Chapter 2, Part 3

The next morning, the Draconic Kingdom’s army with Darkness at the forefront advanced on the city of Decoza. The Beastmen were prepared this time. As the human forces approached, they could see a large number of beastmen defending the walls.

“As we’ve planned, we will breach the wall and open the gates from the inside, then you will lead the army into the city,” Momon addressed one of the army commanders.
“Yes, Momon-san” the man acknowledged.
“Let’s go,” Momon said, as he and Nabe advanced toward the city.

After they got within range many arrows were launched at them, however, Momon cut them all down, without slowing his pace. Nabe had responded to this offensive with several [Fireballs] forcing the beastmen back from the ramparts.
They continued to advance as they made their way to the gates.

“Don’t use [Fly], it will make you a target and we don’t know who’s out there,” Momon told Nabe. “I alone will breach the wall and open the gates,” he continued.
“Yes, Momon sa-san.”

Momon sprinted forward and then jumped over the four-meter wall, landing on the other side. Surprised gasps spread through the human army, as Kraus whistled in admiration, while distraught screams came from the beastmen.
They didn’t expect a warrior in full plate armor to accomplish such a feat. They rushed down from the ramparts to intercept Momon and protect the gates, but it was too late. Momon swiftly slew the few beastmen who were in his way and began to open the gates. By the time the defenders got down to the ground, the gates were already opened. And as they rushed the dark warrior, a lightning flew from the other side of the now opened gates, piercing through a line of beastmen.

Momon faced the approaching enemies, Nabe at his back, while the human army rushed towards the gates. The beastmen tried to push the invaders back, but Momon easily slew anyone who came close, and Nabe’s spells sent them into chaos.

“What are you doing? Drive them back and close the gates,” yelled a savage looking lion kin, who was leading a group of beastmen.
The defenders seemed to find a second wind, as they attacked Momon ferociously. Of course, it just meant that more of them died.

“I will stall the warrior, the rest of you suppress the magic caster,” the lion kin gave an order.
He attacked the dark warrior with his axe, but Momon proved a formidable opponent. Attacking with a flurry of strikes, which pushed the beastman back.

However, the lion kin was an experienced warrior, he didn’t try to kill Momon, he just needed to stall him until the magic caster was killed. Then they would surround the warrior and kill him too. No matter how strong someone was, once surrounded they would surely fall.

Nabe wasn’t able to keep the beastmen away. Even as she cast spell after spell they rushed her from all sides. Magic casters were weak, once in melee range, they could only use tricks to escape death. The beastmen could taste their victory.

Nabe pulled out her sword and glared at an approaching beastman.
“Die human!” He roared, swinging a mace at her.
“Don’t insult me,” Nabe scowled as she swung at him.

The poor sap never saw it coming, as his body was cleaved in half. The sight of a magic caster performing such a feat of strength stunned the attackers. Nabe used this brief pause to cast [lightning] and her spell pierced through half a dozen enemies.

“Just who the heck are you?” The lion kin yelled after witnessing that scene. His plan to quickly dispatch the magic caster and then gang up on the warrior clearly wasn’t going to work.
“I am Momon, the leader of an adamantite group Darkness.”
“Adamantite? You shouldn’t be this strong!”
“You underestimate adventurers,” Momon responded calmly. “Now then, let’s get this over with,” he crouched to the ground.

“Eh?” The beastman didn’t have long to process this sudden turn. Momon launched himself at the lion kin, who slashed at the rapidly approaching human. Momon parried it with one sword while piercing the beastman’s chest with the other sword.

The lion kin stared at the human with surprised eyes as his body slumped to the ground. Also, he was a powerful lion kin, his looks didn’t match the description of the beastmen general, and right now Momon wanted to break the defender’s will.

“Zers had been slain, they are too powerful. Escape, quick!” Some of the beastmen who witnessed this scene screamed, as they turned around and ran. Seeing their fellow fighters fleeing, the beastmen fell into confusion, some continued to fight while others began to flee as well.

The humans who began to pour in through the gates only added to the beastmen’s panic and desire to escape.

Momon looked behind him and saw the men from the Theocracy moving towards him.

“Then I and Nabe will search for the general now, I’ll leave the rest to you,” he addressed Kraus.

“Let’s drive them out! Don’t let them recover,” Kraus bellowed with a strength which defied his old age.

While the human army chased after the beastmen, Momon and Nabe advanced toward the location of the minotaur warrior. They easily dispatched any resistance the beastmen tried to mount. Momon glanced behind and saw two members of the Slane Theocracy fighting some distance away.

“I see, they are keeping an eye on me,” he chuckled under his helm.

They arrived at their destination and saw a large group of beastmen standing behind barricades which blocked the street. Momon could see another group of beastmen retreating.

I won’t let you get away this time, he thought.

“Nabe, open me a path,” he ordered.

Nabe’s [Fireball] blew a hole in the barricade and Momon charged through the opening like a whirlwind of death. He slew those directly in his path and ignored the rest, as he gave chase to the retreating group.

They ran, but he was faster. But then the beastmen split, some went to face him, the rest continued to retreat. He cut through the defenders without slowing down and continued his chase. However, he didn’t see a minotaur among the fleeing beastmen.

Could he have escaped? Doubt crept into Momon’s heart.

The group continued to flee when a [fireball] flew at them. Looking in that direction Momon saw a bunch of human soldiers along with Kraus, who had cast the spell.

The beastmen were stuck between this new group of humans and Darkness. Spells flew at them from both sides in their moment of hesitation.

“Breakthrough!” Yelled a lion kin who matched the description of the general.

The beastmen charged forward and tried to scatter the humans blocking their path. However, there were several other men from the Theocracy there with Kraus. One of them engaged the general, while the other helped the regular soldiers push the beastmen back.

With Darkness and the other two fighters from the Theocracy joining the fray, the beastmen were soon killed. Only the general remained.

“Surrender,” Kraus told him.

“Just kill me,” surrounded and lightly wounded he was defiant to the end.

“There is something I want to ask you, I didn’t see Norum here, had the minotaur already fled this city?” Momon asked.

“What do you care?” The beastman scowled.

“He knew I was coming, and so he fled. But he left you behind to be captured or killed. Doesn’t that upset you?”

“Just a coincident. Besides, Norum-sama is stronger than you.”

“He knew that I was coming, just like he knew about my attack on that camp earlier, which is why you were ordered to retreat to this city. Since he chose to flee instead of fighting me, it’s obvious I am stronger,” Momon persuaded.

“Then what are you saying? That I was betrayed?” The beastman howled.

“Indeed. By the way, doesn’t this whole invasion look strange to you? The beastmen were united and had launched the biggest invasion of this kingdom in history. Yet when victory was in your grasp you were told to stop your advance. And now your commander had sacrificed you as the pawn you are,” Momon continued.

The lion kin cursed and a hint of desperation could be seen in his previously defiant eyes.

“But, you don’t have to die. Surrender, tell me what I want to know and you will live,” Momon announced. “These people are from the Slane Theocracy, a nation which hates demi-humans. Reject my offer and they will be the ones to interrogate you, after your capture.”

The general glared at the mentioned humans before looking back at the dark warrior. He had pride, and would rather die than surrender. But the humans didn’t plan to kill him, not right away at least. Dying in battle was honorable, but getting tortured to death was pointless, it was always better to surrender than to face such fate.

The lion kin sighed and tossed his weapon on the ground. The war was over for him.

***
His spirit broken, the general, Pel, didn’t offer any resistance during the interrogation.

After confirming that the minotaur warrior had left Decoza the previous evening, without offering a reason for doing so, Momon’s interest intensified.
“How did he know that we would attack? Did he use scrying magic?” Momon asked the burning question.
“I am unsure, however, Norum-sama is a warrior, he can’t use magic, and I don’t believe he has scrying scrolls”

Makes sense, beastmen’s magical tools are pretty low. They can just overpower the humans, so there is little need for spying magic, much less scrolls, Ainz thought.
“Could his brother, the shaman, be the one supplying him with information?” Momon continued his questioning.

“I am uncertain what spells Mantapo-sama can use,” Pel shook his head.
“That is certainly possible,” Kraus chimed in. “Shamans have the [Far Sight] scrying spell.”

They do, but did he actually learn it? Due to limited levels, the inhabitants of the New World rarely specialize in scrying magic. While as a God-kin his level is higher, would he still waste those valuable levels to learn scrying magic which is useless in direct combat? Ainz wondered.

“Why did the beastmen army stop advancing?” Momon addressed the beastman.
“I was told to stop and just hold my position. I don’t know the reason for that.”
“Did the minotaur brothers give a reason for this invasion? Did they say why they had united all the tribes?”
“They have not,” Pel gave a curt reply.

Based on the timing though it’s safe to say that they had already planned the invasion before uniting the beastmen, Momon thought.
“Is there someone more powerful than the minotaurs, giving the orders? Or do you believe the minotaurs are the ones in control?”
“I have never heard of anyone more powerful than them. Even including the nearby nations, there would be few who could match their strength and none who could exceed it by a large margin.”
“When Norum left, did he mentioned where he was moving to?” Momon asked.
“He said he’d be in one of the camps nearby,” the beastman sighed.

“I am done here,” Momon told the others gathered in the tent.
“Then we would like to ask about the army numbers, and any other powerful combatants they have,” Kraus said.

Momon nodded and left the building where the beastman was held. He and Nabe walked through the city, going to a building they would be staying at. It used to be the best inn in the city, but the beastmen occupancy had dulled its former glory. Many furniture pieces were broken or missing, doors were torn off, and splashed blood covered the floor and the walls. Darkness had taken the cleanest room, as the overall commander of the army it was only expected. Though looking at Nabe’s facial expression, she thought little of their room.

Once they were inside the room, Ainz took out and used several scrolls. After he was certain that spying on them was impossible he called out.
“Come out.”
Several Hanzo’s emerged from his shadow and bowed respectfully.
“I want you to scout the nearby camps and find where the minotaur warrior is. When you find him, report it. However, I want at least three of you to remain there, observing the minotaur. If he moves, one of you should report it, while the other two follow him,” Momon instructed them.
“Momon-sama, this would mean that at least four of us would be going out scouting. Is it fine to leave you with only two Hanzos as guards?”
“It’s fine, I do not believe we will come under an attack while here. There are scouts on the walls, and patrols around the city after all,” Momon replied.

The four ninjas bowed and then vanished into the shadows.
“We really need to capture this minotaur,” Ainz sighed. “Had there been any news from Mare?” Ainz asked Nabe.
“Yes. Mare-sama had made contact with who he believes is the strongest fighter of the Slane Theocracy. He had also requested a dozen Hanzos, to help with spying on all the important targets,” Nabe informed.
“Granted, send word to Albedo. Has he been able to locate any of the powerful items the Theocracy might have?”
“He had located the place in which they are held, however, there were certain difficulties with infiltrating it. Mare-sama had chosen to observe it for now, instead of forcing his way in.”

I see Mare has done a great job, I should commend him when I see him. I should reward him too, but what would be a good reward? Mm, something from Bukubukuchagama-san I suppose, Suzuki thought.
“Mare-sama had also confirmed that the Theocracy has a scheme for him, though it’s unclear what it is,” Nabe continued.
“Tell me the details,” Ainz ordered.

Several days later
The Queen of the Draconic Kingdom had arrived in Decoza. Ainz was a bit surprised, though after thinking about it wasn’t unexpected. Now that the humans were on the offensive, if she continued to stay in her palace in the capital then the citizens could lose faith in her.

“I am very impressed with your achievements, Momon-dono,” Draudillon said.
“I am surprised you have traveled to the front lines. Despite our string of victories, it’s still very dangerous to be here,” Momon replied.
“It’s only natural. My presence here will bolster the morale of my people. I also owe it to the survivors to be here to support them. Besides, I feel that the safest place in this nation is next to you?” The Queen had a smile of a young child.
Nabe snorted at her words. Momon spoke quickly trying to cover up for Nabe’s reaction.
“Then, I understand you approve of my plan to continue to press the attack?”
“Yes, we owe it to those who have been captured by the beastmen to free as many of them as we can. Any delays would mean more deaths,” the Minister replied.
“In that case, I will hold a meeting with the other commanders, I have chosen our next target,” Momon announced.

A week after Zesshi attacked Mare
It was a middle of the night, and Mare was sound asleep in his bed. Or at least that’s how it looked when he suddenly sat up. After looking around the room he took out and used several anti scrying scrolls.

“Come out,” he commanded after making sure that he couldn’t be spied on.
“Mare-sama,” a ninja bowed after emerging from a nearby shadow.
After Mare motioned for him to continue, the Hanzo gave his report.

“No items have been taken out of the treasury so far. Also, with the arrival of the additional Hanzos, we now have enough people to spy on all the targets.”
“Good, then proceed with that. As I mentioned, the treasury is of the utmost importance, you should do your best to see what if any items are taken out. Also, I know you said breaking into it would likely trigger the alarm spells, but, see if you can sneak in when the treasury is open to retrieve the items.”

“Yes, Mare-sama. We will have two Hanzos watching the treasury at all times.”
“Zesshi will continue to accompany me, her absence should make things easier for you,” Mare told the ninja, who bowed in return. “Have you been able to get any information on the scheme the Theocracy is pulling with Liel?”

“Unfortunately no. After learning that she was a cog in the Theocracy’s plan, we had chosen to spy on her. However, she had not done anything unusual.”

“We still have another week before the audience, perhaps now that you can spy on all the targets we’ll be able to gather more information. Keep up the good work,” Mare said before going back to sleep.

The next morning
Liel had woken up her mistress and was helping Mare with her clothes. Also, the dark elf complained, she did not stop Liel from helping her. This had become a sort of ritual for her. After this they would eat breakfast and then Zesshi would come and Liel would spend the day following the two, listening to their conversations.

It was a peaceful time and Liel cherished it greatly. She was enjoying the tales Mare told of the Sorcerer King and his kingdom.

The only thorn in her side was her decision to inform the Elf King. The more time she spent with the dark elf girl, the more attached she became to her. Like an older sister.

The fact that Liel had betrayed her mistress weighted heavily on her conscience. It was done though. She couldn’t take it back, and if she informed Mare of what she had done, then even if the dark elf forgave her the Elf King would certainly not tolerate such betrayal. Her parents were in the Elf Kingdom, she would not jeopardize them.

 

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