Chapter 556: Bone King: Let

When Lachesis roared out those words, several guardians beside Old Bone instantly appeared beside the members of the Crimson Rose.

Shatia had already reached out to grip Lachesis’s throat, but Old Bone suddenly raised his hand to stop her.

The Old Bone, who had been seated on the throne, now stood up and, accompanied by Ainz, slowly walked to Lachesis’s side.

Shatia immediately stepped aside and moved behind Old Bone, while Old Bone, his eyes glowing red, spoke to Lachesis: “Do you think we are wrong?

Just as humans slaughter monsters and raise livestock to kill and eat them, why don’t you see your own actions as trampling life?”

In response to Old Bone’s counterquestion, Lachesis argued firmly: “Human lives cannot be compared to cows, sheep, pigs, or dogs…”

But before she could finish, Old Bone rudely cut her off with a gesture: “Yet to us, humans are no different from pigs and dogs in your eyes.

If it were you, would you ignore the maggots crawling on your food?”

Faced with Old Bone’s counterquestion, Lachesis froze in place.

Yes—she had overlooked something vital: the being before her, though intelligent and capable of speech, was an undead!

Yet even so, Lachesis could not tolerate the actions of Ainz Ooal Gown.

Lachesis was no fool; she knew Ainz Ooal Gown had shown them those things solely to provoke them.

She also understood that, like Gilgamesh, enduring humiliation was the wisest course at this stage.

She had never met the Empire’s workers, and from the footage shown, it was clear these so-called “workers” were not all good people.

The “Dragon Hunters,” who abused their age and used others as bait and test subjects.

The “Heavy Crusher,” who put on airs but was deeply greedy.

The “Heavenly Martial,” who looked down on others and abused and enslaved elves.

In short, the Empire’s senior workers were all scum.

But when she saw the bond among the Four Strategists, Lachesis finally broke.

“Ainz Ooal Gown, though I have no rebuttal to your words just now,

as a human, I still cannot accept your actions. But what I just said was my personal opinion, unrelated to the others.

So if you wish to strike, I will fight—but do not punish the others.”

Lachesis knew well that, given these monsters’ nature, her words had already placed her on their death list.

And their power was far beyond what she could resist.

The consequences of her words must be borne by her alone—she did not want the others of the Crimson Rose to die here, so she took full responsibility.

But before Old Bone could respond, the others of the Crimson Rose erupted.

Tia and Tina drew their weapons at once, assuming battle stances: “If our leader is the Head of the Skull, then your words represent our entire team.”

Gerglan also lifted her great hammer and laughed loudly: “Tia and Tia are right. Even if Lachesis hadn’t spoken, I was about to lose my temper.”

Ibiruai: “I told you before—following you always leads to trouble. Turns out today we’re actually going to die because of you.”

Watching the stance of the other Crimson Rose members, Lachesis was deeply moved, and clenched both her magic swords.

Now she understood why witnessing the fate of the Four Strategists had shattered her composure.

It was because, like that girl named Alshe, she too had companions she could entrust her life to.

Seeing the Crimson Rose standing before him with unwavering resolve, Old Bone now felt conflicted.

To be honest, he staged this performance partly to demonstrate the power of Nazarick as a warning to others.

And partly to pressure the Bahas Empire into recognizing his magic nation and demanding territorial concessions and reparations.

If they refused, he would use it as an excuse to launch war against the Bahas Empire.

But Old Bone had not expected that Gilgamesh, the Emperor of the Empire, would endure such humiliation—while it was Lachesis, a kingdom adventurer, who broke.

If they didn’t kill the Crimson Rose, they couldn’t establish authority.

But if they truly killed Lachesis and her team, it would be a declaration of war against the kingdom—and a complete rupture.

Old Bone was troubled—events had slipped beyond his control.

Yet as someone accustomed to patching up the delusional guardians, this unexpected turn didn’t stump him.

After a moment’s thought, Old Bone halted the guardians preparing to strike and said: “So this is what they call companionship?

Once, I too had companions I could entrust my life to—and who were worthy of trust.

You are Lachesis Elbein Dru Aindora, correct? For the sake of our shared bond with outstanding companions, I will give you a chance.”

“Yuri Alpha.” Old Bone called to Yuri beside him.

“My Lord Ainz.” Yuri knelt on one knee, awaiting orders.

“If you trust your companions, then surely they trust you just as deeply?

Then let us make a wager: if you can survive—no, if you can hold out for thirty minutes without losing against Yuri,

I will forgive your disrespectful words, and as a reward, I will revive the Four Strategists you just saw and let you take them away.”

“But… if you lose, not only you, but all your companions will experience the true despair of Nazarick.

Believe me, that utter despair is the true abyss—far deeper than what you just witnessed.

Well? Do you have the courage to accept my wager?

And if you refuse, I can, in rare mercy, grant only you death—though I wonder if your companions will be willing to die for you?”

What had seemed a certain death sentence now offered a sliver of hope—whether these monsters wanted to toy with her or for some other reason, it was far better than her original expectation.

Yet when she thought of how Ibiruai and the others would die with her if she lost, Lachesis loosened her grip on her magic swords and prepared to surrender—when Ibiruai and the others behind her interrupted her.

“Lachesis, if you dare say surrender, we will never forgive you!”

(End of Chapter)