III

Upon entering the cathedral, Narberal was partially blinded by a very powerful light source for a brief moment, just enough for her to consider moving her hand towards the hilt of her sword. However, upon recalling the wise words of her master, she immediately refrained from taking action. As her vision gradually came back, everything seemed clearer. The cathedral's interior was inundated by the intense morning sunlight reflected by countless large windows, which was amplified by a special kind of reinforced, multi-coloured glass with finely crafted depictions of deities and people doing their daily business.

Dozens of chandeliers were gathered atop the gigantic stone entrance, candles were set up on the floor, near several statues representing the faithful praying, on a set of stone altars, on the handrails, around the windows; everything seemed to carry the concept of "light".

Intense scents of all kinds of herbal mixtures could be smelled from the back of the pulpit to the very first nave right after the entrance.

"Such opulence, and not even a single statue dedicated to lord Ainz. Seems a total waste of resources" Narberal thought to herself, "what should we do now? Should we proceed towards the source of that power?"

"Umm I, I think it would be wise to look for a shelter first" Mare expressed his concern towards their basic means of communication. As Demiurge always stated, it should be imperative for any strategist to first consider any means of escaping a dangerous situation in order to advance their plan, no matter its kind, without being noticed and \ or sustaining the absolute minimal amount of damage.

Narberal nodded approvingly. Even so, her eyes were fixed on the southernmost stone wall, where the pulpit was located. She couldnt shake the feeling that something was up.

From the moment they sat foot into the city, a strange urge to flee had clouded her mind. Something primordial, most likely caused by a very powerful magic item. While it was too weak an effect to affect her performance, she was in a state of constant urgency. That was why she had almost confronted that man on her way to the cathedral a few minutes prior. It was hard to control, although not impossible. Mare on the other hand had no problems whatsoever, that was because of the protection of the World Class Item bestowed upon him by lord Ainz himself, and his own level was probably too high for the source of the effect to do anything to him.

Due to the strange phenomenon, they had decided to search for the source of the disturbance first, neutralize it, and then set up camp somewhere. But given the circumstances it seemed indeed more appropriate to find shelter, as the city was much bigger than initially predicted.

The streets were large and crowded with people, the districts were double or triple the size of E-Rantel's, and it looked as if the actual depth and width of the buildings could expand by magical means. The walls moved slightly at a rhytmical pace, as if they were breathing.

That wasnt the case for the cathedral or the monuments they had encountered previously, hoever the majority of the houses around the merchant district all had this weird property.

"Are you okay? Should we invesigate further before accessing an inn?" Mare asked, visibly concerned.

"Oh no, please dont consider my thoughts. I've been exposed to worse effects anyway. This is nothing".

But as she said that, Narberal's eyes finally caught on to something. A shiny metal armor was placed in a large encased stone niche behind the pulpit. Next to it, three others of various degrees of quality and craftsmanship were put on display at the sides. They were smaller in size and less decorated, but they looked just as well preserved.

"That's some high grade equipment" Narberal commented with a slight hint of suspicion.

"Ah, I see you took interest in our holy relics. It is most pleasing for men of the church such as myself to witness interest in our history from an outsider".

The man addressing Narberal looked like an average priest, with typical white robes and an even whiter hairline. His visage looked stoic and proud.

"How do you know that we are outsiders?"

"Well it is an easy guess mylady. Who would stare at lady Hilda's armor like that? None in our city would dare. But foreign eyes are always so curious and unwillingly impudent it is impossible for me to not notice".

"This lady Hilda again... I must know more".

"Can you tell us what kind of equipment is that? And who would wear it?"

"That is the sacred armor of our holy lady Hilda and her faithful companions. She founded our city 400 years ago, destroyed the monsters inhabiting this region of the world, and wiped out any menace who dared oppose our peaceful expansion. She bestowed the gift of water and plentiful harvest upon our populace, and ruled peacefully in order for our race to thrive and realize its own potential. As a result, we now prosper in total freedom and blissful solitude from the rest of the world. We sustain our own economy, we grow our own crops, and live off of the labour of our own men and women without the need for any outsider. That however does not mean that we do not welcome foreigners, on the contrary, we salute different cultures and provide aid whenever possible".

"Interesting. So you've secluded yourselves behind the desert. No wonder no one would dare disturb you under these extreme circumstances".

"Indeed. The harsh climate is part of why we have been able to thrive undisturbed for such a long period of time. But we also had the protection of our holy lady and her companions for almost 200 years. Until... they sadly had to depart the realm of the living".

"And, umm, why nobody picked up her equipment?" Mare asked almost innocently.

"Such foolish misconception! None of us could bring themselves to even try such a blasphemous act! To wear that holy armor means to be able to dispel evil from the land, to assume command and protect the populace from the dangers of true evil".

The priest seemed rather upset by Mare's question. He hurriedly got back to his composed demaneaur, not without difficulty.

"Ahem, at any rate, none of us is brave or strong enough to wear that armor. The only person able to do that would be her son".

"So this holy person had a son. Where is he now? I'd like to speak to him" Narberal stated, rather boldly.

"I'm afraid that wont be possible mylady. The young lord is very... elusive. He lives in a remote mountain pass behind the southern city gates. But rest assured, he protects us from evil even now. His strength is comparable to that of lady Hilda and his benevolent spirit gives us courage to face off the hardest challenges".

"Besides why would you ever want to speak to a demigod anyway?" someone with a loud youthful voice addressed Narberal directly from the back of the pulpit, "you shouldnt mess with the holy relics nor the gods. Pathetic peasants should stay where they belong. Right priest?"

"While you are not wrong, you should well measure your words, Bastenna. We do not know if they are nobles or commoners. It is customary for members of the clergy to remain calm and courteous at all times". The priest spoke to her with a rather harsh tone.

"Dont give me that look old man. I know the drill. It's just that these dont look like nobles at all. Oh right, I'm Bastenna Lokart, pleased to meet you. You seem adventurers like me, is that correct?"

"Indeed we are" Narberal stated while keeping her anger in check, "for your information, yes we are of noble origin. Please dont assume our ranks based on looks alone. I myself am an adamantite class adventurer, and so is my companion".

"Oh yeah? That pretty little thing is adamantite? Ahahah. Of course. Now they give top classes away to children". Bastenna looked like a brown half-elf with small pointy ears, long blonde hair and remarkably small breasts. Her attire was more akin to that of a prostitute than an adventurer; Narberal guessed her level must have been very low and her job class unmistakably relegated to support. There was no fighting spirit in her whatsoever. She was all talk, no substance.

"Anyway, dont mess with the gods. Period. Trust me on that. But you know what, I know for a fact that this Flannar guy is just fluff. I saw him once, yeah? He came down that mountain like he owned the place, sat in Luma's tavern and ordered a drink. Got that? A drink, like a commoner! Then he started speaking to people, completely random peasants passing by. What kind of a demigod is that? All swag, but behind that facade, nothing concrete I tell ya. Someone challenged him to a fight, some drunk guy at the inn. And what did he do? Nothing, he just took his things and left. Does that sound powerful to you? Or exciting even?"

Bastenna started laughing rather loudly without waiting for a reply. Narberal averted her gaze.

"I feel like if I looked at her too much my braincells would rot".

"So, umm, this, this tavern... did they know about the demigod? Are they able to tell us more?"

This time it was Mare breaking the increasingly more displeasing icy atmosphere enveloping Narberal.

"Oh, that would be a good idea. We could go ask them if you dont mind".

"Ah no of course why would I give a damn what a couple of foreigners do? Despite me not being a local, I've been living here for the past five years so I know a thing or two. I cant possibly convince you otherwise, can I? But you know, curiousity killed the cat and blablablah you know the rest. Be on your guard if you want to pursue this demigod business hahaha! Speaking of which, Luma's tavern is one of the biggest in town and also one of the craziest".

"Craziest... how?" Narberal's irritated look almost pierced Bastenna's eyes.

"I mean, prices! Crazy affordable for the first night or two, but then... I dont know how she does it, suddenly everything costs triple or quadruple its original price. And you cant do a damn thing about it! Either pay up or go home, if you have one!"

"The more I listen the less I understand" Narberal stated bluntly, "I apologize but we must leave now. I bid you farewell".

The priest offered his thanks to the adventurers and scolded Bastenna some more before retreating to his quarters for another daily sessions of prayers. Narberal wondered what kind of rituals those savages were performing in order for them to have better harvest and protection from evil.

"Humans and albino elves. What a lurid combination. They look as uninteresting as ever" she thought, trying to get a hold of her surroundings with a terribly invasive headache "I bet they're all talk. I've seen countless civilizations up until now and none of them were even remotely as complex or interesting as Nazarick. Secluded relics such as those should belong in a museum".

Still, despite her disdain for the human race and the mild boredom expressed for the albino elves, the high class items she had witnessed were of undisputed interest. Lord Ainz might've been able to do something with those, so she intended to inform him as soon as they found a place to stay.

"Umm is, is it fine if we visit that tavern? The one the lousy girl was talking about? You might be able to rest there". Mare had expressed concern for Narberal for a while by then. Her outbursts of anger and irritability were more frequent than usual. She valued his opinion as much as that of lord Ainz himself, so she agreed without a second thought. Moving around those same alleys and courtyards was proving difficult as the structure of the main streets and the architecture of the buildings looked very similar from place to place, most likely in a deliberate attempt to confuse outsiders.

"We may investigate that cathedral further during the night. I think there is more to it. The priest seemed quite eager to have us out of there at some point".

"You, you think so? That place was pretty. It even had blooming flowers scattered all over! I'm always so pleased to see Mother Nature treated with respect like that!"

For a moment, Mare betrayed his age though he didnt look as feminine as before. Still grasping for early adulthood, his mannerism and composure had become proper of a young man thanks to lord Ainz's instructions and Demiurge's impeccable teachings. This of course had been advanced much faster by Sebas' intermissions as Ainz had foreseen that leaving him with Demiurge alone would just produce another disciple of destruction. What he sought after was a more refined version of himself, a Guardian capable of coming out of his shell even just a little bit, a proper brother capable of shielding his sister in times of need.

Narberal nodded in agreement, a slight but sincere smile appeared briefly between her lips.

"Hm, at any rate, I think we are close. The signs were clear enough. It wont be long now".

As they turned the next corner, and the next, and then a vaguely familiar intersection, Narberal decided she had enough. She sat on a wooden stool next to a large building that seemingly looked like the one she had already passed by a few moments earlier and closed her eyes. Concentrating on her surroundings, she frantically searched for a presence of some kind, whether magical or physical, but to no avail.

Even though the streets were still packed with people and the journey was seemingly unaffected by magic, she could tell something was wrong.

"Do you sense any disturbance? Anything at all?" she asked contemplating the large street ahead of them "I just cant understand why this tavern is so far away. It should've been close by according to the signs and yet it almost feels like we're running in circles".

"Um I, I think we definitely are. It would be best if we tried with an aerial view of the area. Dont you agree?" Mare was ready to take off. Even though his visage had always been cheerful it appeared that he too was slightly concerned by the situation. He hadnt been able to identify any magical source and the amount of people around them was so great that distinguishing a powerful force from the rest would prove difficult, as many of the albino elves were well above average for the standards of the New World.

"True we havent tried that. Lets consider where we are first though. We shouldnt use fly here, it would be more discreet doing it from that alley" she indicated a location shrouded in darkness close by, "I think giving away our powers to the general populous should be avoided as much as possible".

"G-Good thinking. I'm sorry I still need to come to terms with how the world works".

"No please dont apologize for something this trivial. I should've specified it earlier, I'm the one at fault here" Narberal stated with apologetic eyes "besides flying isnt all that uncommon. However, we need to remain in-character for the time being and our abilities shouldnt exceed those of an average adventurer unless required by necessity".

"Alright. The world is really complex..." Mare seemed to be taking mental notes of everything happening around him. He looked at the ground deep in thought for a moment, then raised his head to the clear afternoon sky.

"Okay, umm would that direction be good? I saw a back alley over there. It looked unguarded".

Narberal nodded and moved promptly towards the shadowed entrance to the alleyway, eager to do something other than walking. A slight surge of anxiety and frustration had clouded her mind. She wanted to get rid of that awful feeling soon.

The alleyway seemed to lead to a dead end; nothing but a brick wall, a few wooden crates and a metallic door to the side leading to a ruined building that looked ready to be demolished. The area was covered by large tiled roofs and a sizeable wooden structure probably arranged as such so that construction workers could manage the adjacent building's renovations.

"Umm, I was thinking, did you... notice something weird? Where did all the homeless people go?" Mare asked out of the blue looking around the alleyway.

Narberal was surprised to hear him of all people express that kind of concern, but it made sense: they hadnt seen a single poor person since they first arrived there. Homeless, destitute, lonesome wretched rejects of society were usually grouped in a specific district or otherwise found on the street begging for money and attention. In all of her travels with Momon as the adventurer Nabe, she had seen countless different treatments of the poor, from slavery to open beatings, to actual charity. However, in that peculiar city there seemed to be only rich merchants, educated and well dressed peasantry, and a large group of wealthy elves.

Even outsiders such as that annoying half-elf she had encountered at the cathedral seemed to fare pretty well above their possibilities.

"Now that I think about it you may have a point. This is another mystery. Maybe lord Ainz could-"

She stopped mid sentence as a small, feather-like sound attracted her attention. Someone was moving in their general direction from the alleyway's entrance, and another presence producing the same sound could be heard from above their heads. In a few seconds, two concealed figures clad in white robes appeared. The one behind them stood still, as if waiting for an opportunity to do something. The other, rapidly walking on the wooden boards above, had pulled out a shiny object. Narberal couldnt focus her vision; they were using some kind of camouflage that made their movements very difficult to distinguish. As it stood, she was only able to discern their presence and the direction they took while moving, but their actions appeared as blurry, unfocused afterimages.

Mare looked at the duo, unfazed. He seemed almost unaware of their presence, as if they had an inconsequential impact on his journey.

"Hm. Impressive. You can see us and even follow what we are doing. No wonder your house is the pinnacle of magic" the one behind Narberal finally spoke.

"No matter, brother. Even though they are well trained, we can take them. Hey you two! You better surrender your possessions and get away from the city center. We dont want some Drykven filth staining our turf" the one above their heads stated in a harsh, coarse voice.

"What are those two blabbering about?" Narberal had no idea, but even so if they tried something she would fight without mercy.

The assailant above jumped on her brandishing the shiny object. The blurred afterimages multiplied in a distorted mess of colours and light refraction.

"Tier Four: Poison Lance" the second assailant behind them casted a spell at the same time. His palm opened and a violet flaming projectile emerged from his hand.

As the shiny object made contact with Narberal's elbow, that she had put in front of her chest to shield herself, she could finally identify it: it was a small knife imbued with magic that emitted a wave of distortion around it. The range seemed very small, and judging by the fact that no pain nor cut had been inflicted on her, the quality of that weapon had to be very low.

The assailant was shocked to see that he couldnt hurt her. He jumped away from her as soon as the blade made contact with her cloth, landing in a crouching position with one of his knees beneath his chest. He looked ready to sprint at her immediately.

The flaming projectile the other assailant had casted reached Mare's back. He didnt even have to dodge, it simply vanished upon contact. He turned his gaze just to confirm that something had touched him as he had felt a mild tickling sensation above waist level.

"Umm, miss Nabe should, should we consider this as a murder attempt?"

"That may very well be the case Marinee. I say we consider it a threat to our lives and do what must be done".

"But… I dont think lord Ainz would approve of us killing two people without proof. I mean… it is not a real threat, is it?"

"I'm happy to know that you value lord Ainz's words to the letter. However, consider this: what if they had used a bigger knife? Or a stronger spell? It is obvious they attempted to kill us. I say it is a good moment to make them stop".

"I get what you are saying but still, umm, I think they just want to intimidate us and have us leave the city center so…"

The assailant that had just tried to hurt Narberal with the knife took that opportunity to sprint at incredible speed towards her while she was arguing with Mare. His companion grinned maliciously as he prepared another spell in the meantime.

"Getting distracted during a fight? Ah! You are more foolish than I thought! Give us your stu-"

Narberal threw a blind punch behind her with a simple motion of her forearm. Her knuckles sunk into the assailant's chin with such force that his jaw broke with a loud "crack". As his teeth bit his own tongue due to the force of impact upwards, a small puddle of blood emerged from his mouth, crumpled in disbelief.

"See? He wanted to hit me from behind. I think this is a clear indication of muderous intent" Narberal continued to argue with Mare as if nothing had happened.

"Brother Rojvas! Dont worry I'm coming for you!" the spell caster shouted in anger as he moved his arms in the air while reciting an unknown enchantment spell.

This time however, Narberal didnt give him the benefit of the doubt. She bolted in his direction and hit him hard with her knee at the very center of his ribcage.

All his ribs broke upon contact and his internal organs exploded. His body collapsed in a pool of blood and viscera, emerged from his sternum.

The man he had called Rojvas had watched it all happen with eyes so terrified he had lost control over his bladder. As he frantically tried to make a sense of the situation, his trembling legs kicked dirt as violently as a dying horse would.

"Miss, miss Nabe! No! This is not acceptable!" Mare looked at her slightly upset "Lord Ainz told us not to kill anyone unless directly threatened. I'm, I'm going to tell him that you've failed in your duties if you keep this up".

"Ah! I'm so sorry I just… I dont know what I was thinking. I would never defy lord Ainz's words I swear! This is the first time I lose control of my actions. I-I just…"

Narberal looked genuinely concerned. She knelt and bowed her head to the ground.

"Please forgive me. It is unbecoming of me. I will accept any punishment you may deem necessary".

"Dont, dont do this. Raise your head please. I just, umm, wanted you to understand that what you did is wrong".

"I know. I… I think this city's air has something to it. I wasnt able to measure my strength".

"Then we must investigate further. I'll, I'll do my best to assist you".

Mare offered her his hand, then the duo turned to the wounded assailant.

"Umm, we didnt mean to kill your friend. Please dont say anything about this to anyone. Otherwise we may need to kill you too. Let's avoid that, okay?" Mare's eyes looked as pure as the morning breeze. That terrified his interlocutor even more.

He tried to speak but at every movement of his broken jaw intense pain would stop him.

"Oh that's right. We need to interrogate you now, please stay still".

Mare used light healing magic, just enough so that he could have him speak.

"You… you cant be from house Drykven. They dont do this kind of stuff in the open. Who are you people?!"

"We, we are adventurers coming from a far away land. Can you tell us what were you doing?"

"Planning to trick us, huh? Was the city's illusion your doing as well?" Narberal interjected with spiteful eyes.

It took more than a few tries for the panicked man to attempt a response.

"We have no such powers. Illusion magic is something that very few of us can wield with even the slightest ounce of confidence. My brother and I thought you belonged to house Drykven… because of that ring".

"This one?" Narberal followed the man's line of sight and raised her hand. He was looking at the Ring of Sustenance.

"Yes. It's so similar to one of the many devices of death and destruction those fanatical psychos employ that we thought you were up to no good on our turf. Although your appearance was dissimilar to that of the Drykvens… we just couldnt leave that up to chance".

"So who are they? What did they do?"

The man went on explaining who the members of house Drykven were. How their non-elven hatred had consumed them, how they didnt look at the other noble houses favourably and about their inhuman skills in magic and necromancy. And how they mercilessly kidnapped, experimented on and murdered indiscriminately any citizen, foreigner or human.

After that, he proudly declared himself part of house Falsjago, that he described as a "non-official peacekeeping force among a threatened population who's afraid of the institutions as much as robbery".

"So let me get this straight. You're organized crime stepping on each other's toes. Is that all there is?" Narberal didnt look impressed. That explanation totally quelled her interest to the point of sheer boredom.

"This isnt as straightforward as it sounds, you foreigners couldnt possibly understand! We are a force of good! We protect people! Sometimes… it just so happens that we gain a modest profit out of it, but that doesnt change our moral code! We value life just like any other person. Those monsters instead… they just want to disrupt public order and dwell in chaos".

"Sounds like people we would want to meet" Mare felt a bit curious about the whole ordeal, but not enough to actually care.

"So if you didnt bring that illusion, who did?"

"How… how should I know? You're asking the wrong person. Now leave. I want to mourn my brother in peace, you monsters. If you really are who you claim to be, get out of our city. Last thing we need now is inhumanly strong foreigners messing things up".

Mare and Narberal left the man alone for just about a couple seconds. Their interest was no more, and so they went up and tried flying to grasp an aerial view of the area. However, a deep sense of uneasyness pervaded both as they approached the rooftops of the city. As soon as the skyline got into view, a powerful shockwave coming from below hit them, disregarding any and all defenses.

As their hair moved about fluently, an uncannily soothing voice penetrated their minds.

"dEstInY iS fleeTing. No wAy to escaPe the uLtiMate deMise. YoU sHall be judGed Soon".

Those the words of a mysterious bystander; as such Narberal and Mare's minds identified them. Close by and yet very far away.

"Clever tricks. But I'm tired of this charade. Show yourself whoever you are. If you dont, we might just have to break this little illusion barrier of yours, and then snap your neck" roared Narberal, visibly irritated.

"Please calm down. We, we'll get through this no problem. I can see the rest of the city just fine. The illusion is weak and its range is small. Come, lets, lets just get out of here" incited Mare, whose attention span had already elapsed. He didnt care for any threat nor mortal being in his proximity, for he knew how strong he was, and the several battles he had witnessed throughout the years made him more aware than ever. His place in the world was well defined, and there would've been no chance for any new worlder to take his.

Narberal nodded and began moving towards him. Without a moment's notice, another shockwave invested them both, piercing through their heads like a spear of thorns. While Mare seemed unaffected, Narberal felt a sharp pain exploding all around her skull, as if her brain was being physically assaulted.

"Ah, YoU sEeM blIssfullY uNawarE. That is a rEliEf! But It does nOt chAnge aNythIng. PerHaps a liTtle enCourageMent shall Be in orDer?"

The voice suddenly went silent. With it, the illusion vanished as if it never were. Looking below, Mare could ascertain that nobody was in sight, and they were pretty close to the cathedral, as if they had just moved past a couple hundred meters from the plaza.

Relieved, he took Narberal under his arm and descended with her. As they touched the ground, Narberal felt instantly better. Her headache was slowly subsiding and the pain she had felt was no more.

"That… was unexpected. I still dont get it. Did you hear that voice as well, lord Mar… Marinee?"

"Y-yes I did. I think this is just part of the illusion. The, the person responsible must have a large skillset. But it did nothing to me, see? And you seem to be better now. Their tricks are just that. Nothing harmful to us".

"Even still, it hurt my head quite a bit. I'll see the mission through the end regardless but I may need to upgrade my defenses. May I speak with lord Ainz once we reach the tavern?"

"Of, of course. After all, arent you in charge of me here?" Mare smiled sincerely. Narberal felt warmth in her chest as if her pride and motivation had suddenly been boosted a million times. It was true, the Supreme One himself had appointed her that role, even if just for that mission and in mere fictitious ways because of their roles in that silly play for the world to see.

She felt genuinely embarrassed for that pitiful display of skill. First, she couldnt control her strength and as a result she had disobeyed a direct order, then she had been hurt by unknown forces which could not be located by conventional means. That was almost unacceptable. If it hadnt been for Mare's reassurance, she may have had the will to get out of the city and seek lord Ainz's forgiveness and just punishment herself.

"P-pay no heed to what the voice said. We dont know what they wanted and we dont need to. All that matters now is the mission. Lord Ainz wants results, and we, we will bring them to him".

Narberal was conflicted. That notion had always been clear in her head but now things might change. They had to be on their guard more, and if someone in that city was able to harm her physically even though for a very brief moment, she wouldnt let that happen twice.

As they moved out of the plaza, they realized that Luma's tavern was very close by, even more so than what they had originally anticipated. Frustrated by the lateness of their visit, they doubled their pace. The tavern's owner was right behind a couple customers just about to order, seated a handful of tables away from the entrance. As they approached, her face went pale.

"By the gods! You're bleeding! Quick, call Faustus we need medication!"

"Huh? Me?" Narberal looked around. Some customers offered her their seat, while others tried to rush to her aid.

At that moment, she realized her ragged robes were completely soaked in blood. It belonged to the man she had brutally killed earlier.

"Oh… right, right, ah! I feel so weak! Please I need a bed!" her acting skills, admittedly terribly poor, seemed to work just fine for those gullible goodie-two-shoes. In a couple minutes, she and Mare were given a proper room on the second floor, equipped with two beds, a large bookcase containing local folktales, a stash of painkillers, bandages, and a healing potion.

"Such luck! We truly are blessed by lord Ainz's favour".

"Indeed. Umm, should, should we just be reading those books to absorb more information?"
"I'm not much for reading. But please lord Mare, by all means".

"I see. Alright then. You just rest there for a bit".

Narberal seated on her bed and sought to use Message to contact lord Ainz while Mare began reading. His eyes were already glued to the pages as if his soul, his very existence was trying its hardest to please his master.

After a couple minutes, the two partners looked at each other's faces and instantly knew something was up.

"What, what is the problem miss Nabe? Arent you feeling well?"

"It's not that… I… I cant use Message here".

"R-really? Umm that seems unlikely. Let me try it".

Mare tried to contact lord Ainz immediately. As it happens, he was able to in the blink of an eye.

"Yes Mare? Is everything allright?"

"Gree, greetings lord Ainz. Yes we are allright for now. But miss Nabe seems unable to use Message".

"Hmm. That is interesting, although a bit alarming. It is very possible that the effects of World Class Items might be the key to solve the problem, indeed if you havent experienced this at all that is the most logical conclusion. To this end perhaps it would be best to recall Narberal so that I can give her one as well".

Mare reported lord Ainz's wish to Narberal. She seemed frustrated and quite stubborn regarding that particular matter, however if that had come as a direct order she couldnt possibly refuse. Mare relied the messages back and forth as he got them, diligently and absentmindedly.

"Very well then. If you wish to proceed a little while longer, I'll allow it. However let it be known that my concern has not subsided. I shall award you two more days, at the end of which, whether you have gathered enough info or not, I'll recall both of you to the camp. Inform Demiurge about this decision so that he can modify his plans accordingly. You need to coordinate your movements and remain vigil at all times".

"Understood lord Ainz!" Mare excitedly swung Generosity in the air.

Relieved by the news and reasured by lord Ainz's words, Narberal felt the moment ripe for the taking. She would've wasted no time dwelling over nothing. She rushed outside of her room, seeking Luma's presence.

She found her cleaning the counter just two flight of stairs below. Her tired gaze met hers, as if she understood something.

"Ah, greetings. I'm glad to see you well. I swear the moment I looked at you earlier my heart skipped a beat! It's very rare for us to receive newcomers in that state. Although… well lets say that I'm used to it now".

"Nobody should get used to the sight of blood and the smell of death, right?" Narberal's stoic expression loosened up a bit. She tried her best to be friendly. After all, that was their only lead for the time being.

"You are correct. Sometimes though, one has to do what's there to be done. It is hard the first few times, but in the end, well… ah! But what am I saying! Let's change topic, how about that? Talking about death and blood doesnt suit me at aaaaalll!"

"Alright, although, uh, you looked awfully familiar with the feeling just now. Is that something common in this city?"

"Not… particularly, no. We dont have that kind of problem here. Our peculiar geographical position is a great help. Generally nobody comes visiting us, beside a few merchants and the occasional wagons full of refugees. But during this season there is a lot of tourism from the nearby countries, you know, the realms just outside this desert, sheltered by the rocky formations surrounding it. They've come here for the festivals, good food, good drinks, beautiful women, if I can say so myself" Luma protruded her massive breasts towards Narberal, whose eyes bore an indecipherable mixture of envy and frustration, "aaaand of course the thermal gasses outside!"

"Hm. So it is true. These gasses, do they… do something?"

"Why, of course! They're veeeery beneficial for the skin, lungs, and some women swear their nails look more polished, perfect for the summer! But who am I to say this? Why dont you go and try that for yourself? The hotspring is so massive it could contain a small army. And the benefits arent limited to women either, sometimes even men go there to relax. Buuut I'm not personally concerned by it, after all I'm not too good with boundaries. Not… with anyone. Men and women alike, you know? And that's my biggest weakness, ah!"

As she said that, her leaning shoulder touched Narberal's left breast ever so slightly, the movement of which caused one of the buttons of her shirt to loosen.

"I can see what you mean. You are a very pretty girl…" Narberal moved to the side to avoid Luma's chest swallowing her upper torso as she swept by over the counter.

"I knooow right? That's what I dont get. Personal space. See? I did it again! I'm so sorry. Here, you know what? I'll apply a discount on your dinner. How's that sound?"

More uneventful blabbering followed, so much so that Narberal lost count of the hours passed between each break. In the end, the conversation could be changed or altered in many ways but the topics were starting to shorten. That city truly seemed the mundane, isolated, typical place many youngsters sought to abandon early on in their life.

"… and so I told that gentleman, sir, you need to get a job! And I left him there. I hope he got the message, ahahah!"

"Interesting" Narberal sighed, seeking comfort in a couple copper coins she willingly threw in the air a few times to wake her up from total boredom "so did this guy ever get a job even? Or was he homeless?"

"Most likely homeless! Although I've never seen a real poor person in years".

That was the cue Narberal needed. She immediately took the opportunity to know more.

"So tell me. What does it feel like to be poor in this city? We've seen plenty of rich merchants, politicians, lots of elves with fancy dresses and jewelry, but not even a single beggar since we came here. This seems odd to me".

"Well as a former foreigner myself, yes it is. But I cant say anymore than that. I… think it has something to do with tradition. I guess the poor are simply ostracized?"

"Is that even a thing? Do the poor die of starvation outside of the city walls?"

"I guess they do… look, I've got to get back to work. It has been pleasant chatting with you. Maaaybe we can do it another time still? Oh, and dont forget, tonight is free, but from tomorrow onward its 5 gold pieces!"

Luma hurriedly got back to work. As she tried to approach her again for more questioning later on during the evening, Narberal got met with blank stares and bland hand waves. The girl seemed genuinely busy, even still she couldnt shake off that feeling that she got dumped on that particular subject.

With nothing else to do, Narberal went upstairs to listen to Mare's report of his own findings. However, just moments before she entered the room, she heard a familiar voice. Upon reaching the handrail, she looked below and saw the Judge bursting a grossly loud laugh in the middle of the tavern's hall. Half-asleep, half-drunk, the bulky man was carrying an exhausted youngster on his shoulder.

"Welcome back Judge! Sooo how did it go?"

"Ha! We wanted to try the hotsprings too for once, you see, Plurimo here got a little too excited with his uh, research, so I had to literally wake him up, shake him a little, then carry him all the way there. But do take a guess, were we able to bathe? Of course not. Bunch of trolls and very aggressive wolves started storming in as soon as we tried to approach the place. We had to leave in a damn hurry I can tell you that much".

"So unusual. Wolves… there? At this time of the year even? Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure you bumbling wench! Ah whatever. Bring me some Kuhana so I can shake this feeling off of me, will you? And give Plurimo a sip as well. I'm going to carry him home soon enough anyway".

"Allrighty! Here you go guys!"

Luma's expert hands moved as fast as lightning. In a few moments two large goblets full to the brim were flying across the tavern, and down they went through the two exhausted fellows' throats.

While Plurimo didnt seem too bothered by the events that had just unfolded, the Judge looked visibly frustrated. Narberal couldnt help but smirk in amusement, thinking about how those fools had it coming for even thinking about trying to defy lord Ainz's committment to his research.

As the conversation appeared to have died down, someone intervened from behind their backs. At first Narberal couldnt see who it was, but then she realized.

"Yohoo Judge, long time no see huh? How have you been? Must've been a long day. You look like crap!"

"Keep your mouth shut you worthless recluse. Who do you think you are?"

The slender figure approaching appeared to be Bastenna's. The lousy adventurer with a bad attitude that Narberal had met that afternoon. She really didnt want to hear what nonsense the girl had to spew from that filthy mouth, so she turned her back to the people below and approached her room. However, the conversation that followed had her intrigued.

"I'm an emissary of the church of course! You should know that! Our powers are immeasurable, so you'd best be on your guard!"

"Ha! The only thing you're good at is kidnapping people. Dont make me laugh".

"People huh? You still call those sacks of meat people?"

"Hey now. There is a fine line between human beings, elves, and animals. Does the church of lady Hilda not teach you that right from the very beginning? I'll have you know I've been a disciple myself".

"Yes indeed. But somehow the distinction starts to blur out as the ceremonies go on. You wouldnt know anything about that, would you?"

"What are you getting at? Are you here to stir up trouble again? I dont recall ever inviting you to my table".

"I'm here on friendly terms, relax. Archbishop Byokris sent me to find your fetid rear so that we could chat about… business. You see, we need a couple more… materials, for tonight's ritual".

"A couple more…? You guys have got some nerve".

"Umm, could you please stop talking about this in the middle of the tavern?" Luma suddenly interjected with an unusually serious expression on her face, "we have foreigners upstairs. And just so you know, I have customers to attend to outside. Do whatever you have to do somewhere else if you please".

The Judge nodded. He silently indicated a small service door behind them, then invited Bastenna to follow. Narberal didnt waste any time and, while concealing her presence by moving further away from the handrail, she casted Bunny Ears.

While she couldnt see them, she could now hear them as if the three of them were in the same room.

"Asking for more people to kidnap in public is pretty ballsy. To me, of all people. Do I look like a disruptor of public safety to you?" the Judge roared at Bastenna.

"Well they dont call you the Judge for nothing, do they? You have the mayor's trust, and as the highest authority among our paladins, and the bridge between the church of lady Hilda and the municipal college, you might just have some criminals in your jail cells that you simply dont know what to make of. How about you handle them to us for tonight?"

The Judge seemed troubled. He got lost deep in thought for a couple minutes, as Bastenna lavishly exposed her legs towards Plurimo, whose eyes were in between a drunken stupor and a deep need for sleep.

"How many… are we talking about?"

"Well you see, someone did something really stupid today. Something very much against the law. But we kept it secret to not alarm the population at large. And to let the ceremony run smoothly. Gh, me and my big mouth! A-anyway, that's why we need a lot more for tonight's ritual".

"You didnt answer my question. How. Many?"

"Ih, scary eyes! Hmm… I guess… twenty or fourty will do".

"You're nuts. You want me to empty the whole precinct? We never executed so many at once. The inmates will grow resless. And what about the guards?"

"Hey, that's your concern not mine. How am I, a lowly wannabe clearic, supposed to solve your problems? I'm just here to expose the situation to you. And keep in mind, this stuff is highly confidential, meaning, you cant tell anyone".

"Ha! That seems like an unneeded concern on your part. You think a bastion of law and order like me could-"

"… exactly because you're a paladin. Again, this isnt our usual ritual. We wont just be feeding the children. The archbishop needs to resurrect someone".

"Resurrect? What in the hell… who died?"

"It's better for you if you dont know".

"No, now you'll tell me or the deal is off. This story is starting to sound too weird for my taste".

A brief pause followed, making the air suddenly heavier.

"… one of your protégèe. The mayor's daughter".

"You got to be… Asta is dead?! So that's why… by the gods, lord Flannar…!"

A violent sound echoed all around the tavern, as if someone had just broken a wall with such force that the debris were crumbling everywhere.

"Calm down. See' That's why I didnt want to tell you. You're way too impulsive. We can resurrect her. She wasnt… in such a bad condition that we couldnt do something about it. Got that? Now, you just need to stay put and let us work. Once this is over, we'll contact you again. I cant promise that it will be me again, it's more than likely that another agent with higher rankings than me will knock on your door".

"… very well. Just promise me one thing. When this is over and she's alive and well again, I want you to tell me who did it. Whoever it is, I'll make sure they pay dearly for this offense".

The conversation seemed to have stopped, as the two came out of their hidden spot and resumed their meal like nothing had happened.

With the new info acquired, Narberal returned to her room, where Mare had finished reading another small tome containing peculiar entries regarding the city's structure and religion.

After relating her new discoveries, Mare looked satisfied enough.

"We, well, now we have a clear picture of the situation. They appear to have some sort of secret hidden away. The need to make rituals for some… feeding? And they can resurrect the dead. It isnt uncommon but it could be high tier resurrection magic".

"Indeed, I think we should investigate. This seems a good opportunity to make a huge leap forward. They will be conducting the resurrection tonight, so this is a great opportunity to study their methods".

"I agree. Okay then umm… where will the ritual be conducted?"

"I dont know. They seemed to have done this already so they didnt need to state it openly. The only way for us to ascertain the ritual's location is to follow that fat ugly paladin and spy on him for the time being".

Mare nodded in agreement. Both werent too thrilled by that idea, but to satisfy lord Ainz's wishes it had to be done.

As time passed, the two prepared to go out once again. The tavern soon closed and its owner went to bed. Shortly before then, the Judge had taken his exhausted companion home, thanks to the large amount of liquor however, he didnt make much progress, thus it had been easy for Narberal to find him and hide nearby.

Mare seemed oddly interested in Plurimo, so much so that he asked Narberal if he could follow him and monitor his movements for a while.

"I, umm, I think that person has potential. It seems as if he… had hidden within himself some sort of power. I'm not sure, but… you felt that too, did you not?"

Narberal nodded. It was true, Plurimo did feel completely different from the average person. There was some sort of oddly familiar aura about him, something primordial. One could almost say that he had an innate "something" that was communicating with them at that time. It had been true even earlier, but to a lesser extent. Narberal thought it might have been the effects of the alcohol in his body, releasing that kind of natural scent without his control.

"So you think it would be best to keep an eye on him, is that it? Want to send him to Demiurge for further examination?"

"That would be a good idea. I think he could make for a fine prisoner as well, if all else fails. After all, umm, would an important person such as the Judge want to keep someone that close if he was just some commoner?"

"You're right. That must be it, good guess. I'm impressed by how well you've been adapting to the evolving situations so far. You'll make for a fine adventurer!"

"He he. Thank you so much miss Nabe. This does mean a lot to me".

How could she be opposed to the idea of Mare monitoring him now? His resolution was more than clear, and besides the Judge would have taken a small amount of time to assemble the detainees. She had studied the prison's location and the roads were paved and free from common folk at that time of the night, so it was only natural for her to assume so. With her blessing, Mare kept closer to Plurimo's location.

Meanwhile, as he left his companion's home, the Judge looked extremely disheartened and angry. His eyes were akin to those of a wounded wolf, and his resolute will to kill anyone who had defied the law felt palpable by any bystander.

Narberal followed him all the way to the prison, where he took a large group of convicted criminals, two armed guards, and a small wagon. He did it all discreetly and precisely, with seriousness and efficiency. In less than two hours they were all in front of the great cathedral at the very center of the city, the palpitating heart of that small domain still untouched by lord Ainz's benevolent hand.

The guards seemed blissfully unaware of what was going on, however, they appeared to have done this before more than once. They were accustomed to the Judge's orders and treated the felons accordingly, without raising suspicion. Among them, many felt uneasy and their looks of conern didnt go unnoticed. To anyone who was even remotely trying to speak, the Judge reserved a good smack to the face, so powerful that their noses and jaws often broke.

Of course, to him, they werent humans or elves anymore, but simple flesh and bone apt to return the mayor's daughter to him.

Narberal moved swiftly, already breaking into the cathedral after jumping on top of a steeple and then landing onto one of the small open windows at the top. She had a perfect view of the whole catehdral from that height, with the exception of the small niches containing the sacred artifacts of those foolish creatures.

The place was completely engulfed in a subtle magic field that acted as sound barrier. It became soon clear to her why they would want to prevent anyone from hearing what was happening inside.

Half a dozen priests clad in white robes with chainmail underneath were praying intensely at the center of the cathedral, among them, some were crying with joy and their large smiles looked somewhat unnatural, almost fanatical. Behind them, another group of priests, taller and with better clothing decorated with silver and golden inscriptions, were assisting them by spreading a white-ish miasma from large iron cups with a seemingly endless bottom. Narberal identified it as a magic ritual in progress, most likely to keep its participants in an inebriated state to weaken their resolve.

Someone emerged from a secret trapdoor just underneath the pulpit, as if everybody was already expecting what would have happened afterwards, every priest turned their attention towards it.

A large group of convicted felons, beggars, old men wearing poor rags or even naked, with visible signs of torture and malnutrition, came out of it. Some were crying, begging for mercy. Others had passively accepted their fate and seemed content to just being alive for the time being. Someone attempted to escape, but their body turned around and followed the others on its own as if moved by an invisible puppeteer.

The whole procession felt oppressed and sad. Narberal had to refrain herself from grinning maliciously.

"Brothers! Archbishop Byokris is coming to witness the miracle once more! Pray for him, as he guides us in this time of need!" one of the taller priests spoke, his voice echoed inside the cathedral like a spectral hymn of devotion.

Everyone immediately strated praying harder than before.

The large doors leading outside slowly opened, just enough so that the Judge could enter along with all of his prisoners. As soon as the convicted felons had been released from their shackles, he hurried back outside without even looking at the priests, as if the mere thought disgusted him.

"The holy assembly is now in session! Those who do not wish to stain their hands with the blood of the corrupted, step aside now!" the voice continued.

Nobody moved a muscle. Pleased, the priest resumed "then let the children eat their fill for the day! By the graces of our lords, we shall harbour a new generation of miracles!"

From the opened trapdoor beneath the pulpit, a last figure, taller than anyone else in the cathedral, larger and thinner, manifested itself with heavy steps. The presence took hold of the pulpit and opened their arms, exhibiting a gigantic golden staff in one of their hands.

"My fellow children, it is time to rise again to meet the graces of our lords and greet the babies that will constitute the most holy union between citizens of the Earth and citizens of the Heavens! Let us rejoice for today we have another important task ahead of us, so we shall make lady Hilda proud!"

The creature's voice appeared to be coarse and loud. Their head looked like that of a normal human male, however their ears were pointy like an elf's and their lower lips larger and bloody. As it spoke, its saliva came out of it, which stained its white robes with large droplets of putrid red liquid.

Their vacuous eyes made Narberal think that the creature was an undead, or at the very least an inhabitant of the underworld. It seemed very powerful compared to a regular human being, but she estimated that it couldnt have been much stronger than her.

"So that must be the archbishop huh" she commented, as the creature designated a series of places on the cathedral's floor for the priests to put the mass of beggars and poor people in.

That truly must have been the case, as its coarse voice spoke more fanatical orders for the inebriated priests to follow. Then, all of a sudden a large number of children came out of the darkness. They had been imprisoned into large cages that were now being transported by what appeared to be slaves.

They looked like innocent, scared little elf kids, most of them were naked, some had white clothes on most likely pertaining to the church. Narberal thought they couldnt be more than 3 to 8 years of age, although some seemed to be slightly older.

"Now my children! Hear the voices of your ancestors come into one and spread the love of our gods! Hear them call to you all, do your part in this sacred ritual! Let the blood of the corrupted be freed from sin through your purified mouths! Avenge them for they have committed crimes that their souls did not understand! Give their life essence new shelter, for you must harbour a new era of miracles!"

The archbishop's voice felt grave and powerful. The creature swung his staff in the air, and as if its sheer force of will had the power to bend iron, all the cages opened at once.

Terrified, the poor, the beggars and old men reunited at the center of the cathedral felt the same wave of pure fear freezing their veins. Unable to walk, run, or even cry, they stood still as the small kids came out of the cages and, looking at them for just a moment, their big eyes lit up with bloodthirsty, murderous intent.

Narberal watched in amazement as the children jumped on top of their preys and started to bit their victims' arms, feet, legs, heads, ears and noses without mercy. There was not the slightest hint of remorse; they seemed genuinely hungry for human flesh, all they wanted was to participate in that grotesque banquet. The unholy spectacle went on for several minutes as the bloody feast was beginning to look more like a massacre than a ceremony. Three kids at once made pressure with their knees and elbows on a helpless old man and tore one of his limbs apart, before finally assaulting him with their voracious teeth that sunk deep into his exposed flesh. The screams of agony and pain echoed all around the area, however, due to the magic sound barrier no one would come to their aid. They would all die eaten alive, one by one, their bellies split open, their guts swallowed whole.

During the massacre, the archbishop preached the love and glory of lady Hilda with all his might, and the priests prayed as hard as they could as their pristine robes got stained by blood and spilled bodily fluids.

By the end of it all, the walls of the cathedral looked more like the gates of hell.

"I'm pleased to see that all of you have satiated your hunger once more! Now, as a reward, we shall grant you your deserved rest for the night. Go with the gods, my children. High priests, please grab the holy syringes for the resurrection ritual, and collect the needed materials".

Once the archbishop had spoken, the tall priests immediately took out of their robes some large syringes ornated with golden inscriptions. Then, they all proceeded to collect a sample of blood from the children, one at a time. After that, they got sent back into the trapdoor and closed it.

"What the hell just happened? They seemed to have a separate ritual going on down there. I would investigate but… those kids are not what they seem. If that's the case… I need to confirm this".

Narberal made her resolve and jumped from her elevated position. She landed near a handful of pillars just about arm's reach from the archbishop. The creature wasted no time and immediately attacked with a large swing of its staff.

"Hm, It seems like the surprise factor wont play a role in this conversation. Too bad, we may not have any conversation at all then".

Narberal spinned on herself and landed a powerful kick to the archbishop's chin. Its head tilted a little, then it returned back in its rightful position. Normally a kick like that would have destroyed a normal human's skull, however the creature seemed unaffected by it.

"What manner of fool is this? You dare defy an emissary of the gods? How indecent of you! You shall not be counted as a true citizen of the Star City, ever!"

"Ha! As if I gave a damn".

"What is the purpose of this blasphemous act, you worthless wench?"

Narberal studied the creature's movements and mannerisms. It seemed somewhat surprised, yet it was expecting an attack. Its instincts must have been extremely sharp, almost as much as hers. She could not believe that such a creature existed outside Nazarick, but it was only reasonable to assume as much.

Her senses were now focused on the kids at the center of the room, protected by the priests.

"It looks like their levels are rising. What sort of magic is this, archbishop? Explain it to me".

"I will not explain anything to a non-believer!"

"Then make me believe. I can feel their strength increasing after this filthy meal. What did you do? If you let me in on your secret, I might consider leaving you alone. Else, you might want to start praying for your gods yet again".

"Such arrogance is unbecoming of a lady. Females should not interfere with the highly sophisticated arts conducted by males, especially if they're human. The Elves of Purity are not called as such for no reason, our race is superior in every way. To a fundamental level, including our strength gaining abilities. We do not need to work or select complex job classes, our adaptability knows no bounds! Through this ritual our children can mature faster and grow into talented supreme beings!"

Narberal felt disgusted by that speech to her very core.

"Dont you dare call anyone supreme being. The only supreme being on this miserable planet is our lord Ainz Ooal Gown. But this is enlightening, I will take one of your fetid little kids as a sample".

She lunged to the side and went for one of the children's necks so that she could easily grab them and transport them out of there under her arm, however, the archbishop's staff was already in the way. As if the creature had predicted her next move, it swung again and hit her on the thigh, with such force that her body lost balance and fell, moved by the powerful force of impact. She spun for several meters before stopping, her palms ruined by attrition.

"This has gone on long enough. You seem healthy and pretty strong. And that lord of yours… Ainz Ooal Gown you say? Hmm, so you are an emissary of the enemy of mankind. Interesting! You shall be our children's next meal! I'm eager to see how strong they will become!"

As it spoke, the tall creature moved forward a few steps, with each the earth crumbled as if a small earthquake had just come and gone. Narberal kept battling her adversary with her sword, but it broke with the next clash against the golden staff wielded by her enemy. Then she opted for her bare hands, kicks, and lightning strikes, all dealt between the small gaps in her enemy's seemingly restless attacks. But the more she kept dodging her adversary's hits, the better they seemed to adapt to her movements. Moreover, it appeared that her own attacks were particularly ineffective against its gigantic body.

"I must have made a miscalculation… this isnt going as smoothly as I wanted. But inferior beings such as these cannot be as strong as us. I refuse to believe that".

Narberal's head had been clouded for almost two days. As it happened, that occasion was no different. She wasnt able to judge her own strength as well as she used to, her actions appeared more impulsive, her anger had took the better of her more than once.

With an angered grin, she took off and hovered above the archbishop's head. She dodged the next attack, then she closed her eyes to find the right internal balance. Her body and mind went into a state of deep concentration for just a couple seconds, more than enough for her to prepare her next spell. Her hands got filled with light. Large amounts of sparks formed all around her body as she prepared herself to strike.

"I'm going to dispose of you, filthy insect. Tremble before the power given to me by a true supreme being. Tier Seven: Chain Dragon Lightning!"

Narberal casted the electric discharge with vengeance in her heart. As the attack struck the archbishop's imposing figure, dozens of bolts exploded on the pavement, pillars and arches almost causing the whole structure of the cathedral to fall apart. All windows crashed at once and hundreds of fragments of broken glass scattered across the deserted streets. The booming sounds coming from the strike made Narberal foretaste her swift victory. She landed back on the ground and sought to kidnap one of the children again while the area was still covered in heavy dustclouds. Whether the creature had been killed or just badly wounded, she was confident that her job was almost over.

However, upon surveying the area around her, she felt surprised seeing as all priests had been mysteriously murdered. None remained alive, all had their throats slit in one motion. As for the kids, they were swarming the place screaming in panic.

"What in the world..."

Another presence was watching from the shadows. She was certain of it. The children werent the only sources of power left in that place.

Nevertheless, someone was laughing amidst the chaotic spectacle. It was a small, reserved laugh. Then, from the settling dust, the archbishop emerged once again. A single trail of brown blood covered their fat, oily cheeks.

"You possess truly remarkable skills, woman. It is a pity that you did not do your research properly. Our kind is very resistant to electricity by nature, and by the grace of our goddess Hilda, some of us are even immune to it! As one such being possessing the talent of Elemental Immunity I, Byokris, archbishop of the church of lady Hilda, can withstand any of your pathetic attacks!"

Narberal braced for impact: the archbishop struck her with its staff once again, this time with such haste and precision that it successfully hit her shoulder while her body was about to move away. The force of impact was considerably stronger than before, so much so that she could not remain still and thus got forcefully sent flying against the wall behind her.

As she recovered from the severe impact, something shiny approached her limbs with lighting-fast velocity. In a moment, her ankles and wrists were completely surrounded by magical chains. No longer able to move, her body limped forward for a few steps before being slammed on the ground.

"This is absurd… what a shameful display. I hope nobody from Nazarick is seeing this right now. Please lord Demiurge, look somewhere else. And you lord Mare, as much as I'd love to see you again at once, I hope you'll forgive my unbearable idiocy. This is not how a true servant of the supreme being should act".

Narberal was blaming herself for being too careless. It was only natural for her to feel shame since she had been appointed as Mare's direct superior for that mission. Instead of taking care to claculate the risks with precision, she had been unable to fill her role properly thus far.

She felt the need for a punishment, a true way to apologize to everyone she had failed.

"aNd NOw YoU ShALl seE tRuE feAr" a voice invaded Narberal's brain. The same voice she had heard shortly after visiting that accursed city.

"You again? Who are you? Show yourself!" she longed for a resolution, but nobody came. The voice once again stood silent.

The archbishop drew nearer and with them, a multitude of magical chains materialized from their staff, engulfing Narberal's body. The creature's mouth was half-open in a grotesque smirk of satisfaction, its lower lip drooling putrescent red liquid.

"Pity. Had you been a true believer, we would have shared the pleasures of wine and flesh together as we would've eaten our fill. You would have gotten stronger to unimaginable levels. But alas, you're a simple human. Do not regret it however, for your humble origins are what makes you special. Although you were not designed to dominate, you will make for a fine servant to our lords".

So the archbishop spoke, then the creature pulled its staff high above its head; as if following an invisible magnet, the chains enveloping Narberal's body moved vertically towards a nearby pillar, and there they wrapped her up. Now completely unable to move, her futile attempts made her life even harder as the chains grew tighter whenever she tried to move a limb.

The archbishop recalled its children and showed them how impotent their adversary was. They grinned maliciously as they approached her with their voracious mouths half-open.

Narberal was more frustrated and angry than concerned about her situation. She knew those creatures were barely considered as ants on her path, and the only real problem was getting her out of there on time so that she could meet up with lord Mare unscathed.

She was truly preoccupied with her image more than anything: if for some reason her clothes had been torn off, or her ponytail had been let loose, how could she go back to lord Ainz? She would have had to explain to him how that happened, and then the shameful recount of her wrong assumptions and terrible miscalculations would have stained her reputation. She couldnt allow that.

While she was thinking about her misfortunes, struggling to find an easy way out, someone seemed to call for her from a great distance, just short of the entrance.

"You look like you need some help. Allow me to assist!"