Disclaimer: I do not own Overlord or any other intellectual property used in this story and would like it if none of you claimed I did.

Note: Small canon changes ahead.

(Sounds)

"Talking"

'Thinking'

-Messages

Special Item Name

"Special voice"

[Spoken Spell/Ability]

{Wordless Spell/Ability}

"I would call this more of a fortress than a city." I spoke to myself and my companions as we walked towards the city of E-Rental. We had arrived at the city at around five in the afternoon, if the sun was anything to go by.

"Even if it is a fortress it'll stand no chance against our combined power. Isn't that right Evan!" Dramatically proclaimed Anima while pumping her fist.

"Eevee!" Her newly named pet proclaimed eagerly.

I just sweat dropped at her declaration before smacking the back of her head. "Don't go saying easily misunderstood like that out loud. What if someone heard you and took it seriously? I don't want our first introduction to a country to be in chains for conspiring against a city." I scolded the girl as she clutched her head in pain.

"And you." I pointed at the Pokémon. "Don't go encouraging her ether." The pet's ears slumped at the words.

"Now make sure you keep up with the story and don't draw attention to yourself. Once we find a central meeting point we'll split up. I'll go and look around at the shops and stores to see about the types and level of items they sell. You will find this adventurers guild and see what you can recover on that. Make sure you report on any people of interest you see around town. We need as much information as possible from our first trip." She gave a nod.

'Alright, we are about five minutes out from the front gate so I should probably start now.'

(Inhale/Exhale)

"Alright sis, let's go and make dad proud." I proudly proclaimed our alibi a second before Anima's arms roped me and smashed me between her breasts.

"Kyaa, Erdrick-tan, your so cute when you act like that!" Gushed Anima while holding me tightly to her chest.

'Goddammit Anima! I told you to stop doing this! I can't breathe when you do it!' I struggled against her grip, but my efforts were futile. After all, Anima had far superior physical stats to me, making escape by sheer force impossible, then again I had more than brute strength on my side.

'Eevee, use [Tackle]!' I mentally ordered the small fox.

Quick as a bullet small beast shot from its position at its intended target. The force behind the small animal's attack was enough to send the 150 pound girl sailing through the air for about twenty feet before roughly landing on the grass floor. A mental cast of {Phantom} saving me from the same fate.

Once the spell wore off I swiped away the metaphorical dust from my cloak as I watched my new sister angrily trudge back to our position. When she finally arrived she seemed ready to tell me off over the attack, but I wasn't about to give her the chance.

"I already warned you not to do it again, so don't go blaming me." She wanted to protest, but she knew I had indeed warned her earlier. She simply took to grumbling about me under her breath.

'This is going to be a long trip.'

We made it past the gate without a hitch and took us around twenty minutes to reach the central point of the city while traveling together. Unfortunately, we had run into a small set of complications during our twenty minutes of traveling.

'We can't read anything! Not the billboards, not the signs, not even the price of a sword! On top of that the people of this world use a three coin system. So aside from gold value, Yggdrasil money is unusable.' I slumped my head in depression of our new situation.

I shook away the useless feelings and stood up. "Well no point in sulking about it. Anima you know your job, I'll prioritize learning how to read for the first day on my end, but you still need to investigate the adventurers guild." I said while rising from the rim of the fountain we were sitting on.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to split up Erdrick-tan?" Questioned the fighter.

"It's fine Anima." I tried to reassure the girl. "I may not be able to read the descriptions they have up, but I did scan a few items on the way over and most didn't break low-class equipment. If anything I need to make sure you won't kill anyone if they piss you off… Please don't kill anyone if they piss you off." I implored now realizing it might be an actual concern. She promised, but did so begrudgingly, clearly not satisfied with how little emphasis I had placed on my own safety. I mentally sighed and gave in at her saddened stare.

'I may regret this later, but a push like this is what I need for her to leave me alone. I can't have her seeing me in this persona for too long or she might think less of me. So I have to make sure we split up as soon as possible.'

"Alright, if you do a good job of listening to me on this trip, then I'll promise you a nice dinner at the end of it. Not something sexual, but just a night out for the two of us, more like a bit of family bonding than anything else."

'Maybe I bit light for her, but I'm kind of scared to offer any more in case she takes it too far.'

"So like a Date!" she squealed.

'Most legitimate fear ever!'

"More like a brother offering his sister a nice meal." I tried to clarify as I noticed the looks we were getting from the people around us.

My words fell on deaf ears as Anima simply snatched Eevee from his spot on my shoulder and sped off into no particular direction yelling the word "Date" over and over.

I simply stood shocked at her reaction. I could feel the stinging stares of the people around me judging me for what they had just witnessed. I eventually recovered from my stunned embarrassment and decided there was no reason worrying over it now. Collecting myself I went off to do my side of the job.

'Now, if I needed to learn how to read where would I go? I don't think I can just ask for the location of the nearest school and ask to learn alongside a bunch of kids. Also, if I'm right then I'm pretty sure there aren't even public schools to go to. From my estimations, this place is in a stereotypical middle-aged fantasy setting. That should put it around the 1300's to the 1500's, so that probably rules out public libraries too.' I mulled over my options as I walked.

'What was a professions that knew how to read in those times…? I believe priest were capable, but I don't want to be recruited into a random faith just to read. I'd assume spell casters could, but I don't know how much one would cost to teach me, especially if they know higher than rank seven magic-Wait, apothecary's are a normal profession that can teach me how to read and I can pay them in labor or with a few herbs I have on hand.' I let a smile appear on my face at the small revelation.

'Alright, now how to find one without being able to read… I could just ask someone.' I looked around myself to the people walking on the street and picked the one closest to me.

I tapped on the man's shoulder to get his attention. "Sir, do you know if this town has an apothecary?" I asked.

When he turned around I got a good look at the man's face. He was bald and had a noticeable scar over the upper section of his left eye. A somewhat brutish appearance and one accentuated by his choice of words. "Huh? You stupid or something kid? This here is E-Rantel, the city is practically known for its Alchemy. How tha hell did ya get here and not know that?" The brash man asked.

'Oh come on! The city just had to be known for the one thing I asked for! Its fine, its fine I can pull this back and not seem like a complete idiot.' I mentally reassured myself.

I rubbed the back of my head sheepishly. "Sorry, until a few days ago I lived with my family out in the woods. My father wasn't for us living in the city with a whole lot of other people, so my understanding of the city is pretty spotty." The man got a look I couldn't quite make out.

"So why tha hell are ya here kid? Didn't you just say your father hated cities?" He questioned.

"Well he died recently so my sister and I came to make a living here." I elaborated.

"Sister?" she said while looking around for the supposed girl.

"She went off to the adventures guild to check it out. I came to look for an apothecary to ask a few questions."

"Ah, so she wants to be an adventurer. Well I hope the gal's strong or they'll eat her alive over there." My heart skipped a beat at his words.

"What?! Why?!" I asked expecting the worst.

"Calm down kid. I don't mean it literally, but I'm a gold rank adventurer-" he said while pointing at the gold plate carved into his shoulder pad. "-and from my four years there I know that the business ain't easy if you aren't strong enough to be at least be silver rank."

'Gold rank? Silver rank?'

"How high up is silver rank?" the man gave a small sigh, but responded anyway.

"Look, there are eight ranks in the guild. Copper, Iron, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Mythril, Orichalcum and Adamantite. I'm gold, but you need at least silver to make it in this business proper. Now I'll ask again, do ya think your sister is up to it?" The man seemed to be trying to emphasize the danger of the guild, but after his explanation my heart had already stopped racing.

Having got the explanation I reevaluated the man before me and realized that he was indeed wearing tough looking pieces of armor and was equipped with a pair of axes on his back. For a second I was nearly overcome with the feeling of stupidity for not noticing earlier, but decided now was not the time.

'So this system is like some back in the game and all Anima has to do is be around this guy's level to be fine?' I smiled as I'm look hardened and I proudly declared. "If all she needs to be is silver then I don't think she'll be having any problems. If anything you'll have to watch out old man or Anima will jump right passed you and join platinum in no time." The man continued his stern look and I began to wonder if I should have picked my words better, but it soon gave way to a bellowing laughter from the man.

"Damn kid, I don't know when was the last time I laughed so hard was. I gotta give it to ya, you got guts to talk to a gold ranked adventurer like that." He spoke between light chuckles. "But I could see it in those eyes. You really believe your sister can pass me up?"

"One hundred percent."

"Well damn kid, I have got to meet this girl if she's that strong. But that aside what's your name kid, I got your sister Anima's name when ya yelled it, but I still don't know yours." Asked the man.

'Fuck I gave a way Anima's name without realizing it.' I internally bereted myself. 'Mabey I can still salvage this situation.'

"A little rude to ask without giving, especially if you already got my sisters name." as I spoke and offered up my hand for a shake.

"Your one ballsy kid, you know that. Name's Ivan, the Axe master" He replied while reaching out with his own gloved hand.

"Erdrick, I'm sure I'll be hearing that a lot." We shook in mutual respect.

"Well good luck Erdrick, make sure you stop by the guild when you learn how to read. I'll be sure to save ya a seat at our table." He chimed while walking away.

'What, how did he-'

"Wait! How did you know I couldn't read?!" I shouted to the fleeting man.

"Why else would you be asking a complete stranger were an apothecary is when the best one in town is right behind ya?" He shouted back. To his instruction I turned back and see the building behind me was in fact a potion shop, if all the bottles lining the windows were anything to go by.

"That dick, he could have answered my question whenever he wanted." I brazenly whispered to myself while smiling before I headed to the shop.

As I entered the building a small ring emanated from the top of the now open door before I was assaulted by the potent scent of several drugs and crushed plats. 'Hopefully I'm not allergic to anything here.' I looked up to see the sound had come from a bell tied to the corner of the door.

"Welcome!" A voice called from deeper within the room. I peered in the direction of the voice and noticed a came from the teenaged boy walking in my direction. He was dressed in a worn work coveralls that were tainted by a myriad of plant stains.

'Probably a worker here.' I told myself.

"Hello, I'm here to speak with the owner." I spoke.

"Oh, sorry, grandmother is currently in the process of making a few potions. She won't be able to speak with you for another hour." He apologized.

'Grandson of the owner it seems. Possibly aspiring alchemist, ill hold on to that info for later. Also, it seems as if potion making is time consuming process in this world or they're understaffed and can't produce them any faster. If it's the second one then I may be able to use that to my advantage.'

"No, don't worry, its fine I just wanted to make a request." I waved away the problem.

He seemed a bit shy as he spoke. "If you don't mind me asking, what is your request? Grandmother usually has a large stock of potions in reserve, I might be able to find what you need." He offered.

"Sorry, but my request isn't for a potion per say. It's a little embarrassing to say, but I actually came here to see if I could learn how to read." I sheepishly asked.

"Learning to read? Why come here to learn that?" puzzled the boy.

"Well you see…" I proceeded to explain my situation, as I had done with Ivan. In return I was able to pry a few pieces of information about the city without seeming like a complete outsider.

"I see… well I'm not sure if grandmother will be able to help."

"Why not? Is she not the teaching type?" I tried to understand.

"Oh no, grandmother is a great teacher. She taught me everything I know about potion making, she is an excellent instructor, but-" he was unable to finish as another voice decided to do it for him.

"It takes a lot of time to make potions and I can't be spending it on much else." Spoke the elder woman that had now walked into the room. The woman's entire form screamed old. The hair, from her eyebrows to her head, were white with age and every bit of exposed flesh was deeply wrinkled. Her attire spoke of her profession, what with the plant residue staining its surface. Yet her eyes still held the deep wisdom one would expect from a person her age.

"Grandmother! I thought you were still preparing the ingredients." The boy spoke.

"I finished a bit earlier than expected Nfirea, now would you mind explaining why this young man is waiting for me." Asked the elder woman.

"Yes, Erdrick here wants to know if you could teach him how to read." She raised an eyebrow at the request.

"You do realize this is a potion shop, not a school. Like I said before I don't have time to teach a kid how to read." She responded.

"Isn't there anything I could do get you to teach me?" I asked.

She shook her head in denial. "The time it would take to teach you would cut into the business. I can't stop production for just one person, a lot of people depend on our shop for healing." She elaborated.

"I can't just pay you to teach me?" I tried to compromise.

She simply shook her head again. "No offence kid, but you don't really look like your carrying around the hundred gold needed to pay for a few days' worth of lost business."

I flinched back lightly. 'Well I do, but unless I want to become a target in this city I can't afford to just shower people with gold.'

"I could pay you in other ways. My father was an Alchemist, he stored several herbs for use in his experiments. I could even help around the shop if that's not enough." I needed to learn how to read if I wanted to make it anywhere in this new world.

"Alchemist you say. Do you have any of these supposed herbs on hand, I don't make promises on just a stranger's word." The owner had now taken to sitting on one of the available chairs in the room.

"I do actually, just give me a second." I began rummaging through my disguised bag.

'Now what should I bring out? From what I've seen from the store they don't have more than tier-two plants and if Ivan was telling the truth and this is the best pharmacy in town, then bringing out my top ingredients may be too problematic. At the same time, if I don't have something worth showing then they might not accept my offer, but what...' While sweeping through my inventory I came up with the perfect choice.

I pulled out a small glass bottle filled with a clear liquid inside and placed it on the table in the center of the room. I sat back in my chair and waited for the elder to inspect the bottle and ask the obvious question. "This sure isn't any plant fluids I've ever seen. So I'm sure you know my question already. What is this?"

I let a smile reach my face at the question. "Let me ask you something first miss…"

"Lizzie Bareare"

"…Lizzie. What is the worst thing to deal with when curing someone?" I questioned.

She raised an eyebrow at this, but answered the questioned anyway. "The hardest part is always our number one rule when we sell healing potions. 'Make sure you clean the wound'. We're not entirely sure why, but for some reason whenever a potion heals a cut or scrape, the user tends to experience an assortment of illnesses if the wound was not properly cleaned. The symptoms are much more severe if the wound becomes infected, why ask?" She questioned back.

"Because this here is one of my father's most prized breakthroughs. This bottle here contains the answer to that little problem, my father liked to call it 'penicillin' and its main purpose is to cure infected tissue." I raised the vile to her.

She seemed wary of such a statement and takes the vile from my hands. "Mind if I confirm your words?" She asked. I gave her a nod and she set it down on the table and placed her hand out towards it.

[Appraise Magic Item]

[Detect Magic]

As the spell was cast I resisted the urge to act on my instincts and defend myself, a tendency I still had from my days in the game. Apparently I was more on edge than I previously expected.

Once the small glow from the woman's hands ended she gave me a glare. "What exactly are you trying to pull." She spat out.

'Huh?'

"What do you mean, I'm not trying to pull anything." I defended while trying to figure out how I angered her.

'Did I grab the wrong bottle?' I worried.

"This is nothing, but a vile of processed mold and yet it has the properties of a healing potion worth a rank-two healing spell or around three gold. And yet I can't sense any magic coming from it, so I'll ask again, what are you trying to pull?" she questioned again.

'Three Gold! On a three coin system! That's insane for such a cheap product back in Yggdrasil…wait, Magic? Aren't potions just made of herbs and the appropriate alchemy level?'

"Wait, why would there be any magic in it? Aside from enhancement potions I don't think father ever used magic to create anything in his workshop." I questioned back while I thought to myself. 'I'm pretty sure you don't need magic to use the [Alchemy] tree in Yggdrasil, but perhaps they have a different means of creating potions that makes them more potent.'

"Then your father may have discovered a new way to make potions. If what you're saying is true then this little bottle could revolutionize the industry." She eyed the clear liquid.

"…so… what about those lessons?" I attempted to steer back the conversation.

"Hm… I don't know. This discovery is great, but I don't know if it's enough." At this point she had taken to turning her back to me.

'Stingy old timer. Fine, I still have other cards I can play.'

"You said it takes magic to make potions right?"

"That is correct." She gave a small head turn.

"And what kind of magic does it take to make potions."

"It takes at least tier-one healing magic. We imbue the herbs with it and then process them into their final stage, a bottled potion. Why would you need to know?" I gave a sly smile at the response while gathering my magic.

"Because I would like a job." Before they could reply I finished casting my spell.

[Restoration Wave]

A sudden tide of magical healing filled the room and set everyone inside into a state of bliss and tranquility as it did. Both scars and cuts, seen and unseen were completely removed in seconds by the wave.

'I really hope tire-three magic is enough to impress.' I worried as the spell ran its course and vanished into thin air.

The two shop owners stood stunned in disbelief of the spell. I simply took it as a silent evaluation on their part and patently waited for them to finish. After about thirty seconds the older of the two came out of her surprise first and began walking back into the next room.

When I didn't get a response I began to panic. "I-is that a no?"

Without turning around, she answered. "Be here by six o'clock sharp, I don't like slackers." Before she closed the door behind her. I gave a heavy sigh and lied back into the closest chair.

"That was amazing Erdrick-san!" cheered the Nfirea.

'Oh, right I forgot he was here too.'

"Thanks Nfirea, but I think I just barely passed your grandma's test. I gotta say, she seems kind to you, but rather strict to strangers." I joked.

He gave a small laugh at that and shook his head. "Trusty me Erdrick you did fine, but you're right about one thing. Grandmother is rather strict with new people, that said if you're going to be working here I'm sure she'll warm up to you soon enough."

"I hope so… also I'm sorry, but I actually forgot to ask her something. I must have gotten so caught up in getting the job that It must have slipped my mind." I apologized to the boy.

"What did you forget Erdrick-san?" he questioned.

'I hope this doesn't sound too weird.'

"You guys wouldn't happen to have a spare room I could borrow for the foreseeable future?" I asked coyly.

"Huh, why would-oh right! You don't have money and-"

"-and I'm not getting money from this job so…" I let Nfirea finish were I was going with my idea.

"I see the problem… I'll go talk to grandmother about it, just stay here." He said as he walked off.

As he left the room I gave a small grin. 'Yes! Operation "Find separate a room" is a success.' I internally chuckled.

After a short wait Nfirea came back and gave me a confirmation on being able to stay. I internally cheered and told him I would return in a bit after I retrieved my sister. He wished me luck and gave me directions to the adventurer's guild. I thanked him and made my way to the specified location.

After around ten minutes of searching I found the building. It was a large wooden structure that had several individuals traveling in and out, but unlike the civilians I had seen up until now most carried weapons or armor somewhere on their person.

'Looks like this is the place, but how I'm I supposed to find Anima in all of this. I could use a summon, but I'm still not sure how common those are so I should probably hold off on that.' After a moment of contemplation, I decided I should just go in and look around until I find her.

As I traveled In I noticed that my previous assumption of this seeming like a tavern only rang truer. The room stunk of alcohol and was filled with a huge assortment of people. And just like Ivan everyone I could see had one of those metal plates on them somewhere. The vast majority had copper plates, but I just assumed the higher ranks were simply out. I scanned the room for my sibling, but soon realized the effort was futile thanks to the sheer number of people here.

'Well searching with my eyes is useless so I need to think of something else.' I sat in a nearby chair and began to think. I suddenly realized that Anima still had Eevee.

'I could command it to do something that would show me where it is, but that might just be a little too flashy. Fuck it, I'll just whistle and have it come to me.' With my decision I brought two fingers to my mouth and got ready to whistle like I normally would.

Unfortunately I had not accounted for my now less-than normal body's capabilities, so when I assumed I would make a sound normally drowned out by the conversations around I was wrong. I instead created a whistle that forced every person within fifteen feet of me to cover their ears and nearly threatened to shatter the nearby windows.

Realising my mistake I stopped quickly, but the damage had been done. I had already forced everyone's attention onto myself and garnered more than a few glares from those close to me.

"Sorry, I didn't think it would be that loud." I nervously replied. Before anyone could reply a brown ball of fuzz slammed into my chest. I stumbled back, but caught the creature in my arms nonetheless. After a second of catching my breath I glared at the small animal in my hands. Eevee seemed unaffected by the glare and simply seemed more exited to play.

"Erdrick-tan, up here!" I heard being shouted from the second floor of the building. I looked away from the summon to see it was in fact Anima that had been shouting. She was waving towards me from the second floor railing, urging me to come over. I soon realized I had forgotten to check the upper floors and simply decided to end my embarrassment and head up. I pretended to not hear the way people chuckled about my situation and simply ignored it by pushed down my embarrassment over the whole thing.

When I finally reached the top steps I noticed Anima was waiting for me, but more than that so were a few other individuals. I gave Anima a questioning look that clearly asked who these people were, but it seemed unnecessary once the one that seemed to be the leader decided to speak up. "You must be Erdrick, I must admit you seem rather plane for how much Anima's been talking you up." He playfully said.

Before I could reply another one of the members spoke up. This time it was by the roguish looking individual with the blond hair. "I'll say, from the way she's been talking I was expecting a knight in shining armor." Teased the man.

"What-" I was cut off.

"Stop it guys, I'm sure Erdrick is a really nice guy." Wined the shortest member of the group.

"Don't worry Ninya, there simply teasing. They don't mean anything by it." Comforted the largest individual of the group.

"I know Dyne, but I don't want him to get a bad impression of us." Wined the shorter one.

'Am I being ignored?'

"Is anyone going to tell me who you people are and why you know our names." I questioned the group.

They all gave me a funny look and it was the leaders turn again to speak. "Names Peter Mork, that's Lukeluther Volve-" he pointed to the blond of the group who just gave a flick of his hair in response. "-We just call him Luke. This here is Dyne Woodwonder-" The larger man gave a kind smile. "-And this is Ninya." He finished by introducing the shortest of the group who gave a simple bow. "We are the Sword of darkness."

"Hello everyone, I'm Erdrick, now would you mind telling me why that introduction was necessary." I asked again.

"Well it would be rather rude not to introduce ourselves to a potential new member." Smiled peter.

"New member?" I asked. As he began to explain I silently [Messaged] Anima.

~What's he talking about?

~They asked me to join their team when I became registered, but I wasn't sure what to do so I told them you'd be the one to decide.

I internally sighed, but didn't blame Anima. This was a rather unique situation that I was glad she left up to me.

~Fine, I'll handle it.

"-So what do you say, would you like to join?" happily proclaimed the leader.

"Sorry, but I won't be joining your team." I apologized to the leader. Anima took my answer as a clear sign and decided to take the spot next to me.

He gave a light sigh. "I understand, but are you sure you don't want to join."

"It's less about whether I want to join and more that I can't join." I clarified. They all seemed a little confused at the response so I decided to further elaborate.

"Aside from not being a member of the guild I also promised-"

"-to be part of my team!" the shout had come from behind us, but recognized the voice nonetheless.

"Ivan?" I called back as we all turned to see the approaching figures. True enough it was the bald man, but this time he wasn't traveling alone. He was accompanied by a group of other guild members, all seemed iron class if their plates were anything to go by.

"Sup kid, you showed a little sooner than expected, but there was no way I'd miss that little stunt you pulled earlier." He teased. I gained a near unnoticeable tint of red on my face at his jab.

"Yea, I accidently casted the wrong spell when I tried to call my pet." I tried to justify my mistake as I pointed to the happy looking fox.

"So this is what rammed into ya." He said while crouching to inspect the animal. "It was movin so fast I couldn't tell what it was, but I gotta say I still don't recognize the breed." I squinted at the small animal.

"And you never will, Eevee-"

"-Evan" quipped Anima.

"-Evan, is a personal beast and not one I plan on selling if you're asking." I added.

Ivan gave a small chuckle as he stood back up. "Read me like a book didn't ya kid, still I still gotta make an offer. How's three gold sound? With speed like that the beast gotta be good for hunting." He offered, but I simply denied his offer. I couldn't ensure Eevee would listen to Ivan even if I wanted to sell the summon. He gave a small shrug. "Fine, but don't say I didn't try."

With small look around he caught sight of Anima. "This wouldn't happen to be Anima would it?" he asked. We both gave a nod at the question. "I have to say kid, you may have been sellin the girl a little high don't you think." Inspected the man.

"I don't know what you mean Ivan. Anima is the best fighter I know and don't doubt she's platinum material." I bragged as a small hint of red reached Anima's face at the praise.

"That may be, but didn't ya say you lived outside the city? I can't see many strong fighters passing by yer house out there. So I'll ask again, do-" Before the man could finish he was suddenly sent flying by a very familiar looking fist.

"Anima!? You can't just go punching people that questions me!" I yelled at the girl. She simply took to whistling as if she hadn't just sent a man flying. I glared at her and decided to deal with Ivan first.

The attack had sent the man a good distance away and had left him slumped on the second floor guard railing, but it was clear Anima had held back on that hit, the bars were only lightly bent out of shape. The individuals who had been walking with Ivan had now taken up fighting stances and held them towards Anima and myself.

I rushed over to try and treat the man, but the spear head in front of me stopped that. They did not seem ready to let me through if there raised weapons were anything to go by. I could also hear the growling sounds from Eevee and the clanking sounds from Anima's armor, nearing behind me.

'Why can nothing be simple or easy!?' I began to panic. Thankfully I didn't need to worry too much as Ivan took a huge breath before beginning a coughing fit.

"Stand down Committee, I'm fine." He choked out the order. "Fuck, that is one nasty right hook." Spoke the man through a blooded mouth. "You may just have been right kid, she might just be platinum level." He laughed out as he attempted to stand up.

"I warned you, but you just had to agitate her." I attempted to disperse the foul mood.

"Yea, but ya didn't warn me she had a temper." He said while massaging his jaw.

"She only really get like that when you go after me." I quietly said.

"So a guardian complex, huh. I gotta say kid you've got one hell of a sister." Laughed the man.

"Sister!" yelled the Members of Anima's team. I gave them a strange look and re-confirmed the idea. "Yea, Anima's my sister. Why the weird looks?" I questioned back.

Most of the members shied away from the question trying to look anywhere, but at me. "Well you see-" tried to explain the leader before he was overlapped by the rouge of the group.

"Anima please accept my love." Shamelessly proclaimed Luke to the guardian.

To which she just scoffed at. "For the last time, the only man for me is Erdrick." She responded with no hesitation, but a small amount of irritation. Clearly this had been an ongoing situation. After a second of processing I realized what the strange looks were for.

I looked over to the leader and warily asked. "What exactly did Anima say about me?"

"She spoke a lot about your strength and virtue, but…" he trailed off.

"Not like a brother." I tried to finish.

"Not like a brother. No, more like a lover if anything." He replied coyly.

I gave a huge groan at having now gotten the full scope of the situation. I felt a light pat on my back, I turned to see it was Ivan trying to comfort me. "Look on the bright side kid, you don't have to worry about people picking on ya, unless they wana end up six feet in tha ground that is." Laughed the older man. I simply groaned again.

After a while the situation had finally calmed down and we had all taken to sitting in a set of connected tables. Ivan group had taken the left and The Swords of Darkness the right. Anima and I sat at the front of the tables.

"So what do ya say kid, wana join my team." Asked Ivan.

I had already made my decision on the situation, but after what he said earlier I was going to make Ivan work for it. "I don't know Ivan; I've been offered to join another team already. Perhaps I would like to join them." I lied while gaining the attention from the Darkness sword.

"Quit lying kid, I already know you didn't plan on joining that group. So don't even try playing that card." Ivan accused.

"Even so you should know that simply accepting your offer would only benefit you, by doing this I can get a clear picture of which side is the better option." I lead the conversation.

"You want an offer don't ya kid."

"Bingo" I playfully said.

"Did I already tell ya your one ballsy kid."

"You may have mentioned it." I replied.

He sighed. "Fine, what do ya want?"

"Nothing really, aside from a decent pay I just want an agreement that I'll only be doing night missions, I do after all have a job now."

"Hot damn kid, you actually got that prune to teach ya?" He asked slightly shocked by the news.

"Yup, but I don't get paid in the traditional sense so I have to accept a second job offer and yours seems rather fun." I finished.

"Well you're in luck because we just so happen to be a night only force and an expensive one at that." He explained.

"Night only force? I thought you were an adventurer party."

"Nah kid, were the one of the cities' personal teams, they have them for specific villages outside the city walls. We're the Vigilance committee for Carne Village, a small place just south of the Azerlisia Mountains." Ivan explained.

"Do I need to join the guild before I work with you?" I questioned.

He just waved off the question. "The city just likes to higher from the guild because that at least guarantees an aptitude in fighting, but it aint necessary."

'I guess it was stupid to assume the city wouldn't use the manpower of the guild to try and secure its territories. It also seems that I won't be needing to join the guild, no point in wasting time joining when I'm already set.'

"Alright Ivan I'll join your group." I confirmed as I stood up.

"Great, now all we need to do is registrant ya with the city and it'll be official." He said as he stood up as well.

When he did so too did Anima begin to rise, but I quickly placed my hands on her shoulders and forced her back into her chair. "And Anima will be joining the Swords of Darkness." I proclaimed.

"What!" Almost everyone shouted.

"Yup, she'll be staying here in the guild."

"What tha hell kid!?" yelled Ivan.

"What, it's not like you need Anima in your party. You already have enough front-liners, but what your missing is support. That's where I come in, I have a selection of spells and can add some synergy to this team, but the Swords over here has a severe lack of heavy hitters." I argued my point.

Ivan looked like he wanted to argue, but seemed to realize I was right and conceded. "Fine, but I'll be cutting your pay over this." He lightly threatened.

"Do as you like." I looked down at a glaring Anima. "Don't give me that look, we already decided you would join the guild and I don't plan on changing things just because a few things went differently than expected." She didn't stop her glaring. I mentally sent her a message.

~I need you to gather information on the higher level fighters in the guild while you're here… also don't forget your prize at the end of all of this.

The last line of the message seemed to work, because soon after she looked over to the members of The Darkness Sword, who had been anxiously waiting for her response and gave them a nod. They all gave a cheer and began to crowd around their new member.

I quietly escaped the group and followed behind the waiting Ivan. Once I did Ivan took to introducing the members of the group, but I only partly listened to him as he spoke. No, I was far more focused on planning out how the rest of our trip would be now having nearly finished our first.

'Awkward moments aside, this day has turned out far better than I had expected. I got a teacher to learn how to read, Anima's part of the guild and has a team, hell even I have a team. This is a near perfect start to this trip, I can't think of anything of anything th… What am I a fucking idiot! I almost tempted the universe into fucking with me with that last line! It doesn't count if I didn't finish right?' As Ivan continued to introduce everyone I simply listened and silently hoped I hadn't just fucked everything up. Unfortunately the world is a cruel place and not one to give things out for free.

/Halve an hour ago/

/POV Lizzie Bareare/

"Be here by six o'clock sharp, I don't like slackers." As the door behind me clicked shut I let my calm exterior drop.

"What is that kid? Tier-three magic at his age and he acts like it's nothing special! He could become a gold ranked adventurer with a good recommendation, but he's here wanting to learn how to read. Either he's telling the truth about being sheltered and doesn't know he's a genius or he has a secondary objective…But if that were the case he wouldn't have offered this 'Penicillin'."

I pulled the bottle from my pocket and inspected it. "It could just be water disguised with magic to act as a healing salve, but I'll just have to test it to see."

I gave a slight sake of my head. "Maybe I'm just being cynical and the kids just here for what he says. I guess as long as he doesn't do or ask for anything strange it should be fine." As I finished speaking the click of the door opening drew by attention to it.

"Grandmother, Mr. Erdrick actually had another request of you. He was wondering if we had a spare room here at the shop he could stay at." Called Nfirea from the door.

'…or perhaps that kid is looking for something other than how to read.' I eyed the kid passed the door and noticed the slight grin across his face.

I gave a quick response. "Tell him if he wants he can have the back storage room." With that Nfirea turned back to give the boy the news.

'I'll definitely have to keep an eye out for him.' I glared at the cheering form of our new tenant.

Unaffected by the glare Erdrick continued to lightly cheer only a single thought on his mind. 'Yes, no weird touching for me tonight. Operation is a success!'

A/N: Well that took much longer than expected, but like many of your writer I too have gone back to school, college to be specific. So yes chapter updates will slow down, but unfortunately that's how things are and I have nothing to be sorry for.

That aside let's talk about the chapter. As I'm sure many of you have seen I have taken a few liberties with canon and I hope that hasn't pissed off too many of you, if it has the I'm sorry, but Its done and I won't be changing it.

Next is the idea that I will be uprooting the entire main plot of Overlord, the answer to that is NO. why? Well because I just don't have the skills for such a play, as you know this is my first fic and thus I have little practice changing established ideas. One of the many reasons I went with the character insert as my first story is because it was fun and easy for a first story idea so no I won't be changing major points, at least not intentionally.

Future chapter discussion. There will be a light time skip next chapter. Why, well because it would have been boring just writing Erdrick learning about every little thing in the city so I decided to skip it. But what you do get to see is the actual plot finally tying into this one. "Yay" But again take that with a grain of salt because I myself am not entirely sure of that.

That's it for now readers, hope to see you next time.

P.S. I was wondering how my pacing is, I'm not actually too sure how it's going on that end and would like some feedback.