Chapter 481: Proposal

"A-Announcing, His Grace, the Dragon Lord of Salvation...!"

Following his cue, Vahn entered the Command Tent to find Calca seated at the head of a table adorned with a large map and many tiny figures that most likely denoted the size and position of various forces. Remedios and Kelart flanked her on her right and left sides—with Momon, Pestonya, the members of Blue Roses, and twelve high-ranking members of the Paladin Order in attendance.

"I apologize for my belated arrival. I had some private matters to attend," Vahn expressed with a smile, followed by Keno stepping out from behind him in her Faux Vampire Princess attire, bereft of her mask.

"The two of you were fucking, weren't you...?" Gagaran asked, adopting a cheeky grin that caused Keno's face to flush deep red from a mix of fury and embarrassment.

"That's not untrue," Vahn conceded, causing Remedios to seethe visibly and Calca to narrow her eyes.

"Oh, Gods..." Keno groaned, not expecting Vahn to reveal the truth with such disregard. As a result, she ended up burying her face in her hands, her ears turning bright red under the gazes of those present.

Maintaining his calm and casual demeanor, Vahn revealed, "But that isn't what delayed me. It was this..."

Gesturing with his right hand, Vahn released a wispy torrent of luminous blue energy that spread across the surface of the war table like countless grains of sand. The scene caused many of the Paladins gathered to tense. But their worry was quickly replaced by grim curiosity as the light took the form of a holographic diorama of the Roble Holy Kingdom—complete with cities, towns, and villages.

"As you have no doubt gathered, this is the Roble Holy Kingdom..." Vahn stated, twisting his hand slightly, causing several patches of glowing red light to appear.

"As of this moment, the enemy's forces number approximately 100,000 strong, separated into four different groups and led by twelve Chieftains, each of which has the power of an Adamantite-ranked Adventurer..." Vahn revealed.

"Fssss..."

Hearing Vahn reveal that the enemy army had at least twelve Adamantite-ranked individuals within its midst, several of the Paladins inhaled sharply. Their only Adamantite-ranked approximate was Remedios. And while they were confident she could defeat any individual Chieftain in single combat, it was another matter entirely if she were expected to face multiple at the same time.

"Seriously? Are you trying to destroy our morale before the battle begins? Or is this another—" Remedios started.

"Grandmaster Custodio..." Calca interjected, her voice low but icy as she gave Remedios a silencing, half-lidded side-eye.

Shaking his head, Vahn surprised nearly everyone present by stating, "I empathize with the Grandmaster. My actions are intended to make clear how desperate the Roble Holy Kingdom's position is without the support of external forces. If our positions were reversed, I would likely feel just as vexed and frustrated."

"You..." Remedios growled, clenching her teeth and balling her hands into fists as she held Vahn's gaze with a glower.

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Vahn added, "That said, I imagine she won't be the only person experiencing frustration once I get out my next words..."

"Does Your Grace have a recommendation regarding our strategy?" Calca questioned, more curious than concerned.

"I do..." Vahn affirmed, nodding. Then, with an uncharacteristically serious expression, he revealed, "After extensive deliberation, I have decided that I will not endorse the one-sided slaughter of a group of people—even if it is ultimately to balance the scales."

"Holy fuck..." Gagaran muttered, her eyes widening in shock—matching the expression of many others.

"You what...!?" Remedios exclaimed, her face reddening from fury as she stepped forward and slammed her hands on the table, shouting, "After all of this, you're planning to withdraw your support!? Is all of this a game to you...!?"

"Calm yourself, Grandmaster Custodio. I'm certain His Grace has more to say..." Calca asserted, doing her best to appear calm despite the waves of panic that were washing over her. She had thought that she and Vahn had built a favorable rapport. If he were to suddenly rescind his support—she refused to accept that was even a possibility...

"I am also curious to hear what the Dragon Lord of Salvation has to say..." Momon appended, his deep and steady voice cutting through the unrest that had pervaded the Command Tent.

Nodding, Vahn met Calca's gaze and calmly explained, "Make no mistake—while your cause is just, it is ultimately your cause. You have every right to try and reclaim your Kingdom. But I cannot in good conscience enable a slaughter—particularly if you sincerely believe that the slaughter of your people was a vile and evil act."

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Hearing Vahn's assertion, a sudden, oppressive silence descended on the Command Tent. With few exceptions, none of those present could believe what they were hearing. And then...

"You son of a—!!!"

Holding up his left hand, Vahn casually bound Remedios's body with his Domain as she attempted to launch herself across the war table and cut him down with her sword. This left the short-haired brunette suspended in mid-air as he stated, "Please permit me to finish before you choose to make a fool of yourself..." in a cold tone.

Guiding Remedios back to her position behind the now pale-faced Calca, Vahn briefly passed his gaze over those present before explaining, "Life is a precious thing. I understand that the people of the Roble Holy Kingdom have endured much these past few months. But the solution to that is not massacring hundreds of thousands of Demi and non-humans..."

Meeting Calca's gaze, Vahn smiled apologetically and stated, "Make no mistake. I intend to support Your Majesty's cause until the end. What I cannot endorse is making your men functionally immortal so they can run rampant through enemy lines without consequence..."

Closing his eyes and shaking his head, Vahn allowed his words to settle for a moment before meeting Calca's gaze a second time and appending, "This war is ultimately the result of two disparate communities living next to one another without any efforts to bridge the gap between your people and cultures. If the Demihuman tribes hadn't attacked you, then your side would have done so the moment you believed it was necessary or simply beneficial to your interests..."

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Unable to refute Vahn's words, particularly with his Domain pressing upon them like the weight of providence, many of the Paladins present lowered their heads with a mix of shame, discordance, and suppressed fury. Many among the gathered Paladins wanted—yearned to argue against him. But since they required his power and support to have any hope of reclaiming and restoring their homeland, they bore their frustration in silence.

"There is great wisdom in the Dragon Lord's words..." Momon stated, his bone-reverberating voice earning the gazes of nearly everyone present as he raised his gauntleted fist and asserted, "But peace cannot be achieved through dialogue alone. It requires power and strength of will. The power to force compromise and the strength of will to pass judgment upon those who would violate the sanctity of that peace..."

"That is an elegant and unfortunately accurate observation, Sir Momon..." Vahn conceded, offering Momon a slow nod before passing his gaze over those present and stating, "And that is the reason for my delayed arrival. I did not come here to moralize or lecture you on your nation's failings. I am here to offer solutions..."

Punctuating his assertion, Vahn made a gesture that caused the holographic map of the Roble Holy Kingdom to dissolve into countless motes of light before reforming into what appeared to be a chessboard. This left many around the table confused. But as he explained to them what he had in mind, Calca, Momon, and the members of Blue Roses, at the very least, became increasingly invested in what he had to say...

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"To think that your solution to international disputes and war is arena-based PvP..." Ainz mused, sounding distinctly pleased from his position across from Vahn at their usual table.

"Well, you've mentioned more than a few times how fond you were of Player-versus-Player in YGGDRASIL..." Vahn noted, smiling as he added, "And, as chance would have it, the Dragon's Pavilion has a similar method of resolving disputes—Rating Games. It's a bit too soon for your world to participate in them, but this should help to prepare you and others if you choose to affiliate with the Pavilion long-term."

"Hoooo? Something to look forward to..." Ainz hummed, swirling around the contents of his wine glass.

"Is something the matter...?" Vahn asked, noticing the subtle change in Ainz's mood, even if the man's skeletal expression and aura didn't change in the slightest.

Shaking his head, Ainz exhaled a dry chuckle before revealing, "It's not that something is wrong. Rather, now that you've proposed this method as a solution to otherwise bloody conflicts, it has me thinking about how large the world truly is..."

Raising his gaze to meet Vahn's, Ainz confided, "There is so much I've yet to learn about this world, but I can't help feeling constrained by it. Were it not for our chance encounter, I might have been forced to behave in ways my friends would have doubtlessly deemed unethical or inhumane. But if it meant protecting what we had built together, I would have become that person willingly..."

"It's a tragic reality, but individuals are often forced to act in ways that don't reflect their true character—particularly when their circumstances are dire..." Vahn acknowledged.

"That may be true..." Ainz conceded, staring down at the contents of his glass as he revealed, "But my true character isn't something noble. I have always existed as a reflection of my circumstances. I grew up harboring a deep resentment toward the world—alongside a burning desire to change it in ways I perceived to be better. Were it not for my encountering people like you and Touch Me, I imagine I would have become a truly frightening person..."

"..."

Unsure of what to say, Vahn permitted Ainz's—no—Suzuki Satoru's admission to settle. He could tell that the skeletal man had fallen into a profound state of introspection. So, rather than disrupt what was likely a formative moment for the man, Vahn patiently waited for him to compose himself and continue.

"I want to be more than I currently am..." Ainz stated, raising his gaze to meet Vahn's, his fiery eyes blazing like crimson stars as he proclaimed, "I want to possess the power, means, and character to guide others, just as you and Touch Me have guided me..."

"Then you should start with changing Nazarick," Vahn stated, his smile broadening as he pointed out, "The denizens of Nazarick already look to you as their God. And, just as their beliefs shape you, you have the power to shape them with your own. You simply need to believe in yourself and act with supreme confidence. Otherwise, you will become, and ultimately be constrained by what they make you..."

"I see..." Ainz muttered, lowering his gaze and caressing his chin with his skeletal, ring-laden fingers. Vahn had repeated similar warnings to him in the past. But now that his perspective had broadened, he was beginning to understand what the wandering God meant—and possibly expected of him...

"Hmmn...?"

Receiving a telepathic message, Vahn raised his gaze slightly and said, "It would appear I have other matters to attend to..."

"Please, if your presence is required elsewhere, far be it from me to keep you..." Ainz stated, rising from his throne and cupping his right hand with his left, prompting Vahn to rise and mirror the action. They usually sat and conversed for at least three to four hours before parting. But since he had many things to reflect upon, Ainz saw Vahn off before promptly retiring to his room—where Albedo was waiting to greet him as a young wife might a returning Lord...

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