A Theory on Godhood: An Overlord Story

Chapter 49: We Who are Many

Two months later, Re-Estize Capital

Renner Theiere Chardelon Ryle Vaiself, the golden princess of Re-Estize, favored daughter of King Ramposa III and beloved by the people, found herself in a conundrum. She was currently embroiled in affairs of state with two of her closest confidants, the Marquis Raeven of the Royal Faction and her brother, Zanac Valleon Igana Ryle Vaiself.

As the third princess of her kingdom, Renner understood well that she would never see the crown itself. She knew that, before her current situation, her best outcome would have been to be married off to a noble of high standing. Her eldest brother, Barbro Andrean Leld Ryle Vaiself, would likely inherit the throne, but Zanac was doing everything within his power to delay that inevitability.

However, that was just the backdrop to what her true concerns were at the moment. Over the course of the last few months, E-Rantel had fallen. The undead infested the patch of dirt where the city once stood, effectively creating a second Katze Plains. This in of itself proved both a blessing and a curse, since those undead would help to deter the Baharuth Empire from fully invading on that front.

The destruction of the Fortress City also incited riots from the common class, a class she had found favor with in the past regarding her policies. The survivors, in particular, proved to be the loudest voices, sowing dissent. Only in the last week had the capital guard managed to finally calm down the people, but whispers in the court reached the nobility of a second rebellion brewing in the shadows.

And, at the center of it all was one particular group of individuals, those who proved rare to meet and rarer to find. Individuals who, if left unchecked, could just as easily annihilate Re-Estize and everything it stood for. Individuals with the potential to conquer the world as they knew it.

"At the very least, we can take comfort in knowing that some of the Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown are friendly to us," Zanac sighed, leaning back on the couch of their meeting room. "Warrior Captain Gazef's reports provide a glimmer of hope, but until we can establish steady contact, we're left stumbling in the dark."

Marquis Raeven rested his head on his fist in thought. "Carne Village has so far rebuked our efforts to send couriers for information. The members of the Sunlight Scripture remain on guard and have significantly improved the village's defenses. Even if we were desperate and tried to force an answer from them, we'd face heavy resistance."

"Only a fool would challenge Carne Village, especially with the guardian angels perched on its shoulders. From my point of view, we can only wait and watch," Renner commented, sipping from her cup of tea.

She set her cup down, placing her hands in her lap. "Anything we do at this point would be a gamble with the village. If we were to attack, we'd destroy the goodwill of the Sirs and destroy our chance of an alliance with Sir Sebastian. No, we must allow them to come to us first so that we do not risk retaliation."

"I would suggest that we seek out the Argonauts for their help, as they were present to help push back the first wave of undead when E-Rantel fell, but neither the Swords of Darkness nor Pluton Ainzach know where they are. They have vanished off the face of the world after the city's destruction."

"And for all we know, they could be connected to the Sirs of Ainz Ooal Gown too!" Marquis Raeven bitterly laughed, "Just these last few months numerous highly powerful people have appeared, seemingly working in conjunction. They are disjointed in their operations but familiar, as if they're all involved in separate parts of a grand conspiracy."

"Or they're merely gaining comprehension about their surroundings. Marquis, Zanac, do you recall the land from which one of the Sirs mentioned they came from? Captain Gazef reported that they hail from a nation known as 'Japan'. If they are foreigners to Re-Estize, then it is entirely possible that what they do is a consequence of meddling in places where they should not."