"Please forgive our rudeness and ignorance, Your Excellency. I am Rania, leader of the centaur tribe. At this moment, I offer you our highest respect."
Kneeling at the very front was a centaur woman clad in animal pelts around her upper body. Her golden wavy hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her figure was strikingly voluptuous. With her head lowered, Chu Lian could not see her face clearly, but she could tell with certainty that she must be beautiful.
"Oh? So you still retain your judgment after all. I thought you were no different from those magical beasts—charging at me like lunatics, determined to kill me."
Her body slowly descended to the ground. Chu Lian looked at the kneeling centaurs before her and spoke softly.
"That was only because we were influenced by another unknown existence. After witnessing Your Excellency's great power, we would never again dare harbor any disrespectful thoughts toward you. Please forgive our earlier offense."
As she spoke, she raised her head, revealing a delicate face. Her blue eyes met Chu Lian's as she continued, "If Your Excellency still cannot quell your anger, Rania is willing to offer up her own life. I only ask that you forgive my tribespeople."
"Relax. I have no intention of killing you. I only want to know—why submit?"
Chu Lian was genuinely curious. Even if they feared her strength, they could have chosen to flee. Why would they sacrifice their freedom to follow someone else?
"Because we were driven from our homeland on the plains by a group of even more powerful enemies. Those enemies bore black runes on their bodies, just like we do."
At this point, Rania lifted a hand and pointed to her back. There, engraved upon her skin, were mysterious runes identical to those on the other magical beasts.
"No… rather than being driven out, it would be more accurate to say we fled for our lives. They were not friendly—one could even call them cruel. Our tribe once had over two hundred members, but they slaughtered most of us without mercy. Only a few of us managed to escape."
As she spoke, her emotions faltered. Tears welled in her large eyes.
"Then, during our wandering, we encountered a black storm. After that, we lost more than ten additional tribesmen, and these symbols appeared on our bodies. From that moment on, a voice has echoed in our minds. It transmitted your appearance to us and ordered us to attack you."
Rania carefully glanced at Chu Lian. Only after confirming that she was not angered did she continue.
"At first, we did not know where you were. But yesterday, that voice told us to wait here. It said you would pass by today. So we came. For some reason, we instinctively obeyed its voice. If not for Your Excellency's overwhelming power awakening us, we might have become complete puppets under its control."
Chu Lian was slightly stunned. The "voice" Rania mentioned likely referred to the mutated consciousness.
"Perhaps the only benefit of these runes is that they have strengthened us. Enemies we once feared are now no match for us. That is the primary reason why so few of us have managed to survive until now."
"Of course, the greatest stroke of fortune is that, guided by this voice, we were able to behold Your Excellency's true form and gain the chance to follow you."
A fervent expression suddenly appeared on Rania's face. Even with tears still clinging to her lashes, she looked exhilarated.
"We believe that under Your Excellency's leadership, our people will one day return to the plains and slaughter those enemies, avenging our fallen kin."
With those words, her purpose was laid bare. Chu Lian did not mind. There was only one thing she needed to clarify.
"I just killed several of your tribesmen. Do you not resent me?"
Rania fell silent for a moment before answering, "To say there is no bitterness in our hearts would be a lie. Our numbers grow fewer by the day. But we also understand. It was we who attacked Your Excellency first, under the guidance of that voice. Your retaliation was only natural. Their deaths can only be regarded as the price we paid for our ignorance."
Chu Lian frowned slightly. She could not quite see through this centaur girl. She clearly wished to follow her. She clearly sought something from her. Yet on this matter, she spoke without hesitation, laying her thoughts bare. Perhaps straightforward personalities were indeed rather likable.
"I understand. Very well, I permit you to follow me. When I deem that you have reached the standards I expect, I will personally lead you back to the plains and reclaim your territory."
After some thought, Chu Lian accepted this group of centaurs.
As for how to arrange them? That was simple. Their current destination was Carne Village. Near Carne Village stretched vast expanses of plains—perfect for the centaurs' survival. They could settle there temporarily.
After all, Carne Village was the first settlement to establish diplomatic relations with Nazarick, maintaining a friendly relationship. Even if they could not reveal that they were the ones who had saved Ainz.
And at present, Carne Village was already protected by a goblin army. If they could accept one non-human race, then surely they could accept others.
Once she negotiated with them and paid an appropriate price, this arrangement would not be difficult. Having a race composed almost entirely of natural-born sharpshooters patrolling the surrounding plains would help defend the area and prevent further enemy incursions. It would be a mutually beneficial arrangement.
"Our next destination is Carne Village. Not far from there lies a stretch of plains suitable for your people. I will handle negotiations so that you may coexist peacefully. But let me make one thing clear—so long as humans do not take the initiative to attack you, do not treat them as enemies. In the future, they will also be our comrades. Understood?"
With that statement, Chu Lian indirectly revealed that she herself was not human.
The centaur girl, who understood her meaning, revealed a relieved smile. As expected of Your Excellency—she had already found a place for their survival so quickly.
Even if it meant coexisting with humans, since it was Your Excellency's will, they would obey. She would surely arrange everything properly.
Of course, before resolving these matters, there remained one crucial issue.
Rania once again pointed to the runes on her back and asked, "May Your Excellency use your divine power to remove these runes from us? Though they enhance our strength, they also guide us to attack you. I fear that one day an irresistible will may surge from within them and force us to betray you. I wish to resolve this trouble now."
The problem she could foresee was one Chu Lian had already considered. However, she had never encountered such a thing before and did not know whether it could truly be resolved.
"Go ahead. The system will help you transform those runes into something that belongs to you. This was originally a hidden reward from the source of the aberration. Since you've subdued them, this reward can now be granted to you."
Just as Chu Lian hesitated, Ayase's voice echoed in her mind.
Her words were like a pillar of support. The anxiety hanging in Chu Lian's heart instantly eased. If Ayase said it was possible, then it was possible. She had never doubted her.
"It is but a minor issue."
Chu Lian nodded. Since it could be done, she might as well make it appear even more mysterious. She knew these centaurs and magical beasts already regarded her as a god.
In the name of God, one acts in ways that ultimately benefit oneself.
It was something countless people with the right qualifications and power would do. Since Chu Lian had already resolved to subdue this world, such methods were inevitable—even if they made her seem like a charlatan.
But majesty and mystery inspired far more reverence than gentleness and friendliness. The former was a necessary posture toward subordinates who respected—or even worshiped—her. The latter could be displayed at appropriate moments, drawing them closer and deepening their loyalty.
She stepped forward slowly.
Suddenly, white light blossomed from her body. At first it was faint, but with every step she took, the radiance grew brighter. White roses of light bloomed beneath her feet, at every place she stepped, and around her form.
By the end, she seemed completely enveloped in brilliance. A vast rose pattern unfurled from her as the center, spreading outward and encompassing every living being present.
To Ainz and Narberal, it was merely dazzling. Beyond the brightness, they felt only admiration for the spectacle Dolores created and for her breathtaking beauty. Nothing more.
But for the comparatively weaker members of the Swords of Darkness and Nfirea, the urge to kneel was nearly irresistible. If Chu Lian had not deliberately restrained that aura from pressing down upon them, they would already have joined the magical beasts and centaurs in wholehearted submission.
As the luminous flower expanded, the black runes began to tremble.
Then wisps of dark energy drifted into the air, erased by Chu Lian's radiance.
At the same time, the black runes transformed into white roses—forming a mark that belonged exclusively to Chu Lian.
Not only that, the magical beasts and centaurs who had submitted to her felt their strength rise once more.
All magical beasts below level twenty advanced into level twenty, some reaching as high as level twenty-four. Those already above twenty edged closer to level thirty.
The centaurs, whose average level had been eighteen, now generally rose to level twenty-three after the rose mark formed—becoming a truly elite force.
With the growth in strength came renewed vitality. Their previous injuries and fatigue vanished entirely, replaced by a state of heightened vigor.
But Chu Lian had no intention of stopping there.
She walked up to the centaur girl and extended a hand.
"Rania, are you willing to pledge lifelong loyalty to me?"
The centaur girl lowered her head, fingers interlocked over her chest, and answered devoutly, "I am willing."
"Then accept my blessing…"
Her fingertip gently touched the center of Rania's raised forehead.
A surging torrent of energy poured into her body.
That influx of power propelled the centaur girl's strength from level thirty to level thirty-seven in a single leap—surpassing even some hero-class experts.
The pelt garments she wore shattered before Chu Lian's eyes, revealing bronze skin beneath. In the next instant, a finely crafted suit of scale armor materialized, enveloping her graceful form.
Chu Lian felt a wave of relief.
Fortunately, the girl faced only her. The centaurs behind her all kept their heads lowered, not daring to look up.
From Ainz's and the Swords of Darkness' angle, they could see only her back, concealed by long hair. As for Narberal—even if she had seen everything, it would not have mattered. There was no need to worry about any embarrassment.
Still, after completing all this, Chu Lian could not help feeling a pang of heartache.
Altering the runes and enhancing their strength had been a built-in reward. It required no additional cost.
But elevating Rania's power had cost her five thousand Dream Points—and it was something that could only be done at this specific moment.
However…
She secretly glanced at her remaining points.
This time, the harvest had been considerable indeed…