E-Rantel Countryside: 6 hours after Momonga and Sesshōmaru left the tomb for air
Third-Person POV
A small force of knights on horseback traveled the stretch between E-Rantel and the modest village of Carne. At the forefront rode the Royal Head Warrior, his steely gaze fixed ahead. His second-in-command, the Vice Chief, approached with urgency.
Vice Chief: "The village is burning!"
The Royal Head Warrior's eyes widened. A thick column of smoke rose in the distance. Without hesitation, he spurred his horse, quickening their pace.
Gazef Stronoff's POV
We searched the ravaged village of Naporia. My knights and I scoured for survivors amid the destruction—more corpses than injured, and not a single home left standing. My heart ached at the sight.
"Vice Chief! Get the wounded to E-Rantel. Make sure they survive."
Vice Chief: "General!"
I turned sharply toward him. "What is it?"
Vice Chief: "Something's wrong. The King ordered us to eliminate the bandits, right?"
I nodded. "That's correct."
Vice Chief: "Then why were we dispatched with only fifty soldiers? Especially if the Baharuth Empire might be behind this?"
I frowned. "It's a classified operation."
Vice Chief: "You know who's pulling the strings…"
I grunted, acknowledging the truth.
Vice Chief: "The nobles want you to fail. If they can eliminate the King's most trusted general, their path to the throne becomes clearer. It's so obvious!"
"That's enough, Vice Chief."
He didn't back down.
Vice Chief: "Sir, we're walking into a trap! We should fall back. Losing a few villages is a small price to pay to protect the most powerful swordsman in the kingdom."
I turned from him, facing the ruins.
"I was born a commoner."
Vice Chief: "So was I."
"Then you know what it's like—fearing monsters, praying for help that never comes."
He lowered his head. "Yes… I do."
I stepped in front of him.
"Then you know what it's like to hope. Hoping someone, anyone, would come to protect you."
Vice Chief: "Of course… Every day, I prayed a hero would come. But no one ever did."
I locked eyes with him, conviction burning within me.
"Then let us be that hope!"
He flinched at the force of my words.
"Let them believe that prayers can be answered. That heroes exist."
Two Hours Later – Nazarick, Office Room
Sesshōmaru's POV
I stood beside Momonga as he fumbled with the Mirror of Remote Viewing. I offered guidance while Sebas hovered loyally by his side.
"Extend your hands outward, then bring them in. Swipe right with your right hand, and left with your left—like manipulating a screen."
Momonga nodded and followed the steps. The mirror beeped—success. Sebas clapped.
Sebas: "Congratulations, my Lord. I knew you could master it."
Momonga: "Thank you, Sebas. I appreciate your support."
Sebas: "It is my purpose, my Lord. I was created by Lord Touch Me to serve you, no matter how trivial the task."
Momonga: "Very well. Let's see what this world has in store for us."
He scanned around Nazarick before landing on a village in chaos.
Momonga: "A festival?"
Sebas and I leaned in.
Sebas: "No... definitely not."
"Momonga, zoom in."
The image focused—knights, not bandits, were massacring innocents.
Momonga: "These aren't brigands."
My fury flared. My yokai aura surged, and I activated my demonic form, Tōkijin materializing in my hand.
"WHAT?! What are they doing?!"
The mirror cycled through more scenes of bloodshed. My rage boiled.
A man appeared on the screen, holding off a knight. He seemed to be speaking... to us.
I couldn't remain idle.
"Sebas!"
Sebas: "Yes, Lord Sesshōmaru?"
Tōkijin pulsed in my grasp.
"I'm going to save them. This is our chance—to learn of this world and earn its respect. Raise Nazarick's defenses to maximum. Tell Albedo to meet us at the village, armed and ready. Instruct Demiurge to prepare the Abyssal Hounds, and deploy Alpha Griffin for aerial recon."
I turned to Momonga.
"Ready?"
He stood, resolute.
Momonga: "Gate!"
A rift tore through space. We stepped through.
Third-Person POV
A knight raised his blade to strike a bleeding village girl—Enri Emmot. She shielded her sister, Nemu.
Enri: "Don't look!"
Flashback:
Enri's Father: "Run, Enri! Take Nemu—grunt—GO!"
End Flashback.
Enri's POV
Blood loss made my head spin. I shielded Nemu, desperate.
(I have to save her…)
But the blade never fell.
Random Knight: "What the…?"
A swirling void appeared before me. From it emerged a silver-haired figure with a cold gaze that made me tremble.
I blinked—and the knights were screaming.
Random Knight: "AARGH—MY AR-gkk!"
I turned. One knight's severed head hit the ground. The other dangled helplessly, hoisted by his throat.
Sesshōmaru: "You dare harm innocent children?" His grip tightened. The knight writhed, gasping. With a flick, Sesshōmaru burned him to ash using his yokai energy. "Pathetic."
He turned to me.
Sesshōmaru: "Are you alright, girl?"
Before I could reply, a massive skeletal figure stepped through the gate.
Momonga: "Impressive, Sesshōmaru. You defeated them before I arrived."
Sesshōmaru: "They were weak. But this confirms my powers from the Feudal Era remain intact. Still, disappointing…"
I had questions. But my thoughts stopped as they approached.
Sesshōmaru kneeled to my height.
Sesshōmaru: "Does my form frighten you, human?"
I nodded shyly.
He deactivated his demonic energy.
Sesshōmaru: "Forgive me. Though a demon, I do not kill without cause. In my homeland, I protect the weak—though I do not rule them. Free will is the right of all sentient beings."
I stared in awe. Nemu clung to me.
He noticed my wound. His palm glowed.
Sesshōmaru: "Heal."
The pain vanished. I embraced him, overwhelmed.
Albedo stepped through the gate.
Albedo: "Apologies for the delay, my Lords."
Momonga: "No need. You're just in time."
Albedo: "Then shall I eliminate these vermin?"
Sesshōmaru's voice turned ice-cold.
Sesshōmaru: "If you harm them in any way…"
"You'll wish you were never born."
Albedo flinched.
Albedo: "F-forgive me, my Lord…"
Sesshōmaru: "We'll speak later."
Momonga: "Tell me, young one—have you heard of magic?"
Enri: "Yes! My friend, a pharmacist, visits often. He uses magic."
(She must mean Nfirea...)
Sesshōmaru: "Ah. You mean Mr. Bareare. I've heard of him. I've done my research since arriving in this kingdom to establish trade routes."
Enri: "Yes! But how did you—"
Sesshōmaru: "He's well known in E-Rantel. It wasn't difficult."
We spoke a while longer. Meanwhile, Momonga looked baffled.
Momonga (internal): (WHAT?! Since when did he do that? We planned the cover story, but… Is that why he left Nazarick every night? Ugh, I should have read that report...)
I created protective barriers around the girls.
Sesshōmaru: "Anti-Life Cocoon. Protection from Arrows. Wall."
I tossed them two horns.
Sesshōmaru: "This white one calls forth goblins to protect you. The black one… only use it in dire emergency."
Enri: "What does it do?"
Sesshōmaru: "It summons an army of black-winged angelic warriors—the Angelo Knights. Use it wisely."
We turned to leave.
Enri: "Wait! I know your name, Lord Sesshōmaru. I'm forever grateful."
Nemu: "Thank you, mister!"
Sesshōmaru: "No need. I am a warrior. This is my duty."
Enri: "Even so… may I know your names?"
Momonga (internal): (Yes… it's time they know…)
Gripping his staff, he declared:
Momonga: "Tell the world our names. And our power."
"I AM AINZ OOAL GOWN!"
As he turned, the scene faded into silhouettes—like shadows of a legend reborn.