This takes place in episode 5, and while the title is Reign of Diablo, I thought Issei using a different name for his character in the new world would be interesting since future enemies will see him as a Demon.
Now let's get this party started!
A Week Later. Garden of Eden.
Ddraig groaned as he sat in his bed and looked at the clock to see that it was morning before sunrise. 'I'm honestly surprised that it wasn't a dream. Being in a new world and my character, Diablo, who is now Y Ddraig Goch, is an amazing feeling, but I wonder if I'll be able to continue being the leader the others see me as. I'm just a high schooler in my second year, but it's not like I can tell them that.'
Ddraig got up from his bed and headed to his room's bathroom before settling in the bath that was ready for him, thanks to the maids in Eden. "It's hard to believe that it's been a week already since the battle of Carne Village, but thanks to interrogating the knights and Nigun, we've learned a lot about the Slane Theocracy," Issei said to himself as he recalled the report he received from Albedo after they dried the prisoners of all information.
"He commands their special ops unit. The goal of the Slane Theocracy is to unite all humans against the Demi-Humans that live in this world, such as the Goblins, Ogres, and Lizard People. According to the man known as Nigun, his mission was to slaughter many villages to get the attention of the Chief Warrior so they could kill him. He's the King's trusted aid and personal bodyguard, so losing him would've meant losing a valuable asset to the kingdom." Albedo said as Issei nodded as he read the report and listened to her talk about the interrogation.
"I'm lucky I was able to learn the language from the soldier's souls I consumed so I can better learn the language of this world," Ddraig said as he finished his bath and dried off before getting his clothes on for the day. The maid assisting him followed him to the throne room, where Ddraig sat on the chair and began to look over some reports about Carne Village and the woodlands surrounding the village.
'It's a good thing I had Haruhime scout out the village's woodlands so we can learn more about the beings that live within them, but I do hope she doesn't get lost. Haruhime is a Queen Harpy and is skilled in aerial combat, so she should be strong and swift enough to deal with anything that comes her way.' Ddraig said as he knew about the harpy who enjoyed following him around and soaring through the sky.
"Uh...W-Would you like breakfast now, my lord? I know it's six in the morning now, but." The maid said as Ddraig looked up from the paperwork to see that the maid was nervous as hell around him and wanted to be of assistance which made Issei inwardly chuckle at the maid's nervousness before nodding.
"Of course. I wouldn't mind having breakfast while I'm looking over the reports. Also, don't be scared of speaking up, Fith." Fith, the maid in charge of attending to Ddraig today, was shocked as she nodded in reply and rushed to get breakfast for her master. Ddraig smiled at this reaction as he was glad to help the girl forget her worries.
"Now then. According to Haruhime's reports, three monsters are powerful in the forest. The Wise King of the Forest governs the northern area, the Demon Snake of the West, and the Giant of the East. There seem to be some goblins, trolls, and ogres that live in those areas. I'll have to make some time to speak to them in hopes of having them join Eden." Ddraig said as he heard the door open to reveal Fith and Albedo, along with Haruhime.
The maid was nervous under the gaze of the two guardians behind her, more likely scared of Albedo than Haruhime. However, she chalked it up and proceeded towards Ddraig before handing him breakfast. Issei thanked her, which made the Fith calm down some before Albedo and Haruhime approached Issei and bowed towards him.
"Greetings, Lord Ddraig. I'm glad to see that you have rested well. Haruhime said that she wished to give you her report on the three monsters that live within the forest of the village that you saved and brought into Eden's protection." Albedo said as Ddraig thanked her before Haruhime stepped forward and handed him three sheets of paper.
Each of them had detailed descriptions and notes on the three beings, which impressed Ddriag since he was glad Haruhime could convey her thoughts more clearly on paper rather than words, which granted Haruhime a hug from him, which made the Queen Harpy smile at the warmth that she felt from her master. Albedo still had on her smile but was pinching her left arm to ensure she didn't lash out and get angry with the Harpy.
"If that is all, Haruhime, don't you think it's time you go back to your floor and get some sleep?" Albedo asked as Haruhime looked at Albedo blankly before nodding and letting go of the hug but not before humming happily for a bit longer in her master's arms until she left the room.
"Was that necessary, Albedo? I understand you are still jealous of the affection I show the other guardians, but that doesn't mean I don't love and care for you, Albedo." Ddraig said, much to Albedo's shock, before apologizing for her behavior until he waved it off and started to go over the daily report with the Succubus.
"According to Haruhime's reports, the Wise King of the Forest is the kindest of the three, while the Giant of the East and Demon Snake of the West are both on good terms with it. But I would like to bring up a complaint, if you don't mind, my lord." Albedo asked as Ddraig gave her confirmation before she voiced the complaint.
"The man who survived interrogation, Nigun, has worried some of the other guardians since they are surprised that you have a prisoner become a follower of Azrael. Don't you think it's dangerous for that man to be a follower of the Angel?" Albedo asked as Ddraig replied to her, knowing that a complaint would come soon about Nigun.
"You mustn't worry about Nigun. He's nothing but a fanatic that worships Azrael but knows that he should be more afraid of me if he touches her. I won't allow her purity to be tarnished by a dog's dirty paws. Nigun is only alive because he has more information about the Slane Theocracy's members, so keeping him alive is important. Either way, it matters not since Nigun has a purpose of serving in the plan I have set." Ddraig said as he looked calm but was worried inwardly due to the plan he had in mind for Azrael.
'I know this is a bit of a long shot, but since we know little to nothing about the inside workings of the Re-Estize Kingdom, then we need to have someone gather information while I see how E-Rantel is under my disguise.' Ddraig said he was curious about the role adventurers played in the kingdom until the daily report was finished.
"Please inform Azrael and the Pleadies that I wish to speak to them about the plan I have in mind," Ddraig said as Albedo nodded and informed the Angel and maid squad while Ddraig ate his breakfast which he enjoyed since he was glad to enjoy some food in his new body.
It was so good he praised Fith for her hard work, which made the maid embarrassed but happy to be honored by her master until the seven guardians were summoned to the throne room.
"My lord. Lady Azrael and the Pleadies are here to see you." Fith said as the Angel and the maids walked into the room and bowed to their master until Issei permitted them to stand.
"Thank you, Fith. That will be all. Please take the dishes back to the kitchen and thank the staff for their cooking." Ddraig said, much to the maid's joy, as she nodded and took the dishes to the kitchen before he looked at the Guardians in the room.
"Now that you are here, I wish to discuss the details of the plan I have in mind," Ddriag said as he opened up a map of the new world that they were in. "I plan on going to E-Rantel to gather more information about the capital, the surrounding nations, and other areas that may be a threat to Eden. I'll be posing as an adventurer, but I require two of the Pleadies to come with me."
The Pleadies were in awe of the opportunity to go with their master but not before Ddriag continued. "However, I've already thought of who to bring with me. Do not worry, for my decision is based on appearances alone since it's best to try our best to blend in with the other adventurers as well."
The Pleadies relaxed at this before Ddraig pointed to both Lupisregina and Narberal before speaking to them. "Lupisregina. Narberal. You two will be accompanying me as my party members."
This excited the two maids; well, Lupisregina showed excitement while Narberal had a slight smile on her face until Ddraig looked at Azrael.
"As for you, Azrael. I want you to pose as a noblewoman with Nigun as your servant while Solution follows you. We need information on the capital of Re-Estize, which is why I want you to play the role of a noblewoman. Will this be a problem?" Ddraig asked as Azrael shook her head.
"Not at all, my lord. I'd be honored to play this role. Also, it would be nice to leave the garden since I felt a bit cooped up in the garden." Azrael said as she missed the feeling of going outside and enough herself in the air and seeing the people. Ddraig, on the other hand, was trying to think if some of the other guardians felt cooped up in the garden rather than exploring the outside of Eden.
'I'll have to put a pin in that area after I return from E-Rantel.' Ddraig said to himself as he looked up at Azrael and nodded. "Thank you for accepting this task, Azrael. The expenses shall be covered by using some of the gold in the treasury to make extra spending money so you can pay for something that interests you." Ddriag said, which made Azrael blush at an item she was thinking of buying before shaking away the thought as she thanked him for the gesture.
"Thank you, my lord. I shall prepare myself and Nigun for departure. I wish you and the others luck on your mission as well." Azrael said as she and the Pleadies left the room, which made Ddriag sigh in relief at the meeting going well before turning to Albedo, who was saddened by the idea of her lover leaving her until she felt her body being pulled into a hug as well as a kiss on her forehead.
Albedo was squealing at the affection she was given until Ddriag let her go, much to her disappointment since she wanted to be hugged more before speaking to her. "Albedo. I'm leaving Eden in your hands to ensure everything runs smoothly and that we do not have intruders coming to our doorstep." Ddraig said as Albedo nodded confidently that she'll protect the home where she and the others lived with their master.
"Now then. It's time to go adventuring."
"So this is E-Rantel," Ddraig muttered when he saw it appear in the distance. 'How strange. I've seen pictures of medieval European fortresses from the old days, and these look a lot like they did. But also 'different' or maybe it's just me, it just looks so real.' It was a little unnerving, Ddraig thought with goosebumps on his skin as they drew closer.
The soldiers on the walls wore cheap half plates of steel and carried steel halberds at an angle across their bodies—a double gate controlled entry where similarly equipped soldiers checked goods and monitored access. Ddraig saw no one turned away and quickly concluded it was a mere formality.
"It doesn't look like much, huh, My Lord," Lupisregina asked; rather than her usual oversized weapon, she carried an enchanted mace that hung from her side. Her traveling clothing was explicitly made to be worn by a brawler, which she didn't mind as she wore her armor that covered her chest and shoulders as well as her arms halfway which went well with the leg armor she wore that was so high it reached her knees that had a few daggers sheathed into the leg. As for undergarments, she mostly wore shorts that showed off her rear.
Narberal, on the other hand, was wearing a simple brown cloak that covered her battle armor while keeping her staff out to protect her master from the annoying people who would attempt to crowd him.
Ddraig, on the other hand, wore a cloak of sorts that was of excellent quality, thanks to the blacksmith of Eden. The clothes he wore were a black shirt with light but durable armor that covered his chest and stomach. He wore long pants that reached down to the combat boots made for travel and combat but also provided excellent comfort for the wearer's feet. His dragon tail was shown so others could see that he was a Demi-Human, and his horns were similar to that of a bull. His hair was also expected, but his eyes were emerald green with slitted irises.
Ddriag looked down at Lupisregina from where he walked at her side, "No, it doesn't." He admitted, "But please be polite, and while we are like this." Ddriag said as he tapped his armor and pointed to her and Narberal's traveling clothing.
"Do not refer to me as 'my lord' or 'Lord Ddraig' or 'Sir' or 'Sire' or in any way treat me as a superior. I am the adventurer 'David Welsh,' and you two are both Lupin and Bella." Ddraig said as he had planned names for them as adventurers.
Lupisregina fairly glowed, her high cheeks flushed red, "I love it, my- ah, David, yeah, I love it." Her smile glowed up at him, and they resumed their walk toward the city, though 'Lupin' had more of a spring in her step the entire way to the wall.
"I thank you for the name as well, David-sama," Narberal said as David sighed inwardly.
'I should've known she'd find a loophole to still address me as her superior.' David said inwardly as he continued to walk with his comrades towards E-Rantel.
The outermost district was more than a bit of rank with unwashed bodies, rotting, smelly garbage, and infrequently drained sewers. They passed by numerous large empty buildings which served as barracks for soldiers and storage areas for supplies in times of war. Ddraig, Bella, and Lupin wove their way through the grounds quickly, but Lupin could not help but let her distaste come out.
"This city is disgusting. The smell of this city is so horrible that I'm surprised people aren't dying because of it." Her nose wrinkled in disgust as Bella voiced her concern about the smell. "It is foul, David-sama."
'Trust me, I know.' David thought to himself but answered, "I can tell, and even if I didn't have a sense of smell, it would be easy to conclude that the smell is toxic." David said when they passed a clogged open sewer drain where bits of human and animal feces floated like boats on the toxic water.
When they made it past there to the residential district, more women and children came into view. Ddraig felt the familiar shock of seeing children running outside, so different from home. And people lingered to talk on street corners, though they were dressed poorly. He saw them through different eyes. 'The children here are happy to play among themselves and still enjoy their lives. It isn't so bad of a place, well, unless you count the sewage smell.'
The reality of his presence was enough to perk up his spirits so that he walked with a spring in his step, the same as his companion, all the way to the inner district. It was a relief; in the city's administrative center and the central merchant district, people shouted their wares from stalls that sold fruit, vegetables, and bloody meat. Lupin's mouth watered at the sight of the meat. Her eyes lingered a little longer than was proper, but she carried on when her lord's long steps carried them past the merchants.
Bella was uninterested in the stalls and wares since she didn't desire useless objects. Still, she couldn't help but look at a booth that sold some women's clothing before seeing herself in an outfit perfect for showing a woman's sexiness and her air of confidence. Bella couldn't help but ponder herself in the dress as she was thinking of wearing it for the one she loved until she shook her head of such thoughts as she ran ahead to keep up with her fellow adventurers.
Cleaner than the outer city and breaking from it by a second inner wall, the quality of clothing changed as well the deeper within they went. Better armored guards, better-dressed people, and, rather than simple tan or dark cotton cloth, rich dyes and more elaborate accessories, vast hats, were the norm.
However, the trio stood out as they made their way to the Adventurers Guild and entered the guild as they walked towards the front counter, making the residents look in shock at David as he stopped a few inches from the counter before speaking to the lady at the front.
The woman had basic features along with a red rainbow-shaped cap of red fabric with a white frill over the top.
'He's a Demi-Human? Why would he come here with two humans? Is he enslaved?' She thought to herself. Only her consummate professionalism kept her eyes from bugging out of her head when she saw not only the remarkable specimen of an intimidating dragon-like warrior but the radiant beauty of the redheaded woman with the mace dangling at her side as well as the black-haired beauty next to her.
When he said directly in a deep, rich, noble voice, "I need to register myself and my partners as adventurers here. And before you ask, no, they are not enslaving me. I'm their comrade and partner, so there's no need to worry." David said as the receptionist couldn't help but smile broadly enough as she nodded and understood their situation.
"Of course, I just have to ask a few questions first…." She said while pulling out a few forms.
Eyes from various adventurers bored into their backs while David lied through his teeth to the receptionist.
Much as she enjoyed seeing her master at work, paperwork bored Lupin but not Bella, as she was also asked a few questions. Lupin could acutely feel the desire and attention they were getting. Stares of envy at her master, looks of passion at the contours of her body, as well as Bella with their close-fitting traveling gear. 'Maybe I should purchase a cloak like Narberal. Not that I mind the good taste humans have for beautiful maids like me, but… they're just not strong enough to be good for anything but torture.'
Lupin let out a mental sigh to go with the thought and turned around to face the rough-looking figures. Most wore cheap iron or copper plates around their neck, and not one had a complete set of armor to their names, though they looked confident enough.
More than a few had scars or shaved heads, though some had longer hair that ran down just below their necks. A wicked thought occurred and a mischievous smile formed on Lupin's face.
"Pardon me, David. Since this will take a while, would you mind if I had a little fun?" Lupin's mischievous grin set David's hair standing on end, and for a moment, he said nothing.
But he could practically see the tail wagging behind her. Her pretty face looked so eager, like a pup anxious to play, he couldn't help but relent. He waved toward the tables. "Don't be rough with them, and don't play with any food."
Her smile split into a laugh when she sashayed away and over to the nearest table. "You look strong." She said of the behemoth of a human who sat with a beer mug in front of him.
He grunted, "You look cute." He winked, and for a moment, she couldn't help but preen at the praise of the inferior life form.
"You're observant, but… I'll bet I'm not just cuter. I'll bet you a beer. I'm stronger too. The name is Lupin. That back there," she jabbed her thumb over her shoulder, "Are David, the strongest man in the world, and Bella, my friend who's a skilled magic caster."
She spoke a little louder than she needed to, and the thickly muscled adventurer with the unshaven face looked her up and down, "You serious, girly?"
"Yup." Lupin drummed her fingers on the table, "If you don't believe me, how about a wager? I'll bet you that beer."
"Whatta you got for me when I win, little pretty?" His mouth formed a lewd smile, and from the past, his lips came an equally vulgar laugh.
Lupin looked away and gave a coy smile out of the side of her mouth. "A story worth remembering." She said as she planted an elbow on the table with her arm up and fingers open.
"Bring it on, boyo." She mocked his earlier 'girly,' and he slammed his elbow hard enough to rattle the table and slosh a bit of golden beer onto the wood and put his hand in hers.
"Three?" She asked.
"We do five." He answered, and their loud talk, culminating in a challenge, went from drawing just eyes to drawing a crowd.
"...Three...four...five!" A bystander called.
Lupusregina didn't slam his hand down. He began grunting, straining with effort, "Gaahh… Gnaaahh…" He grunted and groaned, staring bug-eyed at the beauty across from him. Her arm didn't move even a hair from where it had begun.
Sweat sprang to his brow, "What's wrong, Yorig! Get going! I said 'five' like a minute ago!" Someone behind him urged.
"I'm trying!" The beefy man who was evidently 'Yorig' groaned.
Lupin melodramatically and mockingly brought her other hand to her mouth and let out a yawn. "Use a second hand if you want. It's fine. I don't mind."
Yorig flushed, brought his other hand up, laid it over the top, and struggled to force Lupusregina's down. "Can I… can I use a martial art…?" He gasped.
'What's a martial art?' Lupin wondered to herself but gave a little nod. "Go ahead."
"[Lesser Strength]." He grunted and resumed. It did no more promising than before.
"You can use it now." Lupin encouraged him, "I'm waiting."
Open mouths stared in disbelief, "Well, if that's all…." She said with a disappointed pout on her lips and slammed the back of his hand down on the table.
She flashed a V for victory with her winning hand, snatched up the wooden mug, and drank it. "Thanks!" She winked at the man, who whimpered as he rubbed his bruised hand and bruised ego both at once.
She slammed the mug on the table, "Don't feel too bad. I'm partnered with him, after all, and he can beat me as well as Bella." Lupin winked, "You didn't win, but you still got your prize."
"Uhwah?" Was all he could manage to ask.
"You got to arm wrestle Lupin, partner of David, the strongest man in the world. Plus, pretty soon, everybody will know his name, and that story ought to be worth a few free beers." She might have been teasing, but when the DemiHuman warrior approached, towering over her by a few inches and placing a clawed hand on the delicate but powerful shoulder of the victorious Lupin, Yorig couldn't help but think…
'I think she's right… I got to arm wrestle a legend before it became a legend….'
"We're done here. Come along, Lupin. We're going to the inn, so we can have a room and pick up a few supplies before adventuring." David said, and she nodded with rapidity and evident happiness.
"Of course. Bye, boys." She taunted them with a playful wave, 'That wrist will probably hurt for days if he doesn't get a healer, it's not exactly torture, but it is a start. Does that count as playing with my food, though… maybe I should ask?' Lupin couldn't help but critique the possible failure to obey his orders but ultimately decided against it.
'No. If Lord Ddraig minded, he would've said something or wouldn't have let me do that, so that must mean my actions are okay.' She told herself and followed him out of the building with the passive thought, 'The beer was barely better than water with a head on it. Hopefully, somebody in this world makes something passable.'
After getting a room for the three of them, David looked at the board and saw the ranks of the adventurers limited their options. "Tch. Copperplate quests are an absolute joke." David then saw one of the more lucrative flyers from the board and took it to the counter. Bella and Lupin followed him to the front.
"We will take this job," David said as he slammed the parchment on the counter, the girl behind it looked at him with undisclosed resentment.
"I'm sorry, but that is a Mithril-ranked job. A Copper plate like you isn't allowed to take it." David ignored her condescending tone while the maids started to express their anger at the woman for such disrespect.
'Who does this pest think she is? Questioning our master's strength?'
'Did she forget I didn't even break a sweat when facing that guy earlier? Are all humans this stupid, or just her?'
Bella and Lupin said in their minds with anger at the woman until David stopped them as he replied to the woman.
"I know. That's why I took it. We're strong enough to perform it, and I don't want to waste time proving my strength." The harsh words made everyone who had shed sweat and blood to get to their rank judge David poorly. Internally, he wanted to bow and apologize for his rude comments, but it was the fastest way to get what he wanted.
"Everyone in the Guild has to follow the same rules. We can't make exceptions for people; otherwise, our credibility would fall. Also, if we incorrectly place you, many could die when you ultimately fail your mission." The cold glare from the counter girl held all the emotions felt by those who had fallen in their line of work.
"Hmph, Bella, the girl with the ponytail. She is my comrade. She's a magician capable of the third tier. We all the similar strengths." A collective gasp rang out. If what he said was true, it would be impressive. The third tier was the highest any average person could accomplish magically, and for people so young to be at the level of experts was worthy of praise.
"As for Lupin, the redhead, she is much stronger than the other adventurers in this room in combat. Don't tell me you put us in Copper because we're Demi-Humans. Because if you did, I believe that is a disgusting way of giving out one's ranks. Do most of the 'high-class adventurers' actually earn their rank? Or did they pay you to sleep with them to get that promotion?" David asked as he hated how Demi-Humans were discriminated against because of their species and not being human.
"I- I'm sorry. But I still can't make an exception. You'll need to take an appropriately leveled task until you are promoted." The counter girl's expression tightened as she felt like she was in a dangerous position. To insult someone of such strength wouldn't bode well for her, but she couldn't ignore the rules. Plus, discrimination was a definite issue in other guilds because rich people paid their way to the top while the ones who trained their whole lives barely got their promotions. It wasn't easy for Demi-Human adventurers since she recalled how many parties mistreated them as enslaved people or even reported that they 'sadly' died on the mission.
"Well, it can't be helped. I'm sorry for the inconvenience. Please give us the hardest job you can." David said with a disappointed sigh as he accepted the rules, which surprised many of the adventurers in the guild. They thought he'd attack her and try to force her to give them the quest, but it seems they misjudged him.
"Well, if you are looking for a job, we can give you one." A group of Silver-ranked adventurers had come up to them, so David decided to hear them out.
"Ah, thank you for your assistance. If we don't work with them, we will take that job." David said amicably to the counter girl before following the others up the steps to a private room.
Inside the room, the two groups went through the process of introducing themselves. David ignored most of the team, only caring enough to learn their names, which was because of his mixed race as a Demon and a Dragon. However, the magician caught his attention. 'His' glare held a suppressed rage that puzzled David. He had never met these people or done anything to them.
'Hm. She's a Talent Holder. I should try to learn more about it. Though why is she dressed up as a boy?' David asked himself as he could tell that 'he' was a 'she.'
"I know. We should be able to get some information from them. We'll play along for now and work with them." David said as he tried to figure out how to get information from these strangers best.
"Well, my Talent isn't all that impressive next to his." The magician Ninya spoke, drawing their focus back to the introductions.
"That's true." The warrior, Peter, said.
"The ability to use any magic item, huh." While the Silver-ranked group, Swords of Darkness, didn't seem overly curious about the power of that ability, the beings from Eden went cold.
'That's pretty dangerous.' David became especially concerned as he pondered if he had to eliminate this girl or not to keep Eden safe.
"Can I say something?" The ranger, Lukrut, asked, putting his hand up. David nodded hesitantly, curious about what the energetic man had to say. The Eden adventurers were surprised when he knelt before Bella, while his teammates looked almost angry with him.
"I've fallen for you! Your beauty and grace know no bounds! Please, if you ask it of me, I will break any chains that bind you!" A terrible anger started to build within David. Here was this pathetic man, who knew nothing, implying he wasn't kind to his subordinates.
Before David knew what he had done, he turned his head and spat out a single flame, making the adventurer extremely nervous. He backed away from David, and the eyes glowed a bit as he spoke to Lukrut. "Hit on my mate again, and I'll do more than glare into your soul." David threatened as he placed an arm around Bella without noticing Bella's eyes turning into comical swirls as she blushed profusely.
'Lord Ddraig called me his mate! Oh, I can finally die happy!' Bella squealed to herself.
"Hey, no fair! I want some love too!" Lupin shouted as she hugged his left arm into her bust while her tail wagged happily and her ears wiggled in joy at being close to her master.
Bella snapped out of her stupor and growled at Lupin before she hugged David's free arm. "You get enough love from David, you whiney mutt! So back off!" Bella snarled as sparks flew between the two.
David began to feel a lot of hatred from the male adventurers in the guild, making him roll his eyes. 'Yes, get jealous of the Demi-Human for attracting two of his loyal maids. And even if Narberal and Lupisregina didn't see me romantically, it's not like any of you would have a chance with them.'
"Thank you for your harsh but honest words! I will strive to learn more about you so I may profess my true feelings again!" The man didn't appear to have learned his lesson, but his response was good enough. Looking back at the Swords of Darkness, David noticed a contemplative look on their faces. With a start, he finally pieced together the dirty looks and complex expressions many people he'd met had.
He had figured that they were envious of his apparent strength, as his armor was supposed to project, or just jealous of the beautiful women he was with. Slavery was illegal in this country, and it looked like he was a slave to Bella since he and Lupin were the only DemiHuman in their party. With their foreign looks and a standout appearance, people must have guessed she was some Noble abusing her power by having a set of enslaved people.
"Ah, you guys seem to misunderstand something. If Lukrut were referring to if we were slaves to Bella, then I'd have to decline. Bella is a princess who knows Lupin and me very well, so when we decided to become adventurers, she said I should be the leader since I had the most leadership experience." He inwardly praised himself when looks of understanding crossed the faces of the Swords of Darkness. It also seemed like much of the hatred emanating from the magician started to fade.
Peter went on to explain the extermination job and what would be required of them before putting in how to split their earnings.
"Ah, I was wondering. I know they're new, but if they're as strong as they say, why do they need our help with an extermination job?" Ninya asked as Lukrut then started to prove his worth as a ranger by explaining the value of working together.
"Of course not. However, that doesn't mean we shouldn't work together. But, we know more about the surrounding area and the job specifics while they have the firepower. Both of us would be fine, but by working together, we can intentionally hunt down larger prey we would otherwise avoid. Ultimately, it's safer for us and more efficient for them." He explained, pointing out the use of their collaboration.
"Well, that answers that. If nobody has any more questions, we can move out right away. Is that alright with you, David-san?" Peter said, wrapping up their discussion.
"Yes. Let us try and get going. We'll make sure to follow you." The two parties headed out of the private room but stopped at the top of the stairs. In the center of the guild hall was a big commotion. A young man with long blond hair covering his face stood amidst the mass of people who surged around him. Coming to the stairs was the girl from the counter. She seemed to be slightly panicked as she pushed through the crowds. Upon seeing David's group, she called out.
"Ah, Excuse me. But someone has made a specific request for you, sir."
"I'm sorry, but we have already taken a job." David firmly rejected the counter girl's unspoken request. This made her frantic. She had already courted danger by insulting such a (potentially) rich and powerful adventurer, Lady Bella, so If she could not assist the grandson of the most famous alchemist in the city, her chances would be over.
"Um. The person who requested you is Nferia Bareare." Her eyes pleaded for David to take the job.
At the mention of his name, a collective gasp echoed throughout the room. The young boy in the middle of the mob stepped forward, the crowd parting like water before him.
"Hello. It's nice to meet you. I'm the one who made the request-" He amicably greeted Ainz and his group. However, David cut him off by raising his hand before he could say anything more.
"I am sorry, but we have already committed to a job. Unfortunately, we cannot accomplish your commission until it's completed." At his side, both Bella and Lupin nodded in agreement. It would look bad on them if they just quit the job they had committed to. The enthusiasm in the room increased. To be requested specifically is a high honor, and refusing was rare.
"David-san. This is a specific request. You have to take it!" Peter eagerly encouraged David's group, fully aware of the implications of a specific request.
"Still, it's only proper to perform the task we have already committed to first, no?" From the complicated expressions on many peoples' faces, David figured out it wasn't quite that simple before coming to a decision.
"I see. How about this? We will hear out the details of Bareare-san's request before we make a decision. Then, we can set a date and time accordingly." David said while looking to his requester for confirmation.
"I'm alright with that. My request doesn't necessarily have to be completed today." Nferia didn't seem upset about the possible rejection.
"Good. Then, Peter-san. Would the Swords of Darkness join us too?" David turned back to the startled group.
"Eh? Are you sure that's fine?" Peter's tone stressed how irregular the situation was.
"Of course. After all, your party is involved as well." Nobody could refute his logic, so they all moved to hear out Nferia's request. As the three parties moved back into the private room, the energetic atmosphere continued—everyone was discussing the Copper-ranked adventurers that came out of nowhere making big waves.
Back in the room, the groups had to introduce themselves once again. The two adventurer teams briefly went through every member, lacking the drama and tangents from earlier. They needed to focus on the task, or they risked upsetting someone who made a specific request.
"I was already introduced, but my name is Nferia Bareare. I'm an alchemist in E-Rantel and regularly go out to collect herbs in the forest. There is a little village called Carne a little ways away that I use as a base to enter the Great Forest of Tob. Your job would be to protect me on the trail there and in the forest from any dangerous monsters. It's a pretty safe area, so there shouldn't be any concerns, but it pays to be cautious in the Forest." He seemed genuine in his request, and it made sense for him to hire adventurers for this kind of work.
"I see. So bodyguarding, huh? Peter-san, would you be willing to assist us with this request?" David felt like he had a good grasp of the situation. Now there was only one thing that was bugging him.
"Huh? Oh! Yes, that isn't a problem for us. We know the general area, and if there are any monsters along the way, we can hunt them, so we fulfill both requests." Peter got nods from the rest of the Swords of Darkness as he consented.
"Plus, I'll be able to show my skills as a druid in the Forest better than a ranger," Dyne said with pride. Lukrut just stuck his tongue out at the jibe from his teammate.
"That's fine. When would your teams be ready to leave?" Nferia gave his consent to the add-on of another team to protect him. He didn't want to hedge his bets on the strength of Copper-ranks, even if they might be compelling.
"Now, I only have one question left. Why us? We are new here and have no reputation. It's strange for us to have been sought out so quickly." David said to Nferia with a piercing stare. Everyone leaned in to hear his answer, curious about his reason for causing such a scene. Nferia appeared caught off guard by the pointed question. Thinking quickly, he tried to remember his excuse.
"Ah-ah. W-well. I heard there were some powerful Copper-plates in the tavern last night. The Party I normally take moved to another city recently, so I needed new guards. I figured it would be cheaper to higher strong Copper-plates instead of the normal Gold-ranks." Usually, an ordinary person would believe a lie like that, but Issei could smell it a mile away.
"Bullshit. There's no way a reputable person would take completely untested newbie strangers with no references as bodyguards. If we are strong, you have no guarantee we won't just rob you, and if we're weak, you might be getting yourself killed. Why did you want to get to know us?" David didn't believe his excuse at all, and with how the boy started to panic, he and the Pleiades tensed for a possible confrontation.
The Swords of Darkness got cold expressions. In their line of work, trust between the clients and adventurers was critical for safety and legality. They didn't want to be drawn into some troublesome business when there appeared to be something shady.
"Eh? Ah, ah. Okay, fine. I did hear about you from the tavern incident. But, it was that potion you gave that adventurer. It isn't made by normal means, so I wanted to learn more about the strange foreigners who had it." Nferia was utterly embarrassed about being caught. He seemed like a normal and trustworthy boy who just got excited.
"Really? Is that it? Seriously? You could have just come and talked to us. We're interested in learning about new items and how things work here. Wouldn't that be normal in this kind of business? We don't know how long we'll be here, so we would need to buy supplies anyways." David relaxed quickly, the Pleiades soon after. His answer appeared to be the truth. It just didn't make sense to Ddraig at first until he heard about the potion before coming up with a future idea that'll benefit Eden.
Nferia flushed further and tried to hide his shame by shrinking down. What he said was entirely reasonable; he had just been afraid to confront strangers openly about what could have been a vital secret.
The Swords of Darkness remained tense, though; they didn't like being lied to about something like that. While it seemed to have worked itself out, they had to doubt the validity of everything else they had learned if such an important thing was being kept secret. What else could these two mysterious and unknown parties be hiding?
"I don't think this is something we should keep talking about here. If it's fine with all of you, we are fine with taking this job. I think we can leave whenever you are ready." David was trying to get moving. They needed money, and they weren't making any, just sitting there talking. He looked over to the still-nervous Swords of Darkness to see if they would stay on the job.
"It's fine with us if there are no more big secrets we should know about. We want to know what we're getting into on a job like this." Peter said after getting hesitant approval from his teammates.
Ddraig, on the other hand, was instead wondering if it was even worth having them tag along. They already knew where Carne village was, and unless a high-level assassin wanted to kill Nferia, there weren't any possible threats on the mission. Even then, they would probably be able to protect him against anything comparable to the Pleiades.
"Okay. I'm ready to leave whenever you are." Nferia said brightly. The parties dove into discussing what they'd need in terms of supplies on the trip.
The large group of people moved along steadily on the well-worn path. On one side was a never-ending forest. The other was a vast expanse of open plains. As the bright sun beat down on the group, it wasn't long before the human travelers were soon all exhausted. The only one with any energy was Lukrut, and he constantly made quips and innuendos as they plodded along.
Thinking it was as good a time as any, David moved up to Nferia, who rode in an open wagon. They had exhausted any other topic of conversation for the moment, so she figured it was best to deal with the conversation that was needed.
"Nferia. Why exactly is that potion I gave to the adventurer girl special? It was a normal potion, so we don't understand the problem." Nifirea's expression noticeably brightened. By telling them about the uniqueness of their potion, he could make up for his previous blunder. Plus, he was talking about his specialty.
"The reason it's so special is that it was made differently than a regular healing potion from around here. When making a normal healing potion, you must cast preservation magic on it. Otherwise, the quality will degrade over time. This turns the potion blue. We don't know why your potion was different. We could only tell that it had never had preservation magic cast on it. This means the potion itself is perfect, and there were no defects in the quality of the ingredients used to make it. If we could get these ingredients or figure out how to make them, it could revolutionize the potion-making industry."
"Of course, it might not have any impact on the effectiveness of potions, but the different techniques used to make it could improve other aspects of alchemical work or reduce the time and cost to make things. The possible benefits that learning about that potion could bring were just too good to pass up!" Nferia was visibly getting excited about learning more about the potion.
"Well, I can't say anything about the creation process. That's outside the expertise of everyone in our group. However, we can see about you getting some ingredients to experiment with. Of course, you would need to agree not to release any information about this to anyone else, and in exchange, we could arrange exclusive production rights to anything that comes about from it." David asked as Nferia nodded with excitement in his eyes.
"Of course! That would be wonderful!" Nferia seemed incredibly eager to agree to the deal.
"There is something else I want to ask about. Your Talent." The change in topic wasn't nearly as welcomed as the previous one. It was generally considered taboo to ask someone about their Talent, and it showed on all the humans' faces. David, though, was more interested in learning about it than committing any social faux pas.
"Ah, I know you might not want to talk about it, but we are curious about how it generally works. Where we are from, Talents aren't a thing. People might have special abilities, but those usually depend on race or job." While still uncomfortable, Nferia was willing to say a little about it, so long as they weren't pressing about it.
"What do you want to know? I'm sure others can already tell you much about it, so there shouldn't be anything else to say about it." He was cautious about giving away any more details. He didn't like the attention given to him for what was already known.
"Well, we already heard that you aren't limited by job or racial restrictions, but what about strength? For example, if you tried to use a magic sword, could you activate its powers even if you aren't strong enough to lift it? Or what about items tied to a specific person? If you try to use a magic artifact its owner can only use, can you trick it into working for you?" How he looked at him made him think there was a right and wrong answer.
Nferia wasn't too sure where this line of questioning came from. The questions themselves really shouldn't apply. He couldn't think of anything like she described besides cursed items and truly legendary equipment. The stuff he would never even see, let alone try and use.
"I don't know. I rarely use it because there isn't any need for it. It was a complete accident that I even learned about the racial exception. It's not like I go around trying to use mysterious magic items to learn more about it." He internally breathed a sigh of relief at how he seemed to become contemplative. At least he hadn't said anything to make him angry. He had heard what he did to that adventure in the tavern and was terrified of his strength.
"I see. Thank you for the answer nonetheless." David said as the journey continued until they stopped to get the horses some water.
Finally, the watering was done, and the group rested. With the atmosphere completely strange, they headed out. Eventually, Lukrut stopped in front of the group. He had gone ahead to give David's team space to scout ahead. Now, he sensed something horrible. The rest caught up to him, stopping when they noticed his tense posture.
"You noticed it too, didn't you?" He wasn't surprised when Lupin said something. Now, they just had to deal with anything coming.
"Do you think we can run?" Peter asked nervously. Despite what he knew about their group, what was coming was too much to defend against. David took stock of what was coming and made his judgment.
"Not a chance. We can't outrun the faster ones for very long, and something like that would threaten the area until it's wiped out. We have the strength, so we have to hold out and break them up. Peter-san, your team will be the rearguard. Watch our backs and protect Nferia." They watched in awe as David and his team formed a defensive line.
In front, David and Lupin stood a resolute wall to protect their comrades. In the back, Bella stood at the ready with her long-range spells and staff. Behind them, the unwitting humans formed defensively, with the wagon at the center of a loose circle. They would have to hold against anything that got around the other group.
Coming towards them from an angle from the nearby forest was a veritable horde of monsters. Dozens, possibly even hundreds, of goblins, ogres, barghests, greater barghests, and other forest denizens came as a veritable storm. All led by two massive trolls.
"Do not falter. Glory lies behind the horizon. Speak of conquest and make it real. For those who fight with me and for those who watch behind me." David said as his words gave the Swords of Darkness strength and courage to push through.
As soon as they were in position, David opened fire with his crossbow attached to his arm. From four hundred meters away, he had no trouble sniping the giant Ogres since his arrows were unique and powerful enough to bring them down one by one. It barely stymied the tide as the monsters charged forward. The faster barghests reached their lines first. Soon, as many as a dozen at a time would swarm Lupin, hoping to have an easy kill. The Werewolf just mechanically started to slaughter them.
A lazy punch had sent two Barghests flying as their stomachs exploded from the broken bones that the brawler used to send them back. She then moved with a combination of grace and speed. With a mighty swing of her armored fists, the head of one of the magical canines exploded. It caught the beasts entirely off guard to suddenly be outdone in speed. No matter how fast they tried to attack, Lupin was always quicker than them.
With a terrible howl, a Greater Barghest charged the two fighters. Its size and speed were incomparable to its smaller companions. With a mighty lunge, it jumped at David's armored arm. He let the monster get closer as he maneuvered his sword to block the blow before countering with a mighty swing. The beast was then flung back by his powerful swing until David swung again before it could recover, bisecting the monster at the waist.
The wolf-like creatures soon gave up attacking them, instead using their speed to try and go for those in the back. Bella's blade cut down those who attacked them as she defended the cart and the Swords of Darkness, who kept the goblins at bay.
"[Electrosphere]!" With a mighty cry, she cast her deadly magic. The orb of arcane energy landed in the middle of a large swarm of the Barghests, preparing to attack. The electricity arced between their metal chains, killing half a dozen at once. Bella was nearly caught in the throat by the swipe of a Greater Barghest. The creature had tried to catch her by surprise to take her out of the fight.
"[Lightning Arrow]!" She once again cast her deadly magic. The energy went in a straight line right through the creature into the monster behind it. But it didn't die. It struggled to stand, making a desperate but powerful bite towards the magic caster to stop her from fighting.
David caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. Tossing the broken crossbow to the side, he rushed over to the injured creature. His speed and power were no match for it in its injured state. As the flash of his sword arced through the air, its head fell to the ground independent of its body.
It wasn't long before the Goblins and Ogres reached the front lines. The bulky bodies of the Ogres and the sheer number of Goblins were the only things slowing down the warrior and brawler. The humans watched in awe as soon dozens of monsters were slaughtered with ease.
David and Lupin put their skills to the test, using their whole bodies to fend off the hordes of monsters. At several points, they would have to drop all pretense of form and use raw strength to bat aside the scrum.
Lupin laughed happily as she picked up an Ogre by its ankle before wielding it like a baseball bat. When she dropped it, the Ogre looked more like a wet noodle. When several Goblins rushed David's feet, he started spartan-kicking them to clear out his legs. Their tiny bodies sailed at least a dozen meters before slamming down, completely broken.
"Orichalcum, no Adamantite. There's no way such power is anything but." Peter could only watch in fascination at the crescendo of slaughter before them. Lukrut was intensely focused on picking off any goblins that started to head their way.
Soon, it became clear to the monsters the first lines wouldn't go down quickly, so the Goblins and Barghests switched targets to the more vulnerable wagon. The Silver plate adventurers were embroiled in the fight of their lives as they fended off countless attacks.
Peter found himself struggling to hold back a pair of Barghests. Their incredible speed and sporadic magical attacks made it hard for him to counter effectively. Eventually, he made a choice. When one of the Barghests attacked, he intentionally overextended. This provided an opening for the other to go in for the kill.
It lunged towards him, ready to bite down on his throat. He moved quickly, barely able to keep up with the creature's impressive speed. His arm came up, and he activated the Martial Art [Fortress]. Its jaws uselessly closed on his protected arm. Taking the initiative, he thrust upwards with the sword in his other hand. Its metal blade quickly pierced the barghest's unprotected stomach.
With one enemy dead, Peter could overpower the other one soon and slay it before monsters once again swarmed him. All he could do was keep fighting. Even as one minor wound became three, he had no choice but to keep going.
Dyne was struggling. The only way he could effectively counter the sheer number of Goblins coming at him was to draw in a number before binding them. He'd then have to race to kill them before they broke free or more showed up. He had already suffered a broken arm and a light slash to his leg for his troubles.
He was the team's mid-liner. He had a lot of versatility but now was being overwhelmed by being locked into one style of fighting. He had to waste precious mana healing his and others, most serious wounds. He could already tell he was running out of mana very quickly and would soon be useless, too exhausted to fight off his enemies.
Lukrut bounced around as much as possible. By using his speed and flexibility of weapons, he was used to plugging the gaps that formed in their lines. One minute he'd be killing Goblins with his sword. The next, he would have to shoot down barghests that tried to make it past their lines.
Lukrut was a man of pride. He couldn't bring himself to give up in the face of greatness from David and his team. So, every time he slew an enemy, he moved right on to the next. Every time his friends needed help, he moved quickly to aid them. He lived to improve and gain recognition for his efforts. Other people's opinions of him are damned.
Ninya pushed harder to clear out the stragglers. She didn't have any skills as a support to aid her friends. She could only watch silently as their wounds accumulated. She was struggling and barely had time to send the occasional attack spell to relieve the pressure on the heavy fighters.
"[Magic Arrow]!" With a shout, she sent out two bolts of magical energy to take out a pair of Goblins who had gotten past Peter. As their bodies crumpled, Ninya collapsed to one knee. The number of spells being used took a heavy toll on her body which didn't help her since she didn't have a great constitution, to begin with.
With a mighty shout, she stabbed her dagger into the chest of another Goblin. Her black blade went to the hilt as she poured all her strength into the attack. Struggling to stand, she tightly gripped her staff in support. She couldn't give up now. She had finally seen the light. Ultimately, seeing the strength necessary to find and free her sister, consequences be damned.
Nferia crouched on the top of his wagon. He would often cast one of the few attack spells he knew or throw a bottle of alchemical products to take out what enemies he could. He kept his head down to stay out of the Hobgoblin Archers aim and some regular Goblins had started shooting at any target they could see. It proved a dangerous distraction that had already injured Lukrut once.
He wasn't a fighter, and he knew it. But he couldn't just abandon those who were protecting them. There was no hope of escaping, and if they fell, he stood no chance of survival. Finding a prime target in a barghest fighting Dyne, he aided the flagging druid by binding it with alchemical glue. He looked down in despair as he noticed it was the last of the bottles he had.
Suddenly, he had an awful feeling. As a large shadow grew over him, he turned to face the open maw of a Greater Barghest leaping through the air towards him.
David watched The Swords of Darkness fight for their lives. He was impressed by their ability to coordinate and cover each other's weaknesses. It reminded him of the days of adventuring and exploring with his comrades.
A primal shout drew his attention back to the fight. With his strength, he had been butchering these low-level beasts with ease. It had become so monotonous that he zoned out. Now, charging straight at him and Lupin were the pair of trolls and a team of hobgoblins.
'Sigh, What a pain.' Dealing with the regeneration of the trolls was going to be annoying. He'd use his fire magic to burn the trolls to ashes but didn't want to give away his demonic race.
The two Trolls rushed towards Lupin, hoping to use their size to overpower her. They soon got into a slugging match as the two Demi-Humans tried to beat down the Werewolf. It would have been comical to watch a tiny woman like her boxing with Trolls, especially as she struck a heroic pose and sent the beasts flying.
"Haha-!" Lupin shouted with her fist outstretched. She uppercut one of them, her incredible strength sending it flying. When the other struck out at her, she jumped on its arm, racing up the limb before sending a left hook into its skull. A sharp crack signified its broken head as it fell backward.
The other troll had recovered, swinging a stone-tipped club down on her. With impressing speed, she stepped into its reach and struck a solid blow to its abdomen. There was such force behind it that its stomach seemed to explode out its back. Until they could be finished off with magic, the trolls were out of the fight.
David, on the other hand, was getting frustrated. The right Hobgoblins in front of him were the elites, and their skill showed it. While their stats were inferior to his, they worked well in tandem to deflect lethal blows and protect each other.
"I've had enough of this child's play!" David shouted as he took a deep breath; his hair started to turn into a fire which shocked some of the others until he blew a large stream of blood-red fire that burned the Hobgoblins alive, which was music to his ears.
"Finally. Time to finish off the rest of them." David said as his eyes glowed even brighter as he let his claws and scales form in his arms and legs until he roared into the sky.
"[Mid Dragon Transformation.]!" A skill that allowed his body to become more draconic and added a powerful boost to his fire Magic. This was useful when he was continuing to breathe out the fire that burned the other Hobgoblins to ashes.
With the deaths of their leaders, the remaining monsters got desperate. They now tried to kill any of the weaker humans with panicked movements, hoping to strike one down to provide an opening to escape, but it was in vain as David's roar stopped them in their tracks as he rushed towards them and began to destroy every last one of them.
He turned to watch as the humans tried to finish off the last enemies. They were tired and injured, but they should have come out alive if they didn't make any egregious mistakes.
The remaining Greater Barghest roared as it charged at David until it was stopped in its tracks by David's claws digging into its skull until he ripped its head off. It was the last powerful monster, and the other beasts had been using its opening as a chance to escape, hoping to escape from the slaughter.
However, none of them escaped as David and his comrades hunted them down to the last goblin. The Swords of Darkness were too beat up to help, so they stayed to watch Nferia. While they tried to recover, they looked at the bloodbath their traveling companions had wrought. Disbelief was present as they saw the veritable sea of corpses around them.
When they were finally done hunting down the stragglers, David's team finished off the trolls before going to help the humans. When they saw all the wounds and their only healer was exhausted and probably out of mana, David and Lupin decided to help them.
"Here. This should heal you." He handed Peter and Dyne healing potions. The two had been the most grievously injured, and he didn't think they should use whatever consumables they had when David could help them and raise some goodwill.
"Thank you," Peter said with a grimace. The two sighed in relief as their wounds healed instantly with the application of the potion.
"[Light Heal]." Taking the cue, Lupin healed the other injured with a minor spell. She only used first-tier magic to conceal her higher attacks. The spell wasn't quite strong enough to heal all their wounds, but it enabled them to function correctly again. Lukrut and Ninya were thankful for the healing. Nferia hadn't been injured from where he'd been in the wagon.
"Amazing. Amazing. I can't believe someone as young as you can use fifth-tier magic. And that transformation was nothing like I've ever seen. That's in the realm of heroes. Only the leader of Blue Rose has been able to do something like that." Ninya looked at David and Bella with eyes full of adoration.
"Seriously, how did you all get so strong? I don't think I've ever heard of anyone as strong as you all. I was jealous of you for having beautiful women following you, but after seeing your strength, I can see why they follow you. You are amazing, David-san." Peter said accolades on to the perfect warrior he had ever seen. David could only embarrassedly deny it until the others joined in.
"Of course." The pride in Bella's voice as she praised David with her first genuine smile they had seen made the embarrassment worse.
"W-Well. We should get moving as soon as we can. We can search the bodies while you rest up and prepare the wagon. We should try and leave from here as soon as possible." David said, sobering the relieved and joyful mood. They had to get to Carne Village to ensure it was okay, then get back to the guild to report on the strange events. If there were more hordes like this, every village in the region would be in danger.
However, other forces were awaiting them back at E-Rantel. Other parties had plans for Issei/David/Ddraig and his comrades.
Night's cloak was Clementine's favorite attire. Amidst the great graveyard of E-Rantel, where the dead existed alone, their little world was apart from the city. Stone graves and small monuments dotted the area like a bit of forest of stone. She wove in and out of their haphazard emplacement, a wild place. Were she not who she was and what she was, she'd have tripped a thousand times.
As it was, the darkness proved no barrier to her, so she sprinted like the wind, the cool air rushing past as she pushed through it, her feet trod on the graves of the dead without care for the insult done to them. Her short blonde hair hung loose, framing a twisted smile that, had it been seen, would have appeared to grow more twisted with every insulting step over the corpses of the fallen.
At the center of the great expanse was a single tomb, a deep one, reserved for the wealthiest of the wealthy who were kept superior and apart from the masses even in death by having this place to rest all to themselves.
Illuminated by magic, even that soft white glow could not touch the deft movements of the woman who wore light leather armor to which countless small adventurer plates had been sewn like armor over her breasts and upper thighs. She wore long leather gauntlets and gloves, and at her sides were two sets of enchanted twin stilettos. The way they tapped against her body during the run ceased almost when she began to sneak.
Her breasts rose and fell very slowly, the run she'd just engaged in would have worn out a familiar person and would be very difficult for a soldier even without the obstacles, but for her, it had been barely more than a jog.
She went unnoticed by the light until she was within the deepest recesses of the tomb, said to be one of the oldest segments, holding some of the nobles and wealthy elites of E-Rantel from some six centuries earlier. There, nobody would be disturbing the living who chose to occupy it.
"Helloooooo!" She announced, and taking out a stiletto, she began to toss it idly in her hand. The figure she spoke to was someone like her, at least somewhat.
He was cloaked, hooded in red, and held a staff in his right hand. He was hunched, old, and grim-faced. Utterly unlike the blonde woman in every way.
Every way but the one that mattered to them both.
He stood over a corpse, completed his spell, and the body began to move.
She barely noticed when the skeleton got up and went where he pointed.
They were both utterly twisted.
"Hellooo, Khajiit! I'm here. Pay attention to me!" She put her hands on her hips and leaned forward a little, "You can't call a pretty girl like me out into the dangerous dark all the way here and then just ignore her."
"I know, Clementine, I know," Khajiit said to the blonde and turned around to greet her.
Clementine was almost to Khajiit an instant later. Her powerful legs launched her forward, and her stiletto thrust forward, ready to pierce his heart. Instead, it struck a wall of bones and stopped dead as the bodies that lined the room in the various catacombs that had been dug into the earth and lined with stone as a kind of bedding.
"Don't try that again, or I'll kill you." His humorless face formed a toothless open laugh, and her eyes narrowed.
"Try to squeeze me, old man, and I'll do all the thrusting." She said, though she stopped her attack, stepped back, and sheathed her stiletto in a sharp motion while keeping her eyes on him.
"It was your thrusting that got you that nickname." His mocking laugh drew an appreciative one from herself as she acknowledged the truth of her sadistic nature.
"You got me there, Khajiit." She teased him with a wolfish grin.
She stared at him steadily, then pouted at his poker face.
When she grew bored, she looked around, "Where's the rest of your little club?" She was right. They were alone but for the dead and the undead.
"Do not refer to Zuranon as a 'club.' You make it sound like we're ladies at tea." His eyes narrowed, and he clutched his staff a little tighter.
"Oh no, no. I'm sooo sorry." She gave him a mocking apology, "As a token of my regret, well, I have a little trinket for you." She reached into the pouch at her side and took out a little circlet with jewels dangling down around it. A spiderweb design ran up and down at its center and was a dark gem.
Khajiit gasped and forgot her previous use of his second name. "This is-"
"Yep," Clementine giggled almost girlishly, "The Crown of Wisdom from a Miko Princess, one of the treasures of the Theocracy. I took it off some poor girl whose head seemed weighed down by this heavy old thing. But I guess she liked it a lot because as soon as I pulled it off her little blonde head, she started screaming, raving, and screaming some more. She had a little accident, though, and fell onto my stiletto." The giggle became a cackle as Clementine recalled the death.
"It is also useless trash." Khajiit lamented, "If nobody can use it, what good is it? You'd have been better off bringing me a treasure of the six great gods. That… is pretty little garbage. Barely one girl in a million can wear that and survive, let alone become a magic item I can use for high-tier spells. If I don't have such a person, then?" He tapped his staff on the stone beneath his feet, the echo resounding off the tomb's walls for several lingering seconds.
"Even I wouldn't want to tangle with the pervert they've got guarding the treasures of the six gods." Clementine let out a shudder, "Back when I was still part of the Black Scripture, I fought the best of their best, and like all the rest of them, I couldn't lay a hand on her. She's beyond humanity and beyond perverted." She scrunched her face in distaste.
'Who would lie with a monster to ensure they have strong children? A real pervert, that's who. She should get off on murder, like me, like a rational person.' Clementine thought.
"I'd have to take your word on that strength, though I suppose it would take something like that to deter you," Khajiit admitted with some unhappiness. He hated crediting anyone with telling the truth. Still, in the time he'd known Clementine, she'd never spoken of anything as unbeatable as Zesshi Zetsumei, the one who guarded the treasures of the gods.
Instead, he returned to her question rather than continue, "The rest of my disciples are in other parts of the tomb. They gathered enough negative energy to raise skeletons themselves, even with their own weaker pools of mana. Thanks to the orb of death, this is much more efficient."
He caressed the spot in his robe where the orb sat. Though it had a twisted personality, comparable to Clementine herself, it was always eager to help where death was involved.
"That's good because guess what, there's a guy in E-Rantel who can use the crown...if you're still interested in getting your mommy back." She winked at him, and Khajiit was all ears.
"I'm listening."
Scene!
Yes, while I skipped the inn scene I didn't feel like writing that part down but I still had Nferia get involved so he's still interested in the potion.
Anyway, here's a vote on the path that Ddraig/Issei will take:
Path A: The story continues as normal but instead of the Swords of Darkness dying, Ninya is the sole survivor, so when David and his team deal with Khajiit and Clementine, she joins Carne Village as a healer to assist the people.
OR
Path B: Clementine kills Nferia and takes Ninya in his place but the Crown of Wisdom destroys the poor girl's magic gate until Ddraig takes the crown and puts Ninya out of her misery.
Vote and let me know what you think in the reviews.
Oh and as for Ddraig's adventure name: David Welsh.
Lupisregina: Lupin.
Narberal: Bella.
Ta-Ta!