Chapter 11: Night at the Nazarick Hotel (Part 1)
Nazarick Hotel 2nd Floor, Bar
After having seen all the otherworldly sights within the Sorcerer Kingdom during the past two days, Cerabrate did not feel particularly surprised to see that the hotel's bar was managed by man with a head that literally resembled a rare breed of mushroom.
"So, what kind of drink does an establishment like this offer?"
The Adamantite Adventurer leaned against the counter, addressing the bizarre looking bartender in a casual tone.
Sous-chef took a quick glance at Cerabrate's adventurer tag before replying:
"The first glass of our one of a kind drink, the Nazarick Special, is free for all those participating in the upcoming event. Of course, any subsequent servings will be charged."
"Well, I'll give it a shot then."
Huh, why would an undead being invest in creating refreshments? I should probably ask to make sure this "Nazarick Special" doesn't contain anything…questionable.
Just as Cerabrate was about to direct his skepticism at the bartender, a newcomer sat down at the bar, several seats away from him.
Cerabrate's heart threatened to leap out of his chest.
I didn't even hear her come in…
Shalltear Bloodfallen pretended not to see the wide-eyed leader of "Crystal Tear' as she calmly ordered a glass of her usual "Blood Cocktail".
"Sir, is something the matter?"
Sous-chef's words snapped Cerabrate out of his trance as he placed the drink in front of the adventurer.
"Oh, it's nothing. Thanks."
Cerabrate struggled to keep his pounding heart under control as he took a small sip of the beverage.
Interestingly enough, a sudden cool, comfortable sensation washed over him as he did so, relaxing his nerves just enough for him to get a hold of his senses.
Wow, this drink is really something…
Cerabrate closed his eyes to recollect his thoughts, before sliding a nervous glance at the girl next to him, who, unbeknownst to him, was having a similar moment of dilemma.
Minimize contact…..minimize contact….Is this safe enough? It should be, we're right in the middle of a Nazarick stronghold. Should I try to engage him and use "Mystic Eyes of Charms"? No, Ainz-sama said to be subtle, and Demiurge warned that he'd have counter measures for mind control. Maybe I should just talk to him and wait for him to let something slip…"
"Psst! Sous-chef!"
Shalltear decided to direct her troubles to the nearest ally she could find.
"Hmm? What is it, Shalltear-san?"
"I need some advice, arinsu~…"
Sous-chef shook his mushroom head
"With all due respect, I don't think I'll be of much assistance in any matter outside of the art of bartending, my lady. Perhaps you should send a message to the Guardian Overseer?"
"Pfft! Albedo would sneer at me for needing her help!"
"Well, it seems that that gentleman is coming over to you. Perhaps your issue can wait?"
Gah, he is the issue…I can't believe he's approaching me first. Wait, does he know about my Mystic Eyes? Why is he avoiding eye contact?
Cerabrate plopped down in the seat next to Shalltear, nervously trying to avoid meeting the vampire's mesmerizing red gaze.
Despite his confidence in his fighting ability, Cerabrate had never truly developed any skills in the department of flirting. Well, he hadn't ever really needed to, considering that the only girls he targeted were those that he could easily take by force. Their families usually turned a blind eye, unwilling to antagonize the Draconic Kingdom's strongest weapon against the beastmen. The ones that did bother protesting almost always backed away when Cerabrate drew his sword.
Those that didn't…well…Cerabrate usually just decided that it wasn't worth the trouble. There were plenty little fishes in the sea.
This time, it was different. His target was the servant of a being that transcended death itself. Besides, this was the first time Cerabrate felt more than just lust. He was genuinely captivated by the silver-haired girl. He wanted to make the effort.
"S-so, what brings a gorgeous young maiden like you here? Feeling lonely?"
...What the hell?
Shalltear had expected some subtle challenge, or a diplomatic message delivered with an underlying tone of threat. She had not expected some cheesy pick-up line that even Lord Peroroncino would probably find cringe-worthy.
"No, I just felt like having a drink. What business do you have with me, human?"
Shalltear decided to play it safe and act normal. She'd wait for the other person to make a mistake. It was a duel of words. Shalltear knew that this was an area Ainz-sama was an unrivaled master at. Right now, as she struggled to come up with what to say next, she was more impressed than ever at her master's incredible prowess.
What a tremendously difficult skill to master. Demiurge told me that Ainz-sama used simple words to defeat me before our battle even began. I never even stood a chance.
As she recalled her battle with Ainz and the events that lead up to it, Shalltear's gaze began hardening with rage and bloodlust.
Cerabrate too sensed that Shalltear's gaze was intensifying. The adventurer delightedly assumed that this was a sign that she was paying more attention to him. His confidence rose.
'My name is Cerabrate, I'm an Adamantite-ranked adventurer of "Crystal Tear." It would be an honor if you could tell me your name.'
Hmm...should I tell him my actual name? Well, as long as I don't mention Honyopenyoko it should it's fine.
"The name is Shalltear Bloodfallen. Do be careful as to how you utter that name. It is not to be besmirched by the likes of your mortal tongue. Is there a reason you are disturbing my time of solitude?"
Cerabrate had expected a less than warm response, but the vampire responded with a tone similar to what one would use to address a filthy stray puppy. The adventurer could not help but feel a bit insecure.
Well, at least now I know her name. Do all servants of the Sorcerer King act like this?
"Is that drink of yours any good? I just tried the Nazarick Special, but I'm looking to spice things up a bit." Cerebrate tried to give a good-humored smile as he finished his sentence.
Shalltear glanced at her "Blood Cocktail". The red liquid within the ornate glass reflected no light. It was the only drink the bar offered that could truly sate her thirst.
"Hmmm…I don't think this taste is suitable for everyone, especially for humans."
Once again, Cerabrate could not help but sense the tone of condescension applied to that last word. Somehow, it turned him on even more.
"Oh come on, you underestimate me. Bartender? May I order a glass of what this lady is having?"
Sous-chef took a long look at the two people seated in front of him. The expression on his fungus face was unreadable as he glanced at the glass of red liquid Cerabrate was pointing at.
"I'm afraid we're all out of stock on that one. My apologies."
Just as both Cerabrate and Shalltear were racking their brains thinking of what to say next, a pair of female voices came from behind them, interrupting their thoughts.
"Uwaah. Ainz-sama's new bar. Drinks. Juice for CZ. Chocolate milk for Neia."
"Um, CZ-senpai, I'm not sure if I should leave Remedios alone for too long. I don't think she knows where our room is, and I don't want her to cause trouble."
CZ moved her hand in what looked like a dismissive wave. "Big sister Yuri will take care of it. Neia, sit."
The two newcomers sat down. After Sous-chef brought them their drinks, CZ turned to Shalltear and introduced her friend.
"Shalltear, Neia. Neia, Shalltear."
Neia gave the vampire an awkward wave, while Shalltear merely gave a nod of acknowledgement in return before standing up.
It's probably best if I learn a bit more about how to obtain information safely through dialogue with humans before trying anything else. I can't disappoint Ainz-sama again.
"I'm going to go. I have a few things to ask Demiurge." Shalltear told CZ. The vampire slid a glance at Cerabrate before making her way out of the bar.
Cerabrate, surprised to see his crush leave so abruptly, sat there for several moments, confused, before rising from his chair to depart as well.
CZ waited until both of them had been gone for several minutes before speaking:
"Observation complete. Shalltear is having trouble with her mission. Will report to Ainz-sama."
"Wait, His Majesty put you up to this?"
CZ nodded her head.
"Ainz-sama does not want Shalltear to fail. But he also does not want Shalltear to know he is watching, so he told CZ to check her progress."
Once again, Neia felt a surge of admiration for the great Sorcerer King.
"I see…His Majesty really cares a lot about his servants."
"Of course. Ainz-sama is the nicest of the Supreme Beings. That is why he stayed behind."
Nabe, Saphira and the Blue Roses all currently stood underneath a massive semi-transparent dome that served as the ceiling of the Nazarick Hotel Training Grounds. The area was massive, easily rivaling the size of the Baharuth Empire's Grand Arena. However, what made the facility truly unique was the fact that it was underground.
Nazarick was no stranger to creating magnificent underground environments, and the training grounds were no exception. One could say that it was the most ambitious facility within the Nazarick Hotel. The dome of the facility was made of a luminescent glass-looking material that kept the training grounds perpetually lit, and a teleportation circle was crafted specifically for the purpose of transporting adventurers into the facility.
The entire area was lined with typical training equipment such as training dummies and archery butts. However, the "Sparring golems" and "Monster Summoning Stones" proved to be by far the most popular attractions.
The sparring golems were simple constructs animated to respond to attacks, making them a straightforward method of practice for adventurers seeking to refine their combat skills. Different golems of varying material quality and enchantment complexity allowed for a wide range of challenges for adventurers of different rank. If a golem received enough damage, it would cease fighting and return to its original position. A team comprised of mage workers recruited from the remnants of the E-Rantel Mage Association and Dwarven engineers from the Demi-human district went around handling any repairs that the golems needed.
The monster summoning stones worked just as their name implied. By interacting with a stone, adventurers could summon a monster to fight in order to hone their abilities. To prevent the encounter from getting out of control or disturbing other adventurers, the monsters had a limited range of activity, meaning that they could not go too far away from the point where they had been summoned. If the adventurers fled outside of the monster's range of activity, the encounter would reset and the monster would vanish back into the summoning stone. The monsters available ranged from goblins and ogres to war trolls and high-level beast men, allowing for quite a diverse training experience for adventurers of all ranks.
However, the greatest test of strength within the training grounds was the creature that lay curled within the center of the facility. Its icy-blue scales shone with a frigid aura. Huge wings lay folded at its sides, the occasional movement of them sending gusts of freezing cold wind permeating throughout the training grounds.
Frost Dragon.
Saphira could not believe her eyes. She was well aware that the Sorcerer King was immensely powerful, but after an entire life of believing in the absolute power of dragonkin, nothing could erase the shock of seeing a fully-grown dragon used as sparring practice.
Gagaran grimaced.
'I was expecting to see a Death Knight or something, but this is pretty dramatic even for the Sorcerer King. I guess he really didn't want there to be any ugly undead in this hotel."
"What's going on over there?"
Tina pointed at a large crowd of adventurers nearby. They had formed a ring, and seemed to be spectating several individuals who were currently locked in battle.
"Krusty?!"
Saphira gasped in surprise.
She immediately recognized dark haired scout of "Crystal Tear", who was currently to be fighting in the middle of the crowd of adventurers. The dark-haired ranger of "Crystal Tear" was too preoccupied with his opponent to notice the arrival of his ally. Saphira was taken aback once more as she caught a better glimpse of who Krusty was fighting.
Is that a lizardman?
Krusty's opponent was built with a thick, muscular frame that was covered by a layer of glistening dark green scales. A reptilian tail lashed out occasionally, only narrowly avoided by Krusty, who was beginning to show signs of struggle.
Saphira couldn't blame him. The lizardman moved with a fluidity and expertise that belonged to the upper echelon of human warriors. The demi-human's proficiency at martial arts had reached a level that neither Blue Rose nor Crystal Tear had thought was possible for their race. Pair that with the physical advantages inherent within demi-human physiology, and the result was a foe that even Adamantite adventurers would struggle to prevail against.
There was a second lizardman standing within the circle of spectating adventurers. However, all the adventurers who challenged him were quickly struck down by a combination of raw demi-human strength and technical prowess. He continued to stand there, silently observing the fight between Krusty and his kinsman while waiting for the next challenger.
Tia suddenly made an unexpected announcement:
"I want to try fighting the one with the blue blade."
Lakyus looked at her teammate in surprise.
"By yourself?"
"Yeah, why not? I want to see if I've fully recovered from the resurrection yet. This will be a good test of strength."
With that, the assassin strode over to where the lizardman was standing.
"I am Tia of Blue Rose. I wish to challenge you to a sparring match."
The crowd of adventurers that had been watching the fight between Krusty and his opponent quickly grew excited. Everyone knew about the famous Blue Roses.
"I am Zaryusu Shasha, servant of the Sorcerer King and overseer of the Nazarick Hotel Training Grounds. I accept your challenge."
Narberal could not help but experience a rising sense of boredom, which made her feel immediately ashamed. The battle maid knew that any act to serve the Supreme Beings was an absolute honor. Narberal herself had never approved of her sister Lupusregina's constant complaints about the tedium of overseeing Carne Village. After all, it was not their place to be dissatisfied with anything that was ordered of them.
She did not mind acting as Nabe the adventurer. As a matter of fact, walking alongside and staying in the same lodging with the Supreme Being had been one of the greatest moments in her life.
Right now, Narberal wished that she could stay with Lord Ainz instead. She found it increasingly hard to bear watching the juvenile little brawl between the insects and lizards in front of her.
The lower life forms around her cheered as their fellow maggot darted around in circles, attempting to kite the lumbering reptile as it attempted to hit her with the pathetically weak blade of ice.
Occasionally, the maggot would use random mortal tricks like splitting into copies of itself, slipping into the shadows (which Narberal found pointless, as she could see it anyway), throwing the occasional needle or launching laughable fire blasts at the lizard. The lizard would respond by waving his flimsy weapon to create gales of cold wind that seemed to cause the lower life forms around her to shiver.
However, there was one particular detail that caught her attention. Whenever the maggot used one of her flimsy "techniques", her hands moved in a way that sparked memories of a distant past.
Isn't that….Lord Nishikienrai…..
Narberal could not remember how long ago it had been. It was a time when Nazarick was at its prime, and most of the Forty One Supreme Beings still walked the halls of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Whenever Narberal wasn't stationed on the Tenth Floor beside her sisters, she would be attending to her creator in his suite.
Sometimes, when he thought none of the other Supreme Beings were around, Lord Nishikienrai would stare into the mirror, and perform hand movements that were very similar to what the maggot was currently doing.
Narberal remembered the smile on her creator's face as he practiced the movements fervently in front of the mirror. Back then, she could not help but think that it resembled the face of a child playing with a new toy.
How disrespectful! Narberal immediately shut off that line of thought. Clearly, it was her that could not comprehend Lord Nishikienrai's divine wisdom. Most likely, the movements contained the secrets to her creator's dark powers. Her creator must have simply been enthusiastic about reaching new heights of strength that went far beyond what Narberal could even grasp.
My lord…where have you gone?
For the briefest of moments, Narberal's eyes began to glisten as she asked herself the question that would forever haunt her.
Why did you leave us?
"Uh…Nabe, are you okay?"
Evileye, who was standing beside her, could not help but notice that the coldest woman she knew seemed to be having an emotional moment.
Narberal immediately snapped out of her memories. Her eyes retained the same condescending, ice cold expression she usually wore as she looked at the masked vampire.
"It is none of your concern."
With that, Narberal turned and walked out of the crowd of adventurers, making her way to an isolated spot within the training grounds.
Saphira expressed a look of concern.
"I'm going to check to see if she's okay."
Before the Blue Roses could stop her, the female adventurer of "Crystal Tear" began walking over to where Narberal had relocated.
Once both Saphira and Nabe were out of earshot, Gagaran looked at Evileye and asked the question she had been wondering for some time:
"Hey, Shorty, do you think you could beat Nabe in a duel?"
Evileye pondered the question for several seconds before answering:
"I'm not sure. Her magic is definitely powerful, but it's not quite within the realm of heroes. I am confident that I can handle her fourth-tier spells..."
She spoke her next words with a more guarded tone:
"However, I've learned that the "Beautiful Princess" is far more than just a simple magic caster. I've seen her shrug off blows that would probably faze even you. She survived against three of Jaldabaoth's demon maids when I struggled against two of them."
"Most importantly, she is Momon-san's chosen companion. I have a feeling that there are a lot more secrets we don't know hidden beneath that gorgeous face of hers. Even if I went all out, I'm not certain as to which of us would emerge victorious."
Gagaran nodded grimly. She understood just how devastating the masked vampire could be when her powers were fully unleashed. Gagaran knew that Evileye wasn't the kind to be humble when asked a direct question like this. She was glad that Nabe, as unapproachable as she was, could at least be counted upon as an ally of humanity.
Their exchange was abruptly interrupted as a loud cheer erupted from the crowd of adventurers watching the battle between Tia and Zaryusu.
Tia walked out of the ring, her entire body bruised and battered, looking completely exhausted. However, there was an exhilarated grin on her face as she returned to her friends.
"I won!"
Character Sheets:
Saphira
Job Classes:
Illusionist (5)
Arcane Magic Caster (10)
Elementalist [Ice] (7)
Total levels: 22
Karma: Positive 150 (Good)
Krusty
Job Classes:
Rogue (4)
Archer (7)
Ranger (6)
Duelist (4)
Total Levels: 21
Karma: Positive 150 (Good)
Cerabrate
Job Classes:
Knight (9)
Fighter (10)
Mercenary (5)
Beast Slayer (3)
Total Levels: 27
Karma: Positive 50 (Neutral)
Authors notes:
This chapter was definitely one of the hardest ones to right. I had to go back and completely change a lot of things because I wasn't satisfied with how it all meshed.
I actually wanted to showcase a detailed and descriptive fight between Tia and Zaryusu, but I also really wanted to give Narberal her own special moment. So what I decided to do was create a parallel between how impressive the lizardmen were to the human adventurers and juxtaposition it with Narberal's condescending perspective to really showcase the difference in the perception of strength between Nazarick and everybody else. Also, I'm not sure just how much more powerful Zaryusu would have become after several years training within Nazarick after recovering from a resurrection. My conclusion was that he'd be stronger than someone like Krusty, who lost to Zenberu, but slightly weaker than Tia, who is a more renowned Adamantite adventurer. Unfortunately, this meant that I couldn't make a satisfying fight scene in this chapter. But don't worry! I'll try to make up for that later.
As always, I encourage everyone to review. My story is constantly evolving and I get new inspiration every day, so I am open to ideas from readers as well as opinions on how to improve the story. I hope everyone finds continuous improvement between each successive chapter. I am really trying to learn as I continue to write so that the story gets better and better.