HELLO BOYS, I'M BAAAAAA~AAAAAAACK!

After constant back and fourth humbuggery I've given up. I'm not sure how good this chapter and the next chapter (oh god the next chapter) is, but I've decided to just post the fucking thing regardless. The sooner we get out of this slog, the better.

I still enjoy writing, and want to progress the story, but I worry too much about the pacing and constantly rework Ch 11 and 12 until I just don't have fun anymore. So I pulled the oldest trick in the book, namely throwing in the towel and posting it regardless, quality be damned. Here's a toast, hoping that things get better when we get outta the Dark Warrior arc.

If it'll set your mind at ease, I won't be abandoning the fic until I've at least written the parts I really wanted to write about (about 40 chapters away, hahahahahahahahhhhhhhhh). That being said, things will be moving at positively GLACIAL speeds for a while.


Chapter 11 - Mountain Valley Lake

The 6th Floor of Nazarick was made to resemble a jungle, having been expertly put together by the nature-loving Blue Planet. There was no denying that after having been made real, it carried a breath of wilderness and a sense of realism that made it nearly indistinguishable from the wider world.

Even when standing in an actual forest, the floor still holds up, and yet...

Ainz had found himself spellbound for most of the journey, simply looking to the sides of the road at whatever they passed by.

It had started off similar to the area around Carne. Flat, open spaces with fields of golden wheat and farm houses dotted around the landscape, all interconnected with dirt roads broad enough to allow for horse-drawn carriages.

From the walls of Rhakyuu-Iéll the Supreme Being had gotten a good look at it all. As a fortress city, it was built on a slight elevation, giving a clear view spreading out in all directions. Thanks to his enhanced vision, the Fallen Angel was able to drink in all the little details.

Whether it was a lone tree on a small hill, where a small child mingled with their peasant father who was on a short break- or if it were workhorses tilling a field as the sun inched away from its zenith.

The real magnificence, however, only started as the team began making their way into the shaded woods.

The few villages they passed through, though visually pleasing, were very similar to one another. All being collections of buildings surrounded by lovely yellow fields and broken up by islands of green grass with little variety. Only the occasional barn, who often took on richer colours broke up the monotony.

So being very suddenly submerged within a sea of green came as a shock to say the least, for that's precisely what happened as farmland gave way to forests, with greenery slowly creeping in to become a more prevalent part of the landscape.

The undergrowth alone was worth admiring, as the overwhelmingly rich thicket was interspersed with dots of colourful plants- from 'Hydrangea' Suzuki only ever saw in pictures online to the more unfamiliar species Karatus was all too happy to introduce. The little bits and pieces came together to form a cornucopia of colours and shapes that captured Ainz's attention for far longer than it should have.

It was the very first time he had seen a birch tree in person. Its white bark and darker jagged indents were quite eye catching to the dystopia-originated man. But with how trees, bushes, moss and thorns seemed to grow tighter and tighter...

...'Temperate forest' may have been too gentle of a descriptor for this place as they headed further in. Roads of paved stone turned into ones of stamped dirt until they too shrank down to overgrown and narrow paths.

Some sun still made it through to the damp earth below courtesy of crown shyness- but the leaves of the trees were tightly interwoven as to capture as much sunlight as possible. Strands of hanging moss covering thick branches and outlandish-looking mushrooms punctuating the faded brown of fallen logs gave the impression of truly untamed wilderness. A feeling that only grew the longer they travelled.

Cherry Stem was now on a thin trail of trampled dirt. The packed earth surrounding exposed and worn-out roots being a reminder that the path was being used every now and then.

'Not so much anymore', Bard had claimed, citing how reduced manpower had led to the wilderness being generally less safe, as Rhakyuu-Iéll lacked the necessary resources to offer protection for settlements.

"If I am reading this map correctly, we should be approaching the end of the path soon enough." He declared. "... At that point, we will be relying entirely on landmarks and the compass, as there are no remaining roads leading closer to our destination." The caster led the party with Karatus by his side, the ranger eagerly reading the compass for the team-leader.

The remainder of the party trailed behind, with Yon having struck up a conversation with Momon furthest back, and Milla asking Shizuka about her elder sisters in between the other two pairs.

Such pairings weren't as effective as they could be, as the thin road had funnelled them in such a way, much to Bard's (and Momon's) chagrin.

When the sole mage slowed down to allow the others to gain on him, and when he focused his hearing a bit more, he could narrowly pick up on the conversations betwixt the other members.

Milla was chatting to Shizuka about her little sister, something that the latter seemed to listen to with rapt attention- maybe because she has elder sisters of her own, though Bard had to wonder if Momon had adopted them too.

Yon and Momon, however, were a bit more practical, with the warrior clad in heavy black armour quizzing the dwarf about how likely it was for them to be attacked. To which the more experienced adventurer had to explain that though the chances of being attacked have been elevated compared to the main roads, still weren't all that high.

The spell caster shook his head (an action born of amusement as opposed to disapproval) before returning his attention to the map.

'How far away is the lumber mill...?' Bard thought to himself.

Getting everybody to agree on the mission wasn't too tough. The pay was good enough to serve as a motivator (or sightseeing in Momon's case), and with the adventurer guild's rules and regulations as a safety net the group had been emboldened enough to take a risk.

It was a rather simple mission, if not a little weird. Make contact with the absent brother if possible, or break in and retrieve a Pavise shield emblazoned with the family crest- as proof that they had indeed been there.

'This is an older map that was used by traders... And by the looks of things, there should be a herbalist's cabin and a couple of houses at the end of the path. But if the state of disrepair of the road we're on is anything to go by, the people likely don't live there anymore. ...With how the wilderness has grown more unsafe and untamed as of late, it isn't unfeasible.

This narrow path must have shrunk something awful if carriages could make it through at any point in time.

It must be an old lumber mill if this is the case. It's common practice to put such a station further away from civilisation, lest they ruin the view by felling all the trees near the city. But now that 'civilisation' has moved further back, it begs the question... Why even live out there? Are they really as misanthropic as Momon had so jokingly suggested?'

The dishevelled adventurer was knocked out of his thoughts by Karatus driving an elbow into his ribs, nearly causing him to yelp. Bard returned the action with bared teeth and an angry glare, though the ranger didn't seem fazed in the slightest, instead merrily opening his mouth to speak. "So... What do you think is going on with Momon?"

The caster quirked an eyebrow at that. "...What about Momon-san?" He wondered, a sudden apprehensive lilt creeping into his voice at the thought of what foolish drivel may pour out of his friend's mouth. The tanned adventurer stared back before running a hand through his short hair.

"I think he's from the south-east area. Somewhere outside the Draconic Kingdom." Karatus explained. "...Which means he should be well acquainted with forests like this, right?"

Bard gave a reluctant admittance. "That... Does not sound as a completely unreasonable inference to make."

"You could just have said yes." The archer japed, giving the other adventurer a lazy shrug. "Any who, Momon has been looking around... A lot." He continued, jabbing a thumb over his shoulder towards the warrior clad in black steel.

"So he's appreciative of our forests. A good thing, I surmise? Anything to take the mind off of the frankly pitiful state of the city if nothing else." Bard's dismissal of Karatus' insights garnered a non-serious pout from the latter, who gave a stone lying on the path in front of him a good kick.

"That's not my point. I'm saying that he looks like some inner-city son of a baron who hasn't been out of the gated mansion he was born in! ...Especially how he seems to be taking an interest in any flora with even a bit of colour." The blonde gestured at the thick foliage that enveloped them on all sides, giving a small twirl as he did.

"I was under the impression that the both of us believed him to be of non-aristocratic descent?"

The ranger grimaced. "Yeah. I still believe that. But it doesn't make a lot of sense, with the way he was looking at everything around us I didn't expect for him to be so..."

"Enamoured? Engrossed?" The caster finished for his companion.

"Well, I was going to say 'wacky', but your big and fancy words work too." Karatus snarked, earning a couple of chuckles from the raven-haired adventurer. "So what do you think?"

Bard's forehead creased a little, though the motion was not subtle enough to slip past his friend. "...I think that it is poor conduct to pry into someone's private affairs. If anything, we should be focusing our attention on creating better formations. As it stands, all our front line fighters are behind us," the well-spoken adventurer deadpanned, punctuating his sentence with a click of his tongue.

In perfect honesty, it wasn't exactly an unexpected response from a man who had outright refused to share his real name.

"I am here in the front because I am the only one that knows how to unfold a map, let alone read it. Why are you here? Wouldn't Milla-san, Yon-san or Momon-san all be better options?" Karatus scratched his temple for a bit, allowing the two of them to stew in the resulting silence, though the chatter of their teammates, the rustling of leaves in the wind and the chirping of birds did a good job of filling in the quiet moment.

"...At least you're insistent about keeping other people's secrets as well." He commented hesitantly, resulting in Bard giving the man a sideways glance with narrowed eyes. "I just wanted to talk... To you." The look in the caster's eyes softened at that.

Though the mage gripped his staff tighter, his shoulders slumped in resignation- allowing a tired sigh to escape him. "Fine. Yes. Momon-san strikes me as quite odd, as does his little companion." The ranger's eyes quickly regained a playful gleam as his conversational partner caved and decided to participate in the gossip.

"Yeah. He does give me that whole 'boonies' feel."

"...Boonies?" Bard's gaunt face took on an expression reflecting his confusion. "By common definition, shouldn't four of us original members be from 'the boonies'?"

"Three of us, you mean?" Karatus gave a sly grin that only dropped when the caster gave off a low growl. "Fine, fine. What I meant was, he seems to be from the boonies boonies. Like the real boonies. ...And now I've said boonies enough times that-"

"Yes. Thank you, I understand," Bard interrupted as he massaged his eyes. "Could you elaborate a little...? -On what you mean by 'boonies boonies', not about how you feel about your vocabulary, if I was being unclear."

"Right." The archer exclaimed chipperly. "It's just... He's not a noble, probably. He's from the east, probably. But considering the way he's looking at trees of all things... Well. I dunno, but he could just be from really far out." The blonde adventurer scratched a lightly bearded chin. "There's civilisation, and then there's the boonies. Like where we are right now. With trees or farms. ...Finally there's the boonies boonies."

"...Which would be...?"

"A wasteland or desert, maybe. Like the ones mentioned in old fables and stories. None of the maps really show what's past hill and dale that away. Once you get past the steppes it could be anything."

"Wasteland?" Bard repeated quietly, seemingly pondering the probability of Karatus' hypothesis being correct.

"Could explain why he's looking at trees like that. If you're from a desert or a place where no crops grow it would make sense to notice these things, right? It'd explain why he's so intense with the trees. Well. Maybe not desert, he'd get cooked alive in that black armour of his..."

The caster merely chuckled. "You of all people being disturbed by others obsessing over plants shall be one of my more treasured memories."

"Hey! Nothing wrong with being passionate, it's just that trees are by far the least interesting things here, with the exception of a few species." Karatus sighed. "Well. Momon does strike me as the type tough enough to survive purely by drinking the morning dew that forms on his swords and armour. So maybe..."

"Our new members are indeed enigmas." Bard cut in, changing the subject. "Miss Shizuka has proven herself quite physically capable if her ability to load that steel-string crossbow is anything to go by. Likewise Momon-san is a lot more than 'just a noble with expensive armour' as miss Milla had originally assumed."

"Akin to what I was thinking, yes." The archer interrupted himself, pushing past a low-hanging branch and stomping his boot to dislodge some mud. "...Momon's armour looks to be solid plate, and yet he doesn't seem to be slowed down even slightly. It's impressive to be weighed down by so much and still be able to waltz around as if in casual clothing. ...So they're both strong, one of them wears an eye patch and the other hasn't removed his armour at all."

The irate caster clicked his tongue, partly distracted by his task of swatting gnats that came his way. "...What I was going to say was that you'll have plenty of opportunities to ask them. As it currently stands, we will likely be spending the night outside. So simply sit down... And ask while we eat. If they wish to divulge any information, they will," he stated as he cast a brief look over the shoulder.

"Mmm..." Karatus hummed, grasping his chin with his free hand. "Sounds good, I guess. Weird how Shizuka managed to spill more information than our big armoured oaf despite being way quieter. We could ask-"

The ranger trailed off as the pair reached the end of their path, as the winding dirt road that grew fainter and fainter before reaching what looked to be a collection of decrepit buildings nature was in the process of reclaiming.

"We've have reached the end of the broader roads!" Bard turned around and hollered to the remainder of the group that had remained further behind. "...Though we shouldn't be exceedingly far away from our destination-" He gripped the folded request containing the location description tighter. "- We will be traversing more densely packed terrain with no little more than stamped earth and seldom travelled paths. So be prepared for that!"

He turned back to see Karatus inspecting the abandoned wooden buildings with a furrowed brow. So too did his mouth stretch into a thin line. At this state of disrepair, nothing needed to be said. This place seemed to have been a small settlement of sorts, though it had found itself vacated.

Houses- or what could once be considered homes- were rotting away, with ivy and moss overtaking the walls. Whatever latch that was keeping the shutters closed must have rusted and gotten stuck a long time ago. Bard unfolded his map and took another look. It made mention of a herbalists' hut and a couple of buildings, though this settlement remained nameless.

The archer gave a grunt, moving through the overgrown clearing that may have been a miniature community square at some point. All Bard felt was a resounding sense of disappointment, seeing another small aspect that represented the population of the Draconic Kingdom rotting away.

People had pulled back from the frontiers- either leaving or dying as the nation was unable to protect or flourish out here. It reminded the solemn mage that his country was like a plant in the process of shrivelling up and dying. This husk of a community out here was just another reminder, lost and forgotten.

Milla gave a low whistle. "Damn." She exclaimed, taking in the sight of the now forsaken hovels. "...Is it something like this we're looking for?"

"If the descriptions given by the requests are anything to go by..." Karatus started, skimming through the parchment he had been handed as he spoke. "Yes. Something like this but deeper in. Maybe with a sawmill nearby. When there were still lived-in villages this far out the existence of a sawmill this deep could be justified... But now?"

"The request-givers could have begrudged us a guide." Yon complained.

Karatus nodded. "Yeah. Would have made things easier, but having to look out for a non-combatant seems to be a hassle." That observation garnered a few agreements from the others.

'Seriously, what hermit still lives somewhere this inconvenient?' Was the one thing that had remained on the ranger's mind, his sight sweeping across the wooded forest before settling on the pair of newbies. The two of them gave Karatus a good feeling when he first laid eyes on them, and his instincts were seldom wrong. That didn't change the fact that they were very strange people.

Shizuka just stood quietly by her 'father's' side as the larger Momon scoured the tree tops with his eyes.

No. Not tree tops, the tanned adventurer realised. The armoured man was looking at the snow tipped mountain-tops in the distance, as they were much closer now than they were back at Rhakyuu-Iéll. Had Cherry Stem known that Pleiade and Supreme Being alike were fantasising about frolicking around in the snow, it would most certainly have caused a round of hearty laughter.

The ranger moved towards the Fallen Angel, feeling the predictable yet satisfying crunch of twigs beneath his boots- either that or a soft layer of moss and mud to dampen his footfall. "Oi!" He called out in a characteristically upbeat voice, turning the heads of both copper-ranks.

'They really are in sync.'

"Spot anything interesting?"

"No." The diminutive maid replied, seemingly unwilling to elaborate. Karatus just smirked. The poor girl was likely just in need of some peace and quiet with her parental figure after Milla had griped her ear off about life on a ranch.

"The mountains are quite the sight. Do you think there's anything on them?" Momon wondered out loud, earning a sardonic reply from the ranger.

"If I had to guess... Mostly snow. Maybe a few boulders if you're real lucky."

The steel-clad warrior scoffed, looking ready to give a sarcastic reply in turn when Bard cut their interaction short.

"Do you intend to dawdle all day...? Though it is likely that we will be spending the night out in the wild regardless of our current speed, it does not excuse your unprofessional tardiness." The caster had made it across the abandoned settlement and pushed further into the woods, now barking his orders in that thickly accented timbre of his.

"So we won't be checkin' out these buildings then?" Milla inquired, leaning over to peer into a decrepit old well. "...See if the old inhabitants left anything worth our time?"

"Somehow I doubt that, lassie." Yon grumbled under his breath while Karatus nodded in agreement.

"Abandoned or not, I don't feel comfortable looting what once was the property of others." Bard claimed, averting his eyes as he did. "Even if they have since left this place behind."

"Mm. That's true, stealing is wrong after all." Shizuka added unprompted. Her companion simply gave her an odd look, knowing full well that she could do a lot worse than mere theft if commanded to. Though Ainz also acknowledged the possibility that the Pleiade was thinking of plunderers constantly attempting to rob Nazarick when speaking her mind.

"I believe that the states of the buildings alone should answer your question." The Supreme Being added, walking over with heavy steps. He gave a rotten wall a careful knock, causing chips of decaying wood to flake and fall to the muddy ground below. "Anything worth having has long since been claimed, I'd imagine. There are likely dozens of little settlements like this one that have been left to rot."

"Momon-san is always right, so there is nothing here." Shizuka drawled, sounding unimpressed as ever. "Then let's depart. Okay?" A few of the adventurers shared a glance at the Pleiades' absolute confidence in Momon's words, but decided to chalk it up to a kid putting their parental figure on a pedestal.

"...Couldn't have said it better myself." The eccentric nature-lover gave the short adventurer a gentle pat on the back as he walked past. "Hurry it up a little! You heard the good mage." He was quickly stopped dead in his tracks by a hand-gesture from Bard.

A faint smile flitted across the caster's lips. "Oh, and proper formation, this time?" Karatus gave a nervous chuckle at that, along with the other members of Cherry Stem seeming a bit called out by the leader's sarcastic question. With the arrival of Momon and Shizuka they had forgone standard procedure in favour of interacting more with the newcomers. Sure, the trail didn't exactly allow for comfortable travel in a robust group, though the pairs they travelled in weren't exactly the safest.

"Alright alright, you big baby. I'll look after ya'." Milla cooed, approaching the team leader as casual as ever.

In the end, Bard decided to take matters into his own hands, properly shaping the way the team should be travelling. It resulted in the warriors being quite spread out, which Ainz noted as being quite effective when not knowing where a potential threat could be coming from. This setup didn't leave any of the more vulnerable roles without a melee-focused partner to take the brunt of an enemy assault.

With this, the ragtag team pushed deeper into the thicket. off the more well-built paths.

As they now had to traverse more densely overgrown roads long forgotten by frequent travellers such as merchants, forward progress slowed to a crawl. Even if it took a while before they stopped again, the group had not gotten too much further.


.

.

.


"Why the name Bard?" Momon asked the dwarven warrior who was setting up a tent.

As Cherry Stem had left the fortress city of Rhakyuu-Iéll early afternoon and travelled for the better part of the day, the decision was made to camp out. There would be no way of completing the mission and hurrying back to the guild hall for dinner, so this became the optimal solution, especially when no one wanted to trudge around in the dark.

The two ranged combatants of the party scouted out a small clearing to use for this purpose, finding no dangers nearby. Ainz had no reasons to doubt Shizu's ability to detect enemies, and decided to take it a bit easier. Which led to the current events, with Yon setting up the tents and Milla working on a fire pit.

Truthfully, the Fallen Angel in disguise had not considered the possibility of staying outside, and had- in his rush- ended up creating a tent with [Greater Create Item] that looked a little too nice. But Yon was happy to set it up for them nonetheless.

"Eh? Whaddaya mean?" The rhythmic thumping of tent pegs being sunk into the ground came to an abrupt stop as curious eyes glanced at the towering figure that had asked the question.

"Bard. He stated that it wasn't his real name. Wouldn't that mean that this chosen name was picked for a reason?" Momon wondered, glancing towards the edge of the clearing where Karatus and Bard were inspecting the map and arguing about something, sometimes pointing in opposite directions. His reason for asking was not so much curiosity as it was wanting to clear up the quiet that had settled over the rest of the group.

"Should be easy enough to hear, really." Milla groused, having returned with a bundle of kindle and larger stones to put into the unfinished fire pit.

"Because it sounds like he's singing when he speaks." Shizuka interjected. Though not exactly uncomfortable with their new acquaintances, she preferred sticking close to her master.

"Yes! Precisely." The red-head fawned, seeming far softer upon hearing the young Pleiade make the assumption.

'That's slightly exaggerated. There is something melodic with the man's tone, though I wouldn't go as far as to call it singing. Though friendly teasing in the same vein as school yard insults could lead to a name like that developing.'

Yon grunted, having returned to fixing up the tents. "Aye. It's that accent of his. Variant Draconian."

"Variant Draconian?" Ainz echoed, turning an armoured head to look at the squatting dwarf. The dwarven adventurer paused, seeming to consider his words carefully.

"The language of dragons wasn't really meant to be mimicked by the wagging tongue o' man." He explained. "So Her Majesty created an alternative. Very distinctive indeed."

"That all of the real big-shots in the court use, naturally." Milla spat, managing to sound simultaneously annoyed and bored. "Ya' know. The finer folk. Practically inventing a language to use in their fancy meetings and parties. ...Just to show off."

'And Bard has an accent. Which means he probably spoke it more than the current language he's using. In other words...'

"I see." Momon hummed.

"Hm." Yon sniffed. "You see. I see. Milla sees. Everybody sees. 'Tis almost admirable how the lanky bastard is sticking to it when it's already such an open secret." The dwarf tossed his hammer over the shoulders, patting off his hands as he admired his handiwork. "Just don't lettem know that I told ya."

"Noble or not, I don't believe that it matters." The warrior clad in black steel looked over at the caster again, his red cape now billowing in the wind, giving him the impression of being larger than life. "Whatever his roots may be, it does not have any bearing on the person he is now." Yon looked up at the dark warrior, giving a toothy grin that Ainz recognised to be one of respect.

Milla gave a sound that sounded like the mix between a scoff and a laugh, but it wasn't difficult to tell that it wasn't born of mockery or derision. "Yeah. Just wait 'til he goes on one of his wordy rants," she jeered.

Yon and Momon shared in her glee for a brief second before the moment was undercut by a loud 'thump'. All three of them craned their necks, seeing how Shizuka had dropped the lower half of a fallen tree by the campfire Milla was building. Though the two veteran adventurers' eyes widened to a near comical size Momon just started laughing.

"Wha-"

"Seating." The short maid interrupted the red-headed adventurer's questioning before following up on her word by sitting down on the log. Shizu glanced towards her master, making it evident that she had done this so that the Supreme One wouldn't have to be seated on the muddy ground.

"I'm just happy you didn't end up dragging a bear back to camp." Ainz joked smarmily, a shit-eating grin blooming beneath his visor upon seeing the sheer shock of the other two present. Loading a steel-string crossbow one-handed was impressive. But to carry most of a tree over your shoulder was a step above that.

"...Bears are nice. But I like rabbits better, Momon-san."

"You also could have brought multiple smaller logs instead of one big one."

...

"No."

Ainz resisted the urge to give a fond sigh, instead opting for a quick cast of [Message], possible only because he had [Perfect Warrior] deactivated during their little hike.

[Did you do it to get a rise out of Yon and Milla?]

[Yes. Dwarf-san is a little cute when it looks like his eyes are about to jump out of his head.]

The Supreme Being barely choked his laughter as it instead came out sounding like the pained wheeze of a dying ermine. He had never been quite as thankful for the muffling capabilities of his helmet.

"Bloody kids these days..." Yon grumbled under his breath, taking a place next to Milla with crossed arms and a lidded half-scowl as if he had heard Shizu's comment about him. "At least I see that yer kid haven't got issues with 'er strength." He praised Momon, allowing the frown to let up.

"How very observant." Milla mocked with furrowed brow before turning towards the Pleiade and speaking with a kinder tone. "Hey, Shizuka-chan. Could you go get some more seating?"

"Understood." She replied flatly, hopping off the log and wandering off. Though the tree was sizeable, the ends were too far away from the fire pit to get any warmth. Optimally, another one would be needed for everyone to get a proper place to sit.

"...I pity the next animal that catches her eye." Momon grumbled with a click of his tongue, taking a seat on the log Shizu had carried back to camp. His joking remark earned a bout of nervous chuckles from the other two, who were remembering the cat back in Rhakyuu-Iéll. Their mirth was somewhat soured by how impassive the dark warrior's delivery had been, suggesting that a hypothetical 'bear-cuddle incident' could end up being an actual thing.

So too was Momon recalling the automaton's habit of cuddling level 50+ Spear Needles, deciding that whatever fluffy animal that ran into Shizu was better off playing dead, as escape from the snuggle-terminator was little more than a pipe dream.

Yon just awkwardly cleared his throat, pulling a small cauldron from the pile of luggage they had brought along.

"So... What's for grub this fine eve?" The dwarf practically sang, eagerly rubbing his coarse palms together.

"...Well. We do have a bit of dried elk and the enchanted water skin- so a stew of some sort, maybe...?" Milla half-heartedly answered while focusing on rummaging through her rucksack. Ainz mostly just smiled at the little interaction, wondering whether or not he would be eating anything tonight. Hell, he didn't know enough about his own biology to determine if he needed to.

Thus far he has gotten by with a mostly liquid diet, with various flavours of juice and that one stiff drink a couple of nights back. Currently he was more concerned about Shizu and her ability to consume food. Before Ainz was able to work any of these things out, his improved senses picked up on the sound of leather against grass. He turned around to see Karatus approaching him.

The ranger nodded vigorously, allowing a content smile work its way onto his face. "Good senses. Unlike a few others I can think of, you're not deaf." He praised, giving the armoured warrior a thumbs up, something the others present didn't seem to appreciate. Momon wasn't given the opportunity to reply as a balled up burlap sack was thrown at him. "Catch." Momon complied.

"A sack?" The steel-covered warrior got up from his comfortable seating on the log.

A shrug came from the green and brown-clad adventurer. "Eh. Bard said we were gonna pick a few herbs? Chai's Tears?" The Supreme Being reflected on the interaction he had with the well-spoken mage earlier that day, recalling how the man had made mention of herb picking as a more serious job in this war-torn country.

"Ah, so there should be plenty nearby?"

"Should be." Karatus shrugged. "Since those are in high demand the areas close to Rhakyuu-Iéll have all been picked clean. ...Another good thing about being out and about so far away from everybody else." The tanned adventurer spun on his heel, gesturing towards the surrounding woodlands. "A few of us can stay behind and keep track of all the extra packing."

"I trust that you three- Shizuka included- will be able to hold down the fort?" Momon inquired, peering over his shoulder at the other two members of Cherry Stem. "...Or should I request that Bard remain here with you?" Milla just rolled her eyes.

"We aren't little babes needing to be watched." She complained.

'To be perfectly honest, I was more concerned about Shizu. ...Though the level-gap is so wide that it isn't even funny at this point.'

Yon just gave an amused snort and shot the two standing adventurers a grin. "...That the 'dad' side flaring up, Momon?" Ainz cleared his throat, clearly flustered by the comment, much to the enjoyment of the others. The dwarf gave a theatrical sigh, dismissively waving at the dark warrior. "No matter, lad. Just go."

"Very well." Ainz extended an armoured hand towards the ranger, signalling for him to lead the way.

"We shouldn't be long! We'll be back before sundown."


x=x=X=x=x


The walk itself had been uneventful, even if the scenery remained as fantastic as ever. Dense foliage, fallen trees, hanging moss... It would have seemed cosy had it not been so big. The refreshing scent of wet earth was also oddly pleasing to Ainz, who now sported an overhauled set of senses.

The Supreme Being tilted his head upwards, seeing the crowns of trees and the birds (ravens?) drifting above. His ears filled with birdsong and the occasional crunch from beneath his boot. Less serene was the ever-present bickering between his two tag-alongs. Karatus and Bard seemed to bounce between topics quite often, and were easy enough to tune out, though Momon did make out that they had made a bet of some sort.

And then it happened. They breached the endless sea of trees less than two minutes away from camp.

Another clearing? No.

A lake, it would seem.

Ainz sucked a chilled breath through his clenched teeth at the sight that had revealed itself. A still body of water with rolling wisps of mist licking at its surface, as uneven hills and swathes of forest claimed the surrounding area after the sandy bank ended.

(As for whether or not such a sight could occur naturally on Earth centuries ago, he did not know.)

In the far distance the snow tipped mountains made for an excellent backdrop that couldn't quite be recreated with mere photographs and illustrations- not without losing the 'feeling' such a sight brought. In that sense, it was an untouched beauty that could not be captured.

The Fallen Angel almost feared blinking as if the scenery would change should he lose sight of it for even a moment.

It was a landscape painting with the saturation turned up.

It was a work of art not made by human hands.

It was so many things Suzuki Satoru would not have been able to put into words.

It was something that the people of Earth could never see again.

It was magic. As much so as the very spells he was able to cast.

'Superb.'

Once more, the cold air kept the angel grounded- lest his mind otherwise pull in two different directions, each side wanting to cope with the situation in different ways. Either wanting to strip down and take a bath right here and now, or to simply remain standing.

In spite of the turmoil, Ainz felt content. Maybe because he didn't want anything else out of life in that instance. ...There was no 13 hour workday to churn through. No exhausting week to crush his spirits. No overbearing bosses or incompetent co-workers... Even things he normally enjoyed had been put on hold, with there being no raids to plan. No quota to meet to keep the guild up and running. No equipment to farm.

Much like that first night in the New World...

...When he had spread his wings and flown for the first time...

...He was free.

"-Oi, oi oi oi~!" Karatus whined, breaking the strangely hopeful melancholy the Supreme Being had built for himself. Ainz turned to see the ranger poking around in a coin pouch Bard presumably handed him. "This pouch is three silvers short!"

"Indeed. Forgive me for not carrying my entire pension on my person at all times. I'll fetch it and pay you properly when we return to Rhakyuu-Iéll," the man snarked.

"Your entire pension?" Karatus wondered before his face suddenly took on a cheeky expression. "I'm not sure two coppers will be able to cover this." The mage 'tsk'-ed before performing a gesture Momon assumed to be the Draconic Kingdom equivalent of flipping someone off.

"The outcome of your little bet went in the favour of Karatus, I presume." The steel-clad warrior moved closer to the two stooges, still not taking his eyes off the lake. "May I ask what it was about?"

"Ah." Bard seemed to have remembered something, rifling through his gear to once again fetch the map. "We... Had a disagreement about our current position and gambled on who was correct." The caster pointed a finger at what resembled a lake on the weathered old map.

"In short- I win, and Bard has got the navigational skills of discombobulated peafowl!" The archer made his declaration triumphantly, giving an exaggerated bow as he did. The ratty caster merely rolled his eyes while Momon gave a slight chuckle at the oddly relaxed mood between the two.

"I suppose it was foolish of me to make such a bet when you held an advantage." Bard sighed, grabbing his own burlap bag out of the packing.

"Quite." Karatus nodded along.

Momon shifted, a nearly inaudible clanking of metal making itself known beneath the sound of rustling leaves and birdsong. "Advantage?" He asked, doing a good job of hiding his curiosity. The nature lover's first interaction with him was still fresh on the Fallen Angel's mind.

"Right. Never told you properly." The tanned adventurer sheepishly scratched the back of his head as his companion shot him a look that seemed to scream 'what did you do'. "It's my Talent. It... Lets me understand plants, in a sense."

...

"-Eh." Bard would have laughed at the dark warrior's stupefied uttering if he wasn't busy glaring at his friend. Ainz himself was focusing on what the ranger had said. His current questions caught between 'How is that a talent?' and 'What secret do the poppies hold, magic-man?', finding himself unable to voice either of them.

Then it clicked.

'Talent. Like "Martial Arts" it's another mundane term being used like that. Understanding plants is supernatural no matter what way you slice it. ...So. Another power-system, then? They said "understanding plants" as a talent specifically, so the possibilities must be quite varied.

...Is it a hereditary ability that had carried over from his parentage or something unique to him? Lots of questions all of a sudden.'

"Ay Momon, you still with us?"

"I am." The angel cleared his throat while awkwardly adjusting the blades strapped to his back, silently cursing his newfound tendency to zone out. "I was merely pondering the practical applications of such an ability, Karatus. Though I am by no means an expert in this subject, I somehow doubt that the local flora has too much interesting to share."

Bard sighed. "It rarely does, am I not wrong?" The noble-esque man knelt down, scraping the muddy ground with a gloved hand. "Unless the texture of the soil counts as pertinent information."

"Yeah!" The ranger laughed, waltzing over to pat the trunk of a tree- the one closest to the lake itself. "Usually they spout a bunch of useless tripe, but sometimes I get something helpful. Tells me a bit about the surrounding areas... Where there's water, among other things." He shot the armoured warrior a friendly grin. "It did help when we first met as well."

With a raised eyebrow, Bard looked between the his two companions, evidently missing the information needed to stay in the loop. In the end, he opted to avoid prying, focusing instead on the task at hand by steering the conversation towards their task. "...Whatever the case may be, Chai's Tears grows on muddy ground, often near bodies of water. They also prefer the shade given by trees..." He looked towards the enthusiastic plant-expert. "Did I miss anything?"

"Not at all." Karatus stroked his chin with a teasing grin. "Well well. Looks like my ranting and raving about plant life is finally starting to stick. Did you find any of it interesting?" He leaned in close, standing face to face with a spell-caster who looked to be about five seconds away from blasting an overly smug ranger with a [Fireball].

"Unlikely. Knowing about the plant in question is merely part of the job." The one who retorted ended up being the newcomer to the party, turning both heads toward him. Bard donned a slight smile of his own.

"Quite right, Momon-san. Knowing about the plant that we are intending to collect is nothing more than logical, not proof that your 'teachings' are taking hold- let alone that we are the slightest bit interested." Bard crossed his arms, giving his companion a haughty nod before turning away. Karatus visibly drooped.

"Ah, before I forget-" The steel-clad warrior spoke up again, drawing the attention of the odd pair. "Would you say that your... 'Talent' predates your love for all things green?" Ainz gestured at the surrounding trees in an almost careful manner, which looked at odds with his brashly confident armoured appearance.

'In other words, did your "Talent" manifest before your interest in plants? Did your fascination lead to you developing a Talent? How does this work?'

The platinum blonde regained a bit of vim and rested a hand on his hip before closing his eyes- almost as if to dream himself back to his childhood. "Huh. What makes you ask that?" He answered the question with another question, giving Momon a raised eyebrow as he did.

"Mere curiosity. Feel free to consider it a formality if you must." The dark warrior shrugged his broad shoulders.

"Eh. Fair enough. It's hardly a secret. The Talent came first," Karatus admitted, pressing a thumb against his forehead. "Well, I guess hearing something as simple-looking as a plant spout a bunch of complicated jargon gave me a new appreciation for just how complex these things are." He gave a longing smile, now fully leaning against the tree he had been knocking at moments prior.

"Like, what even is a phloem?" He grumbled under his breath before picking back up on his monologue.

"...The more I listened, the more I wanted to know. The more I wanted to know, the more I learned. The more I learned, the more I understood. The more I understood, the more I listened." His eyes met the angel's, now carrying a newfound intensity that wasn't there before.

"Pygmalion Effect." Momon grumbled.

"Hm?"

"Self-fulfilling prophecy." The armoured warrior amended, drawing out an understanding nod from Bard. Karatus shot the rookie adventurer a grin, muttering about 'fate' before his expression faded into something more sombre.

"... But... Knowing about plants, and buying a fair few tomes doesn't put food on the table." He sighed. The caster had looked away, instead surveying the area, likely because he has heard this little spiel before. "Adventuring will keep me afloat until then!" Karatus' usual eagerness seemed to rush back in like floodwater. "I'll write something of my own, eventually."

Ainz smiled beneath his solid steel helmet. "Admirable. And I trust that 'adventurer' was a good fit? But would a herbalist not be a fitting vocation as well?"

'For me, it's likely closer to a vacation or a hobby. To him it is an occupation, but no matter how I look at it, it seems to be a fantastic match.'

"Being a herbalist seems nice." He admitted. "Seems a bit sedentary though. As for adventuring..." Karatus pushed off the tree, marching towards the lake and spread his arms wide. "Oh yes indeed. Just take a look! Ain't it gorgeous?"

It really was. The fog over the lake had started to clear up just a little, but the view was made no less ethereal by that fact. The three stood there, content with remaining silent as the remaining mist rolled over the bank on the opposite end.

'I do believe that him and Blue Planet-san would get along swimmingly.'

The ranger stretched and groaned. "Well. I'll be aiding you with the picking." He gave their newest companion another smile, this one far more earnest, and playfully boxed Momon's shoulder. "As a welcome gift, you can have all of the herbs I pick." Karatus unfurled his burlap sack before wandering off in a seemingly random direction. "Meetcha back at camp before sundown! Since I know you're a bit directionally challenged..."

"I may have to consult Yon about creative insults and retorts after that one." Bard mumbled.

"...It'd be best you remained in this general area. Ta-ta~!" The tanned archer proceeded to nearly skip away after his last wave.

"He'll be fine." Bard assured in an attempt to quell any worries the dark warrior may have about Karatus going off on his own. "If anything the weeds dotting the soil would notify him of any threats long before said dangers even knows he's in the vicinity."

"I'd imagine so."

"Speaking of which, he didn't bother ever describing what the plant looked like, did he?" Bard asked, his face twisted into a mix between a fond smile and an annoyed sneer- clearly dissatisfied by the fact that Karatus had forgotten that their newest companion lacked experience as either herbalist or adventurer.

"Hm. I suppose not, though I'd imagine you have a general idea of what we are looking for." A nod and a smile from Bard affirmed that idea. Momon's even voice suddenly took on a lighter note, gaining an almost impish edge to it. "Speaking of which, you were definitely interested in a few things Karatus had to teach, correct?"

The caster's face scrunched up a little, but the reddening of his ears was what gave him away. "Well... I suppose he does share a few titbits that could be described as interesting." Bard could feel Momon's stare and singular raised eyebrow burn into his face from behind that visor. "-Alright, fine. There are plenty of fascinating things that I've learnt from him, but I'd rather avoid letting him know. To reveal that would ensure that the man wouldn't ever close his mouth."

Bard raised his arms by his side in mock-surrender as a few peals of laughter came from the otherwise stoic dark warrior. "That's fair." Momon conceded. "So. Care to describe these 'Chai's Tears'?"

The mage gave a curt nod, launching into a wordy and almost poetic description of Chai's Tears, bringing up the fact that he had picked them before when needing some extra money- also making a comment about their importance in the war-effort. Ainz himself was only half listening, instead admiring the simple beauty of where they had found themselves.

"... And finally, it may be simpler if you and I find one instead-" He turned his head, only to find the newbie adventurer mostly distracted, appearing to peer across the lake. "...Is something the matter, Momon-san?"

"Peaceful." The dark warrior commented, making the ratty caster sharpen his ears. Indeed, there was nothing more than rustling leaves and singing birds.

'Perhaps Karatus was correct in his musings. Sir Momon does seem quite stricken by the sight.' He mused, also slowing down a bit to drink it all in. It was nice to not have to rush it. So too was the Supreme Being having his own thoughts about the situation.

'Sheesh. I wonder if its worth taking a bath. Sure, it may not be as relaxing as the hot spa in Nazarick, but this...?

This seems nice. I never knew lakes could be so beautiful when they were clean of waste and algae.

I think I can see the bottom from here- with how clear the lake is.

...

It'll be worth it.'

A carefree smile made its way onto the Fallen Angel's lips, carefully concealed by the plate helmet.

Soon, the rough sound of metallic clinking echoed across the valley lake, bringing Bard back to reality. The caster craned his neck to be met with the dark warrior peeling off his hefty suit of armour.

"Momon-san, is it really a good time for this?" The spell caster weakly protested, his focus on getting the job done being undermined by wanting to see what the dark warrior was like beneath all the layers.

His eyebrows pinched together at the sight, Momon's actual appearance contrasting heavily with the image provided by Bard's inner eye. With the way the warrior carried himself coupled with the presence of an experienced combatant that he exuded, the mage had thought Momon to be much older. -A gruff man with plenty of body hair and a physique tempered by decades of combat.

In reality, Momon was not that. Though Bard couldn't really find it in himself to say that he was in any way disappointed. The steel-clad warrior was young. Far more so than the noble spell caster would have anticipated.

'He's... Around Karatus' age, I think. Perhaps half a decade younger than I. Early twenties or the twilight years of his teens would be my best estimate.' Ainz would almost certainly have complained about the latter estimate had he heard it.

Funnily enough, the warrior removed his helmet last, finally revealing medium-length locks of brown. Though Bard felt as if he wasn't doing the man's form any justice describing it without a platitude of flattering adjectives stapled onto any given description.

The left corner of Momon's mouth curled upwards into a playful smirk while ethereal blue eyes bore into Bard's own steel-grey orbs.

'Oh.

OH.

...May the Four Elemental Gods have mercy on my soul.' Was all the mage's tattered mind managed as he forcefully wrestled back control over his misbehaving diaphragm.

"Now now." The dark warrior's chiding voice snapped him out of whatever otherworldly trance he had been put in. With that same comforting grin on his face, the melee combatant crossed his toned arms, the tight black under-shirt giving a painfully tantalising outline of what his fully exposed torso would look like. "It's rude to stare."

Ainz fought back the sudden onset of self-consciousness and embarrassment, unsure of why him taking off his armour would garner this much attention.

'Is there something on my face...?' The flustered Supreme Being put more effort into covering up his discomfort with more mock-confidence. Even if his ability to read emotions had improved, it didn't change the fact that Suzuki Satoru was romantically stunted and thoroughly unfamiliar with Bard's tells.

Had he even the slightest idea, the Fallen Angel would be extremely thankful to have been spared the caster's ongoing crisis and self-discovery- likely going on to say something along the lines of 'sorry, but I fancy women'.

"Uh..."

Momon's smile died down, leaving a slight grimace on his face. "Well, whatever the problem might be, I'm sure the water is nice. It should be this time of the year, no?"

The noble blinked. Momon's voice hadn't really changed in pitch or gravel despite feeling distinctly different to what he was used to. A more accurate observation to make would be how it lacked the same level of stoicism, having instead gained a form of fanciful eloquence found among the more silver-tongued members of a royal court, all while sounding more befitting of his outward age.

This aspect- much like the stoic warrior "persona"- did not seem at all disingenuous or forced, being instead another facet of Momon's personality. Something that only served to make the man all the more confusing.

Bard ran a dirty hand through his now greasy sable hair, face twisting in confusion. Genuine or not, such a sudden shift had to have come from somewhere.

With a graceful shrug the Supreme Being moved towards the edge of the lake, once more rousing the spell caster from his thoughts.

"W-wait, water-?" Bard echoed.

Bard didn't get to finish that thought as the warrior dove into the lake in near perfect form, putting some distance between them with a clumsy backstroke.

"Woah! That's brisk!" Momon commented, his observation petering off into joyous laughter halfway through. The caster just let out a sigh that sounded more like a strangled wheeze. though Ainz was too preoccupied with the sensation of a cold outdoor bath to take notice.

"-Momon-san!" He hollered before stopping himself. What was there to say? He didn't exactly take issue in the man finally relaxing a bit, so what was the problem? The warrior swam closer, the black clothing he wore beneath his armour now sticking to his skin.

The fact that he never learned how to swim and merely used his innate racial ability to float was- obviously- not something that Bard knew of.

"Oh please." Momon drawled. "No need to look so gobsmacked, Bard. The lake feels as lovely as it looks." 'Care to join?' went unsaid, though Bard feared the possibility of him toppling over like one of those fainting goats at the implication, had Momon asked.

It was as entrancing as it was terrifying to have witnessed this sudden change, but the spell caster was happy to have experienced it all the same. ...Even if Momon's reasoning was enigmatic at best.

The dark warrior seemed satisfied with just floating around on his back for a little while, enjoying the feeling of the cold water against him- though not taking off his remaining clothing proved to be a mistake as it now clung to his skin. Avatar-body or not, it didn't change the fact that he was slightly self-conscious.

Bard has cooled off enough to take a seat by the water's edge, not really minding the way the sand stuck to his robes as he watched his companion float about near land.

'I suppose Karatus' theory does hold some water. Especially judging by that reaction.' The mage cast his gaze towards the gently floating angel. The relaxed smile on Momon's face drew out a smirk from him as well. 'I can't help but wonder... Is Shizuka-san from the same place? Is Momon just a father that wanted a better life for his adoptive daughter? Either way I think our herb-picking idea may not come to pass.'

His mind raced, dreaming up possible answers to the conundrums that were his newest companions until a slight grunt from Ainz brought the noble out of his quiet contemplation. Turning his head, the gold-ranked adventurer saw Momon wade onto shore- clearly displeased with having to get out already. That earnest expression on the otherwise unreadable warrior's face garnered an airy chuckle from him.

"Quite finished already?" Bard asked smoothly, the time given to adapt to Momon's... Form, having allowed him to not come off as a complete and utter mess.

"We do have work to do, unfortunately." Was the curt reply that came, as the once again brusque warrior cast a furtive glance at the misty lake he had gotten out of. The angel in disguise proceeded to don his armour, seemingly uncaring for how soaking wet he would be beneath it.

Ainz gave a wistful sigh as he ran an unblemished hand through his satin-smooth brown locks. Gone were the days when the angel race's innate disguise function would simply remove the wings and halo.

It made some amount of sense back then, that something as cumbersome as the angel's traits reduces visibility for allies when in tight quarters. After the transition to reality, hiding his angelic features resulted in more substantial differences- whether it is looking even younger (more immature) or having your hair colour change into something more mundanely natural.

In the Supreme Being's eyes it was no wonder cherubs and angels were portrayed as babies. Especially now when he had a taste of it first-hand. But what truly mattered was...

'My face should have changed enough. In case "Ainz Ooal Gown" at some point removes his mask in Re-Estize it is unlikely to be traced back to Momon just because someone had seen what lies beneath his helmet.'

"Say, Momon-san..." The spell caster spoke up.

"Hm?"

Bard had gotten back on his feet, with his heels digging into the sand as he sat in a deep, hunched over squat. "You seemed quite taken by the lake." Though his tone was far from accusatory it was impossible to not notice the unspoken question.

The dark warrior shrugged, having somehow (much to the amazement and bewilderment of Bard) slipped into his heavy armour without any outside help. "T'was refreshing." He admitted, resulting in a titter of clipped laughter from his magic-wielding companion.

"Evidently so." Bard mumbled, his lips still curled up in a smile born of exasperated curiosity and amusement. "So, no story behind that? No tall tale or well-crafted story to keep me entertained and on my toes?"

"From what you are describing it seems as if you are seeking a horror-story shared around a campfire as opposed to one related to personal matters."

Bard stood up with a scoff, dusting the wet sand off his robe as he did so. "Frankly, that's more of Yon's thing." The caster clarified with a playful smile flitting across his moderately dry lips. "...Though his stories tend to end with 'and the quagoas did it'."

Electing to ignore the fact that he didn't know what a 'quagoa' was, Ainz allowed himself a chortle before slipping on his helmet. "You make his stories sound a little predictable, Bard."

"That may very well be the case, though whatever narrative he weaves is made no less entertaining for their sheer absurdity if nothing else."

A short silence followed, as the two seemed focused on different things. The spell caster staring intently at Momon's helm, as if trying to glance the otherworldly face that lied beneath while the warrior in question had eyes on the surrounding environment- from densely packed trees to sandy banks where the lake ended and the land began.

"You asked me about a supposed 'tall tale'." Ainz's crisp voice shattered the silence like a dropped porcelain plate, eliciting a subtle nod from Bard. "And what about you? Your 'tall tale'... Would it happen to involve nobility of sorts?"

At first, the mage's face scrunched up as if having tasted something bitter, though the expression faded before long- a weak smile having taken its place. "That is indeed the case. Just... Some silly story about some equally silly noble child caught up in the endless schemes that is so very characteristic for their ilk."

He clicked his tongue. "Just a cautionary tale shared between parent and child, I suppose." The smile that sprung up after that sentence seemed quite forced. Ainz mercifully didn't point it out, instead fiddling to create grooves in the sandy beach with his armoured fingers. "With the moral being story being not to get involved with such affairs."

Bard could feel the armoured warrior's gaze on him, as intense as it was sympathetic. The gold-ranked adventurer knew not what experience Momon had with noble etiquette and court conspiracies, though some nagging part of his mind insisted that the newbie adventurer must have had some level of knowledge judging by his reaction.

He was not made aware of Ainz's piqued interest in the current political climate of the Draconic Kingdom.

Bard awkwardly coughed, deciding to change the subject as Momon didn't seem to want to pry any further.

"It matters little." He deflected. "Perhaps you've gathered a few 'fairy tales' of your own, Momon-san." The dark warrior made a noise that sounded like the fusion between a scoff and a chuckle.

'Is this seriously what we're doing now?'

Yet another short period of thoughtful silence came and went. Ainz's brilliant red cape fluttered in the wind- his gaze trained somewhere in the far distance. Cherry Stem was... An odd collection of people. And the Supreme Being was still on the fence on whether or not they would remain acquaintances.

Currently he was quietly drawing lines in his head, determining how much he could tell (give away) without jeopardising his privacy as Ainz Ooal Gown.

If Yon was to be trusted, then Bard was rather insistent on not being a noble. And yet the man had all but admitted it to Momon, albeit indirectly. It made sense in a way. Perhaps the caster was a pragmatic looking to trade information. ...Or he found a trustworthy stranger to be easier to open up to than any old friends with their own ideas of who he should be.

Ainz shared in that notion to an extent. It was easier when people didn't have expectations. And he may not be able to share any information about Nazarick. Although...

"Acid rain." Momon suddenly uttered. Bard never noticed how alluring and captivating his voice was until the man in question laced it with an undercurrent of volatile passion. Bard's brows knitted together nonetheless, unable to make sense of the two words spoken.

"Scorched earth. Toxic air." The words slowly rolled out of the warrior's mouth, each coloured with some unpleasant cocktail of emotions the robed man couldn't quite put his finger on. Momon drew a shuddering breath, leaving goosebumps on Bard's frail-looking arms.

"Oceans, rivers, streams and... Lakes of black tar and poison."

It was made a lot clearer what Momon was talking about- or rather what it was he was describing. Without explicitly explaining it, it was quite clear that the newbie adventurer was talking about a location.

The man's words painted a picture of a broken and hostile landscape, most unkind to all life. He couldn't quite fight back the shudder that ran down his spine as he gave the man a pity-filled look. But the dark-clad warrior continued on nonetheless.

"As you could imagine, it was quite the... Hostile place."

"I'd say." The caster retorted with a snort, voice not carrying an iota of bite, as he tossed a stone into the lake to quell his restlessness.

"Even if the skies managed to be greener than the forests of that place, and even if lamplight outshone the sun in some days, it was home to many."

Bard tried to imagine a green sky and a dull sun. No matter what way you sliced it Momon's home was hell by another name. Such a terrible place... Was it the product of a curse? Some surviving demon lord who deigned to make the inhabitants of such a location suffer for some ill-fated grudge?

Somehow he knew that there didn't exist an explanation. At least not one that he would be content with. And that idea alone felt like a lump of ice in his stomach.

"Home to many." The spell caster quoted, looking up towards the blue sky- suddenly feeling quite thankful of its rich colour and wispy white clouds. "...Was it also home to a hypothetical protagonist?"

Ainz trained his eyes on the middle distance. Whether he was looking at the mountains in the backdrop or the slowly dissipating fog Bard did not know. It wasn't long before his answer finally came.

"No."

'It probably never was.'

...

"Still, I must wonder what he'd think of a view such as this." Bard tried cautiously, stealing an occasional glance at his newest companion- hoping to get something more out of him.

What followed Ainz's curt answer was likely the most awkward pause the two had shared before this moment.

...

"I don't know." The dark warrior tilted his head, looking at the now darkening sky. "Maybe they would have cried. Maybe they would have laughed."

Bard tactfully averted his gaze.

"...Or maybe they would have been left speechless, unable to say anything at all."

...

"...I'm sorry." The caster's voice came out weaker than he had wanted it to. Though the softer tone fit with the sombre mood that had enveloped the lake bank.

"Don't be." Was the only reply he received.

No more words were shared after that. None could be.

Not until the two of them had made it back to the camp in that same reserved silence.


Chapter End


I am the Lorax, I speak for the trees.

A/N) boi this chapter

WOW this took a while. A mix of actual responsibilities, changing computers, going away during the holidays and this chapter (and the next) being a whole lot more dull... The perfect shitstorm, really.

I had a couple of reviews wishing me good health, and I really appreciate that! Really keeps up the motivation. And I suppose that it's only right to reassure you that I am perfectly fine- if a little stressed out by the myriad of responsibilities laid out before me.

Though I can't conclusively say 'I am back' for any length of time when things are still in full swing, there are fewer distractions now.

Chapters will probably be a bit shorter from now on, as I am usually able to pump out 5-6k words quite fast before motivation to continue fizzles out, so I figure that posting more chapters would be made easier if I split them up more.

Of course, that means that less stuff happens in a chapter as a trade off.

Speaking of which, the next chapter in particular might drop rather considerably in quality. It was very boring and written over such a long time the idea/themes/message behind it changed, mutated and twisted beyond recognition. And frankly, I could rewrite it if you wish.

...Provided you would be willing to accept another long hiatus because holy fuck. Like, Chapter 12 is more than half the reason things got as delayed as they did- and I have no bloody clue what it's supposed to mean for Ainz's character, or if any of the foreshadowing/character moments will be paid off.

Like seriously, this chapter and the next chapter used to be 1 single 20 000 word chapter, that was waay too long. I wanted the actual trip to be like, 5k words. If that had been the case, this would have released the week after Chapter 10. But alas.

TLDR: next chapter is a hot mess.