Author Notes: Heyo! Been a tad bit since I've uploaded a Chapter and I've gotten some more motivation recently. So here is a new chapter for all your reading pleasure!
Hurray to answer some questions!
1) Aren't the ones that took Clair Slavers, not Bandits?
My apologies for the mix-up regarding the slavers and bandits. I have corrected the term in this chapter, and I intend to update the previous chapters as well to correct the mistake.
2) To find the bandits' hideout & rescue Clair, Momonga broke the fingers of a captured bandit and then healed him (although he shouldn't have any healing SKILLS), but after rescuing Clair he does not heal her injuries? Why? He could just give her a healing potion.
Regarding the healing potion for Claire please read through this Chapter. Regarding it for the "bandit" (aka slaver now) from ch5 it was meant to say he used a healing potion not a healing skill. I will push out a fix for that once I've pushed out a fix for the bandit rename to slave/slavers.
3) As an undead equipped with a World Class Item, Momonga has complete immunity to all mental magic or mental interference, so how could some magic ring (not even a Legendary or Divin Class one at that) get past Momonga's defenses and into his head?
Regarding the question of Momonga's immunity to mental magic or mental interference, I incorpated the magic ring to create an interesting twist. Though Momonga is immune to such effects, I included the throne room scene as a subtle hint to imply that mental magic wouldn't work on him. At the same time, this detail serves as a warning that this Overlord is not to be trified with due to his overwhelming… power!
Yggdrasil Dungeon Master
- Chapter 7 -
Claire's tears cascaded down Momonga's robes, falling to the floor and forming tiny, shimmering puddles. She wept uncontrollably, her sobs wracking her body as she was consumed by the horrifying memories and flashbacks of the torment she had endured within the hideout. Each recollection sent her spiraling further into an abyss of despair that seemed to have no end.
However...
"It's alright, Claire," Momonga whispered gently, placing a comforting hand on her back and drawing her closer. His voice was steady and soothing, like a warm balm to her wounded soul. "No matter what, I will never let this happen to you again. I swear on the name of Momonga that anyone who dares to harm you again... will know the true meaning of pain."
Despite having singlehandedly dismantled the entire slave ring, Momonga couldn't shake the nagging feeling that someone was lurking in the shadows, orchestrating something far more sinister. Perhaps what he had discovered was merely the tip of the iceberg, and there was a much larger force at play.
Lost in thought, Momonga pondered the potential consequences of this revelation. However, his focus was quickly broken as Claire's crying gradually subsided.
'Whatever the case may be, my main priority right now is Claire and gathering information. I'll worry about that issue later when it becomes my problem, if at all. Ah! I almost forgot, Claire is still injured; I need to go ahead and heal her.'
Momonga extended his right arm, opening a luminescent purple portal. He reached inside and retrieved a red potion.
'I used to carry around potions all the time for PvP or PvE not for myself, but for my guildmates. And now, my days of diligent collecting are proving useful once again. True, the item itself isn't highly valued by YGGDRASIL standards, but that makes me wonder. Are there even any potions in this world? And what could their effects be? Ugh! Why am I letting my thoughts wander when there are more pressing matters to attend to!'
"Here, Claire," he said, gently guiding her head toward the health potion. "This is a potion of healing. It'll help to restore your physical body." His voice was so calm and reassuring that Claire knew he was telling the absolute truth. Regardless, she wouldn't have doubted her savior and friend in this case.
As the liquid flowed down her throat, the potion's healing properties swiftly took effect. Within moments, a green glow enveloped her, and her wounds appeared to vanish entirely, as though she had been graced by an angel's regenerative touch. In reality, it was the remarkable effects of the potion working its magic.
'There that should've done the trick it'll heal her physical body but her mental state is a different matter. That she'll have to conquer on her own since I really don't want to use anything relating to memory alteration, at least not on her.'
Claire slowly looked up at Momonga, her face swollen from the excessive crying. Yet, she appeared relieved, as if all her pain had vanished upon realizing how much Momonga cared for her.
As Momonga began to stand up, he reached out his hand to her. "Let's go, Claire, we have important things to do," he said, to which Claire responded by grasping his hand and pulling herself up. She noticed a brief sensation of coldness from his hand but quickly dismissed it.
Claire then looked at Momonga, his red mask still somewhat chilling to her, but she continued. "Where are we going?" she asked, as straightforward as possible.
"Hm?" Momonga responded. "Oh, we're heading to the center of this floor. I'll tell you more about this place soon," he said, a sense of pride resonating through his confident voice.
The sound of crackling filled the air, as clouds in the night sky moved slowly and softly, their movements seemingly synchronized. The rustle of grass stirred by the gentle breeze, accompanied by the distant hooting of owls, made Master and Fran feel as if they were truly a part of nature.
However, that serene sensation was soon interrupted by the bubbling of a pot. Fran suddenly jumped up in excitement.
"CURRY!" she exclaimed, her voice full of pure ecstasy, as she subtly licked her lips in anticipation. Even though the dish wasn't yet in her mouth, the memory of its flavor filled her imagination.
"Calm down! It's not even close to being finished. You know I can't rush this if you want it to turn out as good as possible," Master responded to Fran's enthusiasm. Unfortunately, this had an unintended effect as Fran's ears drooped slightly, and she appeared rather sad.
'Ah! Darn it, Fran, why do you have to put on that pouty face!? You're just too cute. It hurts me to the core to see you sad!'
Master, with revitalized passion, rapidly accelerated his cooking process, and within mere minutes, a hot bowl of steaming curry was handed to Fran. The creamy, golden sauce, made with a perfect blend of spices, enveloped each grain of fluffy, white rice. An assortment of vegetables, such as carrots, and potatoes, added vibrant hues and contrasting textures to the dish. The succulent snake meat, marinated in a mixture of garlic, ginger, and a touch of chili, had been tenderized and slow-cooked to perfection.
As for Fran, she wasted no time, grabbing a wooden spoon and diving straight into the culinary delight. The explosion of flavors and textures enveloped her, her imagination running wild; she saw herself in a fantastic new world, as if she had been isekai'd into a realm full of nothing but curry. Visions of endless varieties of the dish danced in her mind, each one more delectable than the last.
"Fran snapped out of it!" Master said worried about Fran.
This gastronomic adventure left Fran with an even greater obsession over the dish and an absolute admiration for Master's grand cooking skills. In her opinion, no living being could ever hope to catch up to his unparalleled culinary prowess. Every bite of the curry brought her closer to this enchanted world, reinforcing her belief that the Master was a true genius in the kitchen, capable of creating unforgettable, magical meals.
"FRAN! SNAP OUT OF IT!" Master yelled through telepathy which made Fran snap out of her quite enjoyable imaginary parallel world and all she responded with was a simple "Huh?".
'I swear, once she gets into the zone with curry, there's no hope. I still find it strange that such a simple dish is able to leave such a lasting impression. There must not be that many flavorful dishes in this world. On the other hand, she might've never been able to taste such dishes.'
Master let that thought run through his mind for a moment before confronting the harsh reality.
'I'm so sorry, Fran! You've missed out on so much because of those damn slavers! I promise I'll spoil you with as many dishes as you like! But for now, we do have some important matters to discuss, so I should put that aside.'
Master then used telepathy to pass the note he had received from an owl. It floated gently into Fran's hand, while her other hand was still hurriedly scarfing down the curry, which was nearly gone after just two minutes.
"The note that was passed by the owl is from Klimt; apparently, there's been a developing situation back in Alessa. A massive number of people were massacred in the night, and an underground hideout of slaves was discovered. However, they have no idea who slaughtered the slavers and are searching for the culprit. The problem is that this person is very powerful. So it seems Klimt has asked for our help in finding or subjugating whoever has caused the uproar," Master said, his voice slightly uneasy. At the same time, he felt a chill down his spine and a sense of deja vu, as if he knew who this person might be.
Fran perked up. "Well, if Klimt is asking for help, we might as well go! Also, whoever killed slavers isn't much of an enemy to me as long as he likes curry." Fran said with vigor but at the same time shoving the final bite of curry into her mouth.
"Huh? Well, yeah, I guess you're right. He has helped us out a bit, but we've also done the same in return," Master responded, moving himself slightly with telepathy and leaning on the log that Fran resides on.
'Although if we do go, I have a feeling it's going to be more dangerous than the spider dungeon and fighting that demon. I don't know why, but I just have a feeling of despair. But if our friends need help, then we should go.'
"Alright then! Let's go help out Klimt. We'll head toward the Port of Darth at a later date! Though, we might miss the festival in the process," Master said, his voice slightly stuttering when mentioning the festival, as he knew Fran had been looking forward to it, and he wanted to explore the dungeon as well.
Though Fran's eager appetite has been let down due to the fact that they were no longer going to the festival at least for now. The passion to meet Amanda and especially Nell overpowered the desire to eat festival food plus she always had Master's godly curry.
With a gleeful smile on her face, Fran raised her fist into the air and exclaimed, "Yea! Let's go!"
Without hesitation, Fran picked up Master and hopped onto Jet. The creature let out a playful arf and began speeding across the landscape. Majestic mountains towered in the distance, casting their imposing shadows across the land, while sparkling rivers meandered through the valleys below, their waters shimmering like liquid silver under the moonlit sky. The breathtaking scenery unfolded before them, a testament to the awe-inspiring beauty of the world they inhabited, as they ventured forth towards the Fortified City of Alessa
Although Master couldn't help but think…
'I don't know why… But even though it's exciting to head back to Alessa, I have a horrible feeling that we really shouldn't. Ah, whatever! I must be overthinking things. I mean, Amanda is present there, so everything will be fine.'
A magnificent purple cloak trailed along the floor behind Momonga, yet its beauty remained unblemished. He stopped abruptly as he entered a large central room with a staircase leading downward. However, the staircase was blocked by some mysterious force, as if to tell Momonga, "It's not ready yet..."
'As expected, it really did only construct Floor 1, but that still doesn't make sense why Shalltear Bloodfallen hasn't been activated. Maybe... because she's supposed to guard Floors 2 & 3, the requirements aren't exactly met to establish her as active? Or maybe I'm just speculating, and there's a much simpler explanation? So many possibilities, but for now, I have one person to worry about.'
Momonga's gaze fell on Claire, her beautiful eyes staring back at him. She seemed unnerved, as if she were in a place where she didn't feel welcome.
"I'm sorry for bringing you deeper into the Tomb, but there's no need to worry. A long time ago, my friends and I built this place. It took grit, sweat, blood, and, of course, dedication. You're completely safe while in the Great Tomb of Nazarick; you're under the protection of the guild called Ainz Ooal Gown. Nothing here will harm you," Momonga assured her, his words striking Claire with force.
"What do you mean, you and your friends? And a guild that built a dungeon?" Claire asked, her confusion echoing down the long, twisting hallways of Floor 1.
'How can I explain this in a way that won't send her into an absolute panic? I can't say that I'm undead, at least not yet, as she wouldn't be prepared for it. However, that also means I can't tell her that the guild of Ainz Ooal Gown was primarily formed for heteromorphic races since that would also imply a non-humanoid form for myself. Ah! I have an idea; it might work, but it's based on the premise that she trusts me enough.'
"My friends and I possess a special quality that allows us to live for an extended period of time. However, we were separated when the Great Tomb of Nazarick suddenly teleported and scattered. What you see now is the remnant of what was once a Great Tomb. I wouldn't call this a dungeon, at least not yet. I can rebuild it, but I'm uncertain how. We were all hermits; we preferred to live far away from civilization, which is why you might not have heard about us, or if anyone has heard of us at all," Momonga explained, attempting to maintain a confident tone while concealing the truth from Claire.
Claire looked at Momonga curiously. "Well, I guess that would explain your power and your expensive gear. But are you sure I'm totally safe here? What if a monster attacks, or if the monsters I've seen..." her voice stuttered a bit, "all the undead suddenly turn against us?"
Momonga dismissed her worry with a subtle wave of his hand. "Rest assured that none of the monsters within the Great Tomb of Nazarick would ever harm you. They are known as Pop Mobs, creatures that spawn within the dungeon to protect it from unwelcome invaders. As long as you are with me, you have nothing to fear. Moreover, I am confident that we possess the strength to defend ourselves and this sanctuary against any intruders bold enough to challenge us."
"So... we're completely safe here?" Claire let out a sigh of relief and visibly calmed down.
'Ugh! Sometimes I really hate lying. It feels like I'm trying to roleplay my way out of a situation I don't want to deal with yet. Though at the same time I reallyI am, but that's another problem for future Momonga! For now, I guess I can keep up the lie until I can't anymore. I don't want to send her into shock, not during a time like this.'
"Now!" Momonga announced loudly, making Claire twitch a little from surprise. "I have a few things we need to do together or at least by myself if you don't want to come along. We need to rank up in the adventurer's guild and gain access to the dungeon if we want to see greater opportunities. Also, I'd like for us to travel away from the Fortified City of Alessa someday, maybe go to the Port of Darth that I've been hearing about in the adventurer's guild."
Claire perked up a bit upon hearing that. "Oh, it's probably because it's a much-needed hotspot to get to Bulbola for the Festival of the Moons."
'Bulbola? Festival of the Moons? Does this mean some kind of event will happen soon?'
"What is the Festival of the Moons, if you don't mind me asking? As I said before, my friends and I were hermits," Momonga inquired.
Claire looked at Momonga somewhat amused. "Well, uh... It's a festival that happens every three months when all the moons are full. It's a massive celebration, and usually, Bulbola throws an extravagant festival for it."
"Ah, I see. Maybe we should go then?" Momonga suggested, and Claire's face lit up with joy.
"I'd be happy to! I've always wanted to visit Bulbola. It's been a dream for quite some time," Claire said, her face filled with excitement and eagerness.
'Anything to get her mind off the Great Tomb of Nazarick for some time. Plus, it would be great for my information gathering – a whole new city to explore and take in knowledge. Absolutely perfect.'
"Then we'll set off to Alessa in the morning to start gathering provisions for the journey. Though remember, first, we get access to the local dungeon," Momonga reminded her. Claire acknowledged his words with an excited nod, naively forgetting most of what he had said about the guild of Ainz Ooal Gown.
A large door bursts open as a middle-aged man rushes into the room. His wild beard and disheveled hair give away his immense stress. In his left hand, he clutches a stack of papers with crumpled edges, as though he's been frantically trying to deliver them to someone.
"Lord! A report from the Fortified City of Alessa has arrived! It's urgent and demands your immediate attention!" The man exclaims, directing his plea to a grand throne adorned with gold and precious gems.
An imposing figure sits on the throne, dressed in extravagant garments that showcase his authority. His piercing eyes and sinister grin evoke a sense of malevolence. Beside him, two beautiful women are shackled. One is a demi-human with cat ears protruding from her head, while the other is an elven woman who appears malnourished, bearing signs of enduring various forms of torture, primarily of a sexual nature.
The lord glares at the anxious man with a mixture of curiosity and irritation. "Very well, speak. What news is so crucial that you dare disturb my leisure?" he demands, tugging the chain attached to the demi-human slave to bring her closer for his amusement.
Trembling, the middle-aged man bows his head and nervously relays the information from the documents, acutely aware of his unforgiving overlord's wrath.
"My Lord, the hideout you meticulously designed has been utterly destroyed by an unknown force possessing immense power! The devastation is extensive, and our chain of command is at a loss, turning to you for guidance," the man stammers, as if waiting for his head to be chopped off and rolled away by just merely relaying this information.
Upon hearing this, the lord releases the demi-human slave's chain and slams his fist onto the throne's armrest. The resounding crash echoes throughout the room, causing everyone to shudder. The lord's once relaxed and content expression is now a terrifying mix of pure hatred and fury.
"How dare you relay this horrible news during my relaxation time! June, and Lexi; chop away his limbs as punishment." The lord said his anger caused one man dressed in an assassin's gown and a woman dressed in a beautiful maids dress to leap out of the shadows. They quickly dropped the man to his knees, the lord seeing this leaned back in his chair in enjoyment; the screams of the middle-aged man as he yelled out "Help me! Don't do this! Please!" wrung out throughout the room.
He struggled to escape but just as he thought he might be free he felt an intoxicating scent as his body went limp. Then a slight shing noise from the left side came crawling into his ear, with a slight woosh sound a large wave of blood splattered out as the middle-aged man was chopped from limb by limb and eventually he bled out. His organs, limbs, and even his eyeballs were all spread out across the room for the Lord's and his servants utter amusement.
"Thank you June and Lexi! Much appreciated… now… let's see who dares to go against my growing empire." The lord gets up from his chair and walks toward the large doorway, as he's walking he finds one of the limbs of the middle-aged man he had just ordered killed and just kicks it off to the side making a blood trail. He slightly lets off a malicious laugh, opens the large door, and disappears deeper into his stronghold.
Chapter Quote:
"Until we know more about this world, we must always move forward believing the enemy is stronger than us." - Ainz Ooal Gown
After Author Notes:
I must admit, I may have hurried through this chapter a bit, but I hope it still turned out to be an enjoyable read. I'm eager to hear your thoughts and feedback on it! :D
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