Grand Foreigner (Chapters 201+)

As Ozymandias' barque had arrived closer to the City, Ainz and the Servants could not only notice some details about the city, but also see the facial expressions of the people standing on its walls. Guards most likely.

Contrary to Ainz's assumption, who had expected to see Ozymandias just blasting the defenses, as he flew over the walls, probably while declaring that no one could bar a Pharaoh's way. The barque suddenly slowed down before coming to a halt just outside the city walls. The lack of the outbreak of violence, allowed Ainz to get a closer look at the people standing on the walls and at the walls themselves.

It wasn't that Ainz was well versed in architecture, nor could he tell anything about the walls other than that they looked sturdy. No, his attention was instead taken in by the strange structures placed at regular intervals all along the walls, they looked like obelisks? So maybe they serve some kind of religious significance... But Ainz couldn't shake the feeling that they looked like cannons for some reason, probably from the period movie he had watched in the past, the obelisks were placed in positions similar to cannons.

There were a fair number of out of place technological devices in YGGDRASIL, some easily fit the magical setting like golems, but some are just the Developers' badly hidden hobbies like automatons or Mechanized Armor. But, even the most egregious of them were techno-magical inventions built through magic and enchanted artifacts, so at least his sense of incredulity was sated somewhat, no matter if these details matched the world around him or not.

So, the possibility that the Obelisks were actually cannons... The possibility did exist, and he prepared some defensive spells just in case.

But the fact that Ainz might encounter something like this in the new world, Ainz had never even considered. Despite the fact that he had been to Okeanos and even London, it was too strange for him to think about artillery when being surrounded by the ancient world around him.

Magic, he could just blame magic, that seemed to be a safe avenue to take.

In any case, Ainz couldn't ponder the subject for too long, as a confrontation seems to be already brewing. Even if, contrary to his expectations, Ozymandias hadn't just barged in on the guarded city, the look on the people of the wall did not bode well for a peaceful resolution.

The confused looks the men below gave the flying barque only intensified before turning to surprise, when Ozymandias rose from his seat, and strolled to the bow of the barque, allowing the men below to see him. At least 'surprised' is a much better expression?

"To think that the unheard-of impudent has dared to become the last king of this doomed world! Rejoice, for you are fortunate to have a monarch as capable as he, and only a little less fortunate than if I were your monarch! But that is neither here nor there. Indeed, tell your king that he has been honored by the presence of Ozymandias the Great himself!" Ozymandias' voice was not only loud, but almost joyous, at least, the most joyous Ainz had ever heard him speak to the guards on the parapet.

"May your king raise a feast in honor of the Pharaoh's arrival!"

It still sounds nonsensical, though, is Ozymandias praising the king ruling over this city or is he praising himself? Ainz wasn't completely sure.

But, it seems that Ozymandias' boisterous boasting was not only heard by the people on the walls.

"Hmmph, such insolence, as one would expect from you, to not greet the Pharaoh..." Ozymandias sounded annoyed, clearly offended that his surprise visit was not entertained by parades, or the king.

And yet, is Ainz mistaken or could he really hear joy in his voice?

"'Almost as lucky as if you were my subjects'. I think that's the closest thing Ozymandias could ever come to a sincere compliment in his life." Jacques' snide remark was ignored by Ozymandias, entirely, but Ainz had to agree with her observation, though the fact that Ozymandias could entertain jokes now was a good sign.