Valkyrie's Shadow

Chapter 5

The boat slowed on its course down the Katze River, allowing Baroness Zahradnik to swim alongside. A hand appeared to clutch the railing, followed by another. The Undead noblewoman pulled herself up with a single movement and rolled into the hold. Between her heavy iron collar, brigandine armour and two Infinite Haversacks, it was unlikely that she would have been able to make it back as a regular Human. Ainz had half expected her to sink to the bottom and walk up onto the shore.

As the Baroness attempted to dry out her soaked equipment, Ainz turned to address Shalltear.

“When I said ‘Dominate’,” he told her, “what I meant was my Ability to Dominate Undead. By taking control of her, I may be able to order her to use Skills or Abilities that she didn’t know she had. It would be easier for me to list them off, and impossible for her to come up with them independently on demand.”

“O-oh…please forgive me for my misunderstanding, Ainz-sama…”

Shalltear’s face was a mix of disappointment and chagrin. Ainz restrained a sigh. The multitude of perverted settings that Peroroncino had instilled Shalltear with were not her fault, and he could not hate his friend’s daughter for being who she was. His eyes followed Shalltear as she went over to help her vassal dry off.

Ainz leaned back into his chair as he watched them, his mind drifting away from thoughts of experimentation. By all appearances, Shalltear and the Baroness got along quite well. The Baroness didn’t even seem to hold any real resentment over Shalltear shoving her overboard, and Shalltear looked genuinely apologetic. Perhaps Shalltear did do all sorts of things with her, but Ainz felt that they might also be something like friends.

Shalltear and Nabe…I wonder how she managed it? Maybe she’s the evil sort, as well.

It was a fact that many of the NPCs were designed with evil settings. When it came to his friends’ children, he supposed that it didn’t really matter who they chose to associate with, as long as he didn’t think they would be a bad influence. He mostly desired that they lead happy and fulfilling lives of their own; that the seeds left behind by his friends would sprout and grow. If, against all odds, Shalltear had found a true friend outside of Nazarick, Ainz would energetically cheer them on.

Shalltear produced a new blindfold to replace the one that had been lost in the river. Ainz frowned.

It would be nice if Baroness Zahradnik could help curb some of Shalltear’s perverted tendencies. She really does seem like the upright and proper type.

They returned to stand under the canopy. Ainz eyed the collar and fresh blindfold.

“Shalltear, how long will she need to remain blindfolded for?”

“As long as she feels that it is necessary, Ainz-sama,” Shalltear replied. “Of course, if it is your desire–”

“Tell me the exact reason why she believes it is necessary.”

“It is because you are the Supreme Ruler of Death, arinsu,” Shalltear told him. “It is only natural for her to be overwhelmed by your magnificent presence, arinsu.”

Overwhelmed…what does that mean? The only intelligent Undead I’ve seen here are either from Nazarick or my summons. Is this woman going to behave like Shalltear when she’s around me? Yuri doesn’t seem to act up, but she has some pretty strict settings…

Those born naturally did not come with ‘settings’. To be certain, they had their various natures due to biology, upbringing and collected experiences, but it wasn’t anything like what Nazarick’s NPCs possessed. The NPCs could not simply forget their settings, or have experiences and knowledge built up over time slowly override them – it was something that would be with them forever.

It occurred to Ainz that the Baroness was simply a list of achievements and connections to him. He had little clue of what she was like on a personal level. Ainz glanced at his left hand, where his Ring of Non-detection was equipped.

“I believe the ring that I’m wearing should prevent her from sensing anything of the sort.”

“It doesn’t work against her, arinsu.”

“It doesn’t?”

“No,” Shalltear shook her head. “Baroness Zahradnik is a Talent holder, arinsu. She possesses Truesight.”

His mind froze at the revelation.

“Then Nabe…”

“She knows.”

“And Momon?”

“She believes that they are the same.”

“And you?”

“She can see my True Vampire form, arinsu.”

“Albedo?”

“Hmm…I don’t think they’ve ever met.”

In addition to the NPCs that worked in and around E-Rantel, there were also several Doppelgangers practising for their future roles in the Holy Kingdom of Roble. Alarmed at the new development and the countless things that might go awry as a result, he raised his hand towards the Baroness.

“「Undead Domination」.”

Nothing happened.

Ainz looked down at her hands, noting the glow of another magic item.

“Is that a Ring of Proof against Undead Control and Banishment?”

“Ah, yes,” Shalltear said. “She used to have a Ring of Mental Fortitude to protect against attempts at mind control and such while she was Human, but it’s useless to her now. I replaced it with the equivalent ring for the Undead.”

“I see. Zahradnik-dono, remove your other ring.”

The noblewoman complied, and Ainz raised his hand again.

“「Undead Domination」.”

Nothing happened.

Huh? There’s no way she could have resisted. Unless…

“Shalltear, use Turn Undead on the Baroness. Fly up to get out of range of this vessel’s crew.”

“Is there a specific result you would like?”

“An effect that won’t destroy her is fine.”

Turn Undead was a Skill possessed by priestly classes, which could produce several outcomes upon use. The most common was to cause Undead to flee, which was why it was called ‘Turn Undead’. As the difference in strength between the Skill user and the Undead being affected grew, one could halt, rebuke, control or destroy Undead. It could also be used to bolster Undead minions that were already under the user’s control. This included those Summoned through Skills or spells.

Though the effects of the skill could be mistaken for Mind-affecting, which the Undead were immune to, Turn Undead was distinct and separate. It was considered the use of divine power to dominate an Undead existence, affecting intelligent and mindless Undead alike. Regardless of what it was used for, the action was colloquially known as ‘Turning’.

In the time he had been in this world, he had never seen native Clerics use Turn Undead to control or bolster Undead. This was probably because it was unthinkable for followers of The Four, who despised the Undead.

Shalltear took Baroness Zahradnik by the hand, taking her up until they were specks in the afternoon sky. They descended shortly after, and Shalltear shook her head.

“I expended a third of my daily uses of Turn Undead, Ainz-sama,” she said. “It appears that she has Turn Immunity.”

“As I expected,” Ainz tapped a finger against his armrest, “things have become quite interesting.”

In Yggdrasil, Turning and Undead Control were rolled into the same resistance. Turn Resistance was common enough – Ainz had it himself – but he could only think of a handful of Undead that had Turn Immunity. They were all annoying by design.

“Since we cannot use that method,” he told the Baroness, “I can only ask that you answer my questions honestly and to the best of your ability, Zahradnik-dono.”

Baroness Zahradnik lowered her head.

“I am at your service, Your Majesty.”

“What do you think of Nabe?”

“I am grateful to her for many things,” the Baroness replied. “Her company is also quite enjoyable.”

In his experience, the only outsiders who found Nabe’s company ‘enjoyable’ were those who found cold, beautiful women attractive or were people with masochistic tendencies. Was that why she grew flustered when he declared that he was going to ‘Dominate’ her? The Baroness already embodied a number of Shalltear’s preferences, and this would be another added to that list.

Ainz shook away his wandering thoughts.

“You think nothing of her being a Doppelganger?” He asked, “The local lore speaks of Demons who can steal faces, using them to imitate others and visit all manner of evil upon people. While Nabe is not a Demon, I think that her shapeshifting ability would invariably draw comparisons to these tales.”

“On the day that I met Momon and Nabe,” Baroness Zahradnik answered, “I admit that I did not react in a very fair way to Nabe, and Nabe reacted poorly when she realized that I could see what she was. Momon, however, helped me understand that as a Noble of the Sorcerous Kingdom, I should be mindful of all of its citizens.”

“And what does being ‘mindful’ mean in this case?”

“Unless they appear to be running afoul of the law, I try to treat those who possess the ability to change their form like any other citizen. I’ve learned that many beings who can conceal their identities through supernatural abilities become uncomfortable at the idea that they might be revealed, so I do not draw any attention to the fact that I can see what they truly are.”

“So you haven’t spoken to anyone of Nabe’s true form?”

“Lady Shalltear once questioned me over Momon and Nabe, but I’ve not mentioned it to anyone else since then.”

“What of Darkness’ fame and their place in the Sorcerous Kingdom?”

“The first I learned of Darkness was when they appeared to take me to E-Rantel following the annexation. I only became aware of their exploits after the fact. Momon and Nabe have never been anyone else to me. By your will, the Sorcerous Kingdom is a place where all peoples – regardless of their race or station – may live peacefully under your rule. There is no duty that obligates me to treat them any differently, nor do I hold anything against them personally.”

Ainz mulled over her answers. He believed that his former existence as Suzuki Satoru allowed him to decently gauge those he interacted with, but Nobles were especially hard to read. He felt that they always wore masks, and capable ones could conceal their thoughts and emotions even under great stress or duress. Without the use of magical compulsion, he couldn’t be sure of anything she said.

He weighed the potential threats her existence represented to Nazarick’s ongoing plans against her contributions to the Sorcerous Kingdom, her connections, and what she might mean to the NPCs that she had grown familiar with.

“Shalltear, what do you think of all this?”

“Any judgement that Ainz-sama renders is, of course, correct-arinsu.”

“So you think nothing at all of Baroness Zahradnik?”

Several moments passed between them before Shalltear answered. Her expression was half a question, voice wavering as if she was unsure of what he wanted.

“That’s…I believe that her loyalty is genuine, and she’s been of great assistance in many things. I…b-but my thoughts and feelings are of absolutely no significance to the Will of the Supreme One…”

Shalltear’s voice trailed off. She turned her uncertain gaze down to the deck.

And that’s how it is.

The NPCs would rush to execute his orders and accept everything he said as an irrevocable truth, but Ainz had learned to question them in such a way that their unbending loyalty to him did not serve as an obstacle to their personal thoughts and feelings. This, of course, resulted in some rather wild responses depending on which of the NPCs he was speaking to, but in this case, it had turned out spectacularly.

The scales of his judgement were thrown in Baroness Zahradnik’s favour. It was not the Sorcerous Kingdom, nor the myriad plans they had in motion, nor any threat that she might represent to their work that truly mattered. What mattered was the future and well-being of Nazarick: the legacy of Ainz Ooal Gown – the legacy of his friends.

It was exceedingly rare for any of the NPCs to form genuine connections with outsiders, and unheard of for those with low karma values in their settings. New plans could be made and issues that arose could be addressed in time; countless nations could rise and fall; ten thousand years could come and go…but the bond that had formed between Shalltear and Baroness Zahradnik – and thus all future bonds that formed as a result – was something that might never happen again.

Ainz clenched his fist tightly. The idea that he might rob Shalltear of an unprecedented friendship sent a vile sensation coursing through his being. He, who cherished the memory of his friends above all else. What would he be if he did that to one of their creations – one of their children?

After his emotional suppression did its work, he relaxed, letting out a quiet sigh.

“In that case,” he said, “let’s have things continue as they are, shall we?”

Shalltear looked up, blinking in surprise. She had clearly expected him to deliver some ruthless verdict. Ainz allowed himself a slight smile in response.

“Does my decision disappoint you?”

“N-no, of course not,” Shalltear stammered. “If Ainz-sama says it is so, then so must it be.”

He held in a snort, deciding to leave well enough alone. His gaze went over to the noblewoman standing before them.

“Zahradnik-dono: I trust that you will continue to conduct yourself responsibly in these matters?”

“To the best of my understanding and capability, Your Majesty,” she replied. “Though I am afraid that I may be lacking in many respects.”

“Perfect understanding and capability do not exist,” he told her. “You seem to have learned much since becoming one of my subjects – it would do you well to continue to learn and apply yourself. On that note, we should return to our investigation of your new existence.”

Ainz glanced over her figure. The fact that she still wore a collar and blindfold still bothered him.

“Shalltear,” he gestured towards the Baroness, “remove her blindfold and collar.”

Shalltear stepped forward, and the noblewoman stepped back warily at the sound of her footsteps.

“Baroness,” Ainz told her, “you are now one of the Undead. As one of my subjects – one that possesses an unlimited lifespan, at that – it is better that you confront your issues sooner rather than later. It would also be quite strange if you wore those whenever you interacted with me. There would be no end to the gossip and rumours.”

The noblewoman stilled. Shalltear removed the heavy iron collar, then circled behind her to untie the blindfold. The length of black silk slid off of the Baroness’ face. Her eyes remained closed for a long moment, then her lids opened to reveal clear eyes with dark brown irises. She held his gaze for an instant before turning her head away.

“Is this how a noble attends to their King?”

At his question, the Baroness’ gaze snapped back to him. Her throat worked as she swallowed. Not a dozen seconds passed before she sank to her knees, coming to rest weakly on one of the cushions strewn about his feet. Her face was flushed, and she held a hand to her heaving chest as her unfocused gaze turned down to the boards of the deck.

If she were a living being, Ainz might have expressed some concern over her physical state. Undead, however, did not have breathing problems or suffer from any other biological conditions. He stared down at her in confusion, trying to figure out what was going on.

Standing behind her, Shalltear’s eyes glowed brightly, and her lips turned up into a smile.

“Is something the matter, Shalltear?”

“I am in awe of your expert technique,” she replied. “The collar was never needed in the first place – her loyalty and obedience to you already serve as one: stronger than any fashioned from prismatic ores. Using it to inflict such exquisite torment upon her…may I ask that I be next, Ainz-sama?”

“Torment? In what way am I tormenting her?”

“Ah, this play is becoming even more advanced!” Shalltear squirmed where she stood, “Adding mortification on top of everything by having me spell it out plainly for all to hear…”

“No, wait, I–”

Shalltear leaned over to drape her arms over the Baroness’ shoulders. One hand came across her chest while she traced the line of the noblewoman’s jaw with the other.

“As you can see,” Shalltear’s voice smouldered, “she is being overwhelmed by her arousal over your magnificent existence. Ludmila is loyal and honest; trustworthy and stalwart. Yet she is being forced to partake of this forbidden fruit. Her mind and body are torn, warring over her notions of propriety and the sensations assailing her. She knows that she should not lust after her sovereign, but she cannot deny what is ravaging her body.”

The fingers tracing the young noblewoman’s jaw tilted her head up to directly face him. Baroness Zahradnik let out a weak moan, and Shalltear pressed her cheek against hers.

“It is too much for her to handle, arinsu,” Shalltear’s voice seemed to caress her skin before drifting up towards him. “She is young and has never been in love with a man before. Needless to say, she has no experience with the passions of men, either. You are correct that she must grow accustomed to your presence, arinsu. With her being continually ravished by your raw energy, however, I can only wonder how soaked these cushions will be–”

“Enough!”

Ainz’s shout sliced through the air and echoed out over the water. Shalltear released the noblewoman’s chin, looking up at him in shock. He wanted to come forward and speak to Baroness Zahradnik, but now that he knew the effect he was having on her, he could only lean back in his seat.

“This was not my intent,” he told them. “Zahradnik-dono, I must apologize. I was not aware of the specific effect that I was having on you. We have many days ahead of us, so you may take your time growing accustomed to my presence. I hope you will forgive me for my thoughtless orders.”

Sitting limply at his feet, the Baroness nodded weakly.

“Let’s take a break,” Ainz said, as much for himself as for the Baroness. “We’ll resume our investigation once you’ve settled down.”