EPIC: Path of Demons and Dragons-Chapter 449: Concessions
[November 25th DxD/July 19th DBT]
"Ah, my friend. How good it is to see you again. Did you enjoy your stay in the Valencia Palace?" Ainz questioned whimsically, waiting for Vahn in the usual dining room.
"They were very hospitable," Vahn affirmed, occupying his seat before adding, "King Ramposa and Princess Renner, in particular, strike me as capable Royals. Despite what happened, they've prepared a substantial plot of land for me to use however I see fit."
"Oh? How kind of them. Though I suspect they simply wish to keep the Dragon who saved their city close at hand," Ainz surmised, leaning onto the knuckles of his right hand as he added, "On that subject, I'm unsure of whether I should thank or condemn you. Your distraction allowed us to achieve our objectives, but it also derailed our efforts to elevate the Royal family. Not to mention it was an excellent opportunity for me to establish my alter ego, Momon, within the capital..."
"Perhaps," Vahn conceded. "But did you forget our conversation about ends never coming before means? It might be more expedient for you to establish Momon as a great hero by bringing an end to a conflict that cost tens of thousands of lives, but it most certainly isn't necessary."
"Fair enough. But have you considered that slower methods will lead to needless, prolonged suffering?" Ainz posed, prompting Vahn to raise his brow as he maintained, "You must have witnessed it yourself during your travels—how the average citizen of the Kingdom lives from one day to the next in a state of persistent fear and suffering."
Shaking his head, Ainz revealed, "The warehouse district we targeted in the recent incident had the greatest population density in the capital, but it also had the highest rate of crime. The people there lived desperately to avoid conscription and being forced to settle in the slums, allowing select, Noble-backed merchant groups to profit by paying out extremely little for intensive, often dangerous labor."
"I see...so, rather than sacrificing the people doing their best to survive, you, or at least Demiurge, justified your actions as putting them out of their misery. And since you would have been able to raid the warehouses, those penultimately responsible for their suffering would have been dealt a grievous blow..." Vahn concluded, similarly leaning onto the knuckles of his right hand. All things considered, he couldn't fault Ainz's or Demiurge's logic in the matter. It was strategically sound to steal or sabotage enemy resources. And since the people living within the district would have fallen into further destitution if the factories and warehouses were raided, killing them could, from certain perspectives, be viewed as a mercy.
"Unfortunately, I do not possess the means nor the obligation to ensure the well-being of all peoples from all nations. My priority must, first and foremost, be the happiness of those entrusted to me by my friends," Ainz expressed, sounding notably fatigued as the light of his eyes dimmed and a tired sigh escaped his non-existent throat.
"I can empathize with that..." Vahn sighed, exhaling from his nose before straightening his posture and questioning, "So, what's next on Nazarick's or your personal agenda? I'm personally considering accepting a disciple or ten to pass some of my knowledge and skills to."
"Oh? Would you perhaps be willing to accept someone from Nazarick as your disciple?" Ainz questioned, preempting Vahn's response by adding, "As for me, I will soon be visiting the Baharuth Empire as Momon to get a feel for the type of place it is."
"Did you have anyone in mind?" Vahn questioned.
"Not off the top of my head," Ainz responded, shaking his head before appending, "And, to be perfectly honest, I would prefer that you settle here in Nazarick. I understand that you're attempting to keep the scales of karma balanced, but I would rather deal with a Hero or adversary that appears organically than one trained by my friend. If the knowledge and techniques you spread become a threat to Nazarick, it won't bring an end to suffering. It will perpetuate it..."
"That's the thing, Ainz. You place Nazarick on a pedestal it hasn't earned. You can't expect people to respect or value the things you cherish when you regularly disregard what they cherish as inconsequential or beneath your consideration..." Vahn countered with an undertone of exasperation.
Before Ainz could respond, Vahn met the skeletal man's gaze directly and said, "It would be one thing if you revealed yourself and were attacked on a fabricated pretense. Everyone has the right to defend themselves, after all. But you're trying to stay ahead of the curve by undermining those who aren't yet your enemies but might become them. If they eventually attack Nazarick or another group attacks you on their behalf, you have no one to blame but yourselves."
"Then, what would you suggest we do? Expose ourselves and then wait for our enemies to scheme and plot against us at their leisure, only taking action when we're attacked directly?" Ainz questioned.
"That would certainly help to keep the scales balanced," Vahn confirmed. "But you're also putting words in my mouth. There is nothing wrong with remaining well-informed or undermining your enemies' efforts to scheme against you. You're putting the cart before the horse by infiltrating nations that aren't your enemies, undermining them in advance. Other nations will eventually learn of that and view you as an enemy by default."
"So, it's not our methods you disagree with, but the order in which we've implemented them..." Ainz muttered, caressing his inordinately pointy chin with his skeletal fingers.
"Make no mistake, Ainz. I don't agree with your methods," Vahn clarified, shaking his head before explaining, "But as I've attested time and again, I have no intention of policing you or telling you what you can or can't do. I recognize and respect your autonomy. In the same light, I expect you to understand that I will not set aside my principles or turn a blind eye if you step too far over the line and compel me to action."
"Hmmn...I see..." Ainz muttered, his eyes briefly flashing before he fixed his posture and posed, "Then, suppose I did as you suggested and made Nazarick's existence known to the world. Would you publicly ally with and support us? Then you could have a direct hand in shaping our foreign and domestic affairs."
"I don't have an issue with public alignment. I could even establish a school or a dojo where you choose to erect your capital," Vahn confirmed, nodding. "But I won't accept any administrative duties or responsibilities. I will stand with you against those who would seek to oppress or malign you, but only if their claims are false. If they seek you out in retaliation for something your subordinates have done, that's a matter for you to resolve and hold people to account."
"Yes...it is only right that, as a Supreme Overlord, I accept responsibility for my subordinates' indiscretions..." Ainz acknowledged, nodding sagely. His subordinates themselves would presumably disagree, but as a former salaryman, he understood the significance of accountability—as well as the frustration that came from those in positions of power shifting blame and stealing credit where it suited them.
"That's ultimately all that I ask of you—that you understand and accept that actions have consequences..." Vahn expressed, holding up a goblet of wine. Ainz did the same, and though they still had much to discuss, it was important to mark moments when ideas and sentiment overlapped to bring people closer to mutual understanding...
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After determining that it would make the most sense for him to align himself with Nazarick after its existence was revealed and called into question, Vahn returned to the royal capital shortly after his and Ainz's discussion. The plot of land that King Ramposa had awarded him was a four-hectare section of the forest encircling the Valencia Palace, notably on the northern side of the city, far removed from the warehouse district and Temple-managed slums.
Emerging from the interior of a large, ivory-white, lotus-shaped tent, Lupusregina, modeling her sexy, dancer-esque battle attire without the concealment of her cloak, smiled and remarked, "You're back. How did your conversation with Lord Ainz go?"
"I imagine you'll be relieved to hear that I've agreed to align myself with Nazarick once it's revealed and announces itself as an independent nation or power..." Vahn revealed, causing Lupusregina to blink in surprise before a broad, somewhat predatory, and seductive smile blossomed across her face.
"That's fantastic news..." Lupusregina purred, approaching and naturally linking her arms around Vahn's shoulders before huskily appending, "I just knew that you and Lord Ainz would be able to reach an agreement or see eye to eye with one another..."
"I'm not sure that we see eye to eye, but we're both reasonable men. As long as we talk things out, we're able to reach a common ground..." Vahn corrected, cupping Lupusregina's pert and voluminous butt. As usual, her response was to wrap her legs around him. But since he had a few things to take care of before they could readily indulge in one another, he carried her into the spacious, nearly ten-meter-wide tent and set her down on the edge of their fur-lined, cushion-populated bed.
"I'm going to head out to adjust the layout of the forest and flatten the area for additional tents. I expect we'll have guests in the coming days, so I'll need to set up tents for bathing, personal relief, and dining, at the very least..." Vahn explained.
"Mmn...you're really going all-in on the premise that we're from a culture of eastern nomads..." Lupusregina noted, keeping her legs wrapped around Vahn and protesting his departure by flexing her muscles and deliberately grinding against his bulge.
"That's not far from the truth," Vahn confirmed, reminding, "This is but one of many realities I've traveled, so, while I have a fixed home, it isn't wrong to call me a nomad—forever in search of new experiences. One day, I will depart this world for another. Though when that day comes, you can rest assured that you will have the means to either follow or come and visit me in my palace..."
"And here I was thinking you would discard me the moment you've had your fill of my body..." Lupusregina hummed, her yellow eyes glistening and her smile growing even more predatory as she slid her hands along the contours of her breasts, freeing them from their cloth bindings. Her brows had creased when Vahn mentioned his inevitable departure, but his reassurance had been swift enough that her mood wasn't entirely ruined.
"You should know that Dragons are prone to hoarding..." Vahn teased, his expression a natural smolder and his voice deep as he appended, "Unless you vacate my side by choice or willful action, you are mine, Lupusregina Beta...now, and forevermore..."
Punctuating his assertion, Vahn slipped aside Lupusregina's loincloth and crimson panties to give her more direct reassurance. This greatly delayed his work and plans, but since it wasn't too likely that someone would seek him out in a section of forest that didn't even have a dirt path leading to it, he decided to prioritize appeasing the bronze-skinned Lycanthrope coiling her fluffy tail between his legs and around his waist...
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[November 27th DxD/July 21st DBT]
With very little happening in OL-2138, Vahn spent the day with Orihime and Tatsuki as they tested the VR headsets they planned to introduce to their world. Tatsuki wasn't initially very tech-savvy, but with functionally unlimited time, resources, and numerous headsets to study and base her designs on, she was able to develop a prototype using materials sourced from her world. This had taken six years, but, as it was important that she understood the tech enough to pitch and answer questions about it, Vahn had given her permission to study and carry out the development within a Training Room. As such, it had ultimately taken her less than a week to go from a spirited tomboy to a bit of an eccentric techie with a propensity for punching and kicking things...
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