Chapter 34: Strongest vs. Strongest (4)
Kaiser felt it—the heartbeat he had not sensed in a long time.
He remembered this sensation vividly.
Perhaps Kaiser was never truly suited for the role of a "guardian."
Anyone who knew him back in his adventuring days would be shocked to see him now.
"So you used to have manners… you used to speak politely… you used to have patience… and even inner conflict."
That's what they would say.
Kaiser had once been a prodigy carrying immense talent.
Not arrogant, but confident.
Vibrant and brimming with vigor—a stark contrast to the man he was now.
Violent when he had to be, lively when he wished to be—that was the Kaiser of the past.
Back then, his only goal had been to become stronger.
Perhaps by luck or misfortune, he always encountered powerful foes—and each encounter forced him to grow.
Then came the battle against that thing—a being so far beyond life that it could no longer be called a living creature.
Kaiser surpassed the limits of humankind, the limits of life itself, and obtained the power he now wielded.
"That's why beings like you are troublesome to me… annoying, even. But as a warrior, I can never truly hate you."
With Shalltear standing before him, Kaiser whispered softly.
He had already received permission from Ainz.
It hadn't been difficult.
Someone who treasured his subordinates as deeply as Ainz would never feel comfortable killing Shalltear with his own hands, nor would he wish to see his NPCs killing each other.
In that sense, Kaiser was granting Ainz a favor.
In Kaiser's hand was not a sword, but a bottle of alcohol—
Nazarick's finest.
He took a sip and nodded to himself. As expected—this wasn't the kind of freshness one could obtain in this world.
Slowly, he approached Shalltear.
She still made no reaction.
Under the influence of Downfall of Castle and Country, she was mind-controlled.
Without receiving any new commands, no matter what he did before her eyes, her gaze remained dull and empty.
She would only show awareness under two conditions:
1. Receiving a command.
2. Being attacked.
Kaiser had done neither, so Shalltear did not react at all.
And Kaiser had chosen the second option.
He could never undo a mind control imposed by a World Item.
He disliked the Theocracy, but he did not despise them—he wasn't protecting them, but he acknowledged their power.
Used properly, their might could save countless lives.
Even if he had been betrayed three times by the Theocracy,
it wasn't the people of today who had betrayed him,
and if helping humanity meant letting go of personal grudges, Kaiser would kill those grudges within himself.
"We'll be keeping watch. Do you need anything?"
"No. There's no need for vigilance, but… trusting me too blindly would be foolish. You should follow Aura's judgment—or rather, Ainz's."
"…You do realize Shalltear is strong, right?"
"I heard that in Nazarick. The strongest Guardian, guarding the most floors…a being created purely for battle."
Kaiser drank calmly.
He didn't look like someone who expected to lose.
Not that he was convinced of his victory—but this was a rare chance.
A straight fight with Nazarick's strongest defender.
As a warrior and as a guardian of humanity, this was a priceless opportunity.
People said Shalltear was the strongest, but only "among the Guardians."
The Guardians were high-ranking, but being the strongest Guardian did not necessarily mean the strongest in all of Nazarick.
Kaiser was not foolish enough to misunderstand that—but chances to measure another's true strength without political consequences were rare.
"I won't underestimate you or anyone in Nazarick.
Aura and Mare—you two possess power that surpasses this world. You are far beyond the level of 'ordinary' Dark Elves. I doubt you feel any attachment to elves at all."
"Of course not."
"R-right…"
Which was why one must never underestimate them simply because they looked young.
Not because of their strength alone— their minds were already closer to inhuman.
Not arrogant, but devoid of affection.
In their eyes, if Ainz commanded it, they could slaughter every elf on earth without hesitation.
Mare looked timid, frightened even—but to Kaiser's eyes, it was merely an act.
A strong predator pretending to be weak to disarm the enemy, like a performer moving with flawless precision—yet unable to hide the emptiness reflected in his eyes.
Kaiser took a drink—not Nazarick's alcohol this time, but the one he had carried with him originally.
Nazarick's liquor tasted better, but the familiar taste of this world calmed his spirit.
No matter how delicious something was, one always longed for what was familiar.
"It's about time you two step back. Being caught in this fight won't be good."
"If you die, I'm not saving you!"
"Oh, but I'd appreciate it if you did."
"What!? Isn't this where you're supposed to arrogantly say you don't need help?"
"How could I know—I haven't crossed swords with her yet."
"Then why didn't you listen to Shalltear's abilities beforehand!?"
"If you know everything about your opponent, you can't measure them properly."
"What the hell… Ugh, Mare! Let's go!"
"Y-yes…! U-um! Good luck!"
Kaiser waved casually as the two left.
He finished his drink and let the bottle fall to the ground.
He didn't feel drunk, of course.
Ever since becoming what he was now, alcohol could no longer intoxicate him.
He appreciated always being at peak condition—
but he mourned the loss of that warm, dizzy feeling.
Normally, the first attack should be the strongest.
Shalltear wouldn't react unless he performed a hostile action.
Meaning: she wouldn't defend or dodge.
Even if he buffed himself, she wouldn't move.
This was it: a perfect opportunity to shave off a massive chunk of her health from the start.
A flawless opening.
Kaiser materialized a dagger from the empty air—
an ordinary, meaningless dagger.
And threw it at Shalltear.
It grazed her cheek, drawing a thin line of blood.
Her hollow eyes slowly regained awareness,
as if the fading flame of consciousness flickered back to life.
With a metallic shuuung, armor materialized around her body—crimson, glowing like blazing embers.
Shalltear grasped her massive lance tightly and glared at Kaiser.
Kaiser drew his sword from empty space in response.
Fully conscious now, Shalltear fixed her predatory gaze on him.
Then, gripping her lance, she declared:
"I wonder what your blood will taste like… Kaiser."
"How terrifying. Truly."
The curtain for the strongest vs. strongest had begun to rise.
....
Ainz was watching everything.
To be honest, Kaiser's proposal had stunned him.
Even if it benefited Ainz, Kaiser himself gained almost nothing.
Perhaps there was some merit Ainz couldn't see, but on the surface, Kaiser had no reason to go this far.
It might even be a one-sided favor.
And a favor must one day be repaid—just as kindness must be returned with kindness, and grudges with grudges.
If this was a debt… Ainz would have to repay it eventually.
Kaiser seemed to understand Ainz's mindset well.
Perhaps, Ainz thought, he was the only one thinking dirty, paranoid thoughts—maybe Kaiser's intentions were nothing but pure goodwill.
Even so, as ruler of Nazarick, Ainz could not afford naïve trust.
He could not afford to abandon suspicion.
They might call him small-minded.
But Ainz had been nothing more than an ordinary civilian until recently.
If they said his vessel was small… he couldn't honestly deny it.
"Hm… He's drinking something other than Nazarick's alcohol?"
In Yggdrasil, certain foods granted special buffs.
Perhaps it was a similar kind of drink.
Ainz had never encountered such food in this world, but this was Kaiser—nothing would surprise him.
"Cocytus, what do you think Kaiser's chances of victory are?"
"Fifty–fifty. I believe so. I have not witnessed the limits of Kaiser's strength…nor does Kaiser know… Shalltear's abilities…"
"I see."
Ainz thought similarly.
When he tried to give Kaiser Shalltear's information, Kaiser had simply said, "That ruins the point," and left.
Perhaps, as a warrior recognized by Cocytus, he wanted a fair fight.
Or perhaps there was another reason.
Maybe he wished to fight her blind so that the experience would polish him further.
A ridiculous gamble—yet not impossible.
"In any case, this benefits us. We can learn about Kaiser's abilities. Especially you three—Cocytus, Albedo, Demiurge. Watch closely. This man may become our greatest enemy… our worst possible opponent."
"Yes, Ainz-sama!"
Their voices echoed loudly as the crystal screen showed Kaiser speaking with Aura and Mare.
"Hm… maybe they're bonding because they're both humanoid races?"
The other Guardians were different, but those two were still children.
Perhaps introducing them to other elves someday wouldn't be a bad idea.
Ainz chuckled awkwardly at the thought.
"Wait… am I already assuming Kaiser will survive and win?"
One must always prepare for the worst—yet Ainz found himself thinking of Kaiser's victory without a shred of doubt.
Even though he rationally agreed with Cocytus—
the odds should be fifty–fifty.
Perhaps Kaiser possessed a charisma that naturally made one expect him to win.
Was it born of overwhelming strength?
Or vast experience?
Or simply Kaiser's nature itself?
Ainz still couldn't understand.
"It seems the fight is about to begin."
"He will. Likely. Start. With. His. Strongest. Strike."
"Shalltear is mind-controlled. So this opening move must be one of Kaiser's strong techniques. Not his strongest—he wouldn't reveal that in front of us."
Albedo has a point, Ainz thought.
If Ainz were fighting, he would do the same.
Against Shalltear, he would eventually resort to Super-Tier magic—but Kaiser had no such affinity advantage or disadvantage.
Actually, Kaiser didn't even know Shalltear's abilities.
As they watched, Kaiser manifested a dagger from empty air.
"What's that? It doesn't look like a special weapon… a catalyst? No… not even that."
Before he could guess further, Kaiser threw the unimpressive dagger.
It grazed Shalltear's cheek.
Instantly, she donned her crimson armor, completing her full battle mode.
Only then did Kaiser draw a real weapon—a sword worthy of note.
And then—
Nazarick fell utterly silent.
"…Eh?"
Ainz didn't understand what he had just witnessed.
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