Selfless State seemed to loosen up a bit, allowing his fighting spirit, which had been confined, to surge out like a tidal wave for just a moment.
"Tch!" Albedo clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Guess it really turned out like this, huh?" Demiurge remarked, not seeming surprised at all.
"A strong enemy... has appeared..." Cocytus said in a deep voice.
"I've already said it! We should've just killed him long ago!" Shalltear exclaimed, her sadistic side fully showing, her face twisting into a grotesque expression.
Ainz raised his head, looking toward Riezel.
"I'm sorry..."
Ainz's voice turned cold, devoid of any emotion.
"If possible, I didn't want to be your enemy, but it seems things won't always go as I wish."
"In that case, let me just eliminate you here, Riezel Brynhart."
"You are truly a nuisance."
As soon as these words were spoken, the world froze.
Needless to say, time had stopped because someone had used 10th Tier Magic—Time Stop.
Who used it?
Of course, the caster was none other than Ainz, who had used a Metamagic Enhancement, Silent Magic, to instantly cast Time Stop.
"Sure enough, just as Shalltear said, you don't have any countermeasures against time-based powers."
As the only one still able to move, Ainz couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at Riezel, who had fallen into a frozen state.
