53

Medusa is looking around at the people gathered around her.

For the first time in a long time - literally "looked". Using her eyes. At real people. Well, Servants, it doesn't matter.

It was strange, unusual and pleasant. Exciting, even.

She could navigate in space without the help of ocular vision, of course. And do it very well indeed - she could easily distinguish the shape of an object no worse than a person who uses their sight, determine the sharpness of a blade without even looking at it, grasp the mana used by a magi in the instant they cast their spells only using her instincts and other senses. But many things remained beyond her comprehension. Color, appearance, beauty.

It was really amazing.

Medusa was the youngest of the Gorgon sisters, so in a sense she could even be called a "child." However, she was actually an adult and grown-up woman, so she absolutely did not want to take a closer look at the Servants surrounding her, to examine Cainabel's dress, to evaluate the contours of Romulus' muscles or to closely examine all the features of Jeanne's armor.

Well, only a little...

"I admit, it's a little strange to me that your Master went to a battle but left his Servants behind," Romulus said that immediately after Ainz and Cu Chulainn disappeared thanks to their instant teleportation.

"It's even stranger that he could teleport himself," Zhuge Liang, the Servant who was currently hidden behind Waver's mask. He sighed, then reached for his cigarette case by pure habit, however, after looking at Romulus, he retracted his hand, "Although the fact that he decided to confront a Servant alone except for one Servant also bothers me."

Teleportation…

Teleportation was a rare ability. Extremely rare, even unique one could say.

Not absolutely unique though - there were magis capable of wielding such power. There were just a few of them and each one of them is very powerful in their own way. Wizard marshall and the Second Magician Kischur Zelretch Schewinorg. The king of magic, Solomon. The great alchemist, Paracelsus... In general, magis of a similar caliber, exceptionally rare in history.

But looking at Ainz, Medusa was sure that someone of his caliber was in the least not inferior to the great magis in power. Which, however, answered another question, in fact a question just asked by Romulus.

"Well," Cainabel, still slightly worried of being chastised again by Ainz, tried to resist the insults that Medusa could see forming in her mind, "The battle will last as long as Ainz himself wants it too. And judging by the fact that he has not returned yet - he decided to have some fun."

"Hm, you have a very high opinion of your Master, child..." At that moment, Romulus' polite expression suddenly froze, like a mask.

"What is it?.." - Cainabel clearly wanted to continue her inquiry by spitting out something like "or are you like a dinosaur, your little brain not even capable to finish their sentences?" - however, she stopped herself halfway.

"The presence of one of the attacking Servants has disappeared," said Romulus after a moment of silence.

"The fun did not last long," Cainabel sighed, after which, not finding any opportunity to continue the conversation without insulting anyone, she simply shut up.

'Even if she is a blood sucking beast she doesn't even think of disputing Ainz's orders' - Medusa sighed. Blood sucking beast, ha… As if Medusa was one to talk about "blood-sucking beasts"...

There was an awkward silence at the table for a few seconds. Medusa was not particularly bothered by the silence of this type - in fact, she preferred silence to various kinds of conversations. However, not all of the servants of Ainz agreed with her sentiments.

"I admit, this is just like a fairy tale for me - to meet with so many famous heroes with my own eyes," - Mashu, the voice of youth and naivety in their company - at least when Jeanne was silent - tried to create a point of conversation, dispersing the thickened awkwardness, - "I would never even thought that I would meet Leonidas himself, the legendary king of Sparta!"

"Oh!" - Leonidas, having heard how it was about him, stopped looking at Jeanne, after which he turned his gaze at Mashu and smiled a proud smile, "It's nice to see people who know about me even after so many years! How many generations did my legend survive before it reached you?"

Medusa first started thinking about Leonidas's legend, and then suddenly stopped. How many generations have passed from me to you... Wasn't it just like the question "what time period are you from?" In order to collect more information about a potential ally - or perhaps an enemy?

"A lot," Mashu might have sensed the intent in the man's question, or maybe she just decided not to bother with the calculations, but she answered as friendly as before, "The Battle at Thermopylae, I am awed by the fact that you fought for so long against an advancing army of a greater strength! Was it difficult - to fight a battle, even knowing that you will not return from it?"

"So-so," Leonidas vaguely waved his hand in the air, making an unimpressed face, "But we were Spartans. When you have been taught to fight to the end all your life, sooner or later you have to learn how to stand and die."

"That is really unbelievable," however Mashu continued her childish admiration for the Servant, "Alone against thousands for the sake of saving the innocents behind your back... I hope I can do the same one day."

"Pf," however Leonidas, who had previously accepted the praise calmly, suddenly grinned and looked at the girl with a slightly cheerful look, "Saving the innocent... Well, you could say that we indeed did that."

Mashu, clearly not catching the hidden meaning in the man's answer, only smiled, but unlike her, Medusa was still able to catch the certain hidden meaning of the answer.

"As I see it," Medusa smiled at a silly joke that only she could understand. "You do not quite agree with the wording "for the sake of saving the innocent."

"Well," Leonidas patted his scruff of thought, "We fought to give the Allied army the opportunity to retreat and ultimately defeat the enemy. Not sure how much of this counts as "saving the innocent.""

"But you didn't fight only for victory," Jeanne picked up the topic, intervening after Mashu. "If the enemy reached the cities, ruin and death would have awaited many of the people... You - and all your warriors - defended all of Greece. Isn't that a heroic thing?"

Leonidas, thinking for a couple of seconds, shrugged, "But we did not go to battle in order to protect the people. We went to a glorious death - and all our people understood this."

"Does the awareness of the doom of your campaign diminish its value?" Jeanne smiled back.

"Damn, there is such a concentration of heroes that I'm going to feel sick now," for the lack of scathing comments from Cainabel, who continued to keep her silence intently, the Witch assumed the function of a "bad guy" in the company, "You just went and died. What is heroic about this?"

"Well... nothing!" Leonidas unexpectedly supported her remark, causing the Witch to frown, clearly not expecting such an agreement on his part, "Although... We did kick some persian butts, hah..."

"Yeah yeah, you beat a few persians," Alexander, who was sitting next to him, only crookedly grinned at these words, looking at Leonidas, "No one stood close to your great feat..."

"Oh, Alexander," Leonidas only waved it off, as if from an annoying fly, "Do not spoil the mood. Those are not even your own achievements."

"They will be mine!" Alexander instantly got into a heated reply, after which he froze, "That is, they were mine... In the past. My future achievements in the past…"

"Alexander," Zhuge Liang sighed, watching the boy's mental confusion, "Do not overheat your brain. I would not want you to break your brain before you grow up."

"Waver, how many years have passed - and you are still the same," Alexander only cast an angry glance at Zhuge, "I am your king!"

"Yeah, yeah," Zhuge sighed, and although due to his sigh it might have seemed to an observer that Zhuge Liang spoke only to shut Alexander up, but Medusa could determine that it was more like when she was talking to her sisters. Zhuge Liang talked about this disparagingly rather because he meant something like "we both already know about it, so why talk about it again?"

"Children, all of them," however, Romulus only smiled, looking at the performance that was in front of him, clearly enjoying his position as a "noble grandfather".

Medusa smiled back.

Everything around looked so peaceful ...

"Ay-ay-ay!" - Cu Chulainn avoided another flurry of attacks, after which he sent a spell to the enemy. A ray of fire drew a line from the instantly flared rune toward the enemy, crashing into the Berserker's chest, but this barely made him sway in their charge.

In response to the attack, the huge warrior only roared louder than before, after which he planned to sweep Cu Chulainn from his perch with a huge sweeping blow from his weapon.

"Damn!" - Cu Chulainn used the magic of the ring, instantly teleporting himself behind the Berserker. At a distance of several tens of meters it would only buy him a second at best. So without even stopping for an instant, he cast another spell. Causing a rune to broke out in an explosion on the Berserker's body - "This guy has no plans of restraining himself. "

The situation looked... dire enough.

If you look only at their supply of remaining mana, Cu Chulainn, surprisingly, was in a superior position to his opponent. Even if he could not receive the full strength of Ainz's mana, the mere fact that he was a Caster already meant that he was in a better position, mana-wise anyway, against many opponents. However, Berserker clearly had a clear advantage in this battle. Unlike Caster, who relied on costly spells to perform any effective attacks, Berserker simply used his exceptional strength exclusively in battle. Therefore the Berserker spent his available mana much more slowly than Cu Chulainn. In other words, despite the fact that Berserker had less mana, the first who would eventually have exhausted his strength in this battle was Cu Chulainn.

"Damn" - Cu Chulainn cursed silently to himself, instantly dodging the next blow dealt by the approaching Berserker - "I will lose to something like that..."

Cu Chulainn was not the strongest Servant, of course. He did not hope that he would be able to win the battle without resorting to his serious attacks, be it the strongest of his spells or his Noble Phantasm... Any of the two. However, in a battle between Servants, the Noble Phantasm has always been their strongest attack. To be relied for use only at the very peak of a battle. A trump card that can turn the tide of any fight. Using the Noble Phantasm meant that a Servant was finally driven into a corner and saw no other way to defeat their opponent than to use their most powerful weapon.

Of course, exceptions to this rule existed... But it was not that significant for now.

And the fact that Berserker still did not deign to use his Noble Phantasm meant that he was not of these exceptions.

Cu Chulainn closed the distance in a moment, then frowned. His Wicker Man was not suitable for capturing too powerful or fast targets. His Ochd Deug Odin took time to prepare. Two things that did not give Cu Chulainn the opportunity to use his Noble Phantasms. Given that his opponent has not yet used his Noble Phantasms... It was disturbing.

Cu Chulainn thought for a second about turning to Ainz for assistance. Even if he wanted to fight one on one with a Servant, this does not mean at all that he preferred to die in battle without using his chances to the fullest. Perhaps his version as a Lancer might have thought of something like this, but he was not quite the same as that Lancer. He preferred a not-so-fair victory to a very fair defeat.

Even so, he would prefer to use such a thing only in case of emergency. And despite the fact that Berserker still managed to injure Caster - he was still relatively intact, and therefore did not consider the situation critical in any way.

Cu Chulainn avoided the next attack, after which he sent the next spell, which exploded in a fiery flash from its collision with a target. Apparently, he will have to exhaust Berserker in order to use his trump cards... Not the most exciting turn of events - but it could be worse. Certainly, it could have been much worse.

However, this "worse" turn of events still happened to the magi.

Avoiding the next attack with the help of teleportation, Cu Chulainn was still able to convey to the Berserker the simple idea that it was not possible for the Berserker to kill Caster in a direct attack. Having realized this simple thought, he stopped for a second, after which he raised his face to the sky, bellowing a roar, which was impossible to describe in any other way than "mechanical".

"I wonder how Ainz is doing right now?" Cu Chulainn thought for a second, before Berserker lowered his head back to Cu Chulainn.

Cu Chulainn needed to use the momentary respite that he had been given in by sending another of his attacking spells to his opponent, but instead Cu Chulainn simply stared at the Berserker for a second, looking at the enemy. Berserkers were not famous for their great tactical skill. Usually they simply launch themselves at their enemy and attacked, attacked and attacked again until the enemy was dead. They ceased to attack only in very rare cases. For instance…

Pulling at his weapon, which was a strange hybrid of a spear and a halberd with two blades at its side, Berserker posed as if he was pointing it at Cu Chulainn. For a second, he was surprised at the gesture, before the blades that is connected with the two pieces of metal at the top of the halberd opened up, turning the spear into something like a bow. A very disproportionate bow, where the spear served as a huge arrow.

"Wait a minute?!" - Cu Chulainn looked at Berserker with a misunderstanding - "That is, that is actually a bow?!"

For a second, the thought that all the Archers in this world were somehow abnormal slipped into Cu Chulainn's head, but he was able to crystalize the realization, instead instantly realizing the purpose of the enemy's actions.

"God Power," Berserker said, clearly and distinctly, in a mechanical, emotionless voice, for the first time in the whole battle, pointing the huge arrow to Cu Chulainn, "Five Soldiers of the War God."

"Lu Bu!" - Cu Chulainn instantly felt a surge of surprise - "Of course, the invincible General of the Three Kingdoms fell on my head!"

Lu Bu. Invincible warrior. The General of betrayal.

The warrior that was called the greatest warrior of the Three Kingdoms. And his faithful weapon, created by Chen Gong, according to the soldiers of the Three Kingdoms was created as if with the power of the God of War embedded in itself. Like many times before - the legends, in this case, turned out to be more important than the real history.

Cu Chulainn felt it instantly, an incredible power - a force that could be called divine - responded to the name of the Phantasm called out by the great warrior. A roar like a wild beast roaring in anticipation of the impending destruction instantly poured into the monstrous spear aimed at Cu Chulainn like a huge arrow.

"Wicker Man!" Cu Chulainn responded instantly, allowing his Phantasm to take shape in the world in response to his opponent's trump card.

The monstrous giant, woven from willow branches, appeared in reality at the very moment in which Cu Chulainn uttered its name. The figure of the giant, burning with power - and with a quite tangible flame - rose above the ground for several tens of meters, hiding with its shadow the Servants who now seemed insignificant. However, the sparkling of Berserker's bow was not obscured by the shadow of the monster. No, perhaps even more than that, the monster's shadow only allowed any observer to look at how powerful the weapon of destruction shone in the hands of Lu Bu.

For his attack, Lu Bu needed great concentration and a few seconds of delay, so an attempt to attack him with a huge monster like the Wicker Man was not completely devoid of logic - however, it was doomed to failure from the very beginning.

The Bow of Lu Bu was a central theme of his legend. The legend of an invincible warlord. The legend of the general of betrayal. About the child of the era of the three kingdoms, about the hundreds, thousands, millions of dead - destroyed villages, burnt cities, killed soldiers and executed peasants. Like Lu Bu was a man of his time - his weapon was a weapon of his time. The concentration of thousands of battles, millions of dead. An Amalgam of war. An arrow shot by the God of War itself.

The wicker man embodied the primitive powers, centuries-old wisdom and the unshakable traditions of the servants of the old Celtic gods, but in the end it was only a tool created by people to imitate their gods. The weapon of Lu Bu was a weapon bound to the God of War himself.

A second later, Lu Bu released the bowstring of his monstrous bow and an arrow of pure destruction struck forward, nothing is an obstacle to the blade of an angry deity flying in its path.

In an instant the ray of light pierced through the wicker man with no more difficulty than an arrow piercing a cardboard sheet. Then it rushed forward, burning the earth like the apocalypse lit on Earth, leaving behind only ashes.

Ashes as suited to the God of War.

After the attack, no dust would rose. Not even dust remained after the passing of the apocalyptic arrow.

The primeval strength and power released by the arrow burned everything in its path.

A husk of the wicker man, only swaying a little, as if in perplexity, looked at a huge hole pierced by the arrow in the monster's chest before slowly falling to the ground.

The creature, generated by the Noble Phantasm like a golem, turned into mana before its head touched the scorched wasteland left after the blow of the God Power, instantly lifting the cloud of blue-green particles into the air.

Lu Bu, the mechanical mass of Berserker, unable to experience any emotion other than rage, only looked with satisfaction at what he had done, and then slowly turned away from the target of the blow.

"I won't lie," the voice of Cu Chulainn sounded triumphantly in the silence that had arose. "For a second I even thought that I was dead."

A moment later, unable to express its surprise, Berserker turned to the speaker just to see Caster, still alive somehow.

Cu Chulainn's clothes and his fur cape was burned. Cu Chulainn himself looked hardly any better - there was no untouched spot on his body. Almost all of it was covered with instantly swollen huge ugly blisters arising due to the heat, and his right hand, which continued to squeeze the staff, looked as if it had passed through a meat grinder.

But Cu Chulainn was alive. And very cheerful.

"But only for a second," Caster finished his remark.

After another moment, Lu Bu tried to rush at his enemy again, but could not even take a step. Moving his gaze around his body, Berserker could only see a few transparent chains woven from runes that encircled his body. Cu Chulainn took great advantage of the few seconds given to him.

Lu Bu jerked his body one more time, but the magic chains did not even flinch even when the invincible general did his best to rush at the enemy, looking at Cu Chulainn in incomprehension.

How could he survive the God Power?

Lu Bu looked at Caster in confusion.

Even with mana from Ainz... Even having used his Wicker Man as protection... Even if in the end his body turned out to be fried and crippled... He should not have survived the God Power.

"Hey, with all due respect - even your God Power is considered to be just an arrow," and Cu Chulainn, as if sensing the emotions of his opponent, answered with undisguised joy, after which, after waiting for the necessary amount of time to build up the atmosphere, he grinned even more joyfully, "Skill: Protection from arrows. No one saw it being that useful, huh?"

Lu Bu jerked back to his opponent and this time the runic-weaved chains faltered for a second, allowing the general to move. Then again and again.

However, Cu Chulainn only smiled back.

"You know," he spoke to the general in a relaxed manner even when the first of his runic chains broke off under the onslaught of Berserker's overwhelming strength, it seemed as if he was not at all worried about what was currently happening. Cu Chulainn simply continued to calmly create rune after rune, "I generally thought of using my second Phantasm against you…"

A second later, the second chain of runes broke with a light ringing, freeing Lu Bu's hand.

"But on the other hand, I thought," Cu Chulainn, however, enjoying the moment, only outlined another rune in the air, "What the hell?

Lu Bu jerked again, throwing his released hand on the chain now within reach of his freed hand, breaking the next one.

"I'm a great Celtic hero," Cu Chulainn only calmly brought another rune with his hand in the air, drawing a symbol of fire, "And even more, I am the embodiment of the Celtic wisdom and power."

Having freed his other hand, Lu Bu grabbed the chain that had wrapped around his neck like a leash and pulled his hands apart, tearing the chain into pieces.

"Ainz…" - Cu Chulainn shrugged, - "No one knows who his identity. But his spells are something else."

Lu Bu, who had already freed the entire upper half of his body, rushed to break out his feet, breaking the next chain.

"On the one hand, we have Ainz," Cu Chulainn shrugged, bringing the next rune to completion, "And on the other, I, the great hero and great magi of the Celts."

Lu Bu finally managed to reach the last chain, almost resorting to biting his teeth into it, to break the last obstacle.

"And the spells he could cast - is something else," Cu Chulainn sighed and looked at Lu Bu, "And you know... It made me envious. After all, I am a great hero of the Celts."

A second later, Lu Bu, freed from his chains, rushed forward. However, Cu Chulainn only lazily brought out the last rune, as if putting a bullet point and grinned, looking at the approaching face of Berserker, - "And my spells are no worse."

After a second, the strongest of the spells that Cu Chulainn could cast was cast.

Unlike the God Power, which struck with a single spear shot towards the enemy - the spell of Cu Chulainn did not turn into a ray. It exploded. Under the feet of the rushing Berserker.

After a second, the titanic power of the explosion consumed the Berserker, vaporizing the body with an unexpected ease knowing the durability of the Servants.

However, Cu Chulainn only smirked, looking at how the pillar of fire rose from the ground, rising tens of meters into the air.

"How did Ainz say it?" Cu Chulainn broke into a smile, looking at how Lu Bu's legs instantly evaporated, and then shook his head, "Oh yes... Napalm."

Berserker's body evaporated only a moment later, after which a fiery whirlwind ascended so high that even any inhabitants of Rome could see it from any place in Rome, devouring the body of Lu Bu with the same ease with which his God Power was piercing through any obstacles in its path.

Cu Chulainn, looking at the aftereffects of his spell, grunted with satisfaction, then hissed, finally feeling the pain from his wounds. Playing tough with such grievous wounds was difficult.

"I see you have already finished your fight," Ainz's voice sounded very close to Cu Chulainn, forcing him to look at the Master.

"Uh, do you happen to have those miraculous potions of healing with you?" Cu Chulainn sighed, then grimaced, "I got a little bit butchered here..."

Ainz, glancing at the Servant for a second, only sighed and silently handed him a small phial with a reddish liquid.

"Thank you," Cu Chulainn nodded to him, after which he drained the potion in one gulp, feeling how his pain instantly being relieved and his body was beginning to take its former form, "And for not interfering in the battle, too. Yes, and for the battle itself, perhaps."

"Not at all," however Ainz just sighed at it and looked at the place where the adversary of Cu Chulainn had recently stood, "I see, you had fun here."

"You can say that," Cu Chulainn grinned, after which he looked at Ainz himself, examining him for damage, "And yours?"

"You can say…" - Ainz sighed, - "That it was about what I expected."

Medusa glanced at Ainz, who had just emerged from the flash of teleportation and smiled.

No, of course she was not afraid that the enemy would be stronger than Ainz. So far, her Master has proved himself to be a more than outstanding warrior, having defeated several Servants in battle, each of whom was far from weak.

But still, maybe a little, deep down... She was a little worried.

Turning her gaze to Caster standing next to her, she sighed.

'Oh, Cu Chulainn also survived' - Medusa slightly lowered the corners of her mouth - 'What a joyful event…'

No, Medusa did not hate Cu Chulainn in the full sense of the word. But next time, when he offers her "a little fun", she will crush his head with her hand. And will not worry about any consequences. Ally or not, but in the world there were certain things that she could not tolerate. Drunk Casanova, confident in his irresistibility, trying to drag a girl to bed was one of these things.

'Even if I can give him five points for his appearance' - Medusa shook her head - 'One hundred will have to be removed for the character.'

"You came back very quickly," Romulus glanced at the magi who appeared with some favor.

"I think you yourself can determine that the opponents have disappeared, o venerable ancestor," Ainz nodded politely in response.

"True," Romulus only nodded back, "I am afraid that I am not capable of finding anything as great as to express my gratitude to you, the defenders of Rome and my dear guests."

"Technically speaking," however Ainz only answered with a polite smile, "I only need access to the barrier..."

After that, a tense silence hung in the air.

"However," continued Ainz, "I understand that this is not possible at the moment, so I'll just say that I was glad to answer your hospitality, honorable ancestor."

For a second, the tension that had arisen seemed to dissipate after these words, however, Medusa could still feel that the tension had only passed from the category of the apparent to the category of the hidden.

That was weird. Just weird.

Of the three parties to the conflict, the Servants and Ainz managed to see two, and both sides have now proposed the same solution. "Join us and we will help you."

It was so simple and yet strange.

It is strange how Nero and Romulus continued to fight over nothing.

It is strange how the arising barbarians continued to remain inactive, only menacingly continuing to stand on the threshold of Rome.

It is strange why unknown Servants would attack Rome in broad daylight, not caring for victory or defeat.

It was all very weird.

However, it is not like the words "anomaly in the history of mankind" - the simplest description of the Singularity - would present something simple and easily understandable.

On the other hand, the strangeness around this Singularity was... illogical. Every insane man's delirium has its own logic - even if one day the madman believes that aliens decided to take him to their planet— he will impose this oddity into a general picture of the world. Even if this world is insane - it will still have its own certain logic.

What logic was expressed in this Singularity?

Strange enemies, illogical conflicts, three parties fighting against each other...

Medusa definitely know of such a conflict, in book form anyway.

"So, child," Romulus, however, deciding to break the silence, turned to Ainz, "Do you agree to join us?"

"Your proposal is very generous, venerable ancestor," Ainz just smiled at it, "However, I'm still not sure I can accept it."

"I'm sorry to hear that, child," Romulus only nodded graciously, "But perhaps this is the best I could hope for in the current environment. In that case, what will you do next?"

"Hm," thought Ainz, after which he nodded to himself, "The Servant's attack on Rome was very suspicious. I would like to study it in more detail."

"Of course, child," Romulus only nodded at this, after which he looked at the silent Zhuge Liang, "Since this is also a matter of our own safety, we are ready to provide you with all our available help."

"I am grateful, noble ancestor," Ainz smiled. "However, I would also like to visit the barbarian camp."

After these words, Romulus, who until then had been calm and even relaxed, suddenly froze, taking a much more alert position, looking at Ainz with a wary glance, "Why, child?"

"Oh, the fact is that the Servant I fought with," Ainz smiled, "He was not from the barbarian camp."

"I see..." Romulus nodded slowly, "And why are you so sure of that, child?"

"He told me about it himself," Ainz smiled at Romulus.

Medusa did not know why, but something in the conversation seemed to her to be... Fake.

"Is that so, child," Romulus looked at Ainz carefully, "And why do you think that he did not lie to you? There is no concept of honor for a barbarian - a lie is as usual for them as speaking."

"Look who's saying this..." Cu Chulainn quietly spoke to the side, however, Medusa was able to hear this remark.

"Oh, he indeed could be lying," Ainz also calmly agreed with Romulus, "Which is why I need to meet with the barbarians. Meeting them can clarify a few things for me."

"So that's your reason.." Romulus looked at Ainz appraisingly, "Child, it's not in my power to stop you... However, I can only give advice. Do not let their barbaric speeches seduce you. All their words are just frivolous lies."

"The Romans said..." Cu Chulainn coughed into his burnt cape sleeve. It seems that he did not survive the fight without any damage... Unlike Ainz.

"Of course, venerable ancestor, I just need to clarify the situation," Ainz smiled again at Romulus.

Romulus looked at Ainz carefully. He answered only with a gentle polite smile, not taking his eyes off him.

The two leaders clashed with their eyes. In the eyes of one was power, greatness and strength. The second only smiled politely.

For some reason, it was at that moment that Ainz's usual polite smile looked for Medusa... Frightening.

For several long seconds, the two leaders continued to look at each other before Romulus looked away first.

"In that case - I can only say that I warned you, child," Romulus shook his head.

"And I thank you for that, venerable ancestor," Ainz stepped back, glancing at his Servants. Something in this look told Medusa that the situation was becoming more incomprehensible before her eyes.

Smiling at a silly joke, Medusa returned to her thoughts.

"He lied"

It was this thought that flashed through Zhuge Liang's head.

These were also the words of Romulus, who remarked in his connection to the mind of the tactician.

However, the tactician himself came to this conclusion on his own even before Romulus confirmed it.

"About what exactly?" - Zhuge Liang replied to Romulus through the link. Although he could identify some lie in Ainz's words, any additional information from Romulus could clarify his view of such information.

"The Servant he fought was an insane Berserker" - this Zhuge Liang did not expect — "He was not capable of telling him anything."

"Is that so..." - Zhuge Liang cast a quick glance at Ainz - "Why then did he lie?"

"The reason is unknown to me" - Romulus only answered briefly to Zhuge Liang - "In the worst case... He is working for the barbarians."

After that, telepathic link with Romulus disappeared and Zhuge Liang looked at Ainz closely.

It was not impossible... But it was very unlikely. More than just unlikely.

Ainz could indeed be working for the barbarians, but in that case he would surely try to avoid suspicion by all means. He would not insist so much on accessing to the barrier or talk about contacting with the barbarians. Moreover, if he worked for the barbarians, he would clearly have his own contacts to communicate with their camp discreetly. In this case, seeking to contact the barbarian camp - especially given the attention that he would attract to himself given his desire to meet with the barbarians.

However, if he indeed understood this, then he could be doing this in order to allay suspicion from himself, making the idea that he is working for the barbarians so obvious that it would be too ludicrous to be believed.

Zhuge Liang frowned.

Such a line of behavior was possible. And such a probability could not be so easily discounted.

Zhuge Liang sighed and looked at Ainz much more closely.

Too many things to assess and consider.

After which he looked back at Romulus.

Despite the threat of the barbarians and the fact that they did not gain any more information in understanding the structure of the barrier even one spec over the past month, bothered Romulus and Zhuge Liang. However, he also continued to stubbornly hold on to the title of "Emperor", which is the reason why he quarreled even with his heiress, Nero, in the face of enemies.

Too many oddities.

In the end, Zhuge Liang turned his eyes to his potential opponents.

Caster in a burnt fur cape, standing next to Ainz. A girl in a black gothic dress, who sent goose bumps on his back with her presence alone. The girl with glasses and peculiar irises, silently studying the Servants of Romulus. A girl in armor and her blackened reflection, sitting next to her. A girl in knightly armor who carried a huge shield, who started the conversation about Leonidas.

Too many Servants.

Zhuge Liang writhed like from a toothache.

Too many instances in his life lately where he used the words "too much."

Too much trouble hid behind these words.

"Jeanne" - Ainz turned on his link with his Servants - "The characteristics of Caesar... That one of his abilities, similar to charisma... Can it be used like a form of mind control?"

"Ah?" - the girl answered confusedly to Ainz's question - "Ah... Incitement of EX rank... Yes, in theory it is indeed possible."

"I see," Ainz answered calmly, after which he cut off the connection.

Caesar had an ability that acted like mind control. An EX rank one at that.

Was it then possible that Caesar's ability was able to subdue the mind of the two Berserkers and direct them against Romulus?

It was possible, but why? Ainz could not determine the reason.

Ainz does not possess the greatest minds in the world, no matter what his allies or opponents would think. But still he was not an idiot. He understood that there must be motives behind any event.

If Caesar wanted to capture Rome, then the help of the two Berserkers would obviously be useful to him. However, sending only the two, even if they were strong, would not guarantee their victory. Perhaps, joining them in battle, the Three Emperors would be able to tip the scales in their favor... But in such a case, they actually needed to participate in the battle themselves.

Without participating in the battle, without even taking into account of Ainz and his possible help, their victory was very unlikely. In that case, why would Caesar send two Berserkers to Rome? And could he do it at all?

Or were they really allies of the barbarians? But in this case, the question of why they had to send two of their people remained? Why would they waste their precious advantage in such a mediocre way?

Ainz did not know this. Ainz did not understand what was happening around him.

What is happening in this Singularity was beyond Ainz's understanding.

And that is why he lied to Romulus.

In order to determine what was true and what was false, Ainz needed a fulcrum. And Ainz made this fulcrum to be himself by lying.

In an extreme case, if he did not understand anything around him and was entangled in a web of lies and deception. The best thing he could do was to spread around even more lies, hoping that the unknown spider would become entangled in its own web himself.

In the end, even in the distant future of the twenty-second century, humanity has not yet meet a more deadly adversary than the simple virus. And in this regard, Ainz would not compare himself with some terrible tropical fever. No, he was an ordinary, common person.

And the most dangerous virus of all times and the most dangerous to people throughout history was actually the common cold.

Death Magic: A++

Although the full mystery of life and death was not yet uncovered by the owner of this skill, he came closer to it than anyone else. The holder of this skill deeply comprehended the sacrament of bringing death, and in that respect, also the sacrament of the giving of life. The holder of dozens of spells and abilities of dealing death, giving him the opportunity and ability to take away any life that he wishes. The owner of Death Magic of such a rank also comprehended a great mystery, incomprehensible even to owners of True Magic. The sacrament of resurrection.

Although the owner of such a skill is capable of resurrecting or even rebirthing anyone bypassing any barriers, he is still not able to do this only with his desire and spells, but only through the use of his other abilities and with rare artifacts which contains such life giving strength. However, with spells that focus not on resurrection, but on the reverse process, there are no such restrictions.