Overlord (LN)

Enri was already uneasy, and she responded with an angry shout. While she knew it was very rude, she could not rule out the possibility that they were soldiers from another country masquerading as Kingdom troops.

Carne Village’s defenses were extremely solid. They had shocked the tax collectors who had seen them.

It would not be a surprise if another country wanted to use it as a fortress. After all, the Trolls had attacked for precisely that reason.

The other side fell silent for once, and both sides hesitated uneasily.

“Why aren’t you answering! You’re impostors pretending to be Kingdom troops, aren’t you!”

After that panicked shout, she finally got an answer.

“...The magic caster called Ainz Ooal Gown came to this village once, did he not?”

The image of the village’s savior appeared in Enri’s head.

“That magic caster is now an enemy of the Kingdom. As such, we wish to ask you, who are related to Ainz Ooal Gown, about him.”

Overcome by surprise, Enri was unable to speak.

However ─ the whispers of one of the defense force members worked its way into her ear.

“If Gown-sama is opposed to the Kingdom... then isn’t it the Kingdom that’s wrong?”

The eyes of the villagers reflected their agreement.

Of particular note were those villagers who moved to Carne Village after their original homes had been burned down. Their hatred of the Kingdom for not being able to defend them swiftly turned into respect for the magic caster who saved this village.

Be it the gift of the horn that had summoned the Goblins, or the provision of the golems that built the sturdy walls that now protected them, or the maid (Lupusregina) who had saved the village when they were attacked by the Troll, all these had only deepened their trust in Ainz.

“Should we really open the gate?”

“...But, there’s a lot of them. If we don’t open the gate...”

“If we betray him like this after receiving his kindness...”

“Wait! They said they just want to ask us something. It doesn’t mean we’re betraying him...”

“You think so? It just sounds ungrateful to me.”

Everyone’s eyes were on Enri.

She understood well the hearts of both sides. Because of that, Enri was unable to choose, and hesitated. Just at this moment, an angry shout came from outside the gate.

“Do you understand? If you do, then open the gates right now! If not, you will be treated as traitors to the Kingdom!”

Pushed to the limit, Enri shouted back something to try and buy time.

“There-there is cow dung everywhere! W-we can’t let the Prince walk into a place like this!”

After a brief silence, a calmer voice pierced the air.

“Oh, um. Understood. Then how about this. We will enter instead of his Majesty the Prince. We’ll think about what happens later.”

There were no more excuses she could give.

Enri’s mind had gone completely blank. Not caring what it was, she shouted the first thing she could think of in response.

“S-sorry! The dung’s on my hands! I can’t rub it off! Let me wash my hands and I’ll be back!”

“―O-oi!”

Enri watched the retreating backs of Jugemu and the others. She was worried about how much more time she could buy for them.

♦ ♦ ♦

Barbro’s frustration had reached its limit . He glared at the reporting knight with a look usually reserved for an enemy and not an ally.

“Say it one more time, what foolery is this?!”

Barbro’s anger overflowed with every word he spoke from between the gaps of his grinding teeth, and the knight repeated himself.

“Sir! Carne Village still has not opened their gates.”

As he listened to the knight’s calm reply, Barbro was filled with the sudden desire to punch him.

However, that would have been foolish. Barbro struggled to control the anger welling up in his fist.

This knight included, nobody here was actually sworn to Barbro. In the first place, Barbro commanded no troops. Every man here was under orders from their liege lord, or in the company of their lord. Because of that, he could not strike this knight while his comrades were watching.

“―Why is that? Why are those peasants in Carne Village not opening the gate? The land is directly ruled by the royal family! They have a duty to obey me! I order them to open the gate right now!”

As his frustration built, so did his agitation, and Barbro no longer picked his words carefully.

“I don’t get it! Do they take me for a fool? What the hell are they thinking?!”

The villagers were beings far inferior to the First Prince.

These beings were now insulting him.