Chapter Six

  Albedo and Demiurge stood on the outskirts of the village, or at least, what was outskirts ‘for them’. They were actually well out of sight of the villagers, but for reasons uncertain to them both, the pair paused. Albedo adjusted her summer hat, and Demiurge tugged on his jacket. They were dressed in simple traveling clothes, and behind them stood a little wagon drawn by a mule. In the wagon sat a fair number of low priced but useful goods, things peasants would purchase. New hoes, rakes, hammers, nails, leather and bolts of fabric in various colors for making clothes, and a handful of general sized clothing sets, not to mention hats and a mix of other raw materials useful to farming communities.

  “This is very strange, ‘husband’.” Albedo said and adjusted her hat, and looked up to her right at Demiurge.

  “It is, but then, perhaps it is because Lord Ulbert created me, but I feel like I’m actually going to ‘enjoy’ this, at least some. I enjoyed playing the role of Jaldabaoth, so now I get to enjoy playing the role of Malesen Carnate, humble merchant. There is a peculiar kind of pleasure to these kinds of deceptions, and who knows, perhaps it really is my creator?” Demiurge suggested, he knew better than to get his hopes up, but even so, the possibility was there.

  Albedo kept her thoughts to herself, but recalled the way her master’s shoulder’s drooped when Lord Ulbert handed over his goods and vanished… and the pain and sorrow in his voice when Lord Ainz spoke of the statues in the alcoves, what he’d dubbed the ‘mausoleum’.

  Nobody else had been there with him, not on either occasion. But the memory of each such disappearance, and what they did to him, one by one as the months and years passed on until he stood alone within the halls of Nazarick… she briefly closed her eyes to hide her thoughts while she banished the memory.

  “Perhaps it is.” Albedo thought as her eyelids rose again, “If so, this is where he first appeared, or at least first did violence to the beastmen. We can begin by finding out what kinds of skills he used, to see if they match up with Lord Ulbert.”

  “Then,” Demiurge chimed in, “see if they align with ‘how’ he used his skills. He should have had no items on him but his clothing, so he would have used his magic and his claws, and in particular ways. I remember every detail of his duels against the Supreme Beings in the arena, so I should be able to recognize his patterns when we have enough data.”

  “Then…” Albedo adjusted her hat a little, “let’s go, the sooner we gather background, the sooner we can fIND the source of these rumors for ourselves, and if it is he, provide him with the reunion he so richly deserves, one befitting a Supreme Being.” She then got into the wagon, and Demiurge joined her and took up the reins of the mule, then gave them a quick crack to get the animal moving.

  “That would be my fondest wish.” Demiurge answered her as the modest wagon began to roll forward, it was a pleasant day, by both their reckonings, with warm sun and gentle breezes, the fields they saw were empty of crops, but full of people sowing them again, the homes were modest, meant for a single family and made of a simple mix of mud bricks, wood, stone, and thatching over wooden rooftops.

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  Notably though, the houses were almost all in various states of repair, and everybody was working on something. It was clear that this village was in a state of reconstruction. ‘I read that the beastmen considered this an ever replenishing larder, maybe there is something to that. Humans will go wherever there is land to farm, despite the danger from monsters or each other.’ Demiurge reflected, granting them some begrudging points for their courage in spite of their weakness.

  ‘Still, most of them cannot be trusted.’ He reminded himself, making a mental exception for the fanatic who stayed behind intending to win over her whole kingdom to his Sorcerous Majesty.

  ‘I will have to ensure that she is properly supported at every turn, she is different from that one individual in Re-Estize. But even so, what could she accomplish if she were unburdened of her limiting humanity?’ Demiurge pondered what to make of her, an undead priest? Or perhaps a demon? Or to appeal to more humans, some kind of angel?

  His thoughts on all the promising experiments were so numerous that he unintentionally left the wave of greeting to Albedo, who pasted a cheery smile on her face, their disguises as humans were to their own eyes and senses, perfect. Which should have meant that there was zero chance of a human seeing through them… normally. ‘But there are talent holders with unusual skills, even our master is cautious about some natural talent to see through illusions…’

  But if they encountered that, the answer was obvious. ‘Take them back to Nazarick and see what we can make of them.’ He reminded himself, and put on a warm and cheery smile of his own at the thought of what experiments that might yield.

  “Hail! I heard this village was getting back on its feet. I’m so glad it’s true. I am Malesen, humble merchant! Traveling with my wife, and I ask to sell our goods and rest for the day and leave to move on in the morning!”

  The villagers who were hammering, climbed down from broken roofs, those in the field, set down their tools, the children who were minding animals, abandoned their tasks… a traveler meant news. A traveler meant goods. A traveler may even mean treats.

  It was an opportunity for all, and so all took it, gathering swiftly near the wagon and forcing a man of middle years to push through the little mob of thirty or so people to get front and center. “I am Senza, village elder.”

  “At your age?” Demiurge asked, and the villagers bowed their heads, he wasn’t a day over forty, so that in and of itself was strange.

  “Our elders offered up themselves to the beastmen to buy us time… there are none left who can be called ‘elder’.” Senza answered.

  “I’m sorry. I asked an insensitive question. I am from the far west.” Demiurge spun his lie and bowed his head in apology, “Things are different there.”

  “I see… no need for apologies, neighbor. Welcome to Newstart Village. You’re free to sell your goods here, we’ll give you traveler’s hospitality, we can spare a meal for two, at least, and a place to sleep. Then directions to the next inhabited place if you need it.” The elder offered, and the villagers collectively bobbed their heads, eyes alight with opportunity when they caught sight of the diverse goods stacked up in the back of the wagon.

  “Thank you.” Albedo said and tilted her hat toward them, “We honestly weren’t sure we would find anyone here… but we saw the fires in the distance and thought we would try… if the beastmen were here, how did you survive?”

  And in that way, their first step in their investigation had begun.