Overlordly broken

by oblivon2991

"Everything has a beginning has an end" as the saying goes. In the last day of the popular VRMMO named YGGRADASIL in the notorious guild named Ainz Ooal Gown not only Momonga remained to upkeep and manage the guild. There was an another member who helped him and stayed with him until the very end. Let's find out what happens next. (Completed. Complete rewrite coming when ready)

9. What a Strange Bunch of StrangersOh my!

Thank you for reading my fanfic and giving me a chance.

My mother language is not English so please be patient about the grammatical issues.

I don't own the Overlord(オーバーロードŌbārōdo?) novel or anime series created by Kugane Maruyama.

I would like to thank the wonderful job what the Skythewood translator team done with the light novel translation.

Without their hard and persistent work, I surely couldn't write this story.

Please review it I know I will make mistakes what I will intend to correct and try to learn from my mistakes and improve myself.

I also looking for a good beta reader. If anyone knows a good one who willing to check my work please send his/her account name to me so I can make contact with him/her.

Thank you!

Now let's continue our little story!

---

Nfirea reached the mumbling Esdeath.

He seemed a little hesitant and unsure of whether to speak. In the end, he gathered up his determination and asked Esdeath:

"Raidyn-san, are you Esdeath Gorgon-san?"

Raidyn inner eyes widened then she facepalmed internally with a shameful expression in her inner face.

„How could this be? What kind of information gave out me? Do I kill him? Or simply speak me out. Its too late for as the saying goes. „Alea iacta est"

Nfirea watched her with an excitedly impatient look under his long hair.

The sudden question left Esdeath in a state of thinking. She should have denied it immediately.

But could she do that? Could she reveal her and her friend name and their station in this world?

„Maybe if I reveal him at least our name. Maybe on this point, I can start the binding process what will ensure his complete loyalty to us and The Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick. I already know he is a friend of that village girl. What was her name? Ahh. Enri Emmot.

There are many benefits if I can make him pledge complete loyalty to us.

First: He is a skilled alchemist so we could use his skills about experimenting purposes in the outside world.

Second: With his innate talent we could strengthen Nazarick further and maybe we could even replicate his talent.

That's right! This is a very risky gamble but as I said before to your inner self."Never venture, never win!

Funny I am speaking to my own imaginary friend. I am going crazy, doesn't I? He..he."

„You are not crazy I am here! Don't try to ignore me!"

„Who are you?" she said in herself with a surprised tone

„Who am I? Your other half. The one who always want to kick you off from your throne and motivate you if you goes lazy. I am your wild dark side. Your hollow self. But shake back yourself into the reality because that little guy waiting for your answer dumbass!"

„Right! Thanks, creepy one. We will speak later under my usual nap."

This brief hesitation was an unspoken admission, and Nfirea continued:

"So it was you, Esdeath-san. Thank you and Gown-san for saving this village, as well as saving Enri."

Esdeath turned to him with a surprisingly calm smiling face. But she said nothing.

Nfirea nodded in understanding.

„Yes. I understand why you might want to go by a different name, but still, I have to thank you and Gown-san for saving this village — for saving Enri, the girl whom I like."

„Raise your head please and please don't do that anymore to me. I really hate this overly respectful tone, bowing, honorifics etcetera things. It goes into my nerves."

Esdeath started to scratch her head while she said these words.

Nfirea straightened himself and nodded indicating he understood what he previously heard.

"Yes, Esdeath-san. The truth is… I've been hiding something from you."

„Nfirea-san please in outside if I am in my adventurer disguise please use my adventurer name. Raidyn. It would greatly hinder my work if everyone knew who I am. So please can this be our little secret?"

„Of course Esde.."

Esdeath shot him a serious look.

„I mean Raidyn-san." he started to scratch the back of his head nervously

„That's better!" Esdeath smiled „Well what do you hiding before me?"

"Actually…"

Nfirea swallowed nervously, but the look on his face was full of determination.

"Raidyn-san, the potion which you gave that lady in the inn and what Gown-san gave Enri cannot be made by normal methods and is extremely rare. I wanted to know what sort of persons would have such a potion and what kind of methods would produce such a potion, which was why I requested this job. I am very sorry about that."

"Ah, so that's what it was."

As she thought, it had been a mistake.

Ainz had given the healing potion to Enri in this village, and Esdeath gave someone else in E-Rantel. Because of that, their identity had been exposed. In addition—

„…Maybe I should have taken back that potion. If I'd gotten that woman adventurer's name as well it would have been fine… however looking in the current situation this could come back quite positively as I murmured before in myself."

At the time, Esdeath felt that giving her that potion was the best course of action.

That woman had said, "Well, seeing as you're dressed in such a flashy suit of metallic armor, surely you must have some healing potions, right?" Perhaps she had not thought about those words before speaking them, but the fact was that they greatly limited the ways in which Esdeath could have responded.

For instance, one might see a person getting out of an expensive car. Upon seeing that person's opulent, almost decadent clothing and appearance, they would assume that the car matched their background. But what if that person dressed shabbily? People watching might then think that person had spent all their money on the car. They might even laugh at him.

Esdeath had come to E-Rantel to build her reputation as an adventurer to gain information in firsthand from the new world. As a result, she had to avoid any actions which might damage her adventurer cover public image.

She had given her the potion after considering these factors.

It was a gamble which she had lost, but the situation can be still salvageable and maybe it can be turned into a positive way. This was not a fatal mistake, and all she needed to do was work hard to compensate for it. After all, Esdeath and Ainz was not a perfect being who could do no wrong.

Still, she did not know why Nfirea was apologizing.

"Is there anything to be sorry for?"

"Eh?"

"…Well, I can't say I feel entirely good about someone hiding something from me while smiling and shaking my hand, but then this assignment was designed to build a connection with me, am I correct? What's wrong with that?

Anyways I was aware of your attempt. I did not know the cause of course. But it was a fairly strange thing from a famous alchemist to request help from an unknown copper level adventurer. Who is fairly new in the city.

And with a bodyguard mission only with one copper level adventurer as a bodyguard in a fairly dangerous area.

These things make me a little suspicious. But no harm was done and I was suspicious about you. So I think we are even." Esdeath smiled to Nfirea after her long monolog

"Raidyn-san, you're really a magnanimous person…"

„Don't mention it as I said before we are even." she shoo-d these words

Esdeath had no idea why Nfirea was so impressed by her. Building connections was a basic element of living in society, so there was nothing wrong with what Nfirea had done. She was somewhat confused about the details, but she vaguely understood. Perhaps Nfirea thought that Esdeath believed that Nfirea was drawing close to Esdeath in order to steal industrial secrets.

"If I told you how to make the potion, what would you do with that knowledge? Please tell me."

Nfirea gasped in surprise, and after a brief period of thought he answered:

"I had not thought that far ahead. I just wanted to know because I was curious… Granny's probably the same way too."

Esdeath hummed "Then, there's no problem at all. If you were planning to exploit it for criminal gain, it would be a different matter, but if not, then it's fine."

"You're really amazing. No wonder… looks at you that way…"

As Nfirea murmured, the wind dried the sweat on his forehead, and his hair fell down to cover his eyes again. Still, Esdeath could see a look of admiration in his eyes, like a boy meeting with his favorite baseball player.

For a moment, she felt embarrassed, and then that emotion was damped down.

"Speaking of which, are you the only one who knows about me and my friend?"

"Yes, I didn't tell anyone else."

„That's reassuring. Please promise me to not tell anyone else. Even your grandma. That will greatly hinder my work and as I said before call me Raidyn while I am on my adventuring disguise."

„I promise!"

Esdeath smiled under her hood.

„I'm sorry for causing you all this trouble, Raidyn-san, but I needed to thank you in person and please tell your friend too. Thank you all very much for saving Enri and this village."

Nfirea delivered his earnest thanks with a sincere look in his eyes.

"There's no need to stand on ceremony. We were merely righting a wrong where we saw it."

"Even so, there shouldn't have been a need to give away those horns."

The truth was that there was no particular reason behind giving those horns away. However, if that was how Nfirea had interpreted the gift, then she would leave it at that. Esdeath said nothing but merely nodded in a magnanimous way.

After this as an employer, Nfirea arranged with Eseath to head for the forest in an hour's time. After thanking her again, he turned and left.

[Message]:"Momonga-san. Are you there? I have a few interesting news."

[Message]:"I am listening."

[Message]:"Well I am exposed."

[Message]:"What?" Ainz voice in the [Message] was panicked and angry

[Message]:"But don't worry. It could be a positive thing if I play my cards right. The person who were exposed me very eager because we saved Carne village before and he is a 17-year-old kid so we can manipulate him easily."

[Message]:"I see. What can he bring into the fold?"

[Message]:"Well he is a very talented alchemist and he has a very interesting innate talent what we must acquire. And he pledged his life to that he will not give out our secret."

[Message]:" „I see. And what is this interesting innate talent might be?"

[Message]:"He can use every magic item what he lay his hand on. Requirements does not matter. If we can secure his loyalty us. That could be a great tactical benefit for Nazarick."

[Message]:"I see. Do what you must Esdeath-san. But if you notice any strange vibe from him what can pose threat for us. You must eliminate him immediately!"

[Message]:" „Understood guild leader. That will be all for now. Thanks for your time!"

[Message]:"Call me again if you have new interesting news."

[Message]:"I will! Don't worry!"

with this Esdeath terminated the [Message] spell

„Anyone can make mistakes. All I need to do is strive not to make the same mistake twice. Work hard, step by step, and do not repeat my past failures. „

Nfirea's grandmother was a famous herbalist in E-Rantel. Annoying or making an enemy of her would make it more difficult for Esdeath to reach their aims.

"In any case… we'll see how it goes."

---

Scene Change: Forest near Carne village.

There was a large clearing in the dense forest about 100 meters from the village. Although that clearing had been made by the villagers cutting down trees — under the protection of the Goblins — in order to make logs, it still looked like the gaping maw of some gigantic beast.

Esdeath and the others made their final checks, and then the young man who had hired them spoke up:

"We'll be entering the forest after this, so I'll be counting on you to protect me. That said, the area just inside the forest is part of the Wise King of the Forest's sphere of control, so under normal circumstances, the chances of meeting other monsters are very low. The problem is that the Ogres we met yesterday came from a place near the Wise King of the Forest's territory, so something must have happened in the woods. Although it's hardly something that I need to warn you gentlemen about, I hope everyone will remain on guard."

Nfirea's gaze rested briefly on Esdeath.

The Swords of Darkness turned to look at Esdeath as well.

"Well, with you around, we should be fine, Raidyn-san."

"…If that monster called the Wise King of the Forest appears, let me hold it back. You should escape first. Anyway, it could be a fun fight if that creature as strong as they said." Esdeath grinned

They could not help but gasp as they heard Esdeath's confident pronouncement. She seemed to shine even brighter in their eyes than after yesterday's battle with the Ogres.

"If there's a need to run, could you please leave without delay? If the Wise King of the Forest is strong, I'll need to face it with my full power, and I don't want to get everyone caught up in it."

"Understood. If that happens, we'll protect Nfirea-san and flee the forest. But don't push yourself too hard either, Raidyn-san. Please make your escape if you feel you are overwhelmed by the monster."

"Thank you. I'll escape when it gets dangerous."

"Then… Raidyn-san."

Nfirea seemed to be wavering between speech and silence. In the end, he made up his mind and said:

"Could you not kill the Wise King of the Forest, but instead chase it away?"

„Why do you want me to chase away?" Raidyn started to scratch her face.

"Mm, Carne Village has not been attacked by monsters because the Wise King of the Forest's territory is nearby. If you defeat the Wise King of the Forest…"

"I see…So the villagers use the creature to keep away other monsters. In that case, I do everything to chase it away. But if it not working in the worst chase I have to terminate it."

„I understand and thank you," said Nfirea

„No problem!"

"That might be a bit much. Raidyn-san is strong, but her opponent is a legendary monster. Wouldn't she be in trouble if she couldn't defend herself with her full strength? How would she have the luxury of—"

"I understand."

"Wha—!" Lukrut exclaimed in shock.

The other Swords of Darkness remained silent, but their surprise was written all over their faces.

"It might be difficult, but I'll try to go easy on it and merely chase it away. Anyway, this might be a good challenge. Without challenges to overcome no one could possibly grow!"

"Even if your opponent is… a legendary monster that's lived for centuries…"

"Is this the sort of attitude that only the strong have…"

"Judging by Raidyn-san's personality, she probably isn't exaggerating or bluffing…"

In stark contrast to the Swords of Darkness, Nfirea had a faint idea of Esdeath's power, and he had a relieved expression on his face.

Even if she ended up killing the Wise King of the Forest, all she had to do to ask Ainz to dispatch vassals from Nazarick to replace the creature.

"All right! Now, let's move on. The herbs I'm looking for this time look like this. If anyone finds them, let me know."

Nfirea produced a sample of a withered plant from a herb-gathering pouch on his belly.

"Oh, it's Ngenac grass!"

Esdeath seemed pensive „I know I heard that herb name somewhere. But where?"

"Raidyn-san, are you all right?"

"Eh? Ah, that plant? I've heard of it."

"Yes, this herb is commonly used when making potions."

"So it's commonly found near adventurers!"

"Indeed it is. Now I see why we came to this place — I've heard that wild herbs are more potent than cultivated ones, no?"

"That's right. Incidentally, the fact that we use all-natural ingredients in our potions is a point of pride for us! Well, they're only about 10 percent more effective than those of the competition."

In YGGDRASIL, healing potions were usually made through skills that were only available through certain job classes, or by casting the desired spells on the appropriate ingredients. Although Esdeath knew a little about this field, all she knew was that the ingredients were made by compounding specific substances with an alchemical solvent, but never through the use of herbs.

In other words, potions in this world were made in a different way from YGGDRASIL. This must have been what Nfirea meant by "cannot be made by normal methods".

As she was thinking, the conversation seemed to have turned to the job once more, and Esdeath turned to listen.

"There's a clearing in the forest, which I've designated as our destination. I've already told you about that place, Lukrut-san, so please guide us there."

"Leave it to me," Nfirea turned back to the others.

"Then, let's begin the herb collection-"

"—I have a suggestion," Esdeath interjected

"Please tell us, Raidyn-san."

"Since I can cast something like the [Alarm] spell Ninya-san used when pitching camp, could we temporarily split off when we reach the destination?"

Everyone, Nfirea included, wrinkled their brows. This was because they were uneasy about their strongest fighting force leaving them in such a dangerous area. However, Nfirea quickly replied:

"That's fine. However, please don't go for too long."

„Don't worry I will not."

"Then, could I go too? I need to watch carefully in case Raidyn-chan might be in danger." offered himself Lukrut eagerly

„No that's will not be necessary Lukrut-san. But Thank you for your caring,"

Lukrut looked like a man who lost his battle. Esdeath just chuckled on his look

"Then, Raidyn-san will leave us for a while, and we'll pick the herbs after her return."

Since it was their employer's decision, nobody else could object. The Swords of Darkness nodded one by one.

After the discussion and other matters were concluded, Nfirea called for them to move out. The group shouldered their baggage and entered the forest.

There were trees felled by the villagers nearby. The earth was already dried out. It looked like an easily walkable stretch of forest, but the scenery before their eyes slowly transformed into something like a green labyrinth.

In YGGDRASIL's forest and other natural zones, she partéy considered these things to be simple in-game scenery. Even now, she still thought the same way.

Esdeath — who was proud of the design of the Great Tomb of Nazarick — was filled with complex emotions. She had not expected that natural forest could be so awe-inspiring after the almost completely dead Earth where they came from.

„I see why Blue Planet-san liked nature so much…"

At the same time, she observed Lukrut the ranger advancing carefully, keeping a lookout with all his five senses. She seemed to have concluded that there was no living creature hiding nearby.

„Actually, there's someone following me.„

Esdeath was proud of the person sneaking behind her. „Maybe Momonga-san sent her after me to ensure my good being. How very nice of him! Or this is a personal action. I will ask her when we meet in the forest," Esdeath smiled internally

They carefully observed their surroundings, ready to deal with any sudden developments.

This was because they were no longer in the world of men.

"Then, I will move as I planned earlier stay safe while I am away," Esdeath said these words while walked away and waved backward with her right hand.

---

Scene Change: Deep in the forest:

"Here should be fine."

„Aura you can come out now I know you are here."

A dark elf girl popped out from behind a nearby tree, with a beaming smile that seemed to say "hehe he" on her face.

This was one of the twin Guardians of the 6th floor of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Aura Bella Fiora.

„Esdeath-sama how long do you know I following you?"

Esdeath chuckled „Since we entered the forest. Back to the topic. Ainz-san sent you or this is a private action?"

Aura was a beast tamer-cum-ranger, so tracking people in the forest was child's play to her. While it was true that Lukrut was also a ranger, the difference in their abilities was so great that there was no way he could have spotted her.

Aura started staring the ground with a shameful expression on her face. „Private action..." she said this word with a repentant tone „Esdeath-sama. Do you tell about this Ainz-sama?"

„That depends on. Do you left the operation what Ainz-san entrusted you because of bad intention and laziness or mere curiosity."

„Curiosity!" she answered with a hasty tone.

Esdeath walked to her and patted her head while smiled brightly to her „Then no harm is done. Curiosity what brings advancement Aura don't forget it."

„Yes!"

„And about that to tell Ainz-san." Esdeath seemed very pensive for a moment. Aura just watched her with an excited and frightened look.

„Leaving the operation what Ainz-sama entrusted me was a bad idea! What Ainz-sama will do to me if he will find out this treachery?"

„Weeeeeeeeeeeeel. My lips are sealed. However knowing Ainz-san he already knew about it and trusted you in this forest operation because he knew your nature and curiosity will overcome you and you will come after me after you sense my presence."

„Uwaa. Ainz-sama is really amazing! To planning this forward. Thank you Esdeath-sama!" she bowed deeply

Esdeath chuckled. „Yeah, he is a smart guy. „Esdeath looked the still bowing Aura „Please you don't have to bow me if we are in private. I think we are friends right?"

„Right!" she said with a happy tone and bright face

„Then it is settled. By the way. I have a job for you."

„What do you wish from me Esdeath-sama?"

„Find the monster called the Wise King of the Forest, urge it to attack me. According to our previous intelligence, the Wise King of the Forest is a four-legged beast with silver fur and a snake-like tail. Does that remind you of anything?"

"Hm, it's fine. It should be that guy," Aura replied as she glanced upward.

"If that's the case, do you want me to tame it directly?"

"…That's not necessary just urge it to attack me please."

Aura the beast tamer should be able to easily subdue the Wise King of the Forest. However, it would be troublesome if someone found out that Ainz and Esdeath had been pulling all the strings. Therefore, it would be wiser to avoid having to worry about such things.

„By the way how is the project going what Ainz-san entrusted you?"

"The order Ainz-sama gave me and my brother to 'investigate and control the interior of the forest, verify if there are any lifeforms willing to obey Nazarick, and set up a resource storehouse' is going well, Esdeath-sama!"

„Hmm. Very good! You and your brother did a magnificent work. I will mention it to Ainz-san personally if I meet him next time."

Aura eye lit up. „Thank you Esdeath-sama! You are very kind!"

Esdeath chuckled again. „ Thank you. „she showed away the praise."Now please would you kindly draw out the creature?"

„Right away!" Aura replied

Because of this string of tasks, Aura, Mare, the vassals designated for construction, and other powerful entities had invaded the forest and disrupted the balance of power within it. This was why the Ogres and other monsters had chosen to flee, even at the risk of treading within the domain of the Wise King of the Forest.

---

Scene Change: Deep in the forest with Aura:

After Esdeath bade Aura farewell, a gigantic black wolf with a lustrous black pelt padded out from behind one of the trees, as though it had been waiting for that moment. Its fiery red eyes blazed with intelligence, proving that it was no mere beast.

That was not all.

On the branches of another tree was a six-legged monster which looked like a fusion of a chameleon and an iguana. Its scaly skin ran through a kaleidoscopic array of lightning-fast color changes. It was as large as the wolf from earlier.

"Fen, Quadracile, what's with you? Worried about me?"

The massive wolf called Fen whined and nuzzled Aura. Quadracile stuck out its tongue and lightly licked at the top of Aura's head.

"Hey hey, we still have to do the work Esdeath-sama gave us."

Aura's fighting strength was second from the bottom among the Guardians of Nazarick, and the fact was that some of the Area Guardians were stronger than her. However, that only took into consideration their solo abilities.

As they heard Aura's words, Fen and Quadracile stopped playing around.

"All right, let's go!"

Aura led the two magical beasts in a sprint through the forest. Even though they were surrounded by dense woodland, they were not impeded in the slightest, moving as fast as the wind.

After about 30 minutes of running, Aura reached her destination.

Aura smiled. It was a cold smile which did not fit her youthful face. It was equal parts innocent and cruel.

"I kind of wanted it for myself, but Esdeath-sama did give me an order, so it can't be helped."

She did not sound like she was talking to her pets, but rather like she was muttering to her jewelry.

"Now then…"

Aura began transmuting the air molecules in her lungs. The newly recombined breath was not a natural substance, and it leaked from between her pink lips. This breath of hers could control emotions.

Aura proudly walked up to the Wise King of the Forest, all traces of her presence thoroughly erased, and breathed lightly. Her breath contained elements which induced terror, startling awake the sleeping Wise King of the Forest.

Every hair on the Wise King of the Forest stood on end, and it fled immediately. The speed of a terrified four-legged beast was startling. Yet Aura — who was chasing it from behind — was faster still.

Aura shadowed the Wise King of the Forest, harrying it towards Esdeath like she was a guided specter of Death.

"…Still, I wonder if I Esdeath-sama allow me to take its pelt if it died…"

---

Scene Change: Forest with Esdeath and the group:

There was a disturbance in the forest

Lukrut pricked up his ears as he sensed the change in the air. He surveyed his surroundings with a grim expression on his face and wariness in his heart.

"Something's coming."

"Is it the Wise King of the Forest?"

"This is bad."

Even the usually flighty Lukrut was speaking in a serious tone:

"Something massive is coming. I don't know why it's moving in a serpentine pattern, but from the sound of trampled grass, it should be here soon. However… can't be sure if it's the Wise King of the Forest."

"Let's fall back, it doesn't matter if it's the Wise King of the Forest or not, staying here is very dangerous."

As he said this, Peter looked to Esdeath.

"Raidyn-san, can we trouble you to be the rear guard?"

„I am on it! Don't worry!" she assured them with a calm tone

The Swords of Darkness called out their encouragement to Esdeath one after the other as they helped Nfirea retreat from of the forest.

"Raidyn-san, please don't overdo it."

Nfirea's voice carried an absolute faith in Esdeath, and his eyes glittered with admiration underneath his hair.

As she watched them disappear into the forest on the other side of the clearing she sighted.

„Then let's start our little dance! Shall we?" she unsheathed her Ultra Greatsword and placed on her shoulder.

looking at the mighty shadow that emerged from the distant trees. There was no way to make its shape out because it was hiding behind the trees, and without the sun to light it, there was no way to tell if its body was, in fact, silver.

"It seems the guest of the dance arrived on the stage," she smirked

Esdeath felt the air move. She immediately placed her Ultra Greatswords in front of her like a column.

She did this because she felt the monster was weak and she doesn't want to kill it accidentally with her passive [Vector Shield]. What repulsed every physical and most of the magical attack no matter the level. Of course, high level and high data contents attacks can still hurt her. But the mid percent of those attacks just repulsed back to the attackers. So she could make the enemy passively kill itself with her passive skill.

She saw a long metallic tail steel of her sword, and a tremendous force bore down on Esdeath's arms. It was very weak for her but it was quite strong if we consider the inhabitants of this world what they have.

She saw a long, serpentine tail slowly retreat behind a tree.

„Its tail attacks like a bullwhip. However, judging by the feel and sound of the impact, that tail must be as hard as metal… its attack radius of over 20 meters."

"How spectacular; to think thou could endure the blow of this one. Perhaps this is the first time this one hath encountered a foe possessed of such prowess."

Esdeath smiled for this little quote. „Heh. It seems the Wise King of the Forest is Smealgol itself. Maybe it said next time. „Give me back my precious! hehe"

"Then, oh trespasser upon my demesne. Shouldst thou decide to quit the field, this one shall not pursue thee, in honor of thine magnificent defense… what say thee?"

Esdeath chuckled „Is it fear what I hear from your voice or it overconfidence or are you so insecure about your appearance that you have to hide in the shadows? Or are you shy by nature?"

"…What a wild tongue thou hast, oh trespasser! Now behold this one's mighty form! Stare, with eyes wide and tongue-tied, and tremble in dread and awe!"

The Wise King of the Forest slowly emerged from the trees, revealing its body

Esdeath sweatdropped first but after a moment she looked the ground because she barely withheld herself to break out to a manic laughter.

"Fufufu, this one senses thy fear and alarm from beneath thine hood!"

A smile twisted the face of the magical beast, and it curled its long tail. There were strange glyphs and symbols on the silvery fur covering its body. It was about the size of a horse, but it was low to the ground, being larger in the horizontal rather than the vertical dimension.

„No not that." she waved away these words. „ I jut expected something else that's it."

Esdeath inspected the creature

"…I have a question; what is the name of your species?"

"This one is known in thy tongue as the Wise King of the Forest. Apart from that, this one holds no other titles."

"Your species… might they be called Djungarian Hamsters?"

"This… this one hath lived in solitude all mine life. This one can't answer thee, for this one knows not of this ones… or dost thou imply that thou know of this one's species?"

"Um… er… I guess, sort of… one of my former friends once kept a creature which was similar to you…" Esdeath looked pensive

"What?! To think beings like this one would be raised as pets!"

The Wise King of the Forest puffed up its cheeks.

"Hm… This one prays thee enlighten me on that matter. This one is a living being and must procreate. If others of this one's breed exist, then this one must go forth and multiply, lest this one become a failure as a living being."

„…Er, it wasn't as big as you, anyway. I think you might be some kind of mutation of the species."

"Be that as it may… perchance it was a juvenile?"

"…No, even fully grown, it was small enough to fit in the palm of my hand."

"Indeed, that is quite a stretch… this one must pass the years in solitude, after all…"

"…If you were a more impressive-looking species it wouldn't be so bad… but you're a hamster. I do sympathize with your circumstances, but if there were others like you, your numbers would increase without end and the world might end up being destroyed…"

"What an outrage! Increasing the numbers of one's species is important! And this one hath lived without companionship all mine life! 'Tis only natural to desire others of mine kind!"

"I am sorry?…" Esdeath started to scratch her face with a confused expression

"…Think naught of it. This one grants thee mine forgiveness. Then, let us abandon this idle banter and show each other our fatal resolve. Listen well… oh trespasser who hath profaned mine demesne, offer thy life as this one's sustenance!"

„Bring it!" said Esdeath with an excited tone and raised her Ultra Greatsword to a resting position to her shoulders.

The massive body forcefully kicked off the earth with a mighty bang and lunged at Esdeath.

Esdeath easily parried and sidestepped from the creature attacks. She realized in the past few days that she loved to play with her opponents. Of course, she could measure quite accurately her opponent strengths ad weaknesses so she could decide when she can play with them and when she had to go a little bit serious.

"Muuuuu!"

The Wise King of the Forest was surprised by the mostly unmoving and sometimes lazily sidestepping Esdeath, and slashed with the surprisingly sharp claws on its forepaws. Esdeath lazily raised her Ultra Greatsword in her left hand to block the strike, then she swung lightly with the Ultra Greatsword in response.

She did this because she doesn't want to injure the creature.

She barely put any of her strength into it, but it was still quite a forceful blow.

"Well done! But how about this? [Charm Species]."

Mind-affecting effects were useless against Esdeath. Ignoring her opponent's magical attack, Esdeath swung lazily her Ultra Greatsword.

There was a sound of clashing metal again, and Esdeath's sword was deflected once more.

While that had only been a probing attack, the Wise King of the Forest had deflected that strike with its skin. It would seem that its hide was harder than most metals.

Esdeath could quite precisely control how much strength she put into her attacks so she could imitate an around level 25 warrior easily without she had to struggle to not hurt the creature.

Another glyph on its body lit up, and it cast a spell.

"[Blindness]."

Esdeath easily resisted this low tiered magic with her passive invalidation.

„A different symbol lit up when it used that spell… it seems the symbols on its body represent the spells it can use…"

The Wise King of the Forest did not notice its spell had been resisted and attacked with its forepaws. Esdeath blocked with her Ultra Greatsword then counterattacked.

Both sides went back and forth, neither side being able to strike a decisive blow until Esdeath Ultra Greatsword finally breached the Wise King of the Forest's defense.

Esdeath sweatdropped. „I don't want to hurt him/her. I just want to precisely measure his/her power.

"What!" the creature freaked out

The scent of fresh blood followed the sensation of the Ultra Greatsword piercing into flesh. Her weapon in her left hand grazed the hide of the Wise King of the Forest, sending hairs flying.

„The Wise King of the Forest curled its tail up behind it, but judging by its length, it probably shouldn't be able to reach —„

„Is it trying to attack me with a special attack?"

The tail strike at the beginning had come from a long distance away. In other words, she was still in the range of the tail attack.

As expected, the tail swung in a huge, sweeping arc, speeding at Esdeath with its surprising length. Esdeath simply lazily placed her ultra greatsword on her right side and blocked it and sighed.

„What! That was my special attack how did you block it?"

„That's quite easy you are predictable," she said it with a bored tone

The creature frowned.

"That armor… 'tis truly amazing. Nay, thy strength, and swordplay are both breathtaking to behold. Thou art truly a superlative warrior. Art thou a woman of fame in human society?"

„Actually I am not. I am just a wanderer who searching for adventures." while she scratched her face

„I see!"

The Wise King of the Forest must have thought that Esdeath's magic immunity was simply resisting the spell through sheer force of will. Granted, special defenses like resistance and immunity were practically the same thing in YGGDRASIL, but at least it should have tried to act like a proper sage.

Esdeath sighed again then lowered her Ultra Greatsword she looked very disappointed.

"What art thou doing!? Could it possibly be… dost thou intend to yield before the battle is decided? Come at this one with all thy strength! This is a duel to the death!"

„This is getting boring quite fast."

„What!? How could thou say this…"

Esdeath looked to the creature and shot a minimal amount from her killing intent in the direction of The Wise King of The forest.

A cold, soul-chilling vapor gusted out from Esdeath direction. You could read from it the next. „If you keep annoying me you will be slaughtered in the most gruesome way."

The moment that mass of cold air washed over the Wise King of the Forest, every single one of its hairs stood on end, and it rolled over with surprising speed. All he could see was its silvery fur, and its soft, defenseless belly.

"Craven! This one yields to thee!"

Esdeath sighed disappointed and muttered. „How disappointing in the end this was just a simple oversized hamster."

As she muttered tiredly in response, Esdeath walked over to the Wise King of the Forest, observing its vulnerable belly, and then considered what she should do next.

„It's a creature of this world, so chasing it away would be a shame. Sadly, it's just a hamster, so should I raise it as a pet… at the very least, we should make use of its corpse. Ainz-san maybe can raise it."

"Shall we kill it?" a cheery voice rang out.

Esdeath turned and found that Aura had mysteriously appeared beside her.

"If you kill it, I'd like its hide. It looks like it would make a great pelt…"

Esdeath lowered her head and looked straight at the Wise King of the Forest, who was looking at her with moist, tear-filled eyes. Its whiskers twitched as it waited fearfully for its future to be decided.

"My true name is Esdeath Gorgon. If you are willing to serve The Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick, I will spare your life."

"Th-thank you very much! This one shall offer absolute fealty to thee for the gift of this one's life! The life of the Wise King of the Forest shall be an offering to the great warrior, Esdeath Gorgon-sama!"

„One more thing. When we adventuring you will call me Raidyn. Do you understood me?"

„Yes, of course, Raidyn-sama!"

„Good. You can leave the honorific when we are adventuring together of course if you want."

The hamster bowed its head.

Aura looked at the Wise King of the Forest, who had jumped up and was frantically pledging its loyalty. There seemed to be something like regret in Aura's eyes.

---

Scene Change: Forest Glade: With Nfirea and the Sword of Darkness:

Once she left the forest, they encountered the others, who rejoiced that Esdeath was unharmed. Only Lukrut seemed to have his doubts.

In a tone that combined surprise and praise, Nfirea asked Esdeath:

"You're unhurt… Did you avoid fighting?"

"Raidyn-san, what did you bring back? Were you charmed by something?"

"I battled the Wise King of the Forest and tamed it. Don't be shy come out!"

They could all see the pearly-white fur of the Wise King of the Forest as it emerged from the trees. The Swords of Darkness gathered around Nfirea, shocked expressions on their faces as they all took a step back with weapons raised.

„Well, it's huge, even if it's a Djungarian Hamster…"

"Be at ease, everyone. I have subdued it, so it will not lash out wildly and hurt people."

Then, she approached the Wise King of the Forest and made a show of patting its furry body.

"It is as milady says; this Wise King of the Forest is loyal to milady, and is milady faithful servant. This one swears to milady that this one will not inconvenience thee, fine gentlemen!"

"…So this is the Wise King of the Forest! Unbelievable! What a majestic beast!"

„WTF?!" Esdeath sweatdropped internally „Majestic beast? It maybe a pet for fun or a rare collectible mount but majestic? Seriously this world needs to reevaluate the meaning of this word."

"…Wow, the Wise King of the Forest… so the legends really were true! I can feel its mighty presence just standing before it!"

„Mighty presence? Where?"

"Uwah, that's pretty awesome. You actually pulled it off. Someone as strong as you is certainly qualified. Go out with me Raidyn-chan!" Lukrut yelled

"If we had encountered him, we would have been killed for sure. I expected nothing less of you, Raidyn-san. Amazing work."

"…I don't know I think it is quite cute. „

Their eyes went wide as they heard those words, as though their eyeballs were about to fall out. It would seem that statement was quite absurd.

"Ra-Raidyn-san, Do you think this beast is cute?"

„Yeah, it reminds me of the domestic animals of my home."

Of course. After mocking the reply in her heart, Esdeath magnanimously nodded, and then she began to wonder if the Wise King of the Forest had used a passive charm skill.

"Unbelievable, that's Raidyn-san for you. Ninya, you looked into its eyes, what do you think ?"

"…They are eyes filled with wisdom, and I could feel the power of this beast. There's no way it could be cute by any stretch of the word."

„Wisdom where? I only see a clueless animal with the ability to speak."

She looked down because of her embarrassment.

„This world individuals are weird."

"But if you take this monster away, and thus its sphere of influence, won't the other monsters attack En… Carne Village because it's not there to scare it off anymore?"

Esdeath raised her chin to indicate the Wise King of the Forest. It got the message, and said:

"By village you mean… ah, well, the balance of power in the forest is now in chaos. Even if this one was there, this one would not be able to guarantee their safety by any means."

"No way…"

„The Wise King of the Forest is hardly a fitting name, let's see what I can get out of this."

As the Swords of Darkness discussed how to save the village, Nfirea made up his mind and addressed Esdeath with a serious look on his face.

„Raidyn-san!"

Esdeath looked to Nfirea.

„Yes?"

"Raidyn-san! Please let me join your team!"

„Hmm?"

"I want to protect Enri… Carne Village, but I don't have the strength to do it now. So I want to become stronger! I want to learn the secret to your strength, Raidyn-san! I don't mind if it's just a little bit! However, I can't hire an excellent adventurer like you on a long-term basis with the amount of money I have! So please, let me join your party! I have some confidence in my ability as a herbalist, but I'm willing to carry luggage and do other menial labor! Please allow me to do this, I beg you!"

Just as Esdeath was blinking, Nfirea continued:

"I've always been researching herbological knowledge. I didn't give that decision much thought because my grandmother and father were both herbalists… but now I've found the path I want to walk, and it's not as a herbalist."

"So, you want to become a great magic caster and protect Carne Village, then?"

"Yes!"

Nfirea seemed to have shed his youthful attitude, and looked straight at Esdeath, his eyes filled with a manly resolve.

In YGGDRASIL, there had been an endless stream of applicants seeking to join the guild Ainz Ooal Gown. Most of them wanted to do so for personal gain, thinking that they would profit from joining one of the highest-ranked guilds in the game. They did not think of what they could do for the guild, but what the guild could do for them.

In addition, there were those who wanted to infiltrate the guild to steal its information and rare items.

Because of this, Ainz Ooal Gown did not increase its numbers much beyond its founding members. They were careful not to let their hard work and effort be trampled by others.

Still, this was the simple, pure desire of a man who knew nothing of the guild called Ainz Ooal Gown. His misguided way of thinking was quite refreshing.

„Very well! You can join me as a part-time adventurer!" she smiled at him.

„Really?"

„But you must consist a few trial. I tell you the first now. Then if you solved it I will tell you the next. Is that acceptable to you?"

„Yes!" he answered eagerly

„The first one is my personal creed. My master normally put me out on a deserted island what inhabited with giant monsters to a whole month to survive with just one knife and he strictly forbade me to use any kind of magic while I had to decipher the meaning of the creed."

Nfirea eyes widened because of the horror. „To a whole month with only a knife without magic and a monster inhabited island? What kind of crazy old man was her master to not care his student well-being?"

„ But we don't have that kind of time and I don't know any deserted monster populated island anywhere near so we had to do it in an easy way. So you only need to decipher the meaning of the next sentence to me and I will tell you what entails the second trial. „

Nfirea eagerly and waited for the creed. Raidyn cleared her throat.

„All is one,One is all."

Nfirea looked dumbfounded. „What kind of creed is this?"

„Tell me what it means and you can proceed to the next trial. You have as much time as you need. I help you with that it is closely connected to your profession. The game is on! Good luck!" Esdeath smiled and gave him a big thumb up

„Until that please help me and my companion out as your strength allow it. It would greatly help us out."

Nfirea bowed deeply

„Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I do everything that my strength allows!"

„Don't bow to me it is embarrassing." Esdeath scratched the back of her head nervously

---

Scene Change: Fortress City of E-Rantel:

They had spent a night outside on the way to Carne Village, and another night within the village itself. After that, they left Carne Village for the city of E-Rantel in the morning, and thus their journey of three days and two nights came to an end. It was almost nightfall by the time they returned to the Fortress City.

The city had not changed much in three days. Or rather, she had gone to Carne Village right after arriving in E-Rantel, so she did not have much basis for comparison. Still, she felt that the peaceful streets remained the same.

Just about everyone walking past on the street seemed to be looking in Esdeath's direction — no, they were staring at her — and whispering to each other.

The sounds of their chatter filtered into Esdeath ears, and she felt like they were mocking her. However, that was just a mistake on her part. If she strained to listen, she would realize that everyone was discussing matters in tones of praise, surprise or outright fear.

Even so, she could not find it in herself to be relieved.

Esdeath silently looked to her side and looked at the pearly-white fur beneath her. It was there because she lay on the Wise King of the Forest with a folded hand underneath her head.

The people around her were surprised by the Wise King of the Forest's majestic look — Esdeath wanted to dispute this choice of words — form, and they were discussing how that petite girl could ride such a fearsome yet dignified beast, and so on.

She smiled „This world individuals just weird…"

Her reaction was entirely understandable. The people were praising the Wise King of the Forest as a mighty creature.

In addition, she was riding in an unsightly manner with a lying position. The Wise King of the Forest had a completely different body structure from a regular horse, Most of the people was forced to stick their butt out and back while spreading their legs wide but not her. Thanks to her high agility stat she could upkeep her casual lying position without any difficult.

„Heh, exclusive collectible mount I like it! In YGGDRASIL I had an enormous chicken mount what I won the occasion of one easter event. I named it El Pollo Grande. That was cool. But this is as just as cool!" She smirked underneath her hood.

"Since we're back in town, it seems the assignment is over."

"Indeed, you're right, the request is at an end. Then… while I've already prepared the arranged remuneration, I still have to pay the bonus we negotiated in the forest. Could you come to my family's store with me?"

The wagon behind Nfirea was piled high with herbs. In addition, there was tree bark, strange fruits which looked like branches, a gigantic mushroom that was large enough for a man to put his arms around, extremely tall grasses, and other such harvests. To an amateur, they seemed like nothing more than plants, but to a trained eye, they were a heaping pile of glittering treasure.

After Esdeath subdued the Wise King of the Forest, they were free to fully explore the region in its former sphere of influence. They discovered many rare and valuable herbs, as well as other efficacious ingredients which could be used to make other potions.

"Raidyn-shi, you should go to the Adventurer's Guild first!"

"Good idea! It would be most unwise let him ramble in the city without the people knowing he is harmless. Someone might place a bounty on his head. „

"Well, we wiped out those Ogres and other monsters too, so how about it? Want to all go to the Guild together?"

"Hmm — no, I think not. Raidyn-san basically did all the heavy lifting for this job, so we should go to Nfirea-san's house first to help with the chores and unload the herbs. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to accept getting the same fees as Raidyn-san."

The Swords of Darkness nodded as Peter spoke, and Nfirea politely added:

"There's no need to trouble everyone…"

"Well, you did agree to pay us a bonus, so consider this a free service on our part."

Nfirea only nodded.

After this, they parted away from each other. Raidyn headed to the adventurers guild. Nfirea and the Sword of Darkness headed to the Bareare alchemy shop.

Registering Hamsuke itself was simple enough, but it took about one and a half hours. The most time-consuming part of the process was sketching an identification picture of Hamsuke by hand. While magic could have sped up the process, Esdeath did not want to go to the extra expense of paying for a spell, which had led to this situation.

As for why she named her mount Hamusuke. First, she wanted to name him Roach but that was a better name for a horse. Then she simply asked her guild master how should she name a giant hamster mount. Momonga when she asked her question simply asked. „Why do you have a unique hamster mount? How did you acquire it?"

She told him the story how she acquired the cool unique mount. Momonga just laughed on the story.

She knew Momonga had a terrible naming sense but it was better than nothing.

Secondly, Hamusuke will serve Nazarick in the future so its the guild master task to name things.

Thirdly Momonga terrible naming sense birthed quite funny names. So she used this to amuse herself.

Using her superior athletic ability, she mounted the Wise King of the Forest with a masterful vault. Then she laid on its back to a napping position.

The pedestrians were gasping in awe as far as her eyes could see. She could even hear the sounds of women screaming in excitement. In particular, she felt the piercing gazes of her fellow adventurers burning into her. After seeing the copper plate around Esdeath's neck, their eyes went wide with disbelief.

„Say, would you be the people who went herb-picking with my grandson?"

She looked her sideline lazily

„Who is asking?"

"My name is Lizzie Bareare. I'm Nfirea's grandmother."

"Ah! So it really was you? That's right, I'm one of the adventurers who escorted your grandson to Carne Village. My name is Raidyn under me. Introduce yourself to the lady!."

"This one is Hamsuke the Wise King of The Forest! This one is very pleased to meet you!"

"What! This mighty beast is the legendary Wise King of the Forest?!"

The adventurers around them who heard Lizzie's cry were even more surprised. With shocked looks on their faces, they whispered "Is that really the monster of legends?" and so on.

"Indeed. After receiving your grandson's request, we encountered it at our destination and I managed to tame it."

"You actually… tamed the Wise King of the Forest…"

Lizzie was dumbstruck and could do nothing but stare.

"Then… where is my grandson now?"

"Ah, he went home first with the herbs. We're heading over there now to collect our payment."

The old lady breathed a sigh of relief, and then looked at Esdeath with a strange look in her eyes:

"Oh, I see… then, shall we go together? I'm quite interested in you adventurer types."

„If it makes you happy why not." She smiled at her then jumped down from Hamusuke with a double flip to walk beside Lizzie. Hamusuke followed them behind.

The group proceeded through the streets of E-Rantel, led by Lizzie.

---

Scene Change: Bareare alchemy shop E-Rantel

Once they reached the storefront, Lizzie came to the front door and took out her keys. Then, she looked down and pushed. The door swung open, without any resistance.

"What's this? This is too careless of him."

Lizzie muttered to herself as she entered the shop. Esdeath followed her.

"Nfirea, Raidyn-san's here—"

"What happened?"

Lizzie was filled with confusion. Esdeath, on the other hand, replied curtly:

Esdeath looked around "It seems there was a little scrum."

With that clipped answer, Esdeath drew her weapon and entered the store. She kicked the door open and kept to the right as she went in. Though this was a stranger's house, completely unfamiliar to her, there was no trace of hesitation in Esdeath's footsteps.

Esdeath came to a door which led down, and then turned to Lizzie, who had just caught up with her:

"What is this place for?"

"This, this is the herb storage room, it leads to the back door."

She sensed weak negative energy traces behind the door „Undead. Very low leveled zombies maybe."

Although she was not sure what was going on, Lizzie sensed that something was wrong and began to worry. However, Esdeath ignored her and pushed the door open.

The first people he saw were Peter and Lukrut. Dyne was a bit further beyond. Ninya was all the way inside the room. All of them have slumped against the walls. Their legs stuck forward and their arms drooped down lifelessly. They seemed to have lost all the blood in their bodies, which was now clotted on the ground so thickly that it looked black.

Just then, the fallen Peter suddenly jerked like a puppet. However, before he could get up, the Esdeath cast her spell [Banish].

In that instant, Peter, corpse disintegrated.

Just as Lizzie managed to process the shock of the tragedy before her, Dyne, who was somewhat further inside, had already risen to his feet.

The face which raised itself was not a living one. There was no color in it and its eyes were clouded. There was a hole in its forehead, instantly recognizable as a fatal injury.

There was only one reason why a dead man would move again — because he was undead.

"Zombie!"

Just as Lizzie cried out, Esdeath beheaded Dyne. His throat pierced, Dyne's head shuddered and then he collapsed then she proceeded to do the same with Lukrut corpse.

Nobody else moved.

Amidst the silence, Esdeath stared at the unmoving Ninya.

Then she noticed a faint life signature from Ninya. He was still alive. But he only cringed between life and death. His corpse was heavily mutilated and his eyes were gouged out.

"Nfirea!"

„There is no other undead being in the house Lizzie-san. I must heal Ninya-san before he dies. After that I will find your grandson and who did this. Would you kindly fetch me some hot water some rags, a sleeping bag, and painkillers? Please place them in a room where we can place him to recover."

„Of course right away!"

With that Lizzie-ran away to fetch the things what Esdeath-asked.

Once she made sure that Lizzie was gone, Esdeath looked toward Ninya again. She kneeled slowly before him, and then gently touched the body. Once she was sure that there were none of the usual corpses boobytraps found in YGGDRASIL, she raised Ninya's face.

His left eye was crushed, and the vitreous humor had flowed out. It looked like he was crying.

The bones of his fingers were completely pulverized. The skin was split open, revealing the red muscle underneath. In some places, there was no muscle at all. Esdeath pulled open Ninya's clothes, and her eyes went wide in surprise.

She closed up the garment, and muttered:

"…So even the body was…"

Much like the face, the body bore signs of a brutal beating. It was covered in the bruises of internal bleeding, and it would be harder to find a patch of uninjured flesh than the other way around.

„He is very resilient. He deserves to live! I hope his mind will heal in time as well."

With this thought, she started the healing process. „I don't have many healing abilities and those few come from my race angelic side. I think a mid tiered heal will suffice."

She cast her spell [Angelic Heal] her hand started to glow with a bright whitish yellow color.

After she finished to heal the most critical of his injuries she stopped it. She healed him just to that point where Ninya could regain his strength fully in time and will not be crippled in the entirety of his life. It could draw too much attention if she could heal him fully with a whim.

Then she positioned him into the recovery position so he can't swallow his tongue accidentally.

(The recovery position refers to one of a series of variations on a lateral recumbent or three-quarters prone position of the body, into which an unconscious but breathing casualty can be placed as part of first aid treatment. )

Lizzie quickly returned after that.

„Everything that you asked it prepared In the other room."

„Thank you." She said calmly and without any straining, she picked up Ninya carried in the room where Lizzie prepared the place for him then she positioned him again into a recovery position.

„I did everything that I could for him. Would you kindly take care of him while I find your grandson."

„Of course! This is at least what I can do! What about your payment what do you want in exchange to save my grandson?"

„We don't have time for that in this moment. We will speak about it after I rescued your grandson. But first I have to locate the attackers. I have to investigate and conduct a few rituals in the other room. Please don't disturb me while I conduct them or it will give inaccurate information about your grandson location. Do you have any map from the city?"

„Yes! I will fetch you immediately!"

Lizzie ran away. Soon she came back with a big map from the city.

„Thank you. Then with this, I can start my investigation immediately."

Lizzy only nodded in a desperate face.

Esdeath walked into the storage room and started her investigation.

"I checked their gear. None of them were searched. That being the case, the opposition must have intended to kidnap Nfirea."

Esdeath noticed the letters written in blood where was Ninya body lied. They would not be visible unless someone moved them.

"This is… the sewers? Does it mean he was taken to the sewers?"

"…It might be a trap set by the person who did this, and I have no idea how big the sewers are… searching them might take a long time. This must be a misleading trick."

"There's numbers there, 2-8, what could that mean?"

"Those are even more suspicious. Although I don't know what those numbers mean… but I can guess that you can divide the city into eight sections, or it might just be a simple 2-8… although, did Ninya really have the time to think of all that? Even if Ninya did write it, how much could he have learned from the enemy? This is far too much of a coincidence."

"…The enemy could have used mind control or hidden the corpses, but they did not do that at all. They seemed to have done it for fun. Otherwise, they did it because they were absolutely sure they would not be exposed, or that they were completely confident in their ability to escape. Hm… I don't know which of them it was. Since they could make Zombies, they could have brought the corpses back with them."

Esdeath sighed

„If they wanted to kidnap Nfirea, all they would have to do was hide the bodies, which would have bought them enough time to escape. However, the enemy did not do that, which meant that they had other things to do, or because they wanted Lizzie to do something."

Looking that, their adventurers' plates are all missing, probably taken by the person who attacked this question now is why they didn't take anything more valuable, but these plates… „ Esdeath face crooked in a big smile „With this, I can start to locate them."

"They were trophies, loot from hunting. Probably a memento for the killer to remember them by. However, that was a fatal mistake."

[Message]"Nigredo are you there?"

[Message]"Yes! I am here Esdeath-sama! Do you require my assistance?"

[Message]"Yes actually! I sent you an energy signature. Would you kindly locate me then send me back the signature position, please? Before that please prepare yourself thoroughly against the enemy's counter-detection spells before you start the locating. We don't want to the enemy acquire Nazarick position shall we?"

[Message]" „No that would be very unfortunate."

[Message]"Thank you!"

Shortly thereafter Nigredo located the energy signature position.

[Message]"Esdeath-sama I am finished locating the signature. I will send you their position within the city the target is surrounded thousands of low-level undead."

[Message]"Excellent work Nigredo! Thank you! Please inform Ainz-san about the situation and prepare a little backup for me so if I call them they can come immediately."

[Message]"Right away!"

With this, she terminated the spell.

"…The graveyard, huh. As I thought, it wasn't the sewers after all."

E-Rantel was also a military base, and the graveyard was massive, almost the largest of its size. The spell pointed to the deepest reaches of the graveyard.

"Whoever created all these undead must have done so in preparation for something of earthshaking proportions. Therefore, if I save Nfirea and deal with that matter at the same time, it will greatly boost my reputations. If I do this on the quiet, I will only receive Lizzie's payment, and I won't be able to gain much fame from it."

"I'd like to collect more information, but my preparations and time won't allow it," Esdeath muttered as she approached the door. After opening it, she shouted:

"Lizzie-san! I am ready. I am heading to the graveyard now!"

"What about the sewers?"

„That was just a misleading clue. They're actually in the graveyard, together with an army of undead. There's easily thousands of them there."

"What!"

Of course, it was an estimate. Nigredo does not send their actual number to Esdeath.

"No need to be shocked. I dealt worse. I just had to cut myself through them.

She smiled to Lizzy with a smile what makes Lizzie uneasy.

„The problem is that I am just one person and can't guarantee that undead army won't escape from the graveyard. You need to tell as many people as possible to hold the undead back if they see them spilling out from the graveyard. If they are not listening to the undead will start spilling out from the graveyard and start to rampage. Then the city will have a bad time.

Ninya is stabilized so you don't have to worry about him just please close the door thoroughly after you left."

"That's all I have to say. Time is tight, so I'll be heading over right now."

"Do you have a way to break through that army of the dead?"

„As I said before I and my partner dealt worse." she pointed her Ultra Greatsword on her back while she headed outside from the shop.

---

Scene Change: E-Rantel Cemetery Gate:

There was a place which occupied roughly a quarter of E-Rantel's outer ring, which was also most of the western quadrant. It was E-Rantel's communal cemetery. While other cities had their own graveyards, none of them were as big as this one.

This was in order to suppress the spawning of the undead.

Although many things were unclear about the spontaneous genesis of the undead, the basic idea was that the vile creatures frequently spawned from the places where the living came to an end. Of these, people who died sudden, violent deaths and the dead who were not properly revered had the highest chance of coming back to unlife. Therefore, battlefields and ruins tended to be infested by the undead.

Since E-Rantel was very close to the Empire and consequently its battlefields, it required a huge graveyard — a place where remains could receive the proper veneration.

In this aspect, the neighboring country — the Empire — also adhered to their common agreement to respect the dead. Though they slaughtered each other, they both saw the undead that attacked the living as their common enemy.

A wall surrounded the graveyard. This wall was the boundary between the living and dead. While it was only four meters tall and could not compare to the city walls, it was wide enough for people to walk on top of it. The large doors set into its side were sturdy and could not be easily breached.

All this was in order to ward against the undead that spawned in the graveyard.

A spear-wielding guard absentmindedly looked out to the graveyard, and said to his yawning colleague:

"Tonight's quite peaceful too."

"Yup, there were only five Skeletons earlier, right? That seems a lot less compared to the past."

"Well, if it's just Skeletons and Zombies we can deal with them. Still, it's a pain to take out Skeletons with a spear."

"I think the most troublesome ones are the Wights."

"For me, it's the Skeleton Centipedes. I'd be dead by now if the adventurers standing guard nearby didn't chase them away from me."

"Skeleton Centipedes? I heard that the powerful undead only show up when you let the weak ones get away. So all you need to do is kill them all when they're weak and the strong undead won't appear."

"Yes, that's right. The captain chewed out the squad patrolling the graveyard last week. While it's nice to have them buy a round for us, I'd rather not have to go through that sort of thing again."

"You're thinking too much. There aren't that many undead normally. They say that they only pop up frequently when they bury the corpses of the people who died while fighting the Empire. So on the flip side, this is what happens when there aren't any big wars, right?"

The soldiers nodded to each other in agreement. They had buried human corpses in their own villages, but they had never heard of the undead appearing that often.

"…So that means the Katze Plains must be pretty insane."

"Yeah, didn't they say something about an unimaginably strong undead creature showing up?"

It was a place where the Empire and the Kingdom clashed in fierce battles. It was also a place famous for the proliferation of its undead. Adventurers hired by the Kingdom and Imperial knights would often go there to hunt down the undead. This task was important enough that the Empire and Kingdom's support corps had built small towns nearby to support their personnel.

"I heard—"

A guard who was about to speak suddenly shut his mouth.

Another guard, who felt easy about this, spoke up:

"Oi, don't scare me—":

"Quiet!"

The silent guard looked straight at the graveyard, as though he could see through the darkness. Following this, the other guards turned to look at the graveyard one after the other.

"…Didn't you hear it?"

"Were you imagining things?"

"Though I didn't hear the wind blowing or the grass moving… I think I can smell dirt. Didn't they dig a few graves just now? It smells just like it did then…"

"Come on, don't joke about this sort of thing."

"…Eh? Ah, oi! Look over there!"

One of the guards pointed to the graveyard, and everyone else looked toward the spot he was pointing at.

A growing sense of dread filled the other guards as they saw this.

Guard patrols in the graveyard moved in groups of at least ten. Why were there only two people here? Judging by the way they had no weapons and were running for dear life, they had panicked and fled.

"Open, open up! Hurry up and open the doors!"

Before the doors could even swing fully open, the two guards forced their way in. They collapsed to the ground but kept scrabbling on.

"What the hell …"

The two pale-faced guards who had just escaped the graveyard interrupted their questioners, panting and shouting:

"Close, close the doors! Quickly!"

"What happened? What about the others?"

As they heard this question, a haunted look appeared on the guards' frightened faces:

"They, they were eaten by the undead!"

"…Oi, one of you go upstairs and take a look!"

A guard hurriedly climbed the stairs, but halfway up, he froze in place.

"What, what happened?"

The trembling guard shouted:

"The undead! The undead are everywhere!"

If one listened carefully, they would be able to make out a sound which sounded like ten thousand horses galloping, coming from the other side of the wall. Everyone, not just the guard from just now, was struck dumb by the scene before them.

A massive quantity of undead — so great as to render all who saw it speechless — approached the doors of the graveyard.

"Why, in such numbers…"

"Looks like it's more than one or two hundred… there should be a thousand of them… or more…"

The magical lights illuminated countless undead, like shadows writhing in the dark, and it was difficult to get an exact count.

The swarming, mindless undead had no sense of pain and banged wildly against the doors. It was as if they knew that they could attack the living if they broke the doors down.

The guards could not help their shivering.

"Ring the bell! Ask for help from the barracks! You two, go inform the other doors about this!"

"The ones behind, take your spears and stab the undead getting close to the doors!"

"Fall back! Get down from the wall!"

All the guards hurriedly ran down the stairs, and they could hear the sounds of the undead banging at the doors getting louder. The doors themselves began groaning under the strain.

Just as the guards were fully consumed by despair, there was a clattering of metal.

Everyone reflexively looked to the source of the sound.

Before their eyes was a magical beast whose round black eyes gleamed with intelligence, and a barely 160cm petite girl in full metallic armor with a hooded long coat and an oversized sword on her back.

"O-oi! This place is very dangerous! Get out of—"

Halfway through the guard's words, he realized that there was a metal plate dangling from the petite girl neck.

An adventurer!

However, that ember of hope was snuffed out when he saw that it was a copper plate. Adventurers of the lowest class could not possibly deliver them from this dilemma. A look of disappointment appeared in the eyes of all the guards present.

The petite girl nimbly dismounted her beast. There was no sense of clumsiness in her movements.

"Didn't you hear me? Get out of here now!"

She only smiled. A shiver went through in the guard back.

„If I were you I would look behind me." she pointed at the guard.

The guards turned around in response to the petite girl words, and they looked upon their doom.

They saw a shape which was taller than the four meter high walls.

It was a Necrosome Giant, a gigantic undead creature made of countless corpses.

"Uwaaaaah—"

Just as the guards screamed and prepared to flee, a strange sight appeared before them. The petite little from just now raised her hand and five blue magic sword appeared behind her.

She waved her hand in the direction of the creature.

"What was she doing?"

In the next moment, that question vanished like mist in sunlight.

The floating blue energy swords started to race in the direction to the Necrosome Giant in an instant.

The Necrosome Giant, that vast, seemingly invincible undead creature, staggered back like it had been hit in the head by an even larger foe, before collapsing to the ground. A thunderous crash provided the proof that the gigantic creature had been knocked down.

"—These undead are in my way."

"Open up."

The guards did not seem to have understood what the armored mage said. They blinked several times before they finally managed to parse the warrior's words.

"Don't, don't be a foolish girl! There's a whole crowd of undead on the other side of the door!"

"And? I just had to cut through them,I am Raidyn the professional by the way. Nice to meet you."

Faced by the absolute confidence of the petite girl, all of the guards were shaken to the core, and they could not respond.

"…Well, if you won't open up, it can't be helped. I will find another way." She had leaped over a four-meter high wall in a single bound, and while wearing full metallic armor and her Ultra Greatsword too.

The guards could not bring themselves to believe the events which had just occurred. Each of them continued staring slack-jawed at the place where Raidyn had been.

"A moment, please! Please bring this one with you!"

The voice came from the mighty beast which the petite girl from just now had ridden here. Its voice was as awe-inspiring as its appearance.

"…Climb the stairs over there. You should still be able to move after falling from a height like this, right?"

"Of course! This one must rush to his master's side! Wait for this one, milady!"

The massive creature shot past the guards and nimbly bounded up the stairs. It hopped over the wall and landed on the other side.

Now all was silence.

They stared with open mouths and stunned eyes for a while, as though a typhoon had just swept past them. The first guard to recover spoke in a voice that trembled uncontrollably:

"Oi… do you hear it?"

"Hear what?"

"The sounds of the undead."

Even though they strained their ears to listen, they could not hear anything. It was as though a veil of silence had been drawn across the land. The constant sound of the undead pounding on the doors from just now was nowhere to be found.

"Oi, did that actually happen? That petite girl… there were undead like that and so many of them, and she broke right through them… went straight ahead."

They were filled with equal parts shock and awe.

"What is this…that petite lady… is she even real or I am dead already and this is some kind of aftershock?"

Countless bodies littered the ground. Mountains of corpses were everywhere, covering the entire graveyard. Although some of the undead hung on to a thread of unlife and struggled weakly to move, all of them had lost the ability to fight.

The smell of decay floated over as they expected, and they heard the sounds of distant battle.

"…No way… Is she still fighting? All these undead, strong ones too, and she could actually break through them! Incredible…!"

"Who was that girl, anyway?"

"…She called herself Raidyn the professional, I think… but calling someone with skills like that a copper-plate is too much of a joke. She should be one of those legendary adventurers with an adamantine plate, right?"

The others quietly voiced their approval. Someone like that could not be a mere copper-plate adventurer.

She should be someone who possessed a plate made of the highest-ranked of all metals — in other words, a hero.

There was no other possibility.

"We… perhaps we just saw a woman of legend… an armored mage..no the hero Spellblade."

Everyone else could not help but nod in response to that.

---

Scene Change: E-Rantel graveyard:

Esdeath was a tornado of death which killed everything it touched finally ground to a halt.

The undead recoiled at this and tried to flee Esdeath. The undead should not have known the meaning of fear, yet they had come to fear Esdeath.

„How troublesome. If I use a higher level spell to eliminate them I just call myself unwanted attention. It cannot be helped I have to summon a few creatures. Maybe a few enchanted aether blade will suffice."

"…This one apologizes deeply for this one's actions…" Hamusuke squirmed behind Esdeath.

Esdeath sighed. „You are troublesome." [Fly] she grabbed Hamusuke and placed him on the top of one of the trees. „This will suffice while I am away. Try to not to fall down. And if you fall down don't worry about it. You can easily defeat them they are very weak."

"My deepest apologies…"

After she settled Hamusuke on the top of the three she settled down. The undead still attacked her but she does not care anymore. She doesn't even block their attack because her passive [Vector Shield] simply repulsed their attack twice as strong what killed the attacking undead.

„Well, it is summoning time."

[Summon: Multiple Aether Blade] four sentiment Aether blade appeared in that instant from seemingly from the nothingness. This was a support mid-level summon what raised the summoner attack and defensive power and controlled by a separate AI in YGGRADASIL. But can be commanded to attack or defend separate NPC or player.

[Enchant Multiple Item: Banish Undead]

„Kill every enemy undead what you find in the graveyard. But don't let any living being spotted you," she commanded the sentient swords. The sentiment swords understood their master wish and started their rampage.

„4x[Create Aether Mimic]with that she created four Aether Mimic. „Mimics transform to Wraiths and the Bone Vultures and chase away the intruders you can kill a few adventurers but do not kill any guards!"

The [Aether Mimics] bowed deeply and transformed. Then they went their way to complete the mission what their master gave them.

„Then, It is time to go."

After a while, the undead seemed to understand that they can't harm Esdeath and most of them simply ignored her while she walked in the direction of her object.

By the time she reached the chapel at the heart of the graveyard. Several suspicious-looking fellows were standing in a circle in front of the chapel, apparently conducting some kind of ritual.

They were short, and by the way, they carried themselves, they were probably all men.

The only exposed face belonged to the man in the middle, and he looked like he was undead. He was well-dressed and seemed to be concentrating on the black stone that he held in his hand.

The wind carried whispered words to Esdeath's ears. The voices in the air rose and fell in unison, and it sounded like some sort of chanting. However, it did not sound like a requiem to the dead, but more like some sort of dark ritual which blasphemed against the deceased.

Esdeath had concealment-related skills but she doesn't use it because it was more fun in that way, so she simply strode directly over to them. Although she could have avoided the lights of the graveyard, all the opposition would need to do was use "Dark vision" in order to see as though it were broad daylight. In addition, Esdeath had personal experience of the fact that summoned monsters and their summoners were linked by a mental bond. Since she had defeated so many undead on the way here, they must have known that Esdeath was approaching them through their bond.

In fact, there were already several people looking at Esdeath.

Given that they had not launched an attack yet, they might have something to say. Having come to that conclusion, Esdeath decided to approach them head-on.

As Esdeath walked below the magical lights, the suspicious group of people took a stance, and one of them said to the man in the center: "Khazit-sama, the intruder are here."

„All right, idiot confirmed… no, he might have been faking it. First, let's listen to what they have to say."

„Well,well,well. What we have here a pajama party in your age. Don't you a little old for that kind of thing? And on top of that, you doesn't even invite me. What a shame. Tch tch tch…

Anyway, what a lovely night. Don't you think it's wasted on a boring old ritual?"

Esdeath walked forward to them.

Khazit frowned because of Esdeath mocking

"Hmph… I'll decide whether the time is right for a ritual. Come to think of it, who are you, anyway? How did you break through that horde of undead?"

The man standing in the center of the circle — his name was Khazit unless that was an alias, and he was probably the highest-ranked of all the people present — asked Esdeath that question on behalf of the others.

„I am an adventurer who had the assignment to bring back a young man to his grandmother. I suppose you know where he is. Hand him to me stop the ritual and maybe I will spare you and your little friends. If not well…"

The other members of the group took a stance, which confirmed in Esdeath's heart that they were not innocents who had been dragged into the matter.

Under her hood, Esdeath grinned chillingly. Khazit, who have looked around in his surroundings.

„Where is the rest of your party little girl? You can't be that boastful to think you can defeat us alone. Surrounded with thousand of undead. So tell me what will happen if we don't hand to you the boy little girl?"

"Yup, just only the good old me. I figured through your undead minions. Answering your second question why you should hand me the boy. Well…"

Esdeath started to chuckle chillily under her hood then she looked at Khazit eyes. „Well, then you will have a bad time."

A chill ran through Khazit spine „Maybe I should listen to her. Something tells me she is not what she seems and flee as far from her as far as I can."

Esdeath still stood in her place waiting for Khazit answer. Khazit shook himself from these thoughts.

„No! I sacrificed too much for this moment! Wait for me mama soon you will live again!"

"You're lying, that's impossible."

Esdeath facepalmed. Then started to massage the bridge of her nose because of her annoyance.

„You know I really hate this word. Since I arrived in this country I only hear this simple but annoying word. Impossible,impossible,impossible from everywhere. Do you know how annoying is that? Why are you all so much love in this annoying word? The only thing is what impossible is the impossible itself. I will offer you once more. I will tell you very slowly to understand." she cleared her throat

I. Will let. All of you go. If you hand the boy to me. And stop this primitive voodoo thing. What you trying to put together. If not well. Then I will be forced. To play with you."

Khazit glared at the foolish disciple who had blurted out his name.

"—And you are?"

"Before that, there's something I'd like to ask. Is there anyone over there beside you lot?"

Khazit looked coldly at Esdeath:

"We're the only ones—"

„You are lying." Esdeath smiled „There is a woman beside you with a piercing weapon. Come out a little cat. I know you are here. Are you planning to ambush me or are you simply afraid little cat?"

"Fufu~ You checked their bodies~ Not bad~ But how do you knew I am here?"

„Simply I can sense every kind of energy signatures. And besides that the young boy and this group of cultist yours was the only one positive energy signature in the graveyard."

Suddenly, a female voice rang out from the chapel.

A young woman slowly emerged into the light, and every step she took was accompanied by the clattering of metal against metal.

„Kukuku. A very interesting ability you have here."

„Indeed . It comes in handy in certain situations."

"You…"

"Ahhh~ they found me out, so there's no point hiding. Speaking of which~ I only hid because I can't use the [Conceal Life] spell~ but in this chase that was pointless anyway."

The woman grinned, in response to the somewhat angered Khazit.

„ Nfireia is alive I can clearly sense his faint life signature from the inside of the tomb. It feels like someone who is dreaming."

"May I know your name? Ah, I'm Clementine. Pleased to meetcha~"

„I am Raidyn The pleasure is mine!" Esdeath bowed deeply in Nilfgaardian style while grinned

„Kukuku. What a polite one." Clementine chuckled

"I've never heard that name before… how about you?"

"I haven't heard of it myself — and I've gathered information on all the high-ranked adventurers in the city, so how is it I've never heard of a Raidyn among them? Still, how did you know I was here? The dying message pointed to the sewers—"

„Well, I think we will all get our little answer if you throw away that cloak of yours."

"Uwah~ Pervert~ Lewd~"

As she said that, the girl's — Clementine's — face twisted. She had a grin so wide it nearly reached her ears.

"Ju~st kidding~ you mean these?"

Clementine threw open her coat, revealing what looked like scale mail whose individual plates had mismatched components. However, Esdeath's excellent vision saw the truth immediately. Those were not the metal plates which made upscale mail.

They were countless adventurer plates. Platinum, gold, silver, iron, copper, even mithril, and orichalcum. All these were the proof of all the adventurers Clementine had been killing, the trophies taken from her hunts. Innumerable vengeful groans seemed to haunt the metal plates' clinking.

"It was these prizes of yours which led me to you."

A look of confusion came over Clementine, and Esdeath did not intend to explain herself.

„Then." Esdeath placed her Ultra greatsword on her left shoulder Khazit and Clementine waited impatiently.

„Who will be my first dance partner on this lovely night?" she said with a cheerful tone

„Who want to die first?"

Clementine volunteered and stepped forward. „I take up the challenge Khazi-chan please don't interfere I want to enjoy every moment of this little game."

Clementine said with an unnaturally wide grin on her face while she said this to Kahzit

Khazit's expression was somewhere between a sneer and a grin. Esdeath only played with a rock before her leg with a bored expression. „I don't have all night you know. Do you decided already?"

„I will be your opponent Raidyn-chan."

„Perfect!" she grinned

"Could it be those people I killed in that store were your friends? Are you mad because I killed your buddies~?" she started to mock Esdeath. But Esdeath only smiled at her under her hood.

Clementine continued in a mocking tone:

"Ufufufu, that magic caster was soo funny. Until the end he believed that someone would save him~ but how could he hold out that long against my attacks with just that little bit of health… Or could it be he was hoping you would save him? Sor~ry, I killed him."

„Kukuku. You know he survived actually. You should really check your victim's life signatures after you finished with them."

„Wha?" Clementine snarled

„Yeah. I healed him. He was in a very bad shape but I managed it.

„She only wants to anger me to make mistakes under the fight. It is a really cheap tactic actually and only effective against untrained opponents. In fights always think with a cool head."

„Anyway there is no need to apologize cat lady."

"Really? Well, that's a shame~ It's fun to piss off those people who get all emotional when their friends come up. Oi, why aren't you getting mad? You're no fun! Or could it be they weren't your friends?"

"…Well, under the right circumstances, I might have done the same thing as you. So blaming you for it would be hypocritical."

"…Still, they were tools for building my reputation. Once they returned to the inn, they would have spread the word of my deeds to the other adventurers. They would have told everyone about how I was the one who drove off the Wise King of the Forest by myself. And now you've gotten in the way of my plans. That is what piss me a little but nothing serious and the situation can still be salvaged."

Clementine seemed to have sensed something in Esdeath's tone, and she laughed uncontrollably:

"Really now~ oh woe is me, to have made you mad~ oh yes, it was a poor decision to fight me~ Even if you beat me accidentally you won't be able to beat Khazi-chan~ though if you Though you can't beat me either~"

Esdeath smiled to Clementine. „You know overconfidence what always lead to fall."

"Don't be silly~ how could a measly little girl like you can beat me? It'll be over in two or three blows~ It's always been like that~"

"I see, so you're that confident in your abilities as a warrior…"

„Yup, it goes without saying. No warrior in this country can beat me~ no, wait, almost no warrior in this country can beat me~"

"Well then… that gave me an idea actually. I shall give you a handicap, and teach you what is the difference between on you and me at the same time. But don't worry I will tell you anyway when we finished our little game little cat."

Clementine's eyes narrowed, and for the first time she had a look of annoyance on her face.

"According to the info from those chaps in the Windflower, there's only five people in this country who can give me a good fight. Gazef Stronoff. Gagaran of Blue Rose. Luisenburg Albelion of Red Drop. Brain Unglaus. Also, the retired Vestia Croft Di Lofan… though none of them could beat me even if they went all-out. Not even if I was without the magic items from my country."

Clementine smiled to Esdeath. That smile was a disgusting one.

"I will enjoying to play with that pretty face of yours when I am finished with you, but there's no way that I, Clementine-sama — one who's left humanity behind and stepped into the realm of heroes — could possibly lose!"

In contrast to the agitated Clementine, Esdeath reply was a calm cheerful answer.

„That's why I give you handicap Clemi girl. Because you are so adorable when you are angry. Kukuku."

Clementine clicked her tongue then she positioned herself to her battle stance.

Esdeath waited for her attack patiently than before her stilettos could reach Esdeath she simply sidestepped from Clementine way and lazily swinging her Ultra greatsword vertically. Clementine sensing this grinned and retreated from the Ultra Greatsword way.

After this, they had been fighting for several minutes, but Esdeath greatswords had not once touched Clementine. This was because she wanted to test Clementine abilities. She wanted to know if she able to use Martial Arts at a high level.

"Haaah~ I'm tired~"

Clementine's flighty words filtered into Esdeath's ears.

"Speaking of which~ that's some amazing physical ability you've got there and you can sidestep from my attacks very ably~ you might even be proud of it~ buuut~"

Her expression turned into a predatory grin.

"—Are you stupid? You're just swinging your oversized sword with raw strength and speed, wildly swiping around like a kid with a stick. You might have that huge sword, but if you don't know how normally control and use it, then sticking to a little less oversized weapon might be a better choice. Aren't you taking the warrior business a little too lightly?"

„Thanks for the good advice Clemy girl. Maybe I will take it. But please don't go easy on me."

„Clementine this taking too long. What's wrong you are not able to beat a single unskilled warrior?" yelled Khazit from the background

Clementine frowned. „Fine you wanted it. It is time to the next level!" her mouth crooked to a vicious smile

„Bring it!" Esdeath chuckled

Clementine furrowed her brows. She had her there — Clementine had not been able to reach Esdeath.

Instead, she had been dodging her attacks, and that was because Esdeath's extraordinary physical attributes did not give her a normal opening to attack. When she though she could think there is an opening she simply sidestepping lazily or blocking it with her sword. It really frustrated her it was almost like Raidyn was simply playing with her.

Things were not as easy for Clementine as she had claimed. She was beginning to feel angry at herself for not being able to take the initiative and strike.

"So are you not coming kitty-cat?" Esdeath said mockingly

"…"

Clementine finally went to her weapons after Esdeath taunted her. She had four of the piercing weapons called stilettos at her waist, as well as a morningstar. Right now, she drew one of those stilettos.

With her superhuman eyesight, Esdeath verified that the morningstar was covered in detritus that looked like blood and chunks of flesh. Esdeath tightened her grip on her Ultra Greatsword in her hand as stared Clementine.

Clementine's weapons were a piercing type, and they could not execute complex attacks like slashing weapons could. They were weapons that were optimized for charges. In addition, stilettos were slender and were certainly not strong enough to survive a clash with greatswords.

"Do you have any way to close this gap?"

"I wonder~"

Clementine had a smug, self-assured look on her face as she responded in her usual self-assured tone. All of this pointed to the fact that she had something up her sleeve.

Clementine slowly changed her posture, lowering herself into what seemed like a runner's crouch. However, her body was still upright, so she looked very strange. It might have appeared comical, but this was definitely not the sort of stance one could take lightly.

And then — Clementine moved. Before Esdeath vigilant eyes, Clementine shot out like a fully compressed spring it was still slow for Esdeath advanced senses and eyes but she still wanted to test if Clementine is able to use Martial Arts at a high level.

She sprinted right at her.

Like a hurricane that devoured everything in its path, Clementine closed the distance between them in an instant. She slid under the Ultra Greatsword what Esdeath was holding out, her physical dexterity allowing her to maintain her full speed as she moved.

She swung her weapon towards Clementine lazily a very slow way to her. Then she saw a very smug smile on Clementine's face.

"[Invulnerable Fortress]."

The unbelievable sight took Esdeath aback.

The slender stiletto had actually blocked a hit from an Ultra Greatsword almost that was more than thirty times its mass. But Clementine still felt Esdeath sword weight even if he used the [Invulnerable Fortress]. She clicked her tongue because of the sudden weight. Still, The stiletto should have snapped under the grand strike it had just blocked head-on. Even if it had remained intact by some miracle, it would have been knocked flying. However, it was Esdeath weapon which bounced away, like it had struck some ridiculously strong castle wall.

As though throwing herself into a lover's embrace, Clementine rushed toward Esdeath's unguarded chest. In that moment, half of Esdeath's field of view was taken up by the grinning Clementine.

Esdeath saw this and she grinningly deactivated her passive [Vector Shield] for a moment.

This attack, which combined a full-tilt charge, all her strength and skillful use of momentum, could be described as "meteoric". But Esdeath did not even budge from the place where she stood.

There was a flash of light, and then the screeching of metal clashing with metal rang through the graveyard.

Clementine ducked the wild swing of Esdeath weapon and then sprang clear.

Esdeath knew the secret behind Clementine's flashy moves.

"—Martial arts, huh!?"

These were techniques which did not exist in YGGDRASIL. They could be said to be a warrior's magic — and they were things of which he had to be wary.

Its effect seemed to be to defend against her Ultra Greatsword hit and neutralize the weapon's impact. She must have used martial arts to deflect Esdeath's attack.

"…So haaaard~and very thin. What's that armor of your made of? Adamantite… hm? It seems s"

Esdeath grinned under her hood „I need further experiments."

"Ah well. If that's the case, next time~ hmm, maybe I should hit somewhere with thinner armor~ although I wanted to wear your down bit by bit, then sloooowly torment you once you couldn't move~ what a shame, what a shame."

Esdeath realized that Clementine had not been wildly attacking her shoulder, but aiming to disable her arms in order to render her incapable of attacking. For the first time, Esdeath felt something like respect toward Clementine the warrior. „Kukuku. At least she thinks tactfully."

"Mmm, then I'm coming~"

Just as Esdeath was admiring Clementine, she took that strange stance she had assumed from just now. In response, Esdeath raised her weapon to meet the attack. This time, however, she did not thrust forth her weapon like before.

In the face of Clementine's full-tilt charge, like an ominous arrow headed straight at her, Esdeath swung her left-hand, launching an attack of her own to intercept her—

"[Invulnerable Fortress]."

—The swing was deflected by the same martial art as before, but she had already predicted this.

However, even faster than that, Clementine used another martial art.

"[Flow Acceleration.]"

This martial art had a startling effect.

It felt as though someone had used time-controlling magic to slow time down. Everything moved slowly, as though immersed in some highly viscous fluid. The speed of Esdeath's swing should be slowly she felt its's effect but she resisted it. Because of the immersion, she slowed her attack intentionally.

However, Clementine moved at the same speed in this decelerated world. She effortlessly dodged Esdeath's counterattack and approached Esdeath from the front.

A stiletto stabbed at her. It was aimed at one of her armor joints.

Esdeath intentionally jerked backward, and while she managed to evade the stiletto thrust, the sound of metal shrieking against metal echoed through the area.

"Hm—?"

"Guh!"

Clementine glanced at Esdeath's unsightly retreat, then looked curiously at the tip of her stiletto. With a mocking laugh, she said:

"That's enough of that handicap stuff. If you don't go all-out you're going to die~"

"Still, how did you do it? I know I hit you, but you're fine. I thought I would have hurt you with that~"

„Kukuku. You are very entertaining and I learned much from this battle. I think I will keep you Clemi girl."

"…Hah? Are you an idiot? Oh well, it doesn't matter since you're going to die here~ though I'd like an answer to my question… was it some sort of defensive martial art~?"

Clementine's tone showed that she had had it with Esdeath. She, on the other hand, smiled bitterly under her hood, because she agreed with what she had said.

„Kukuku. Well maybe I am unskilled or I am just playing with you. Come find out kitty-cat. Come to me, come show me your true power." She placed her sword beside her then she spread her arm in a welcoming position

Clementine frowned because of the frustration. „Very well then don't blame me if you die or are you giving up already?"

"Giving up? Kukuku. I just giving you a handicap as I said you before."

"What? What nonsense are you babbling—? You think you can beat, the great Clementine without any martial arts? You're pissing me off."

„It always funny when the weak babbling about how weak it is but does not want to do anything to change it. Don't you think?"

Clementine wanted to retort with "That would be you, right?" but she suppressed the boiling rage in her heart.

The woman before her did not have much in the way of combat skills, but she possessed superhuman physical abilities and reflexes. As far as she knew, said abilities were second only to those of the two God-Kin — the Black Scripture's Extra Seat and its First Seat (who was also the Black Scripture's leader). Therefore, the way she swung her weapon at her whim became an unpredictable attack and defense, and if she was not careful, she might be killed in a single blow.

Clementine faked her usual sneer, and taunted him in turn:

"…Forget it. You're right, we should wrap things up quickly"

Raidyn simply grinned to her

Clementine eyed her stance. There were seemingly openings everywhere in her stance, but that could not possibly be all there was to her. It was a trap.

However, Clementine had no choice. Her words from earlier might have sounded like a joke, but she meant them. She could probably escape from here by involving Khazit into the fight and borrowing the power of the Skeletal Dragons, but that was only if she did not waste any more time. Though she had come along to avoid the agents of the Windflower Scripture, she had wasted too much time on playing.

Clementine slowly sank into a crouch, strengthening her grip on her stiletto.

She had to finish this fight quickly, preferably with a single stroke.

Part of that was because she no longer had time to waste, but it was also because the attacks and parries of the woman before her were gradually becoming more and more competent. It would be best to kill her now before he grew to a point where she could no longer do so.

Clementine exhaled loudly and then she surged forward.

[Gale Stride]. [Greater Evasion]. [Ability Boost]. [Greater Ability Boost]. Those were the same four techniques she had used earlier, in an attempt to shrink the gap between their physical abilities. In addition, she still had room to use other techniques, no matter what Raidyn tried.

In this high-speed world, she was fully aware of anything her opponent could do.

She might draw her sword from the ground or her black katana from her side to attack, or use a martial art, or an unarmed strike, or a hidden weapon… no, she might use a thrown weapon instead.

Clementine guessed that there were dozens of tactics her foe could employ, and she was confident that she could defeat each and every one of them.

However, every single one of her guesses fell short of the mark.

—Because her opponent did nothing.

The petite girl waited with a bored expression on her face while inspected her metallic gloves on her hand, waiting for the attack.

A shiver ran down her spine. This was the fear of something beyond her imagination, a fear of the unknown.

Should she charge bravely forward, or back off and flee?

Those were the only two options left to her.

Clementine was cruel and merciless, but she was no fool. In that fraction of a second, she worked out countless possibilities and countermeasures.

In the end, it was her pride and her confidence in her abilities which spurred Clementine on.

Though she had betrayed them, she had once been a member of the Slaine Theocracy's strongest special operations group — the Black Scripture. There were probably less than ten warriors who could defeat her. It was unthinkable that she should flee from Raidyn, an unknown fighter with hardly any skills to speak of.

Once she made her decision, the rest was easy. There was no need to hesitate any further. As she recovered the composure of a first-rate warrior, Clementine sprinted for Raidyn's direction — so fast it seemed they were going to embrace each other.

"Die—!"

Using all the muscles in her body, Clementine thrust her stiletto forward to Esdeath face.

Then suddenly seemingly from nowhere she felt a strong hand grabbed her neck and lifted her up from the ground.

She struggled to escape from Esdeath grasp. She tried to stab Esdeath arms with her stilettos and hit it with her morning star but every time when she stabbed or hit her opponent. Were her weapons repulsed by some kind of technique or her armor was enchanted? She lost her weapons one by one. In the end, she only tried to free herself with her own arms but it was futile.

In the first time of her life, she felt helpless herself. Powerless without hope.

Her face was a hideous blend of agony and terror

„Khazi-chan help me!" she called Khazit but Khazit was frozen because what he saw

„Very good! Struggle as long as you want. You are only Dust who is struggling against cosmic winds. Well, you are boring I will put aside you for later." With that, she incapacitated Clementine with a distinct gentle open-handed hit with the edge of her right hand what she aimed Clementine's neck. With that, Clementine was incapacitated.

She turned to Khazit who was watched the whole thing from the background.

„Well you are next I hope you are prepared yourself because here I come." she threw aside Clementine unconscious body while she started to walk lazily in Kahzit direction.

Khazit and his acolytes prepared themselves. „We can't let her get close to us. She is a warrior so if we can manage to stay away from her we can beat her."

„I think first I will start my experiment with a low tiered spell. I will try how you and you little girl band can defend yourself from it." [Twin Maximize Magic:Chain Ligthing] she cast her spell

Khazit and his acolyte's eyes widened. „She can use magic too?"

All of Khazit's minions were on the ground.

Only one person remained to stand.

"You aren't just a regular idiot, but an idiot who can cast 3rd-tier spells, aren't you?!"

Khazit tried to keep his composure but he can't.

"Anyone who makes a mess of my plans is an idiot. Especially an idiot who doesn't know the meaning of strength and came here to find their death! My preparations are finally complete! Now behold the supreme power of the Orb of Death that has drunk its fill of negative energy!"

Khazit raised the orb in his hand.

It was a fairly rough-looking gem that gleamed like a lump of blackened steel. It had not been polished and it looked more like a lump of ore than anything which had been manufactured. Esdeath sensed something like a heartbeat coming from the Orb.

„Oh, what kind of toy you have there. It is pretty!" she said these words like a child who saw something shiny

Esdeath heard something. It was the sound of something whistling through the air.

A massive creature rushed past Esdeath, and after hovering behind Khazit, it landed on the ground.

"Fuhahahaha!"

Khazit's mad laughter echoed through the surroundings.

"Skeletal Dragons and their absolute immunity to magic are a magic caster's worst nightmare, aren't they?!"

„Fufu. You might consider calling more of them because they are pretty weak against physical attack don't you know?"

Khazit ordered the Skeletal Dragon to attack Esdeath. The Skeletal Dragon followed its master order and stepped to Esdeath with its immeasurable weight.

After the dust settled Khazit saw the thing what he thought was impossible. Esdeath stopped the skeletal dragon attack and holding its immeasurable weight with only one of her hand.

Skeletal Dragons were made of many smaller bones, and they certainly looked light. However, they only appeared light. Magic casters, who spent their days pursuing greater magic power, should not have had enough strength to pull off a move like that.

Khazit hurriedly fled behind the Skeletal Dragon's vast body, and then he shouted:

"—You, who are you? A mithril…no, an orichalcum-ranked adventurer?! There shouldn't be anyone like that in this city; did you pursue Clementine or me to this place?!"

Esdeath just grinned at him then pushed back the Skeletal Dragon with one arm. The creature losing its balance fell causing it a great amount of damage because of its own weight.

"You, you!"

Crafting this Skeletal Dragon had required two months of elaborate rituals and an immense quantity of negative energy. How could it be beaten so easily? He had worked and planned many years for this.

Just as Khazit was turning red with rage, the Skeletal Dragon creaked as it slowly got up. There was a massive fissure in the bones which formed its chest, which spilled bone fragments as it moved. It could not take another hit like this.

"No! I won't! I won't let you! [Ray of Negative Energy]!"

A beam of black light shone extended from Khazit's hand and touched the Skeletal Dragon, quickly healing its injuries with negative energy.

"So it's immune to magic, but it can be healed with magic. Interesting. Well, we learn new things every day don't we?"

Khazit ignored Esdeath's mockery and continued casting spells.

"[Reinforce Armor], [Lesser Strength], [Undead Flame], [Shield Wall]."

He cast buff after buff on the Skeletal Dragon.

Now the Skeletal Dragon's bony body was sturdier, stronger, and wreathed in life-draining black fire.

„Attack her again!"

The Skeletal Dragon tried to sweep away Esdeath with its tail but Esdeath raised her arm to block the attack. When the Skeletal Dragon tail and Esdeath thin arm meet it was obvious what should happen.

Khazit grinned madly.

But instead of that when Esdeath thin arm and the creature heavy tail meet the impossible happened. The creature attack bounced back to its own head and caused heavy damage. If there were no the buffs what Khaizt cast before the creature most likely collapse in that place.

„What are you?"

„As I said before I am just a wanderer." she showed a peace sign to Khazit

"[Ray of Negative Energy]."

Khazit healed the Skeletal Dragon's wounds with a magic ray again.

„Do you have anything else because I am getting bored."

Khazit frowned then raised the Orb of Death

"Behold the power of the Orb of Death!"

The earth trembled, and everything around Esdeath started to shake. This was a sign that something big was coming.

A massive fissure appeared on the ground, and a white monster slowly revealed itself.

"…Another one? Seriously you are not a creative one aren't you?"

"Hmph! The negative energy's depleted now, but after I kill you, I can spread death throughout the city and recover it all!"

Khazit's shouting was angry and emotional, in contrast to the bored Esdeath.

„Do you really think another one of your toy dragons can help you out? Are you really stupid aren't you?"

Khazit clicked his tongue „Atack her both of you!"

The skeletal Dragons attacked again but the same happened as before. Their attack simply bounced back at them.

„Why I have to work always with the stupid ones?" Esdeath scratched her head

"Hmph, you think you can win? Against Skeletal Dragons, who are immune to magic?"

„Immune to magic?" Esdeath looked pensive then started to laugh. „Oh. Khazi-san you really make my day."

Khazi looked uneasy. „Don't dare to mock me!"

„Sorry. I am just laughing on that you call yourself necromancer and you don't even know Skeletal Dragons are not immune to magic they can only nullify magic below tier six."

„What? I don't believe you! You are lying!" he said with a desperately angry tone

„Well, then I just have to show you. Ah. It is always so troublesome to deal with stupid people."

She raised her arm then cast her spell. [Greater Kinetic Crush]

Both skeletal dragon massive body raised from the ground with an invisible force.

They slowly started to approach each other in the air until they meet with a big crash. Esdeath slowly started to close her hand into a fist. With that, she started to increase the pressure to the dragons. Slowly but steadily the bones what the dragons constructed started to creak and break apart.

"What?"

Esdeath shot him a dreadful smile

Khazit exclaimed in surprise.

"How could that be?"

She raised her almost clenched fist into the air then she closed completely. With that, the skeletal dragons suddenly crushed inward. Esdeath opened her fist then the remains of the skeletal dragons started to rain from the air.

"Why! My sweat and blood of five years, gone in less than an hour!"

Esdeath turned to Khazit.

„Anything else what you can throw me little necromancer?"

Khazit hesitated and fell on his knees.

„Please spare me! I will do anything!"

„Hmm." Esdeath looked pensive. Khazit felt a faint hope for a moment.

„I don't think so. You are a nasty guy who needs a good spanking."she raised her arm and cast her spell [Crushing Prison]

As the [Crushing Prison] started to crush Khazit, countless scenes flashed through his mind, as though he were viewing a zoetrope.

„Well he was the last." she sighed. „All I need to do to ship back the magic items and Clementine to Nazarick and save Nfirea."

[Message]"Nigredo please send the reinforcements to my position."

[Message]"Right away Esdeath-sama!"

In that moment ten Eight Edged Assassins appeared from the [Gate] what Nigredo opened.

They turned to Esdeath then bowed. „Command us Esdeath-sama!"

„Collect every magic item what you can find in the graveyard then come back here."

„Right away Esdeath-sama!" With that, they disappeared and started to search for magic items.

Esdeath walked towards to the still unconscious Clementine and waked her up.

„Wakey, wakey princess the beauty sleep is over!"

Clementine eyes suddenly popped open. „I am not dead?" she suddenly looked to Esdeath „You! Why did you spare me?"

„Why? I don't really know. Let me think." the tension in Clementine grew every moment. „Ah. I got it. You have a certain skill set what my employer is interested. So we have a job offer for you. Do you want to hear?"

„It does not hurt if I hear it."

„Wonderfull!"She clasped her hands together "Well, the job offer entails that you tell us all information what you know, teach and train us in the martial arts and pledge your complete loyalty to us."

„What I get in exchange and what will happen if I refuse your offer?"

„Well, you are certainly a fugitive and your pursuers chase you. We can protect you whoever are they."

„Seriously?" Clementine started to laugh madly „You say you can protect me from the Slane Theocracy and the six scriptures? You are more delusional than I thought."

„You say Slane Theocracy and the scriptures what chases you? Do you heard what happened the Sunlight Scripture?"

„Yeah. But only from the rumors. Only one member returned and he is gone completely insane. He only babbled about some girl who completely annihilated and mocked them and the national secret weapon."

„Well, that girl was me Clemi girl."

„What?"

„So I can assure you we can protect you from such minuscule things as the scriptures. Secondly, if you accept the offer you will gain wealth, titles, a place in the new order of the world in the winner side and of course you can freely torture prisoners.

And answering your second question. If you refuse you can go free. I will not stop you.

But if you ever try to act against us or against the ones we protect. Well, let just say."

She shot a killing gaze to Clementine. A chill ran down Clementine's spine

Esdeath started her monolog with a chillingly calm tone „Let's just say. There are far worse things than death. And if you betray us. Even your precious little Six gods the Eight Greed Kings and the Dragon Lords combined might can't save you from our wrath!"

Clementine gulped.

„So what do you say? Do you want the job?" Esdeath changed her tone to a happy one

„Y-Yes!"

„Wonderfull! Well then our vassals will soon arrive back in our position then they will escort you back to our base. Have fun Kitty-cat! And please don't freak out we are not humans. So just please don't freak out."

Clementine nodded uncomfortably.

As Esdeath finished her talk with Clementine the Eight Edged Assassins appeared seemingly from nowhere then bowed.

„Esdeath-sama we collected every magical item what we could find in the graveyard how do we proceed?"

„Retreat back to Nazarick and show everything that you found to Ainz-san. Oh. And please introduce my personal guest to Demiurge-san. There are a few things what they had to speak about. Tell Demiurge-san it is about my guest new employment."

After this Esdeath recalled her creations to her position.

She heard a huge object approaching fast. She turned toward the source of the sound, and as it turned out, it was Hamsuke.

Hamsuke's fighting power was far weaker than most of Nazarick NPC-s. Allowing it to fight would only lead to unnecessary injuries. Therefore, she ordered it to stand by some distance away. It must have come because it could not hear the sound of fighting anymore.

She recognized the expression on the giant hamster's adorable face — it was worried for Esdeath — and he went a little weak.

The giant hamster, which did not know what its master was thinking, approached Esdeath with unexpected speed and then looked around. When it locked eyes with the Eight Edged Assassins.

"Geh—!"

It flipped over and bared its belly while wailing:

"…Milady there are horrible monsters look out~!"

„What is that?" asked Clementine while pointed the fainted Hamusuke

Esdeath sighed „The Wise King of The Forest. He does not look like much doesn't he?"

Clementine started to laugh maniacally „Seriously?"

„Seriously. Hamusuke woke up they are just our vassals you don't have to fear them."

"Unbelievable! This is more than what I expected… though I long knew milady was possessed of tremendous power he does not know milady has vassals too… this Hamsuke's faithful loyalty to you is redoubled!"

„ Just keep your voice down please."

"That, that's cruel, milady! Please do not make light of your servant's pledge of loyalty!"

„I will check the chapel everyone else besides Hamusuke retreat back to Nazarick. And Clementine. Don't even try wander around Nazarick without escort or something might mix you with food."

With that, Esdeath headed to the chapel.

---

Scene Change: Graveyard Chapel:

The boy (Nfirea) was in the chapel. As Esdeath looked at him with her heteromorphic eyes her eyes started to glow with a faint light.

He wore a strange, transparent outfit which drew attention to his body, but Esdeath's attention was on his face.

Someone had cut him across the face and punctured his eyes. From the tear-shaped clots of reddish-black blood that wept down his cheeks, it was clear that he was blind.

Esdeath's gaze settled on the spiderweb-like crown which rested on Nfirea's head. Or rather, it would be better to say that nothing else looked more suspicious than it.

Esdeath cast her identification spell on the item [All Appraisal Magic Item].

In YGGDRASIL, this spell would tell its caster about a magic item's creator and manufacturer. The spell could also be cast here. No, beyond that, information which could not appear in YGGDRASIL showed up in Esdeath's mind.

"The Crown of Wisdom… I see. However… this item's abilities don't exist in YGGDRASIL… so it's a magic item that could not have existed in YGGDRASIL."

She sighed

"Since I accepted this task, failing it on purpose would stain the name of Raidyn."

"[Greater Disenchant Item]."

Esdeath cast a spell on the crown. The sight of it decomposing into sparkling dust was quite beautiful and the components of the crown appeared in Esdeath inventory.

Esdeath tenderly embraced the limp youth and gently laid him on the ground. Then she examined Nfirea's face.

"Well, I must heal him because the customer might start to complain to me."

With that she placed her hand to Nfirea eyes and cast her spell [Angelic Heal]

She searched a blanket wrapped Nfirea and headed back with him on her shoulder toNfirea grandmother.

---

Scene Change: Bareare Alchemy shop:

She knocked the door and said. „Lizzie-san we are back open the door please."

Shortly after Lizzie opened the door. Her eyes widened. „What happened to him?"

„Short version. A bunch of cultists kidnapped him because of his innate talent. To use some kind of magic item to control an army of undead. I defeated his kidnappers and brought back him to you. End story. Now would you kindly prepare a place where he can rests? I healed him as best as I could but he still needs a little rest. After that, we can discuss my payment."

„Of course right away!"

Shortly after Esdeath and Lizzie discussed Esdeath payment.

„I am very grateful to you for saving my grandson. Please tell me how I can repay your kindness."

„Well if you could pay my reward for the previous mission what your grandson hired me that would be nice. Secondly, I want adamantine ranked payment for this mission. Thirdly send your grandson to Carne village. There he will do a few alchemical experiment for my friend and he can be with the girl whose he loves. Who knows maybe you even can get the recipe why you sent your grandson after me. Of course, your grandson is free and can help you in your shop whenever he wants. Fourth if he pass my trials he will be a part-time adventurer in my group. That's acceptable for you?"

„Yes! Thank you!Thank you! Thank you!"

„Oh and one more thing. Please nurse Ninya-san until he needs it and give him the payment to what his group earned from the previous mission."

„Of course. This is the least thing what I can do for him."

„It is a pleasure to business with you Lizzie Bareare-san." she smiled at her

---

Scene Change: The next day: Inn:

She pushed open the doors to the inn where she had stayed earlier.

The inn went silent, and countless eyes focused themselves on Esdeath. This time, nobody obstructed her, and she came before the innkeeper.

"You…"

The eyes of the innkeeper and the inn's patrons were all drawn to the metal plate around Esdeath's neck.

She smiled to the innkeeper and said:

"A simple room."

After putting down the silver piece, she took the keys from the speechless innkeeper.

The mithril plate around her neck clinked loudly against her armored chest.

She had explained her part in last night's activities in the graveyard and had been awarded that metal plate.

The reason why the inn had gone silent was because of that plate. A woman who had been a copper plate adventurer several days ago had now risen quickly through the ranks when they saw her again. This was beyond their ability to comprehend.

Only a small amount of people knew about this matter. However, when she narrated the events at the guild, Esdeath's accomplishments were truly unbelievable. Though she could have been elevated to adamantine rank right away, that had happened because Esdeath had no prior accomplishments and the investigations into the matter were not complete. Therefore, the Guild had decided to be prudent about this.

In other words, the Guild already thought of Esdeath alone was equal to the two adamantine-ranked adventurer parties in the Kingdom.

In addition, as time went by, the story of the battle in the graveyard, as well as the great name of Esdeath — Raidyn would certainly spread throughout the city. This was because the fleeing guards talked about the exploits of Esdeath.

[Message]:"Esdeath-san! Come back immediately!"

[Message]:"What happened Momonga-san?"

[Message]:"Shalltear seemingly betrayed us. We had to investigate the case. Code black!"

[Message]:"I understood! I am going right away!"

---

A/N: Well This is the end of the second volume. I hope everyone enjoying it.

Please review!