Once more, with Hassliebe
The girl ran through the dark alleys, her white noble dress fluttering
in her maddened dash. Her long golden blonde hair shining in the
darkness as her sky-blue eyes locked in front of her desperately
searching for something or someone. She turned the fateful corner
she had never forgotten, no matter how many years passed. She
almost fell as the crash in something soft and dark she expected
never happened. She did not bounce back from the collision, she
was not grabbed in time just before she could hit the ground, she
did not feel that gentle hand catch her and help her regain balance.
Nothing happened, she just found herself standing there, in a silent
and dark alley with no one else. No one to reassure her, no one to
bring light to her life, no one to spark a flame in her heart, no one
to make her experience love for the first time.
Renner just stared into nothingness, with the knowledge that the
emptiness should not be there, with the knowledge that someone
was supposed to be there, with the knowledge that this world was
so, so wrong.
If she was the Renner of yesterday, she would have just went on
with her empty life, living in a grey world that never changed.
But she was the Renner of tomorrow, and all the days that would
come after that, the same Renner who experienced a colored world
for the first time thanks to the one who was supposed to be there.
Her empty heart would have simply remained indifferent once,
before the first spark was lit, she would have simply not cared for
such a betrayal from the world.
But now, now her heart was no longer empty, her heart was filled
with a burning love, the same love this world had denied her… and
so, there was only one way she could answer this betrayal… if the
world did not allow her to love, then the only reasonable answer
was to let her burning and simmering hatred loose.
XxXxX
Climb was a nice boy once, a very gentle child who dreamt of being
a knight. That was, before he was shown the truth of this world,
how no matter what you do, those with power will always reign
above you unless you had enough power to do the same to them.
He plunged his blade in the fat and slimy flesh of the shocked
noble's throat, ending the miserable existence of the weak with his
own strength.
The Black Rat they called him, only idiots would come up with
titles like that, rats were cowardly and scurried away unless they
were cornered… he never backed down from a fight… just like a
hunting dog on pursuit of a bleeding prey.
But this was not the time for musings, he used one of his Magic
Items to turn invisible and leave the brothel's room, he scurried off
like his namesake would and soon enough he found himself running
through the sewers he knew like the back of his hand by now.
He chuckled, maybe his title was not so wrong after all.
XxXxX
Arche served the tea like a dutiful maid. That was all she was these
days, after her family fell into disgrace, she was contacted directly
by the third princess of Re-Estize to serve as her personal maid. The
job was paying well, and her other alternative was risking her life
as a Worker was all she needed to accept in an heartbeat.
In hindsight, being a Worker might have been a far better fate.she
didn't only need to act as a maid, but as ab bodyguard as well, she
was even sent on short missions occasionally.
It was only after civil war broke out that she fully understood what
kind of monster she was serving. Someone who threw her entire
kingdom into chaos, causing the death of tens of thousands in just
a couple years… at this point, the best thing to do would be to flee,
but she couldn't exclude the chance of this monster turning her gaze
toward her family in retaliation.
She saw what her mad dog could do, how such a boy her own age
could dismember other humans with such ease and nonchalance
was something that made her shiver in terror, and the sole thought
of such a being turning his gaze toward her sisters was a dreadful
enough prospect that servitude under a monster seemed far better.
"Thank you, Arche, did you hear what happened to poor sister
Alysanne and the Blumrush's heir? Such a dreadful affair… I hope
Eight Fingers pay dearly for it… as well as for the death of
Boullope's heir of course."
The singsong voice of the princess betrayed the complete lack of
actual feeling behind that statement. Arche did wonder sometimes
why she would do this, what would bring a person to hate her own
kingdom, no, the entire world to the point of causing all this. Not
that she dared voice such a question.
At this point, she would have preferred being on another mission
with that magic caster boy the monster so often partnered her with.
XxXxX
Barbro the fool was dead, good riddance, she almost scowled at the
memory of all the trouble she had to go through in her previous life
just to manipulate the man in making him believe she was on his
side.
Not that it mattered anymore, there was no point in making sure this
kingdom wasn't a pile of rubble.
Fate was a bitch apparently.
Ever since she woke up in this young body, she had managed to
locate all the people of interest she had come to know in her
previous existence… all but one… all but the one she truly needed!
But that was fine… she had not given up... she would put this world
upside down before she gave up. But to do that, she needed power…
she truly underestimated how much she previously relied on
Satoru's influence and power… something she lacked right now.
That was exactly why she began amassing all the power she could.
The Black Rat was the first one, she recognized him in the streets,
those eyes she saw back then in her previous life were not
something she could mistake even among a crowd. Making him her
thrall was little more than a chore, the boy was desperate to have a
leash put around his neck, like a proper attack dog, he had been the
same back then.
The two casters were next, the one Satoru saved and the girl from
the Empire. She knew what kind of powerhouses they had become
in the future, not that she hoped for something similar here, after all
they didn't have Satoru to guide them this time around. But they
remained talented casters nonetheless, and more importantly, she
already knew everything about them, making them the perfect
pawns.
Next was Lakyus and, for once, she actually felt a pang of pain in
her heart… this was not her Lakyus, this was not the passionate girl
who became her first and only friend… she was but a shadow of
that person, a soulless imitation… a mockery! She felt her fists
clench at the sole thought. Satoru's stories apparently had far more
than an effect on her than she thought initially.
She needed to find him! With him, she knew she could achieve
anything! Fix everything that was wrong in this absurd world! And
if she had to burn the whole continent down to achieve her goal…
well, then she would need a lot of firesticks.
XxXxX
Marquis Raeven was a man who feared little in life. He needed to
be this way, otherwise he would have never dared to aim for the
throne. Even though that plan was shambled due the civil war that
started six years before, and was finally put to rest in a coffin with
the birth of his beloved son.
So, why was he doing this again? Riding with the second prince,
now heir to the throne after the assassination of the first prince by
Eight Fingers, their destination was none other than E-Rantel, the
fortress city that fell to the Empire's sudden invasion.
He was there on orders from the king to make sure the Empire's
advance stopped there. But that was only a mere pretense, he had a
far more crucial mission, a devious one, given to him by the monster
who lurked through the Royal palace's corridors. The smiling
monster who offered his beloved son salvation at the cost of his
service.
He was to make sure the second prince didn't come out alive from
this conflict, that was the order from the smiling monster.
He had no idea what she aimed to do… well, taking the throne was
a given by now, after all she had powerful friends behind her, and
the magic guilds were basically worshipping her for the funding
they received. Most commoners were already voicing their favor
for her ascension to queenhood, after all it was her who put an end
to the Age of Blood, quite an apt name for the civil war that broke
out after Eight Fingers decided to murder various noble heirs.
But sitting on a throne wasn't certainly her end goal, no, that was
but a mundane dream most men had… but she was no man, she was
a monster, and only another monster could hope to understand her
ends.
He shook his head, this was not the time to lose himself in his
musings. He needed to make sure his mission was carried out
without a hitch. For his son's future and wellbeing.
XxXxX
Rayne was an idealistic boy once. That was before he was saved,
before his parents died in the civil war, before he had started
murdering people.
Sometimes he wondered if it all was worth it. If it wouldn't have
just been better to rot away in that bed, around his loving father and
mother.
But then he remembered Arche, and the life growing in her womb,
the only light in his life, and someone he would gladly commit any
atrocity for.
He gazed down at the carriage. Marquis Pespea met e gruesome end
alongside the second prince, scarifying themselves heroically to
stop the imperial advance. Or so the storybooks will say.
Now his wife, the first princess, and their children had been
summoned to the capital. After all they were the next in line since
the king was now dead… he apparently could not take the loss of a
daughter and two sons in just a few years and took his own life. Or
so the storybooks will say.
His mission was to make sure the first princess, and her children
never reached the capital. They would all die in a retaliatory strike
from the empire, a last ditch effort to try and make the kingdom
crumble. Or so the storybooks will say.
The brown-haired young man pointed his hand toward the carriage,
his mana flowing through his body, pulsing like the blood in his
veins. The killing of a woman and her children did not please him,
nor did it make him sad, life was too complicated to care for what
happened to those you never cared about.
His thoughts went once more to Arche and their child growing in
her womb, that gave him the resolution he needed. He adjusted his
aim and fired the spell.
XxXxX
Nine long years, it had been nine long years since she woke up in
this accursed world.
Since that fated moment, she had only one goal, finding Satoru, her
beloved flame that missed from the core of her heart leaving only
cold ashes behind.
But to truly have a chance to find him, she needed the power and
authority to conduct a world-wide search.
That was exactly why she had to become queen. A loved queen that
the people would follow blindly.
But first, she had to get rid of all those annoying bugs. For all the
Noble Faction was in cahoots with Eight Fingers, putting them
against each other had been a far too easy task, make sure a couple
of the most important heirs died while in their establishment and a
civil war was on.
Oh, how she relished that chaos of those early years! She had her
fun butchering her siblings one by one, watching her pathetic father
grow more and more mad with each of his spawns dying.
All the hatred she had gathered in her heart for this world, she had
made it bloom, she made sure everyone would feel it, that misery
that had been her life for the last nine years… wasn't it fair that
everyone else got to experience it too?
The imperial invasion had been a long time coming, with the
kingdom barely coming out of their civil war after the extermination
of Eight Fingers, it was only natural for that wannabe conqueror to
try and attack them.
The loss of E-Rantel had been a calculated risk, something the
crown could not ignore, forcing them to muster all the famished
people who just came out from a civil war.
The advanced was stopped, another of her brothers was killed
thanks to Raeven, and the resentment for the current regime grew
even louder. It was a good thing then that the merciful and
wonderful princess Renner had been the only one in dissent to
sending all those people to die.
Her father died a couple months later, the man had shut down after
learning of his Warrior Captain and another of his sons dying.
Unfortunately, a slip happened and his daily medicine was swapped
with a fast-acting sleep draught that assumed in large doses could
cause death… oh, how the bards loved their songs! An heartbroken
king who lost everything and chose to end his miserable reign with
a last act of suicide.
What the bards will never know is how the old fool was completely
paralyzed by the draught as she confessed all her sins.
Some might consider it petty… but she wanted the old fool's last
moment to be filled with hate and despair the same as the last nine
years of her life.
But those were thoughts for another time, now she needed to start
searching for her beloved. With the whole kingdom at her disposal,
she had no doubt she could do it
"You are a fascinating human, you know that?"
Renner's body froze as she turned to face the calm and collected
voice. These were her personal chambers, no one should have been
allowed in, and there were few who could hope to sneak in without
her guards noticing.
An masked humanoid stood there, his orange dress the likes she
never saw before. His pointed ears and swishing tail a clear
giveaway of his inhuman nature.
"Oh my, forgive my rudeness, I have intruded and haven't even
introduced myself, you may call me Jaldabaoth."
The demi-human bowed slightly in greeting.
"Well then, Sir Jaldabaoth, may I inquire what is your purpose in
visiting me in such a way?"
It was clear she was outclassed here, and her gut feeling told her
that calling for help would not be enough to stop this being. After
all she had spent her previous life meeting many special and
powerful entities… all of them had some kind of aura around
them… something that screamed how much resistance was futile.
So she might as well see were this went, it was clear this being
wanted something from her, otherwise he could have just killed her.
"My, you are surely the strangest human I have ever met… or
maybe you are not human at all."
The being continued as Renner almost broke out in a chuckle, the
being did not know how much he was close to the truth.
"I have studied your moves over the last years, truly, the extent of
your mind is something truly commendable for such a lowly race…
you had no qualms scarifying anyone and everything in pursuit of
your goals… to better your status… so I wonder… what would it
take for you to sell your own kingdom? Maybe you are after
immortality? Or perhaps you seek power? I would like to know…
your deepest desire."
Renner was intrigued by now, she knew this being was planning
something, and apparently, he clearly wanted her cooperation.
"You can have it all, this kingdom, my help, I do not much care if
you want to torture every last man, woman, or child in this
kingdom… what I desire the most in this life, my deepest desire is
to be reunited with the one I love the most… Satoru… find that man
for me, and I will gladly give you all you desire."
The queen said calmly. If this almighty being could truly grant her
this one wish, she didn't mind giving up everything she owned.
After all, only the heart that aches with boundless love can bleed
the deepest shade of hate.
XxXxX
The Overlord known as Ainz Ooal Gown waited patiently in his
study on the 10th floor.
He had just returned from the war against the Baharuth Empire, he
followed Demiurge's plan to the letter this time around and aided
the kingdom in repelling the Empire from their land, gaining control
over E-Rantel in the process and giving birth to the Sorcerous
Kingdom.
But that was another story.
The reason why he was here today was to meet someone important,
someone that caused him endless anxiety for the last two months.
Ever since his eyes skimmed over one of Demiurge's reports and
his eyes fell on one name, one name he instantly recognized, and
one name that should not be known to this world.
Satoru.
His own name.
Apparently, the queen of Re-Estize had given them carte blanche
over whatever they wanted to do as long as she was reunited with
the magic caster known as Satoru.
The best explanation he could come up with was that someone with
his own name existed in this world. But the more he thought about
it, the less it made sense. And what were the chances of that person
being a magic caster just like him?
If this queen was someone from Yggdrasil… no, even that didn't
make any sense! There was no one who knew his real name, not
even the members of Ainz Ooal Gown!
This strange case was the exact reason why he wanted to have this
meeting here, alone in his study so that none would hear, and deep
in the tomb so that he may call upon the strength of the whole of
Nazarick if push came to shove.
A gentle knock was heard before the door opened and a maid
announced his guest.
He stood up, his breath caught in his throat, even though that should
have been impossible due to his body.
A short figure fluttered in, her golden hair shining as they reflected
the many lights in the room, the door closing right behind her as he
previously instructed the maid to do.
His red flames met her sky-blue eyes as they brimmed like wet
crystals due to the tears gathered in them.
Before he could say anything he found himself embraced by the
small young woman as tears streamed down her face relentlessly.
"My beloved… my flame… my Satoru… I finally found you!"
He was too stunned to react to the woman's sudden actions. He had
no idea what was going on, but whatever it was, he had a bad
feeling.
She looked up at him once more, her smile shifting upward in a way
a human being should not naturally be allowed to do.
"We will finally be together… forever…"
The demonic smiling queen declared with all the certainty and love
a living being could muster.
And so, Ainz Ooal Gown knew… he somehow fucked up!