“Ah, do not take it to heart. I am not blaming you. It is only natural for the strong to dominate the weak. I have done it myself and I do not consider myself an exception from this rule. It was precisely because there might be someone stronger than me that I was on guard… Now then, the time for idle banter is over. In accordance with the principle of the strong feeding upon the weak, I shall claim one thing from you.”
“No, actually, there’s a—”
“Silence!” Ainz declared in a voice which allowed no interruption. “Do not upset me with your lies! Now then, you shall pay for your foolish mistake with your life.”
“What if we had permission?”
Ainz froze. Apparently, that had gotten through to him.
Hekkeran was surprised that a single sentence could have had such a great effect, but of course he did not let it show on his face. Just when all seemed lost, a ray of hope had shone through the darkness. Clearly, he had to seize it.
“…Nonsense.”
It was a still, small voice, almost on the verge of fading away.
“Utter nonsense, it’s nothing but a bluff. What do you gain from angering me?”
His unease was spreading, and even the dark elf boy beside him was starting to look uncomfortable. When he turned to look at the last person, goosebumps broke out all over Hekkeran’s body.
The beauty behind them was still smiling. But she radiated a murderous intent that beaded Hekkeran’s brow with sweat.
“And what if it was true?”
“…No… no… it’s impossible. Absolutely impossible. You should all be offerings dancing in the palm of my hand…”
Ainz shook his head and fixed Hekkeran with a gaze that seemed to bore right through him.
“But… however… I… yes, that’s right, just in case, I will hear you out… who gave you this permission?”
“Don’t you know him?”
“Him…?”
“He didn’t leave his name, but he was a pretty big monster.”
Hekkeran desperately thought on where the safety lines to evade danger were hiding.
It was a question that only a person paralyzed by indecision would ask, because only by asking could a person know what was true or false.