The Vagrant Scholar

by Grogery

A stranger has invaded Nazarick, he said he's a scholar, but to Guardians, he is an invader. But to Ainz, he's a mystery that he wants to figure out and hopefully, find answers about the New World. (AU)

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Part 1

The weather was fair and clear today, as the blue sky looked over the fortress city of E-Rantel. Behind its mighty walls were the sounds of bustling activity. The main street with its markets, once filled with only Humans, now occupied with Humans and Demi-human traders, sellers and buyers. While the people went about their businesses, undead warriors walked and patrolled the streets. They ensured security and order of the city were maintained. The Adventurer's Guild was just as active as ever, its fighters and magic casters passed in and out. It was quite the transition for them all, from hired mercenaries to scouts. Fortunately, their livelihoods remained relatively the same, despite the major changes. They still worked to make the lands safe from hostile monsters, but now their new mission was to map the unknown parts of the New World. Only in hushed whispers is it said, but rumor has it that the Sorcerer King, Ainz Ooal Gown, sought to conquer more lands…

Outside the city a lone figure stood atop a hill beneath the shade of a tree. The figure looked upon the city in silent observation. While the wind bellowed and rustled their clothing, the figure stretched their arms out, cracked their neck, and then descended the hill. They made their way to the main gates of the city, where they passed through unhindered by the guards. The stranger from the hill moved through the crowds of humans and nonhumans while he took in the sights and sounds around him.

But what gave him pause was the clear sign of undead skeletons and zombies in the streets.

'By the gods! What's the meaning of this?' the hooded man reached for his weapon, a red baton held behind his back, above his tibia. His hand stopped when he looked around, and noticed the drastic low panic level among the citizens. No one seemed particularly bothered by the face that a reanimated corpse patrolled their streets. Where these undead invisible? No, he would have noticed something different still. His talent gave him a view of things most people couldn't see, however, the undead lacked a needed aspect for his talent to see them.

'It has been awhile since I came to civilization… something has definitely happened here. Well then, time to gather information about it. I doubt I could ask the undead. Dead men tell no tales, no? Hoho!'

The best hub of information in any city was the Adventurer's Guild. Careful not to trip or be knocked aside by the hurried men and women around him, Lexicon arrived at the entrance to the Guild. As he approached the front desk, he noticed what appeared to be a half-elf woman sitting behind the counter. 'How rare!' thought The Stranger. The receptionist smiled at him her face perked up with light and warmth. Turning from the stack of papers she once was tending to, the half-elf addressed the stranger,

"Welcome, good sir! How may I help you today?"

"Ah, thank you. I was curious on what is happening here. The guild is quite active today. Not to mention, there is a whole manner of new people coming and going through E-Rantel."

The woman cocked her head to the side.

"What do you mean, if I may ask?"

"Well, I mean no offense, but I have never seen a non-human walk through these streets before, unless by some circumstance or two..."

The woman looked a little worried from what he said. The Stranger caught her expression and was quick to disarm the tension.

"Oh, dear! Please, forgive any misconceptions on my part. I have no problem with it at all. You see, I've been out of these lands for a long time. I may have missed some events that have no doubt transpired. Again, I apologize for that."

The Half-Elf sighed in relief and nodded at the stranger. She spoke again, "Ah, good, good! I'm glad that was simply some confusion. I accept your apology, good sir. Perhaps I can help fill the gaps? You are correct on one thing: you may have missed some important events, but there is a good chance said events are just the beginning! The Sorcerer King has great plans in store, I hear."

"Sorcerer King, eh?"

The Stranger leaned in on the Half-Elf, causing her to blush. Whatever she saw under the stranger's hood appeared quite impressive, for her ears started to flick up in response.

"Please, then, tell me more of this Sorcerer King. I am quite intrigued!"

While Lexicon spoke with the Half-Elf clerk, a short, blonde woman walked up behind the curious man. Her voice was soft, but confident in her response.

"Excuse me, but did you wanted to learn more about Lord Gown?"

Lexicon stopped his talk with the clerk and turned his head over his shoulder. Behind him was the woman, and a pretty one at that. He gave her a smile and turned all the way to face her.

"Why, yes indeed! You don't happen to know anything about this Ainz Ooal Gown, do you?"

"Yes, in fact! I've met him before some months ago, before he became a ruler."

"Interesting!" the hooded man exclaimed, his excitement clear as the day outside, "I would be very appreciative to you if you brought me to him. Would you be willing, Ms…?"

"I'm Enri Emmot! Enri for short. What's your name?"

The hooded stranger stepped back and gave her a gentleman's bow, hand over chest, and an arm extend out to the side, "Greetings, Enri Emmot! I am Lexicon, vagrant scholar, and it is a pleasure to meet you."

Enri smiled and remained polite, "The pleasure is mutual, Mr. Scholar. I have a wagon that can take us to Carne Village. Follow me, if you please."

Lexicon did just that and followed Enri outside and to the front of the fortress gates. When they left the city her wagon and horse awaited them both where Enri had parked it outside the gates. Enri stepped up onto the driver's seat and moved over for Lexicon to sit next to her. "Come sit. I don't mind sharing the front seat. Plus, it's a beautiful day today!"

"I agree wholesomely, fair Enri! I thank you and accept your offer." Lexicon stepped up to the seat and sat alongside Enri. With a whip of the reins she compelled her horse to pull the carriage towards their destination.

"It'll be two days or more before we arrive at my home village, but I always keep supplies and rations between trips. In the meantime, maybe you can tell me about yourself? I've never seen you before in E-Rantel."

"Ah, it's not surprise, really. I've wandered the known parts of the lands for years. You may have seen me once, but didn't recognize me then. I've been further out from the known parts for some time, too, so I know for sure I've missed a bit. There was a distinct lack of living guardsmen in the city, for one. Do they remain "civil" at least?"

"Oh, yes! The undead skeletons that keep our city safe remain in control of Lord Gown, he's the one who brought them. Only Lord Gown could bring about that many! He's really kind despite his appearance, though, so I think you'll be okay."

'A necromancer… a powerful one, too. Best be careful. Thought it seems out of character for a necromancer to replace living guards with undead guards, and yet keep the status quo in-tact. Could he be a part of that necromancer cult? No, perhaps not, since the city's population was still among the living… sort of. This 'Lord Gown' definitely knows his stuff, but dark magic and infrastructure. Must have been a politician, or a military general in a past life? Still, better not make too many assumptions. I better be sure I'm not meeting someone else, and ask Enri here.'

Lexicon asked Enri, "Say, Enri, how can one meet this Ainz Ooal Gown person? He sounds very important, and I'm but a wandering scholar. Is there someone I could speak with to gain an audience with him?"

"I think so. There is a woman named Lupusreginia who works directly under Lord Gown. She lives in the village with us most of the time until Lord Gown calls her back. I can see if she'll talk to you, and maybe get you an audience."

"That would be most generous of you, Enri. This Lupusregina you speak of sounds nice, almost as nice as you."

"Oh, why thank you, Mr. Scholar!"

"No need for honorifics now, Enri. Call me Lexicon. Oh, but let me answer your first question before we got off track." He cleared his throat and spoke, "Well, you know my name, but I've yet to explain how I became a scholar. You see, it all began when I journeyed to a mountain…"

-Great Tomb of Nazarick-

"... and thus concludes the report, Lord Ainz." The young, elegant woman dressed in white replied to the large overlord who was handling other paperwork.

"Umu..." The Overlord grunted, thinking back on the reports that were given to him. So far from what Albedo had reported there were neither problems nor any hindrances that would get in his way of his rules, but that is only for now. He could not relax due to the unknown threat that he had yet to find a solution to: who or what was responsible for the incident with Shalltear.

He had finally established the fortress city of E-Rantel as a safe haven for all Heteromorphic, Demi-human and Humans alike, but due to how slow the process to spread the "utopia" was, it wasn't very much when looked at critically.

Despite this, Ainz was patient. Given enough time, he was sure that E-Rantel would be the most populated place than any other kingdoms combined and word of the utopia he had created would reach far enough. Perhaps even, reaching the ears of his guildmate he so hoped to meet again. With a sigh, Ainz moved to respond to his second-in-command.

"Thank you for the report, Albedo," He answered, placing his current paperwork down. The undead sorcerer looked up at the succubus who quivered in elated glee.

"Oh! To be praised for my hard work! Lord Ainz is such a merciful master!"

Ainz felt something nullifying his emotions as he saw Albedo going off in her own dream world calling her name multiple times just to get her back to the task at hand.

"Anyways, Albedo, I have something to ask of you."

"Yes, Lord Ainz, what is it?"

Ainz knew that he was going to regret this, but...

"What do you think of the city now? Seeing all the races living together in peace, I mean?"

Albedo thought for a while, her beautiful face forming a frown as she processed his question.

"I still believe that it is one of Lord Ainz's greatest accomplishments, but why ask such a question?"

"Think about it, Albedo." Ainz continued, using one of Punitto Moe's philosophies, "If you hear a city of a kingdom that is open to all races with equal opportunities then you will not only get various races in hopes to make a new life, but mishaps as well."

"As expected of Lord Ainz!" Albedo gasped her wings twitching only to amplify some sort of inner revelation at his words. She seemed to have grasped on why Ainz let the humans live together with the demi-humans and heteromorphs at all.

"You are promoting every race to be the ruling class other than the humans!"

'No! That's not what I meant!' Ainz mentally slapped himself. He was tempted to bash his forehead against the oak wood desk, and felt a migraine seep through his brainless head.

"... No, it's to keep an eye out for anyone who had done harm to Shalltear. Though the chances are low, we are bound to face many mysteries and conflicts from here on."

"What are the chances of that?" Albedo asked like a child lost in logic, "It's not like they're going to attack Nazarick directly, now would they?"

'I hope not' was Ainz's thought. But he sometimes wished that someone could attack the base right now, to help liven up the Tomb.

-Carne Village-

Two days of travel passed before Lexicon and Enri arrived. Enri stopped the wagon before they reached the gate of the village, which gave Lexicon time to see the village's fortifications.

"Wow! Carne village has changed considerably since last I saw it."

"Wait, Lexicon, have you been to Carne village before?"

"Oh, my apologies! Yes, but that was a long time ago. Now it's more like my first time again." Lexicon remembered Carne village, back when it had less than one hundred people as its population. It was no more than a simple village of hunters and gatherers, but now it was a fortified, walled off town. A well protected village as well, as the scholar saw signs of life at the gates of the walls, and before him what looked to be-

"Goblins?"

Goblins, indeed, and they were well armed. Their nature and gaites appeared civilized and disciplined, though. These goblins were no ordinary rag-tag mob of goblinoids. Enri waved her hand to the goblins that stood at the top of the ramparts, and called out to them,

"Hey guys! I'm back, and I have a guest. His name's Lexicon, and he wants to see Lord Gown! Is Lupu here today?"

One of the goblins greeted her back and answered, "Welcome back, boss! Eh? That guy there wants to meet Lord Gown? Sure, I guess. If you think he's cool, then Ms. Lupu might think so, too. Okay, now open the gates, boys!" The gates opened up for the wagon to pass through, and so Enri drove her horse-drawn wagon inside. They arrived at the edge of the

village itself and parked the wagon next to the horse stables. Lexicon got out and helped Enri off with an offered hand.

"Oh my, you're a gentleman, Lexicon. Hehe!"

"It is a pleasure, fair Enri. It is only right to do so. Afterall, you may very well harold me to meet greatness today! The least I can do is offer assistance, even if small."

"You're too kind, Lexicon. I'm just a simple woman, and a married wife at that."

"Hoho? Who's the lucky man, may I ask?"

"His name is,"

"Enri!" a young male voice exclaimed her name. From the village square came another blonde person, this time a man. He had bangs that covered his eyes, and skinny frame.

"Welcome back, Enri!" He walked past Lexicon and held Enri's hands, then kissed her on the lips. His long hair must have obscured his vision, for he was surprised to see Lexicon beside his wife.

"Eh? Oh, sorry! I didn't see you there. Enri, you brought a stranger to Carne?"

"He's not much of a stranger now, since he introduced himself to me at E-Rantel. Nfirea, this is Lexicon. Lexicon, this is my husband, Nfirea. He and his grandmother live here with us. Nfirea, Lexicon is a traveling scholar, and he wants to meet Lord Gown. Isn't that interesting?"

Nfirea parted his hair to see the man's face. He didn't see much, given that Lexicon wore a hood. He refrained from prying on the reasons why, however.

"You do? It's your prerogative, of course, but why do you want to meet Lord Gown? Are you an emissary?"

"No, but I'm told I'm quite the charming fellow, hohoho!"

Enri and Nfirea seemed to like the joke, as the laughed at the scholar's sense of humor.

"Say, Enri, did you happen to see Lupu in the village?"

"I did. She's at the barn where the cows are. She was already on her 5th bucket of milk, but she should still there. We can take you to her, Lexicon, and then me and Enri have to do stuff together."

"Oh? Is the honeymoon on-going, Mr. Nfirea? Hohohoho!"

Both Nfirea and Enri blushed at his words, as the two newlyweds looked away from the chuckling scholar.

"C-Come on now! Let's not keep her waiting, okay?"

"Aye, do lead the way, Mr. Nfirea."

Lexicon, Enri, and Nfirea moved through the daily routes of the men and women of Carne, some carried bags of grain, while others cured their game and knit their blankets. The sound of cows mooing was a good sign, as their milk would be fresh and ready. The barn doors were open, while three men worked to repair a rooftop of a house next to it.

'A fine and productive day, this is. This brings me back to my very own settlement. Except Carne is far enough away from them...'

"Ms. Lupu? Are you in the barn today?" Enri called out. The sound of udders milked stopped, and out from the front of the barn came a woman. A very beautiful, tanned, red haired, and uniquely dressed girl exited the barn, with a water-soaked washcloth to clean her hands, and cool her brow. Lexicon's eyes opened wide to take in such exotic beauty.

"My, my!" He said in a hushed whisper to keep his composure, and to hide his blatant fascination with her. The one they called Lupu, the red-haired woman, waved and jogged over to Enri and Nfirea.

"Hiya guys! Nice to see you again, too-su!" she greeted Enri. She looked to Lexicon and smiled, her expression rivailed the glow of the afternoon sun.

"Hi there, stranger! Did Enri here invite you to Carne?"

"Greetings to you, fair Lupu. Enri has told me of you, and yes, she has been kind enough to bring me to her home. You see, I-"

"Look out!" a male voice warned. From where the three men worked on the house near the barn, the shingles of the roof gave way, and caused the two men on top to fall. Lupu, in a flash, caught the first man with no issue. But when she turned to catch the other man, Lexicon stood behind her, with the second scared man in his arms. Enri and Nfirea were used to Lupu's blinding speed, but were surprised to find another who could move as fast.

"Are you alright, sir? Are you injured anywhere?" Lexicon asked the man in his arms, genuine in his concern."

"I'm okay, thanks. I can walk, too."

"Very well." Lexicon put the man down on his feet. "Do you require aid for this roof, then?"

"Oh, nah, stranger. The fault is ours, but thanks anyway."

"You're welcome, sir."

"Whoa! That was super fast-su! Maybe not as fast as me, but I'll give yah credit!" She gave Lexicon a wink and a thumbs up. Lexicon blushed and scratched the side of his head with his index finger.

"Oooh, dear. You're too kind, fair Lupu. Oh, yes, while we're here now, I wish to discuss with you a request. Will you hear me out?"

"Sure! What's your question then, also your name?"

"I am Lexicon, vagrant scholar. A pleasure to meet you, Lupu."

"Lexicon, eh? What're you doing here in the Carne Village-su? Oh! Are you here to settle down? Maybe a find a new career opportunity? Or are you lost-su? I bet you're lost-su!"

"Not all who wander are lost, I must say. But that's not why I'm here. You see, I wish to meet with this Ainz Ooal Gown I've been told about. I came back from a long year's travel, so I am out of the loop, if you catch my meaning? The last time I was in E-Rantel, the undead were existed on the Katze Plains, and did not guard an entire fortress city."

Lupus listened to what he said and nodded her head, "I see, I see, so you're looking for the great lord?"

"That I am. Because I'm a scholar, information is my business, and this Lord Gown must be a wealth of knowledge. Afterall, one must be a powerful sorcerer or necromancer to control zombies and skeletons from afar, wouldn't you agree? Do you know him well, if I may inquire you?"

"Maaaaybe." Lupus teased as she grinned, her teeth bared with shining bright smile. Her fangs seemed to sparkle from the sun, as if to highlight her unique feature of herself, "I bet someone told you about me?"

"Enri here informed me, yes. I hope that isn't an issue? I don't seek to bring trouble to anyone."

"I don't think you have, Mr. Scholar! He's really nice, Lupu, honest." Enri assured.

Lupu looked at both of them, seemingly deep in thought, 'He seems interesting.' she noted as she studied the scholar's face, 'and cute too, maybe. Well, it's been a while since we have someone to waddle in Nazarick to face their deaths. Probably since the Workers incident too.'

"Okay-su!" Lupu cheerfully replied, "I guess I can lead you to where Lord Ainz resides in-su! You got a map?"

"Aye, I have one. I never leave anywhere without it… well, that is unless I decide to explore uncharted parts. I jot those details down, too. One moment and I'll get it out."

Lexicon took off his backpack and opened it up. He put his arm inside, and from within he pulled a rolled up parchment. When unrolled, it revealed to be a map of the known continent. More than just the locations and areas already known, some of the map's spots were marked to show new, unseen places as well. The scholar got around from the look of his map.

"I don't suppose you could mark down for me the location of Nazarick on my map?"

"Sure-su~." she replied as she looked at the map. The instant she saw the map and locations she had never seen before, she paused.

'This map…!' She thought,'This map is something that Lord Ainz and Lord Demiurge should have! I'm so telling them after I sent this cutie off to his death. Imagine the possibilities that Lord Ainz can have!''

Lupusregina Beta smiled at the scholar, and marked the location where Nazarick would be, "Just head on up north in the Great Forest of Tob, and keep an eye out for the white building within that forest. You won't miss it as long as you stay on the path-su!"

"A white building, you say? Interesting, very interesting! I will do that. Thank you very much, fair Lupu! You may have harald me to greatness today! If we meet again, then I will be sure to thank you. Oh, and not to forget, I thank you both too, Enri and Nfirea. Farewell!" The scholar put his map back into his backpack, and ran off in the direction Lupusregina Beta directed him.

Lupusregina waved him goodbye as she waited the couple to leave and once she found herself alone, she quickly raised her right hand up to her ear and send out a message.

"Lupusregina Beta to Lord Demiurge, sir! I think I found a really interesting piece of fresh meat for Nazarick-su!"