Overlord Manga Chapter 73

This is the seventy-third chapter of the Overlord Manga.
==Summary==
At the north end of the Katze Plains, the forces of Marquis Boullope stand at the ready, along with the rest of the assembled Royal Army.
At the royal army camp, where several generals and retainers, along with Brain Unglaus and Climb, witness King Ramposa III holding court. He addresses everyone that though the ultimatums have passed between the nations, its odd as the Baharuth Empire's Imperial Army have yet to make a move. Count Lytton ponders perhaps the imperials are hesitating as their army is only 60,000 strong whilst the Re-Estize Kingdom forces are over 240,000. It could also be that they do not want to waste their manpower, given all their army is made up of professional knights rather than conscripts.
Elsewhere, Gazef Stronoff is seen observing the Imperial Castrum. He is joined by Marquis Raeven who shares his worries on the imperials lack of movement, as usually they would move out immediately after the outbreak of war. Gazef feels its as if that the imperials are waiting for the Kingdom to make the first move. He asks the noble on his thoughts, which Raeven confesses he does not as he is not a military man, leaving that to his subordinates.
This comes as a surprise to Gazef from the learned marquis to know nothing of the enemy. The response by the Warrior Captain is mused by the noble of how he doesn't mince words and takes no offense. Gazef asks if those who handles his military affairs are the former adventurers he hired. But Raeven states that its actually a commoner in his territory who has impressive skills as a strategist, never having been defeated. The way the marquis speaks of the man, Gazef wishes that the Royal Army could be placed under the subordinate's command. But Raeven tells the Warrior Captain that he knows that would be impossible as the nobles would never allow it especially when they are divided into factions.
The two then notice that several columns of soldiers are changing position. Raeven tells his companion that its just a reorganization of the formation, and by the looks of it by Marquis Boullope intends to move
to the front. Raeven surmises that Boullope wants is getting impatient and wants to use his elite troops to distinguish himself in combat against the imperial knights. That way he will make himself as the lord of the strongest unit in the Kingdom.
Gazef doesn't mind the marquis in getting the glory, as his Warrior Troop's duty is to guard the king and move as his direct command. And that there is no greater duty. Marquis Raeven notes the equipment in the Warrior Captain's possession, one being the sword Razor Edge. He muses that all four treasure of the Kingdom were given to Gazef, though jokes that its actually five if they count Gazef himself.
The compliment causes Gazef to blush, claiming that the king is greater man than him, as he entrusted these treasure to him, a commoner despite knowing the reaction. Marquis Raeven confesses that he thought it was foolish to do at the time as he believed it would drive away members of the Royalty Faction. But now thinks that it was a good decision by the king.
Gazef only hopes he can live up to those expectations. In his mind he knows that he can handle the imperial knights, and even can maybe defeat Fluder Paradyne when equipped with the Four Treasures. But
against Ainz Ooal Gown he feels the sensation that he has no chance of winning at all.
Marquis Raeven promises when the battle is over, he will petition to the king to make Gazef a noble as it angers him that the king's champion is unable to engage with the nobles as much as he should on equal footing.
The noble expresses that the kings trusts Gazef, and so he trusts him too. He muses that the king was naturally wary of Ainz Ooal Gown and that is the reason as to why he sent Crown Prince Barbro to Carne Village so as to protect him somewhere safe. Marquis Raeven states that the old him would have been upset for the king in giving his son a way out of the war, though now as he is a father, he understands the king's reason.
In the distance towards the Imperial Castrum, where the Imperial Army is waiting, the two spot that gates are opening revealing a troop of armored warriors armed with tower shields and warriors riding skeletal monsters, flying the flag of Ainz Ooal Gown. Gazef and Raeven are shocked at the sight, stunned that the Empire has incorporated monsters into their ranks. However Gazef cannot believe that this
is not the Empire's doing, but he suspects he knows who is responsible. They are interrupted by one of Marquis's Raeven's subordinates who asks his employer if he feels the foreboding sense of dread. The noble
demands to the man to tell him what he knows about the monsters emerging from the fortress. The adventurer reports that he believes that the identity of some of the monsters to be Soul Eaters, legendary
undead who eat souls an laid waste to a city of the Beastman Country inflicting 100,000 casualties. However that was with only three Soul Eaters, and according to the stories they destroyed 95% of the demi-human in the city leaving behind the legend of the Silent City.
The men are left to gap in horror as the army possess a five hundred Soul Eaters. From this Gazef can say with certainty that this is beyond the power of the Empire and even Fluder. There is only one person who has this capability he can think of: Ainz Ooal Gown.
On the other side of the battlefield, the said magic caster, his face covered by the Mask of Envy is flanked by Nimble Arc Dale Anoch and Mare Bello Fiore. The trio spot the infamous magic caster from the distance. The adventurer is in disbelief of the power that the magic caster has and asks the marquis exactly what are they facing. The noble does not answer, but instead turns to the Warrior Captain and asks what should they do?
Gazef states that they should retreat. But as he makes his suggestion, Ainz Ooal Gown begins casting a spell, that creates a dazzling light show that catches the attention of not just Gazef, Raeven and the adventurer, but the rest of the Royal Army. Marquis Raeven states that he will be returning to regroup with his unit without delay. He admits that Ainz's power is unmeasurable and it was a mistake to provoke him. Right now all they can do is minimize the casualties and head back to E-Rantel. He asks Gazef to protect the king and escape as quickly as possible. Both men then wish each other luck as they separate, 
Ainz who is watching the Royal Army from his side, muses that there is no one there. He is of course talking about other players being in the Kingdom. Since casted a Super-Tier magic spell, a player would have recognized its dangers and tried to intervene, but since none showed up it proves that there are none in the vicinity. This means that he no longer has to act as bait, as he holds a hourglass, but is frustrated in that he still has not found who brainwashed Shalltear Bloodfallen with a World Item. 
While he contemplates, he wonders how his Super-Tier Magic will affect the Royal Army. Though he understands many will die, he feels no pity as the humans are insignificant to him. Instead he wants to see what his actions will result in, and break the hourglass, activating his spell of [Iä Shub-Niggurath]. 
A wave of magic passes over a portion of the army, where Marquis Boullope is seen busy giving orders, but he and thousands of other humans soldiers all collapse. Marquis Raeven who witnesses the scene is stunned to see that 70,000 soldiers lay dead on the plains. 
==Major Events==
* The Royal Army waits as the Imperial Army has yet to make a move.
* Elias Brandt Dale Raeven and Gazef Stronoff have a conversation about their loyalties and trust in the king.
* Marquis Boullope leads his forces to the frontline to gain more prestige.
* The Imperial Castrum opens revealing an army of Death Knights and Soul Eaters.
* Boris Axelson informs the marquis and Warrior Captain on the identity of the Soul Eater. Hearing the fearsome reputation of the undead and the they are facing both men agree to plan a retreat.
* Ainz Ooal Gown finding no players hiding in the Re-Estize Kingdom and no clues to brainwashed Shalltear Bloodfallen then activates a Super-Tier spell.
* His spell kills 70,000 members of the Royal Army.
==Character Appearance==
===In Order of Appearance===
* Marquis Boullope
* Ramposa III
* Climb
* Brain Unglaus
* Count Lytton
* Gazef Stronoff
* Elias Brandt Dale Raeven
*Marquis Raeven's Strategist (Mentioned)
*Fluder Paradyne (Mentioned)
* Ainz Ooal Gown
* Barbro Andrean Ield Ryle Vaiself (Cameo)
* Boris Axelson
* Mare Bello Fiore
* Nimble Arc Dale Anoch
*Shalltear Bloodfallen (Mentioned)
==Abilities Used==
* Iä Shub-Niggurath
==Known Locations==
* Katze Plains
**Imperial Castrum
==Chapter Notes==
*This chapter first appears in Monthly Comp Ace October 2022 Issue.
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