A/N: Sup. I'm back. Later than expected, later than I wanted. I was delayed by several things, including myself. But that's all water under several bridges now, because I'm presenting you a longer chapter. Also, it's a different approach than usual, and to be honest, it might not be as accurate as usual, because this time I challenged the web novel. That's right, the web novel. And for all those that don't read it, one major difference is the fact that Narberal plays the role of Momon, Ainz isn't an adventurer but known to the higher-ups early as the mentor of Momon. Pretty nice plot. Anyway, lean back and enjoy!

It had been a small disturbance when Momon returned from his promotion exam. Rumors were already spreading, and the fact that he was once again called to a meeting only made them more logical.

Narberal, in her disguise as Momon, entered the guild and walked up to the counter.

"I've returned from my promotion exam.", he said.

"Y-yes, the guild master is already waiting for you.", said the secretary.

"On the fourth floor, I take it?", asked Momon and stepped towards the door.

"Yes." The secretary stood up. "Please know that I can't let you pass like that."

Momon nodded. "I'll bear with you."

No hatred was evident in his voice, still it lacked any form of compassion or respect. The secretary ignored it; although adventurers normally were different, this one was a special case to begin with. She opened the door, and with him in tow they walked up to the fourth floor.

"The guild master's office is right in front of you. I will leave you alone now.", said the secretary. Momon simply nodded. It was his second time in the office, and his third meeting with the guild master. He wasn't nervous or even remotely excited. With a calm exterior and interior he knocked.

"Please enter.", said a voice from inside.

Momon stepped inside the room. Pluton Ainzach sat at his desk, looking older than he had before.

"Good morning.", said Momon with a slight bow. Once again, he didn't take off his boorish gauntlets, but Pluton understood the reason for it. Only an idiot would part willingly and easily from equipment of Artifact level.

"Good morning, Momon-san. Please take a seat." Pluton pointed towards the furniture both had sat on last time. "Do you want something to drink? Water? Or maybe something with more...power?"

"No, thank you.", said Momon and shook his head. He sat down after Pluton was seated. "I completed the exam, Ainzach-dono."

"Ah, please call me Pluton. Umu, so I've heard...the guild officially confirmed your success and will promote you. Considering the circumstances of last night, we have decided to take a step never executed before: you will be promoted directly to an A-Class adventurer.", said Pluton.

Momon looked intrigued, but simply nodded.

"I feel honored to receive such a huge promotion, Pluton-dono."

"Ah, think nothing of it...the guild, in collaboration with the mayor, has prepared a little something for you, a celebration, to be exact. It will take place this evening, at the Golden Palace hotel.", said Pluton hastily.

Momon bowed. "I will attend with pleasure. I understand that it isn't a custom to do so. Convey my thanks to the mayor beforehand."

"I will.", assured him Pluton. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to prepare everything for this evening."

Both parted after a handshake, with Momon leaving the guild and Pluton making a few calls.

‑

Momon just returned from the brief meeting with Pluton and walked towards the counter to get his new tag. Incidentally, he walked up to the woman he met the very first time he went into the guild. He vaguely remembered her, but since she hadn't been important, he didn't know her name. He simply received his tag marking him as a A-Class adventurer and left.

"Did you see that? He just went from lowest rank to A-Class!", said the secretary that had led Momon to the guild master to the other woman, Ishpen.

"Of course. That was to be expected, wasn't it?", answered Ishpen as if it'd be the most normal thing in the world.

"Y-you think so?", asked the secretary.

"This man is my fated rival, I expected nothing less from him.", said Ishpen confidently. After a brief moment of confusion her coworker shook her head. She had forgotten about Ishpen's rather strange quirk. Dropping the topic, she focused back on her work. A few new quests had to be put up, after all.

At the same time the adventurers sitting in the guild were discussing the latest news heavily. It was unheard of someone being promoted to A-Class this fast, and considering that Momon appeared only days ago, it left much room for speculation. Sure, his sword looked half decent, but aside from that, he only completed one quest so far, and his job was that of a porter. The only ones apart from the higher-ups who knew more would be Axe of Cyclone, as well as Brita.

"What exactly is he?", asked someone. Another adventurer had already suggested he might be something like a "secret weapon" or the "ace of the guild", but in the end, nobody really knew.

"He was a normal porter. He showed great strength and endurance, but he didn't fight and he said he was a simple man.", explained Peter.

"Hm...I wonder. It seemed like he had at least killed one goblin. I'm not sure, so I can't confirm it, but it is very likely that he did.", said Ninya.

"Killing one goblin isn't a feat.", said an adventurer.

"But he was lying on the ground, and the sword had pierced the body and additionally drawn through the abdomen.", explained Ninya. "As all of you should know, this requires a lot of strength. And the fact that he was completely indifferent after that, even going as far as saying that he didn't kill it, makes me shiver. Momon-san has many secrets, and we shouldn't try to uncover them."

Some men nodded, others disagreed.

"Well, but with whom will he pair up now? He is the only A-Class in this city, after all."

"Maybe he will work alone?"

"No, nobody would. And look at him. He can surely afford some helpers."

"Maybe porters?"

"Seems likely."

The discussion continued in this way. The adventurers did realize that it was for the best to leave Momon alone, and they knew the basics. After half an hour, talks went back to new quests, and several adventurers departed.

‑

Momon was lost in his thoughts. He knew of the meeting that had took place earlier this morning, before he met with Pluton. The guild master and the mayor had met, revising the plan they had for today's evening. Of course, both wanted to know more about Ainz. He recalled their ideas.

Making me drunk, luring me in with prostitutes...fools. As if I'd fall for such simple schemes.

The plan would probably work very well on any human. But Momon, especially after receiving a ring to negate poison from Ainz, was no human. And being a woman, Narberal wasn't interested in prostitutes anyway.

Better get ready for later. Ainz-sama gave me this ring and some better garments. But before that, a little talk with the shadow demons would be a good idea.

‑

Finally evening had come and Momon arrived at the hotel. The Golden Palace was the most expensive and exclusive hotel in E-Rantel, lavishly decorated and of high standards. Walking in, he was almost immediately greeted by Pluton.

"Momon-san! It is great to see you again.", he said jovially.

"Thank you, Pluton-dono.", said Momon with a bow.

"Here, have a glass." Pluton gave him a silver goblet filled with red wine. Momon took a sip and found it to be of relative high quality; it still paled in comparison to Nazarick's goods and tableware though.

"It's delicious.", Momon simply said. Wearing the ring given to him, he didn't feel any of the alcohol as he was immune to it.

"Ah, look at that. A few persons you know. Momon-san, do you remember Panasolei-dono and Theo-dono?", said Pluton.

"Of course. I'm honored to see that you attended such an insignificant event, Mayor-dono. The same goes for you, master of the mage's guild, Theo-dono.", said Momon with a bow. He already knew who exactly would come to this party, but he still had to act surprised.

"Think nothing of it. It is a rare event to see someone being promoted to A-Class. How could I miss out on that!", said Panasolei.

Momon simply nodded and took another sip of the wine. Looking around, he saw several women clearly distinguishable as prostitutes. Just as promised, he saw everything from "the biggest melons to the flattest plains". He nearly put on a disgusted sneer, but managed to keep an even face. Finishing his glass and taking another, he was quickly in a conversation with the mayor.

"It seems we haven't talked that much yet, Momon-san.", said Panasolei.

"Indeed, Mayor-dono.", confirmed Momon.

"I believe the topic has been your master, Ainz Ooal Gown?", continued Panasolei.

"Ainz Ooal Gown-sama.", corrected Momon him.

"Of course. Now, I didn't get some points. Maybe you could explain it a little bit more?", asked Panasolei sneakily.

"I don't think there is much to say about my master you don't already know, Mayor-dono. If you'd excuse me, I have to leave. I need to be in good shape tomorrow."

"Going on a quest?"

"...yes. Good night."

After saying his good byes to everyone, Momon took his leave and set out for the inn.

‑

The next morning he rose early and walked into the guild. Looking for a request, he couldn't find one. He walked up to the counter.

"There are no A-Class requests on the board.", he said to the secretary.

"E-eh? Yes, we didn't have adventurers ranked this high in this city for quite some time. But I could look if we have something similar, at least with an equal level of compensation.", said secretary. Momon nodded and waited for a few minutes.

"Here, this request was issued by Duke Ajack a few days ago. He requests bodyguards for his trip to Re-Lantier.", said the secretary. Momon took a brief look at the leaflet.

"I will do it."

‑

Only a few hours later Momon met the Duke. He was as tall as he was wide, and didn't even reach Momon's chest. His unkempt white hair was only outdone by his ridiculously large beard.

"You are my guard?", he asked in a high-pitched voice.

"Indeed.", confirmed Momon.

"You're only a single person! Why don't you have a team?", asked the Duke. He clearly expected more men to come.

"I'm an A-Class adventurer, and thus stronger than everyone else in the city. They would only slow me down.", said Momon unimpressed. "When will we leave?"

"In two hours. You will accompany the driver.", said the Duke.

‑

The first two nights had been uneventful. The weather was good, and the Duke's stagecoach traveled safely without problems. They always reached a town or an inn and didn't have to sleep outside. On the third day however, they were approached by a band of goblins.

The goblins thought to have found easy prey, but were quickly proven wrong. It took Momon only a mere minute to finish them off. A few slashes with his sword, combined with a few spells eradicated the demihumans.

They continued the journey without problems, and were only two days from Re-Lantier, when all of a sudden the road had been blocked of by several shady looking humans. Obviously, those were bandits.

"Oi, look what we found! A treasure chest on wheels!", said the one who looked the less dirty and dumb – probably the leader.

"Tsk.", spat Momon out. He wasn't fazed by the appearance of the thugs, if anything he was annoyed.

"What do you want, adventurer? Do you want to protect whoever rides this thing?", mocked the leader him.

"I am employed to do so.", said Momon.

"Tell you what: you get down from there, join us and I pay you double.", said the thug. Momon looked as if he'd think. Then he stepped down.

"I've decided.", he said and walked towards them.

"Good, good...", smiled the thug. He relaxed visibly, but as soon as Momon arrived, he drew his sword and attacked. "Fool!"

Momon blocked the sword effortlessly and jumped away, glaring at them. "Yes, I had decided...to kill you all."

His sword still sheathed, Momon prepared a spell. He launched it. "[Fireball]!"

The fireball flew into their midst and leaving back charred bodies. The few that survived the blast either laid on the ground groaning or tried to run away. Everyone who tried to flee was pierced by [Lightning], while the others simply had their throats slit.

"Let's continue.", Momon simply sat as he sat down next to the driver again. The driver slowly nodded and gave the horses the signal to start moving.

‑

After two uneventful days the Duke safely arrived in Re-Lantier and payed Momon the promised fee, with a generous tip included. Momon went to the guild to report the quest as finished. As he stood in front of the doors he sucked in air, not sure of what would await him. "Re-Lantier's adventurers guild..."

He opened the door and strode in.

A/N: Boom, cliffhanger! Actually, no. If I should write another WN chapter, I might start from here. Not sure though. See ya soon.