Higashino Makoto looked down at her, having some understanding of this "Certain Death".
In the novel.
If it were her, choosing to accompany someone who wanted to kill the Elf King would be quite reasonable.
But Higashino Makoto still wore a very subtle expression and reached out to pat her head.
"It's not good for girls to be fighting."
That's enough.
Certain Death reached out and slapped Higashino Makoto's hand away, his tone carrying a hint of danger.
"Watch your hands if you do that again."
Higashino Makoto remained calm, glancing at his hand that had been slapped, without any remorse.
"That's quite strong; it shouldn't be a burden. Killing Elf King is a very dangerous thing for ordinary people."
Certain Death stared at him for a long time.
"Then why did you still go?"
"Because I want to go."
Higashino Makoto's lips curled up slightly.
"Furthermore, Momon also wants to see what the Elf Kingdom looks like."
Certain Death turned to look at Ainz. Ainz didn't speak, but simply nodded slightly.
She then looked at Kurumi.
Kurumi tilted her head, her right eye curving into a crescent moon, revealing a harmless smile.
She looked at Narberal.
Narberal remained expressionless, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword, her gaze indifferent.
Finally, she looked at the black cat.
The black cat "Zafkiel" crouched beside Kurumi's feet, its golden eyes meeting hers, its tail swaying gently.
"... and a cat."
The phrase "Certain Death" is used to describe a desperate, life-or-death situation.
Its name is Zafkiel.
Kurumi introduced herself with a smile.
"It's our team's mascot."
Certain Death was silent for a moment, then turned around and walked towards the door.
"Let's go. Let's leave early and come back early. Divine Capital that makes really good egg pancakes, I don't want to miss it."
Thousand Miles Astrologer watched her retreating figure and sighed softly.
Then she turned to Higashino Makoto and bowed slightly.
"Mr. Higashino, I'm entrusting this one to you... please take care of him."
What's her name?
Thousand Miles Astrologer hesitated for a moment.
"... You can just call her 'Certain Death.' Her real name... is inconvenient to say."
Higashino Makoto did not press further.
"Good."
He turned and walked towards the door.
Ainz followed behind him, Kurumi lifted her skirt and caught up, and Narberal walked silently at the back.
The black cat "Zafkiel" trotted to catch up with Kurumi, nimbly leaped onto her shoulder, and squatted there, its tail swaying gently.
The five people and one cat left the hotel and stepped onto the streets of the Divine Capital.
The morning sunlight shone on them, casting long, long shadows.
The temple spires in the distance shimmered with golden light in the sunlight, and the tolling of bells echoed in the air, beckoning believers to go and pray.
Certain Death walked at the very front, his steps light and firm, his silver-white armor gleaming coldly in the morning light.
Long, black and white hair fell from the edge of her shoulder armor, swaying gently in the morning breeze, as she held a freshly baked egg pancake in her hand.
Higashino Makoto walked behind her, watching her back.
"Certain Death."
"Um?"
"You like egg pancakes from the Divine Capital?"
Certain Death stopped in his tracks, turned around, and looked at him with heterochromatic black and white eyes.
"Yes. Especially Aunt Nazel's cooking, it's delicious."
"You'll treat us when we get back."
Certain Death was stunned for a moment.
Why should I treat?
"Because you are from the Slane Theocracy, and we are guests. Guests should not host."
Certain Death stared at him for two seconds.
"... You're such an annoying person."
"I know."
Certain Death snorted, turned around, and continued walking forward.
But after taking a few steps, she stopped, without turning around, and simply said something softly.
"... if that shop is still open."
Higashino Makoto's lips curled up slightly as he followed.
The carriage was waiting at the city gate.
An ordinary horse-drawn carriage without any markings.
It wasn't from the official Slane Theocracy; Kurumi rented it from a car dealership near the slave market.
The carriage wasn't large, but it was big enough to accommodate five people and a cat.
Certain Death was the first to jump onto the carriage, moving as nimbly as a cat.
She took off her helmet and placed it on her knees, her long, black and white hair falling from her shoulders and covering her ears.
He recalled the information he had received in his previous life—
Certain Death is a half- Elf Kingdom, with the pointed ears of the Elf Kingdom.
She didn't want others to see her, so she covered it with her long hair.
She didn't sit inside the carriage, but rather next to the driver, her legs dangling over the edge and swinging gently.
I don't like being in enclosed spaces.
She said she didn't look at anyone.
Higashino Makoto did not force him.
He sat down in the carriage, leaned back in the soft seat, and closed his eyes. Ainz sat opposite him, his crimson eyes gleaming through the gaps in his helmet.
Kurumi sat next to Higashino Makoto, holding a book in her hands.
It's the same book from last night; I think I'm almost finished reading it.
Narberal sat beside Ainz, her hand on the hilt of her sword, her gaze warily sweeping across every corner of the carriage.
The carriage started moving.
The sound of wheels rolling over the gravel road echoed in the morning breeze.
The carriage was quiet.
It was so quiet that you could hear the faint humming of Certain Death outside the car.
"Higashino."
Suddenly, Ainz heard a voice in his ear; it was a communication spell.
It seems they don't want Certain Death to know what's coming next.
"Um?"
"That girl... judging from her actions just now, she's probably a pretty strong warrior."
Higashino Makoto opened his eyes and looked at Ainz.
"Around level 80, probably the Slane Theocracy's ace. In this world, aside from the True Dragon Lords and you and your Nazarick, you have virtually no rivals."
Ainz was silent for a moment.
"She doesn't seem to be human... Doesn't the Slane Theocracy reject all races other than humans?"
"She is not."
Higashino Makoto's voice was calm.
She's actually Cardinal, but she looks very young.
Ainz's red eyes flickered slightly.
"The lifespan of a half- Elf Kingdom..."
"Yes. Elf Kingdom can live for a thousand years, and half- Elf Kingdom can live for a very long time too. She looks fifteen, but she may have already lived for over a hundred years."
"What's wrong? Black and white-haired half -Elf Kingdom are indeed rare. Are you having a collector's spree?"
Ainz remained silent.
To be honest, there is a little bit.
He has a desire to collect anything interesting or rare he comes across, such as a certain white Lizardman.
The carriage continued on its way, the rhythmic sound of its wheels rolling over the road echoing through the carriage.
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes, and the face of Certain Death appeared in his mind.
"Certain Death."
Higashino Makoto uttered the name softly, his tone carrying a complex emotion that even he himself was unaware of.
Outside the carriage, Certain Death stopped humming.
She turned her head and glanced at Higashino Makoto through the gap in the carriage curtains.
A glint flashed in those heterochromatic black and white eyes—
Then she turned her head and looked into the distance again.
On the distant horizon, the Great Forest of Evasha appears and disappears in the distance.
That was a land that had been ravaged by war for over a hundred years, and it was also where her father lived.
The man who raped her mother.
The man who led to her birth.
The man she had never met, yet hated her for her entire life.
Certain Death's fingers tapped lightly on his knee.
"Father..."
She uttered the word softly, a mocking smile playing on her lips.
Then she closed her eyes, leaned against the edge of the car, and stopped talking.
The wind blew across the open field, swirling up a few withered yellow blades of grass.
The carriage continued onward, towards the forest, towards the man, towards the end of over a century of hatred.
Inside the train carriage, Higashino Makoto opened his eyes and looked at Certain Death figure through the gap in the curtains.
A strange light flashed in his black eyes.
Kurumi.
"Exist."
"Once we reach the Elf Kingdom, keep a close eye on that woman; don't let her commit too much pointless killing."
Higashino Makoto's voice rang in Kurumi's ear, and only she could hear it.
"I definitely prefer a thriving Garden to a ruin."
Kurumi looked at Higashino Makoto for two seconds, then nodded.
"Understood."
Higashino Makoto closed his eyes again and leaned back in the soft chair.
The carriage continued its journey.
Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the curtains, falling on his face and making his dark eyes appear like burning flames.
We are very close to the battlefield between the two countries.