Valkyrie's Shadow

Before the Storm: Act 5, Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Are you sure you need to pack this much, my lady?

I am going to be away for at least a week, Ludmila replied. Lady Shalltear mentioned visiting with Lady Aura and Lord Mare, as well, so I will be travelling extensively.

I wonder about that

What do you mean?

Well, Wiluvien said, Lady Aura and Lord Mare come by at least once a week, dont they? They dont make a very big deal out of it. Half of the time, Lord Mare ends up curling up with a book in the hall and falls asleep.

That may be true, but you never know what will happen.

You packed your campaign tent, my lady.

I didnt pack it, the tent is always in there by default. Clara and the others always bring their essentials with them everywhere they go.

Their essentials are nothing like your essentials, my lady.

Ludmila gave the Half-Elf Maid a resentful look. It was said that a household took on the characteristics of their mistress, but she didnt think she was anywhere near so obstinate.

Did you remember to pack the gifts?

Yes. Is there any last-minute thing that needs to be done around the manor?

This is the fifth time youve asked that, my lady.

She sighed and looked out of her bedroom window. The sun was already peeking over the mountains across the river.

Then I suppose I should get going, Ludmila said. If anything comes up, have Nonna contact me via Message.

We will, my lady.

Wiluvien accompanied her out the door, seeing her off with a smile. Upon reaching the street outside of her manor, Ludmila turned on her heel and headed northward at a brisk pace.

Just a casual stroll to the realm of the gods

Was that correct? If she recalled correctly, the gods left their divine capital, Kami Miyako, in the Human realm. Clara had been there herself several times on pilgrimage and described it as a wondrous place. Unless it had wandered off somewhere without anyone noticing, it was still nestled in the heart of the Theocracys capital.

She picked up her pace once she went beyond the edge of the village, activating her flight item and propelling herself over the barren landscape. In the span of a few minutes, she reached the northern point of the future city and made her way along the strip of land dividing the lake and the river. It was supposed to function as a route north in the far future, but, for the time being, it served as part of the endurance course for Ranger training.

I wonder what time I would make nowadays

Jelena still had the best time out of all of the trainees, while Aeela was the slowest. At some point, she wanted to add checkpoints with archery components to add to the courses scoring system. A survival test was also in the works, but she was having a hard time figuring out a route that didnt disturb too many tribes. Maybe she could have them go back and forth between the Abelion Hills, instead.

She reached the ravine at the northern end of the lake, hopping her way up the steep slopes that Momon had once ascended with her in his arms. Her past self would have never imagined that she would be doing the same thing one day, nor much of anything else that had happened since she set off for E-Rantel with Darkness that day.

The ravine route joined with the newly rebuilt bridge and she followed the paved road north to Vlkchenheim County. She could almost hear half of the House of Lords complaining as she zipped by the rotting remains of farming villages abandoned generations ago. Fortunately, she had some staunch allies in the Royal Court who ensured that her territory would continue on its current course.

Before crossing over into Vlkchenheim County, Ludmila ascended to an altitude of a hundred metres. A part of her was tempted to stay at ground level so she could stop and speak with some of the villagers along the way, but she wasnt sure how they would react to her presence. Instead, she settled on scrutinising the land and its people from above, trying to discern how the land consolidation measures were coming along.

I pity the local magistrates when the harvest comes. Even the slightest discrepancies are going to raise all sorts of conflicts.

It was confusing to look down at as it was, with formerly separate strips of land now being worked as single tenancies. They could have just waited until the winter to redistribute the land, but everyone feared that Lady Albedo would try to push her Land Reorganisation Act through in the interim. Ludmila wasnt so sure that the Prime Minister would do such a thing, but, then again, she had never met the woman in person.

That is something else to look forward to during this visit. The entire Royal Court is supposed to be participating in this tournament.

It took nearly an hour to cross Vlkchenheim County relying solely on the power of her flight item, then another hour to cross over Jezne County. She cut across the countryside north of E-Rantel, staying far away from the restricted zone around Carne Village. From her vantage, however, she could see rows of barracks-like buildings outside of a sturdy-looking wall. It didnt look anything like the humble farming village that it was supposed to be.

At one point, she wanted to speak with the Bloody General who led the Goblin army stationed there, but access to the village was barred to nearly everyone. Lady Shalltear later told her that the Goblins armys Goblins werent regular Goblins, whatever that meant. She also mentioned that the Bloody General wasnt a professional officer and had no interest in serving in the Royal Army, so Ludmila had given up on the idea.

As she cut her way northeast over pastures dotted with cattle, her destination grew closer. She had already seen it many times from a distance while flying from place to place and one could even spot it from the heights of the mountains near her home. If she were to describe it, it was as if someone had cut off the top of a hill and exposed a pristine mausoleum inside. A log cabin incongruously sat outside at the foot of the hill and Ludmila alighted on the grass not far from its door.

Someone is supposed to meet me here, I think?

A moment later, the door to the cabin opened and a familiar Maid with golden hair and eyes emerged.

Miss Cixous, Ludmila smiled in greeting, its been a few days.

Baroness Zahradnik, the Maid lowered herself into a deep curtsey, this Cixous has the honour of staffing the surface entrance while the Pleiades are participating in the tournament.

You arent participating yourself?

Me? The Maid tittered, Perish the thought, my lady! We Homunculus Maids arent much stronger than the average Human.

Homunculus?

She wasnt sure what that was. Her Truesight didnt reveal anything strange about Miss Cixous, so she had always assumed that His Majestys regular household Maids were Humans. Then again, she hadnt ever seen a footman from His Majestys household staff, which was decidedly strange. Maybe everyone in Nazarick was some kind of Heteromorph who had served the Sorcerer King for untold Human generations.

You must want to spectate, at least, Ludmila said.

Ah, yes! Miss Cixous said, I cant wait to witness our older sisters gallantry! I was instructed to close things up here once you arrived, so Ill be going to the arena after getting some food from the cafeteria.

In that case, I shouldnt keep you waiting.

Thank you for your consideration, my lady. Welcome to the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Please, follow me.

Ludmila fell into step behind Miss Cixous and followed her into the cabin. The interior was sparse in its furnishings, with a single chair at a table by the buildings single window. Aside from that, there was a tall dresser placed against the back wall. The Maid pulled the doors open, revealing the swirling darkness within.

A Gate?

Yes, my lady, Miss Cixous nodded. Stepping through will bring you to the outside of Lady Shalltears personal chambers on the Second Floor.

Had she heard everything correctly? She was probably missing some crucial context, but she wasnt about to make Miss Cixous wait.

The darkness of the cabin was replaced by an even deeper darkness the moment she stepped through the portal. A Vampire Bride bowed low in greeting as she gained her bearings.

Welcome, Lady Zahradnik, she said. Weve been expecting you. Our mistress awaits you inside.

Ludmila started to follow the Vampire Bride, but then she stopped at the beginning of an extraordinarily dubious-looking rope bridge. Every second plank was missing and the ones that remained looked like they were on the verge of rotting apart. Below the bridge was a pit or moat containing some sort of abomination made up of a mass of limbs and pallid flesh.

The Vampire Bride stopped to look over her shoulder.

Is something the matter, my lady?

Is this a proper thoroughfare, Ludmila asked, or some sort of defensive structure?

It is intended to be the latter, the Vampire Bride answered. What do you think of it?

Most people that she knew would immediately seek another way across, if not give up entirely upon seeing what lurked below, but would beings capable of challenging Lady Shalltear care about such a paltry defence? They would probably just fly or jump over to the other side.

It feels like something is missing, Ludmila said

Ah, so you noticed? The Mercenaries who are supposed to be guarding the bridge are currently deactivated.

Mercenaries? Deactivated?I must be missing something

The Vampire Bride resumed walking. Ludmila carefully picked her way across the bridge, but the footing was more solid than expected. On the other side of the moat was a gatehouse door fashioned out of glossy black wood. Framing it was a wall of grey stone fashioned in a way reminiscent of a catacomb or sewer. A sweet fragrance drifted past her as the door creaked open and lurid red light leaked out into the surroundings. Ludmila brushed aside the chiffon veils hanging from the ceiling as she followed the Vampire Bride inside.

This greatly resembles Lady Shalltears court atop Corelyn Castle, Ludmila said.

We modelled it after the Adipocere Chamber, after all.

Ludmila eyed the pale walls of the corridor, wondering if it was truly constructed out of its namesake. She tentatively held her fingers out to touch a column along the way, then retracted them. It was probably better not to know.

The fragrance that you use here isnt quite the same as the other place, she noted.

Fragrance? Ah, this is actually a poisonous gas with several powerful debilitating effects. Its also a strong aphrodisiac. Unfortunately, we couldnt find any similar products in the markets. Maybe well have some luck in the future.

Lets hope not

Her friends all had items that conferred poison immunity, but one never knew what would happen in Lady Shalltears court. The Maids who waited on them in the antechambers werent protected from poison, either.

The corridor reached a junction of three enfilades obscured by the same sheer veils that were draped over the way in. Soft murmurs of women carried through the air from either side, punctuated by laughter, gasps, and the occasional drawn-out moan.

Ludmila kept her eyes on the details of the chamber, which was set up as a luxurious lounge. A few Vampire Brides were relaxing around the room, playing games, reading, or chatting with one another while sipping on crystal chalices filled with crimson liquid.

Do all of you reside here? Ludmila asked.

Technically, yes, the Vampire Bride guiding her replied. But most of us are currently posted at our stations around Nazarick and the Sorcerous Kingdom.

Would you like it if your personal facilities abroad looked more like this?

The Vampire Bride stopped and tilted her head in thought, then looked over at a group of her fellow handmaidens nearby.

Stolen novel; please report.

What do you think? She asked.

I think what we have around the Sorcerous Kingdom is sufficient, one of them said.

We spend our time off of work shopping, said another.

Or working in our new boutiques, another added.

I see, Ludmila said. Even so, let us know if theres anything you want. Everyones been working so hard for the Ministry of Transportation that it wouldnt be wrong to have something nice for yourselves.

They always insisted that they had everything that they needed, but it was clear that they each had desires of their own. She considered encouraging them to open the new boutiques a major victory, but that had just turned into another way to work.

How is Coven doing, anyway? Ludmila asked.

Coven was the name of the brand that Lady Shalltear and her handmaidens had started early in the summer. It was ostensibly a fashion line, but what Ludmila had seen of their products so far made her wonder if they would be able to sell anything at all. Never mind that, she didnt know how anyone could dare to be seen entering a shop with such a brazen display.

Business is steady.

R-Really? Ludmila frowned.

Only married women frequent the boutiques in Corelyn County, but were much more popular amongst the women of the city and the northern towns. Lady Shalltear referred the brothels to us, as well.

As soon as people get some discretionary income, they spend it on the most ridiculous things

Not that it was something she could cast stones about. Her best set of underwear was just as scandalous as those on Covens storefront displays and it was a part of her combat equipment, as well. Lady Shalltear insisted that it was battlefield equipment but Ludmila was certain that there was a translation error somewhere in her lieges statement.

Even when you come here for leisure, Lady Shalltears voice sounded from further inside the chamber, youre all business. You and Clara really are like peas in a pod.

She scanned the lounge, searching for her liege.

In here, Lady Shalltears voice came from the central enfilade.

Ludmila went over and poked her head into the next chamber. There, Lady Shalltear was wrapped in a towel, laying back on a long leather chair.

Good morning, Lady Shalltear, Ludmila lowered her head in a curtsey. If you dont mind my asking, what are those things covering your eyes?

Theyre cucumber slices.

and the, erm, mask on your face?

The pair of cucumber slices turned to look in her direction.

Cant you see that Im getting a facial? Lady Shalltears slender hand gestured loosely about the room, Im in a salon and everything.

Little about the room was familiar to her aside from the mirrors mounted on the walls. Ludmila walked out onto the polished floor, examining the various contraptions spread around the place.

Lady Shalltear, one of the Vampire Brides from the lounge said, weve discovered that beauty salons dont exist in the region as we know them.

They dont? Why didnt you say so earlier?! We need to add salons to our boutiques as soon as possible!

This one doesnt believe the technology exists to make this type of salon work here, Lady Shalltear, the Vampire Bride said.

Just make do with what we can figure out, Lady Shalltear said. Beauty is serious business!

The Vampire Brides in the lounge leapt out of their seats and started running about. A few of them came into the salon, taking notes of every detail.

With this, Lady Shalltear declared from her leather throne in a triumphant tone, our conquest of the world will begin!

Im not sure that something like this can conquer the world, my lady, Ludmila said.

Just you wait and see.

Ludmila stared at the perfectly manicured finger wagging at her. Did Vampires even need beauty treatments? Thanks to her nature as a Revenant, Ludmila didnt have to do anything to maintain her appearance, which of course drove all of her friends up a wall.

Why are you doing all of this, anyway? Ludmila asked, Dont you have a tournament match coming up?

Combat had a way of ruining any beauty treatments. Then again, what she saw before her may very well be magical in nature. After a moments thought, she decided that it was highly likely.

I need to look my best before Lord Ainz, Lady Shalltear told her. My upcoming match is against that gorilla. I shall deliver an absolute defeat!

She idly wondered if the Prime Minister was getting a manicure and facial, as well. The tournament was shaping up to be a multilayered competition.

Have you taken a look around, yet? Lady Shalltear asked, Im going to be stuck here for a few hours. Youshow her around.

Yes, Lady Shalltear.

The Vampire Bride led her back out of the Adipocere Chamber and over the bridge. They stopped near the spot where they had arrived, which looked suspiciously like an alcove in a catacomb.

What would you like to see first, my lady? The Vampire Bride asked.

Im not sure, Ludmila said. I believe I was teleported here. What does it look like outside?

outside?

The Vampire Bride blinked several times before stepping onto the teleportation spot. She gestured for Ludmila to join her. Once she did, the dark, cramped corridor was replaced by a chamber with daylight spilling in from one end. Ludmila stepped past an ornate sarcophagus to look outside, finding the pristine mausoleum grounds from before.

I meant Lady Shalltears territory, Ludmila said. As in outside of her home.

Yes, my lady, the Vampire Bride said. This is the outside of our home.

So she lives in the so-called Realms Below?

Lady Shalltear had mentioned that the surface complex was the entrance to her demesne, but provided few details beyond that.

If it is your desire, the Vampire Bride said, we can walk back to the Adipocere Chamber from here.

Id like that.

The Vampire Bride gestured back toward the building they had stepped out of. She spotted an ominous-looking stairwell past the sarcophagi inside.

Down here? Ludmila asked.

Yes, my lady, the Vampire Bride answered.

After two turns of the stairwell, the pristine stonework of the surface complex was replaced with the same catacomb theme that she saw outside of Lady Shalltears home. A long hall lined with stone caskets greeted her at the bottom of the stairs. Strangely, every figure carved upon them was Human in appearance.

As they proceeded further in, the corridor branched once, then twice. The clatter of skeletal feet sounded from a distance, growing louder until a patrol of Undead rounded the corner. Ludmila scrutinised their familiar armament, which was aglow in energies from every pole of the elemental axis.

These are Nazarick Old Guarders? She said as she pressed against the wall to let them pass.

Yes, there are several hundred patrolling this Floor. I believe most of the rest have been deployed to the Lizardman Alliance Village. There were other defenders, as well, including the Shadow Demons working for the Department of Transportation and Foreign Affairs.

It sounds like youve relocated much of your labour pool, Ludmila said. Has that affected your domestic industries in any way?

She wasnt sure if they had conventional territory, never mind domestic industries, but she didnt know how else to frame her queries.

A different group of denizens handles our domestic industries.

So they do have them

If it is allowed, Ludmila said, may I see some of them? Based on my discussions with Lady Shalltear since we met, it seems that how things work here are far different than in the world above.

Of course, my lady, the Vampire Bride said. This way, please.

The Vampire Bride led her through dozens of twists and turns. They eventually arrived at a small cemetery illuminated by the sickly green torches that the Adventurer Training Area often used in its crypt runs. Another Vampire Bride stood at the entrance with a wooden bucket and a knife.

More importantly, why is there a cemetery inside a catacomb?

Another thing was added to the rapidly growing doesnt make any sense pile.

This is one of the cemeteries, the Vampire Bride said. We harvest several crops here. Foremost among them is Grave Moss, which is collected once every twenty-four hours.

Thats some fast-growing moss, Ludmila eyed the grey-green patches clinging to each tombstone. Is there a specific name for this species?

Grave Moss.

just grave moss?

Yes, my lady.

Countless types of mosses could grow on tombstones any moss that could grow on stone, really so there had to be a proper name for it.

What is this grave moss for?

It is an alchemical reagent.

I see. So you create potions with it? Or maybe a salve

No. It is delivered directly to the Treasury, where it contributes to funding Nazaricks operations.

So the treasury organises its processing into alchemical goods.

No, my lady. The Grave Moss becomes funds. The Royal Treasurer personally sees to it funding Nazaricks operations.

Ludmila resisted the urge to scratch her head in confusion. One didnt simply send unprocessed goods to a treasury for conversion into funds. Maybe they just didnt know what happened to the goods. It would be in line with Lady Shalltears poor understanding of conventional industry.

What else does this cemetery produce? Ludmila asked.

Corpse Blossoms, Razor Grass, and Grave Dust. The Corpse Blossoms take the longest to harvest, needing a week to mature.

What do they go toward?

They are delivered to the Treasury, where they contribute to funding Nazaricks operations.

I dont suppose the Royal Treasurer sees to it personally

Yes, my lady. Our next industrial facility is nearby. This way, please.

As Ludmila followed the Vampire Bride to the next location, she pondered the enigmatic process that was claimed to fund their territorial actions. A thread of concern developed for her liege when it came to the fact that the Royal Treasurer seemingly produced funds out of thin air. That sort of behaviour tended to indicate an abuse of power, so it was possible that Lady Shalltear was being cheated in some way.

Their next stop was a spider web woven over a dark pit. Directly in the centre of the web was a black spider with red and purple mottling on its carapace. Its eight eyes shone in the dim lighting as it looked directly at them.

This is one of Grants lairs, the Vampire Brides voice echoed off of the far end of the chamber. She has one on each Floor of Lady Shalltears domain. As you can see, Grant is sitting in the middle of the web. Grant, this is Ludmila Zahradnik, the new Area Guardian who joined us last spring.

Grant raised a spindly leg and waved. Ludmila waved back.

Grant is the Area Guardian for all of her lairs, the Vampire Bride told her. Regrettably, we havent had any intruders worthy of her attention recently.

You mentioned that this was an industrial facility, as well?

Yes, one of the workers is descending the web over there.

Halfway to the centre of the web, another Vampire Bride was casually strolling on one of the strands of silk leading to Grant. As Ludmilas eyes followed her to see what she was doing, she gradually realised just how large Grant was. The Vampire Brides were roughly as tall as Liane or Florine, and it looked like the one below was the same size as one of Grants glistening mandibles.

Her body alone must be around twenty metres long

Each of Grants legs was twice the length of her body. Overall, she made the Cliff Tarantulas in the southern imperial frontier look like baby spiders in comparison.

Underneath the colossal spider, the Vampire Bride wrapped her arms around a silk cocoon nearly as large as she was and picked it up.

I suppose thats the product? Ludmila asked.

Yes, my lady.

Ive heard of fabrics woven out of spider silk in my reading. Is that what happens to it?

No. It is delivered directly to the Treasury, where it contributes to funding Nazaricks operations.

Right.

The Vampire Bride carrying the cocoon offered a greeting as she walked by them. Ludmila was tempted to follow her to see what happened to the silk.

By the time they returned to the Adipocere Chamber, she had taken a look at five more industrial facilities, all of which produced goods which the Royal Treasurer personally handled. She debated whether to broach the topic with Lady Shalltear as they walked into the chambers lounge again. She was snapped out of her thoughts as a Vampire Bride came out of the salon and clapped her hands.

Alright everyone, she called out, its time for the pre-match orgy!

The what?! Ludmila nearly shouted.

What better way to motivate our Mistress? The Vampire Bride told her, Ah, Lady Zahradnik, you can wait for us in Lady Shalltears chambers while we bring in the equipment. Its at the end of the way behind me.

Her surroundings came alive with activity as the Vampire Brides excitedly went about making their preparations. With a long sigh, Ludmila walked out of the lounge and through the salon, wondering what sort of insanity she had just been wrangled into.

After going through several more chambers, she ended up in a girlish bedroom with a large, canopied bed. A table had been set for tea to the side and a Lady Shalltear-sized desk was placed against the wall on one side of the bed. Several cabinets and dressers lined the rest of the room.

This is far more modest than I expected. Its about the size of Claras old room. No, wait, this isnt the time to be thinking about that.

Ludmila paced back and forth around the room, restlessly scanning her surroundings. Lady Shalltear had suggested that they have a few Vampire Brides join them in bed on several occasions, but Ludmila had always politely refused. Now, it seemed that she was about to be buried in them.

As she continued pacing, she noticed one of the dressers had opened a crack. She idly reached out to shut it as she passed, and then a thump spun her around. It looked like the dresser door had bounced open from her attempt to close it. On the ground was a dark shroud draped over what could only be a body. A pair of strangely familiar legs stuck out of the bottom.

Ludmila, Lady Shalltears silvery voice chimed from the bedroom door, are you read

The shrouded corpse vanished from the floor. A violent wham sounded from the dresser beside her. Ludmila stared at Lady Shalltear.

Lady Shalltear.

Y-Yes?

That was my corpse, wasnt it?

Lady Shalltear fell silent, her crimson gaze wandering around the room. The problematic door swung open again, and the body inside fell out, rolling once over the carpet. The action unravelled the shroud. Ludmila stared at the corpse, finding her own face staring back at her.

I was right, she said. I really cant trust you with my body.

What! Lady Shalltear protested, Im taking good care of it! I always put it in a Shroud of Sleep when it isnt being used and I always make sure to clean it up after I use it!

and were you going to use it this time around, as well?

Maybe

Tears welled up in Ludmilas eyes. This was too much. The prospect of being involved in an orgy with dozens of Vampire Brides was daunting enough, never mind being involved in an orgy with her own corpse.

Ludmila sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand before heading for the door.

Im going home, she said.