On the small hills surrounding Carne Village, the Sunlight Scripture Captain Nigun Grid Luin, one of the Six Scriptures that served the Six Great Gods, issued orders to his subordinates. "All units, listen well. The prey has entered the cage. It is time to offer your faith to the gods."
"We offer our lives to the gods and obey your command, Captain!" The faces of the followers behind him were concealed, but their fanatical fervor could not be hidden as they responded.
Under Nigun's command, they divided into several groups and descended the hills, gradually surrounding Carne Village from all sides...
Inside a civilian house, Gazef hid beside a window and looked outside. What he saw were magic casters dressed in the robes of the Slane Theocracy standing silently in formation. Behind him, a soldier reported, "It has been confirmed. The enemy has surrounded the entire village at equal intervals."
"Who exactly are they?" Momonga was unsure of the enemy's identity and asked aloud.
Hearing the question, Gazef's resolute face remained expressionless as he answered seriously, "The only force capable of mobilizing this many magic casters is the Slane Theocracy. And they must be the special unit directly under the Cardinals—the Sunlight Scripture, one of the Six Scriptures..."
"Then the group that attacked the village earlier..." Momonga already understood what was going on, but still spoke.
"They wore the equipment of the Baharuth Empire, but they were most likely members of the Slane Theocracy in disguise." Gazef's words confirmed Momonga's deduction.
"So that's how it is. Does this village truly hold such great value?" Momonga was curious as to why they had gone to such lengths to encircle it.
"If you have no clue, and if it is not the village's wealth they covet, then there is only one answer." Gazef turned to look at Momonga, his gaze extremely solemn.
"The Warrior-Captain truly draws quite a bit of envy." At this point, the answer was obvious. Other than Gazef, the Kingdom's strongest warrior, there was no more valuable target.
"How troublesome. I never expected the Slane Theocracy to set their sights on me as well." Gazef gave a faint smile, then turned back to the window and spoke in a contemplative tone.
That should be an angel, shouldn't it? Why is it the same type of monster as in YGGDRASIL? Momonga also looked outside and immediately recognized the winged, fully armored humanoid hovering in the air beside the magic casters.
"Sir Momonga, if possible, I would like to hire you. No matter the price, I will agree to it." What Gazef worried about most was the safety of the villagers. And here, the only one who might be capable of protecting them was the tall magic caster before him.
"Please allow me to refuse." Momonga declined. Gazef seemed prepared for that answer. He turned his head, closed his eyes, and sighed. "I see..."
Opening his eyes, he stepped forward and grasped Momonga's hand. "Then, Sir Momonga, take care. Thank you once again for saving this village." Placing one hand over Momonga's, his face was filled with earnest pleading. "I am truly grateful. Please forgive my selfish request... I beg you to protect the villagers once more. Though I have nothing to offer you now..."
As he spoke, he bent down, about to kneel. "But I ask you... I ask you..."
A large hand supported his shoulder, preventing him from kneeling. Gazef looked up at Momonga and heard him say, "There is no need for that. Very well—I will protect the villagers. I swear it in the name of Ainz Ooal Gown."
Hearing that answer, the Warrior-Captain rose with a relieved smile. "Then I have no more worries..." He turned his head toward the window. "All that remains is to charge forward without hesitation."
"Then take this..." Momonga extended his hand and passed him an item.
Looking at the small wooden carving in Momonga's palm, Gazef was momentarily confused, but still said, "Since it is a gift from you, I shall gratefully accept it."
After fastening it to his belt, Gazef bowed deeply. "Then I shall take my leave. May fortune favor you in battle." With that, he stepped outside, mounted his horse, and led his cavalry unit toward the Slane Theocracy's magic caster force.
Standing beside Momonga, Chu Lian watched the cavalry advance with tragic resolve against an enemy far stronger than themselves. A trace of concern surfaced in her heart.
Before Momonga makes his move... please don't let anything happen to them.
If they had been cowards, or deserters willing to abandon the village and flee alone, Chu Lian would not even have spared them a glance. She might have personally killed them.
But they were not. Under Gazef's leadership, they were courageous warriors—a pack of wolves led by a wolf king, fearless and pressing forward.
How could she not respect those willing to sacrifice themselves like that? Even if they had no connection to her, it did not prevent her from honoring them.
"When facing someone for the first time, one can only remain as indifferent as toward an insect. But after speaking with them, there arises a fondness—like worrying over a small animal." Momonga watched the departing figures and spoke softly to Chu Lian.
"That is why you swore in the name of Ainz Ooal Gown and agreed to protect the village, big brother. You do not truly wish for them to die, do you? That item... it can save them, can't it?" Chu Lian asked quietly after listening to him.
"Perhaps..." Momonga himself could not clearly define his feelings and could only respond ambiguously.
At that moment, the village chief's voice sounded from the side. "Lord Ainz, why did the Warrior-Captain and the others charge out?"
Looking at the people he had vowed to protect, Momonga replied, "Because their target is the Warrior-Captain..."
Hearing this, the chief said nervously, "Then should we remain here?"
"That is not the case. Take advantage of the gap created when the Warrior-Captain breaks through their encirclement and flee as quickly as possible. They charged out so conspicuously precisely to ensure your safety..." Momonga turned his gaze toward the direction the knights had left, making their intention clear.
The chief and his wife revealed relieved smiles. With such a powerful protector present, there would be no problem.
Not long after, the remaining villagers gathered inside the large warehouse. At this moment, their only reassurance lay in the two outsiders.
Among them were the sisters rescued by Chu Lian and Momonga. The younger sister seemed frightened by the tense atmosphere and buried herself in her elder sister's embrace, whimpering, "Big sister..."
"Don't be afraid, Nemu. Lord Ainz is protecting us, and Lady Deloris is here as well..." As she spoke, she turned her gaze toward Chu Lian, and her heart gradually calmed. By coincidence, the young woman was looking at them too.
"Enri, Nemu, are you afraid?" Chu Lian stepped forward lightly and asked.
"A little... but knowing Lord Ainz and Lady Deloris are here, I'm not so afraid anymore..." Enri's face flushed slightly as she answered.
"And Nemu?" Chu Lian bent down and gently patted the little girl's head.
"Nemu... Nemu isn't afraid either. Because big sister is here." She looked up at Chu Lian, hesitated for a moment, and spoke.
"Such a good girl..." Chu Lian knew the "big sister" she meant included both herself and Enri, but the child was too shy to say it outright. She did not expose it.
"Take these. Keep them with you at all times." Chu Lian produced two small wooden carvings and handed them to Enri and Nemu.
She had asked Momonga for them. To others, they might be extremely valuable, but to a heavy spender like Momonga, he likely had countless such items. So she had not hesitated to take a few more.
After all, Momonga would never refuse her request, and he did not particularly care about these items. Giving them to Deloris was nothing to him.
The two girls were delighted to receive the items, yet hesitated slightly, unsure whether they should accept them.
Revealing a gentle smile, Chu Lian said, "Take them. If you truly feel grateful to me." With those words, the sisters could no longer refuse. Each reached out, took a wooden carving, and held it tightly.
"Thank you, Lady Deloris." Enri did not know how precious the item was, but she understood that if the person before her had entrusted it to her, it must be for her own good.
Her face had been faintly red ever since Chu Lian arrived. Now that she had accepted the gift, it grew even redder.
Nemu looked at the two of them, not quite understanding, but sensing there was something between them she did not know.
Chu Lian noticed Enri's reaction and understood. So the girl held some affection toward her... She would not interfere. She would let things take their natural course.
After all, she would return to this world in the future, and her ultimate goal was to take it into her own hands.
Whether it was Gazef or Enri, these remarkable figures from the original story—she would engage with them sincerely and gather them under her command.
She did not know how many worlds she would drift through in the future, nor what situations she would encounter. Having a group of loyal subordinates of her own would solve many problems.
"Rest well here. I'm going to join big brother. Remember—if you face any danger, do not be afraid. Believe that I will come." Gently pinching Nemu's cheek, Chu Lian spoke to Enri before turning and leaving, the two girls silently watching her back.
"Big brother, it's ready." Chu Lian approached Momonga and spoke softly.
"Mm. It's time..." The eyes hidden behind the mask glowed with an eerie red light. A strange sensation flashed by, and in the next instant, Chu Lian and Momonga were standing upon the plains, facing a group of Dominion Authorities flying in the sky.
Meanwhile, Gazef and his men found themselves standing in the place Chu Lian and Momonga had just occupied, bewildered. Gazef only heard Ainz's voice by his ear: "Time to switch." Before he could even react, he was already here.
Covered in wounds, blood still flowing from his forehead, he looked around in confusion and asked, "Where is this?"
"This is the village warehouse. Lord Ainz has cast defensive magic." The chief stepped forward and answered.
"Where is Sir Momonga?" Gazef searched for him, but could not find him.
"It was as though Lord Ainz and the Warrior-Captain exchanged places. He vanished instantly," the chief explained.
Hearing this, Gazef drew out the wooden carving Ainz had given him and watched as it dissolved into fine motes of light in his palm. A look of realization appeared on his face. "So that's how it was..."
Without the pressure of the enemy before him, his exhausted body could no longer endure. He fell backward, his vision going black as he lost consciousness.
On the other side, the battle was about to erupt...