diablo in overlord

by vamer

ok

Preface

How NOT to Save the New World
Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at /works/35570521.

Rating:
Mature
Archive Warning:
No Archive Warnings Apply
Category:
Gen
Fandoms:
Overlord - Maruyama Kugane & Related Fandoms, 異世界魔王と召喚少女の奴隷魔術 How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord - Yukiya Murasaki
Characters:
Sakamoto Takuma Diablo, Rose, Rem, Ainz Ooal Gown Momonga, Narberal Gamma, Sebas Tian (Overlord - Maruyama Kugane), Albedo (Overlord - Maruyama Kugane)
Additional Tags:
Crossover, Manga & Anime
Language:
English
Stats:
Published: 2021-12-07 Updated: 2023-10-20 Words: 78,061 Chapters: 11/?
How NOT to Save the New World

by DemonLordDiablo

Summary

A battle weary Diablo finds himself experiencing deja vu when he suddenly wakes up in a mysterious grassy plains. Has he been sent to yet ANOTHER world? How will this world's inhabitants react to the Demon Lord's presence? Luckily for Diablo, he might not be the only one in his predicament...

Diablo has been sent to the Overlord new world at the beginning of the story, where he will inevitably clash with another human trapped in their game avatar, none other than Ainz Ooal Gown.

Notes

I originally posted this story on FFN, but I've decided to make some revisions to the original and start posting the revised version here. Please excuse the weird formatting, since I originally wrote this for FFN formatting, which is super tight together. Once the revisions are up to to date with the original, I'll continue posting updates on both sites. Hope you guys enjoy, reviews are much appreciated.

Deja Vu

《 Cross Reverie Magic》 Thinking

「 Yggdrasil Magic 」 "Speaking"

How NOT to Save the New World

Chapter 1: Deja Vu

In the MMO Cross Reverie , there was a being that struck fear into the hearts of all its players.

He wasn't an in-game monster, but a player who had risen to such levels of power and notoriety that he was referred to as a "Demon Lord" by the player base.

His name is Diablo.

In reality, the terrifying Demon Lord was just a normal shut in gamer, named Takuma Sakamoto.

However, his life changed forever when he was summoned to a different world in the body of his character, Diablo.

Summoned by a Pantherian girl named Rem, and an elf named Shera, it was the beginning of many misadventures to come.

Between single handedly routing an army of a hundred fallen, stopping a war with the elves, defeating two different Demon Lords, and even killing the God of Destruction 《 Europa》, it could easily be said he never had much down time.

In the present day, Diablo found himself in a rare lull between his group's shenanigans, and was finally able to relax a bit with the girls.

Unfortunately, he was still incapacitated from his last battle, at least mentally.

All I want to do is become mold on these sheets…

As he quickly dazed back into his slumber he saw Rem and Shera enter the room and jump into the bed, but he was asleep before he could say a thing.

…

At first Diablo thought he was dreaming.

A few seconds ago he was dozing off to sleep with Shera and Rem at his side, but he woke up to find himself alone.

The room was empty barring its normal furnishings, causing Diablo to panic for a moment.

Where did those two go? He thought to himself.

Getting up from the bed, Diablo groggily shuffled towards the door.

Using up so much MP really makes me this lethargic, huh? Maybe Klem can help me out in the morning…

Before reaching the door, he noticed a faint glowing light seeping out from the bottom. Still in a sleep and MP deprived haze, he didn't think much of it, and proceeded to open the door.

What the-

Instead of the usual inn hallway he was expecting, Diablo found himself face to face with a blinding light that took up all his vision.

Realizing he was losing consciousness, he tried calling out for his companions.

"Rem! Shera! Where are you! Somethings wrong-"

Then all he saw was black.

….

Am I alive?

This was the first thing that came to Diablo's slow to wake brain. Besides the lingering pains of low MP, it seemed he was fine.

With all his might he pried open his eyelids and sat up, and what he saw baffled him.

A field?

Before him was a vast field lined with an even denser forest. It didn't look all that different from the terrain around Faltra City, but it was undeniably foreign.

The only other identifiable landmark was a lumbering mountain range to the north, but Diablo was also unfamiliar with it.

Standing up, he tried to go over the little information that he had. Unfortunately, he wasn't given much time to think before getting blinded by that strange light earlier.

That light, it seemed familiar… Was it something from the world of Cross Reverie, or…

At that moment, it clicked.

It was the same sight and feeling from when I was transported originally!

The glee from figuring out the connection quickly faded into panic when he realized the ramifications of such a thought.

Was I sent to another world again? Or maybe I'm just somewhere else on the same world… Did the girls get sent here too? Damnit, and right when everything was finally starting to settle down.

A calm breeze blew over the grassy knolls of the field. It brought Diablo back to his immediate situation.

Well it looks like there's no one around, but someone has to be out here.

He decided to walk along the border of the forest, looking for signs of civilization.

…

Diablo's suspicion that he was indeed sent to another world was continuing to grow as he traveled. The plants and animals of the area weren't drastically different from what he knew of his Cross Reverie inspired world, but they were not the same.

He even encountered a few small monsters, but most either ran from him or were quick work for his《 Tonnerre Empereur》.

Diablo's 《 Tonnerre Empereur》, a wand he retrieved from his own dungeon that had followed him from the game world, allows him to transform between sword and wand configurations. On top of that, the sword configuration has an effect of activating magic or attacks seven-fold at the cost of using extra MP or SP.

I just wish I hadn't lost my 《 Staff of Tenma 》... It wasn't as flashy, but man was it reliable.

Despite the possibility of being in yet another world, Diablo wasn't terribly worried. He looked down at his outstretched ring finger that wore the source of all his confidence.

The 《 Demon Lord's Ring》.

With the overwhelming ability to reflect all magic, it was awarded to Diablo when he was the first to defeat the Demon Lord of the Mind, 《 Enkvaros 》 , in the original Cross Reverie .

The ring worked in the first world I was sent to, I have to assume it works wherever I am now as well…

Diablo had been walking for a few hours now, but he could hardly tell thanks to his durable level 150 body.

Although, who knows what level I might be at this point… It was already made clear that the level cap system from the game doesn't apply entirely in reality…

He had seen the evidence of this phenomena firsthand when he leveled up as a warrior under the tutelage of the Master Swordsman, which would have been impossible in the game given his full specialization into the mage class.

I wonder if this place shares the same leveling system as Cross Reverie? Perhaps its average level is different from the previous world…

With little information to go on besides killing a few small fry, Diablo had no idea what kind of power beings possibly weld in this new world. He was fairly confident in his abilities, seeing as there were few previously who could fairly challenge him.

The gamer mind of Takuma Sakamoto was buzzing with the possibilities of his puzzling situation. However there was still the ever present twinge of pain that clouded his mind.

Rem… Shera… Did I really leave them behind? I may have always been a solo player, but that doesn't mean I wanted them to go…

He longed for the thought that they were sent here as well. To find his companions and perhaps a way back to the world he had grown to love and defend.

The faint sound of screaming broke Diablo from his rancor. It was barely audible, but his keen high level hearing was able to pick it up across the vacant field.

Someone's in trouble… It sounds like a lot of people actually… Maybe Rem and Shera are there?!

With a frantic hope in his mind, Diablo imbued his 《 Empty Sky's Dance》 boots with MP and took off into the air towards the source of the screams.

…

As Diablo came around the bend of the forest, he quickly froze in shock, the sight before him being way beyond his expectations.

A village in chaos, dozens of knights slaughtering its inhabitants, and enough screaming to send chills down his spine.

To think that there's people like this in every world…

He descended at the outskirts of the town where he saw two girls running towards the forest.

"Why you little-"

One of the knights had his sword raised overhead. Having just been punched by a measly village girl, he was at his wits end.

However, when he saw the figure of Diablo land in front of him, his sword froze in the air.

"Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

A million things went through Diablo's mind.

Maybe I can finally drop the Demon Lord act? I mean, I only kept that going because of my poor social skills and because it was the only way people knew me… How else could I introduce myself?

"My name is Diablo, a Demon Lord from another world!"

I said it…

The confused look on the knight's face only grew more contorted. However, before he could do anything else, Diablo raised his 《 Tonnerre Empereur》.

"《 Lightning Bullet》!"

A brilliant bullet of light shot forth from Diablo and blew the knight meters away from where he was previously standing.

The two girls on the ground could only look at the scene with confusion and fear.

These knights are terribly weak… Even compared to the low level adventurers in Faltra…

Seeing that the smoking remains of the man weren't getting up, Diablo knelt down and handed the injured girl a vial containing a green liquid.

"This is a potion, drink up. It isn't often a Demon Lord gives out his wares for free…"

The girl hesitated, but then reluctantly took the potion and drank it.

As expected, the wound on her back began to rapidly heal, the skin closing shut before everyone's eyes.

"Th- Thank you so much sir." The older girl said with gratitude.

"It is nothing for a Demon Lord like myself." Diablo replied with a wild grin on his face.

Perhaps because of the shock of the situation, the fact that he had introduced himself twice now as a Demon Lord had not sunk in with the girls. All they could do at the moment was feel thankful that they were alive.

"Our parents! Can you please save our parents!"

The girl already had tears in her eyes again, and her sister had her head buried in her side. All Diablo could do when looking at them was get angrier at the people who were behind it.

"I'll save your parents and this village, such a barbaric attack is an insult in the presence of a Demon Lord."

The girls still looked confused, but they smiled and gave him their thanks as Diablo hurried into the village.

…

With almost all the remaining villagers gathered at the center square, Londes Di Grampp considered the mission a near success. All that was left was to kill off the stragglers and douse the homes in alchemical oil.

However, before Londes could give the order, he heard a loud explosion from the other side of the village.

"What the hell was that?"

His call to his surrounding men was met with shrugs and confused glances. Once again he heard another explosion, this time closer.

The mission is going perfectly! What in the Gods' names could be making all that noise?!

Londes' question was answered before he could ask his men again. A dark blurr streaked through the sky, stopping over their position.

It was a man with horns wielding a strange looking staff.

"My name is Diablo! I am a Demon Lord who has come from another world!"

His declaration was met at first with silence, however several knights began to laugh heartily.

"You think to call yourself a Demon Lord?" Landes bellowed. "I must admit, it's impressive that you've mastered the ability to fly, but to don such a title is outright ridiculous!"

Diablo merely grinned as the knight in charge goaded him on.

"Your attack on these innocent villagers has angered me greatly! I've already disposed of some of your foolish men who thought to oppose me."

Now that he mentions it, it's way too quiet… What happened to my men!

"Now feel true fear and leave this village at once! 《 Explosion》!"

Pointing his 《 Tonnerre Empereur》 towards the sky, Diablo unleashed the level 50 fire spell《 Explosion》. The result of the spell released a torrent of explosive energy that managed to coat most of the village below in a dastardly red glow.

He finished off the show with a flap of his 《 Call of Darkness 》, a mantle that bestows the《 Fear》debuff on all enemies, grinning victoriously.

Shocked by the utter power of the blast, as well as the《 Fear 》bestowed by the 《 Call of Darkness》, Londes and his men fell into a rout. Every man was clawing to retreat before the next.

Diablo was in his element roleplaying as Demon Lord, however he suffered a mental blow when he didn't see Rem or Shera's faces among the villagers. He noticed that there were no demihuman villagers at all, only humans.

Perhaps there are no demihumans in this world? Well, it could just be that things are even less integrated than they are back in my old world…

He landed in the village square where most of the villagers were still cowering from the《 Fear》debuff, however a few were standing there to greet him.

"Who- who are you?" Asked the man, seeming to represent the village.

"Like I said before, I am Diablo! A Demon Lord from another world!"

His proclamation was met with murmured whispers amongst the villagers, but he cut in before anyone could get the wrong idea.

"This is my second time arriving in a new world it would seem. I was merely looking for my companions, and thought they may be among this village. Don't think I saved you for any other reason."

The suspicion in the air lessened slightly, and the village representative stepped forward.

"I'm not sure what all this Demon Lord talk is about, but you saved our village from destruction."

The representative bowed deeply towards Diablo.

"There is nothing we could possibly do to repay you for your kindness, but please accept whatever coin we can scrounge together!"

Uwah… It's always so awkward when people show this level of gratitude…

"Saving this village was nothing, and I don't want your money."

He could clearly see the level of poverty that these villagers were in, and it was only going to get more difficult after the deaths of those killed in the attack. Taking money from them would be cruel.

"However, this land is foriegn to me, and if possible I'd like to find a way home. Any information you can provide would be more than enough compensation."

Hearing the words of his savior, the man beckoned Diablo.

"I should have introduced myself earlier, I'm the village headman. Please, come back to my home with me and I'll try and answer your questions the best I can."

Replying with an "Umu," Diablo followed the headman towards his house.

…

"So it seems I'm truly in another world…"

Diablo was now sitting in the small house of the village headman. When asked about places in the Lyferia Kingdom like Faltra City or Zircon Tower, the headman was clueless.

He also had no knowledge of any of the conflicts with the Demon Lords, nor the fallen.

Even the little money Diablo had on himself was foriegn to all the villagers he showed it to.

"I'm afraid your predicament is quite unique." the headman started. "Even among legends, the only beings that ever supposedly came to our world from another were the original great gods. Unfortunately I can't say much about them as it is a faith of the Theocracy..."

So I'm pretty special in having been sent here, huh? Nothing new there, I suppose… and what's this Theocracy? Ugh it really does feel like information gathering at the start of a new game…

After his Q and A with the headman, Diablo had a relative understanding of the area's political scene. Unlike his previous Cross Reverie world, this continent was divided between three major powers.

The Re-Estize Kingdom, which the village is a part of, the Baharuth Empire, which lies on the other side of the mountain range, and the Slane Theocracy, which lies to the south.

Diablo was told that based on the crest of the knights, that the attack was from the Baharuth Empire. However, his gamer intuition told him that there was definitely something awry with that explanation.

As their conversation was winding down, there was a sudden knock on the door.

Diablo nodded to the Headman, who bowed slightly and went to open it.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but the preparations for the funeral are complete,"

The Headman once again cast a look towards Diablo.

"I am done here, your information was more than enough."

Bowing deeply, the Headman thanked him and left out the door.

…

Diablo was never a fan of funerals. Not that he had plenty of experience, but the few he saw from the attacks on Faltra had done enough. The mood of the city took awhile to recover, even though they were victorious in their defense. He could only imagine how long it would take a small village like this to recover from its loss of life.

The two girls he saved were also at the funeral. Unfortunately, it seemed that their parents weren't among the survivors. This fact burned within Diablo, as he had given them his word. Unfortunately, all he could do was live with his efforts not being enough.

At least they still have a village to call home…

While the funeral was progressing, Diablo spent his time wandering the dirt roads of the village. It was already almost dusk, so he had decided to spend the night and leave in the morning.

The headman had said the nearest city was called E-Rantel, and that they had an adventurer's guild as well.

Probably a good place to start gathering more information, I need to figure out the specifics of this new world… Speaking of which, what is this world anyways?

That had been itching at Diablo's mind ever since he woke up in the field.

His previous world was clearly inspired by Cross Reverie…

Or the game Cross Reverie was based on elements from that world… I'm still not entirely sure which.

However, he had no clue what the basis for this world was. It was undoubtedly similar, as he could still use the magic granted to him by his former Cross Reverie character like in the old world…

It just seems different. The people, the landscape, the animals…

Well, I won't know anything for sure until I make it to a city. There could still be elements from Cross Reverie that I just haven't seen yet.

Above all, he hoped he wasn't sent on this new adventure alone.

I have to keep looking for Rem and Shera, too.

He realized now that those two would stick out like a sore thumb in this world, as the Headman had told him that demihumans were a rare sighting in the human nations.

Even worse, they still have those {Enslavement Collars} on, which will no doubt raise suspicion…

When Diablo was summoned to his previous world, it was through the summoning ritual of Rem and Shera on top of 《 Starfall Tower 》. The enslavement ritual used on summons to place them under the control of the summoner backfired due to the effects of Diablo's 《 Magic Reflection》.

Thus, Rem and Shera have been stuck sporting 《 Enslavement Collars》 for as long as Diablo has known them.

Perhaps this world doesn't have a similar system of summoning… maybe they don't have a system of slavery to confuse it with either...

Realizing there were still some gaps in what should be common knowledge of this world, Diablo went to look for the Headman for a few more questions.

It seemed he didn't have to walk far, though.

Rounding the corner was a frantic looking village headman.

"Excuse me, Mister Diablo-

"Diablo is fine, continue."

Gotta nip that in the bud early…

The Headman continued.

"Yes, of course. I just wanted to tell you that we have word of mounted knights heading towards the village."

The Headman and villagers were glaring at Diablo with nervous looks.

In for an inch, in for a mile, I guess…

"Such small fry are no problem for a Demon Lord. Have the villagers gather somewhere safe and then meet me in the square. Perhaps we can solve this without violence."

I'm also still low on MP… I mean, if these knights are as strong as the last bunch then I should be within an acceptable limit.

I just hate being this groggy for so long…

A bell rang as all the villagers began to move. The Headman walked with Diablo towards the center square, still thanking him periodically for his continued help.

Before long, they spotted the group of cavalry coming down the main road towards the village. They rode in formation and quietly proceeded to the center square.

Diablo noticed that these troops were different from the ones earlier. They all wore armor, but how they were equipped varied from person to person. The only common thing between them was that they all showed their faces.

A group of mercenaries? I don't think so, but they don't strike me as a formal unit from some country…

They were about twenty men strong, and as they formed a uniform line in the square, the most robust of them came forward.

He practically looked right over the Headman, instead focusing on Diablo.

He's probably never seen a demon before, let alone one with horns! Well it's not like I can take them off now…

After looking Diablo up and down, he seemed somewhat satisfied with his observations, and made a declaration.

"I am captain of the Royal Select of the Kingdom of Re-Estize, Gazef Stronoff. We've come on the king's orders to subdue imperial knights terrorizing this region."

Diablo could hear the Headman mutter something under his breath about the captain of the Royal Select.

"Who is this man?" he asked quietly to the Headman

"I've only heard from rumors, but he was once champion of the royal tournament and now leads an elite group of soldiers that serve the king directly."

Diablo nodded and looked towards the now approaching Gazef.

If he is who he says he is, he's gotta be strong… I can definitely sense power from him, but judging someone's ability as a swordsman rather than a magician is not my strong suit…

Before Gazef or the Headman could say anything, Diablo let out his usual introduction.

"My name is Diablo! I am a Demon Lord who has come from another world!"

Gazef once again stared at him discerningly, but the Headman cut in to save the day.

"Besides that, he saved our village from the attacking knights! I can assure you he is of goodwill!"

Diablo let out an internal sigh, realizing he still didn't fully understand the ramifications of claiming a title like "Demon Lord" in this world yet.

"What the headman says is true. Shortly after being transported here, I was searching the area for my companions when I came upon this village. Based on the likelihood that they could've been here, I defeated those pathetic knights."

A frown settled on his face with the thought.

"Unfortunately, it seems they weren't here after all."

In response, Gazef dismounted from his horse with a clatter of armor. He bowed his head towards Diablo.

"If what you say is true, there are no words to express my gratitude for saving this village."

It was a strange sight for the captain of the Royal Select to be bowing his head to Diablo, someone of unknown affiliation and status.

"Don't bother with that, I was merely looking out for my companions."

"I see… Well, in the future, if there's anything I can do with my power as captain of the Royal Select to aid you in finding them, let me know at once."

He was surprised to get such a pleasant reaction, even when role playing as his Demon Lord persona.

He must really care about these people then…

Diablo's opinion of this Gazef Stronoff went up in his mind, already above the man that resembled him from his previous world.

Galford is a scumbag, but at the end of the day he was willing to put his life on the line for the sake of Faltra, too.

Even though Faltra's Feudal Lord had killed Shera's brother, Prince Keera, and tried to take over the Elven nation of Greenwood as a whole, he still fought on the front lines to defend the city against the Demon Lord 《 Modinalam》.

I wonder if this guy is as strong as Galford? I mean it's not like I can just ask him to put on a demonstration…

However, before the conversation could go any further, a lone cavalryman came riding into the square.

"Captain! Several figures spotted in the area! They're surrounding the village and approaching!"

…

Everyone in the square ran to the cover of the nearby houses. Diablo followed the captain of the Royal Select into the shadow of one of the homes, where they were able to make out some of the figures approaching in the distance.

What the hell are those summons?!

Alarms were going off in Diablo's head when he saw what was accompanying each of the figures.

They look like angels, but I've never seen or heard of a summon like that from Cross Reverie…

The angelic summons wore gleaming breastplates and carried swords of crimson fire. Menacing enough to make an MP depleted Diablo nervous, especially as he lacked an understanding of this world's level of power.

"If they've got angels, then they're with the Slane Theocracy." The captain grumbled. "Even worse, based on their numbers and the look of those summoned monsters, they're probably one of the rumored six scriptures. One of their special ops units…"

Diablo was confused as to why a country would go so far out of its way for a small frontier village.

"Why would they send such a high-profile group to a village like Carne… do you know something, Stronoff?"

The captain chuckled lightly. "If they're not here for you, then that only leaves one other option."

Diablo immediately understood the situation at hand.

The village wasn't the objective, but the foundation for a trap… Just how important is Gazef Stronoff?

"If this group is here for you, what do you plan to do?"

Gazef hesitated with what he had to ask next.

"Diablo, I know we've only just been acquainted, but I was hoping I'd be able to hire you."

He had seen this development coming, although…

"I must decline! My magical power was depleted even before having to save this village, I can't go charging into battle against an unknown enemy in this state."

While it was true that Diablo was almost out of MP, he neglected to mention the MP potions that he always kept on himself.

This is the perfect chance to gauge the power level of this world… but I also don't want to wind up dying to some unknown ability right off the bat…

"I see…" Gazef said disheartedly.

"However, I will protect the villagers at all costs. I already made my promise to save them earlier."

Diablo felt this was a good compromise. Sure, he wanted to be careful in this foriegn world, but he also couldn't let harm befall the villagers.

"Thank you, Diablo. If my impression of you is correct, I can go into battle without a worry in my heart."

With a solemn nod, Gazef swung up onto his horse and took off in the direction of the scripture.

In the meantime, let's get these villagers somewhere safe…

Pouring mana into his 《 Empty Sky's Dance》 boots, Diablo floated above the village, directing the stragglers to the Headman's house.

…

After making sure everyone was accounted for, Diablo flew high above the village, and began to knock back vial after vial of MP potion.

It'd be nice to save these and let my MP refill normally, but I promised Gazef I'd protect these villagers, and if he winds up needing help, I can't do it in my current state…

After refilling his MP to an acceptable level, he cast his gaze to the battle happening down below.

I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything else…

The regular swords of the Royal Select were ineffective against the Theocracy's summons. Diablo could see the group starting to get pushed back, but what he saw next defied his expectations.

" 「 Sixfold Slash of Light 」!"

Gazef Stronoff, who stood at the front of the battle, unleashed a move that took out six angels simultaneously.

What is that speed? I only saw him swing once, but it looked like six attacks came out all at the same time…

Diablo had received training to level up his warrior class from the Master Swordsman Sasara Graham. He had even broken through the limits of the races and achieved level 100 as a warrior.

Still… That attack was a lot like Sasara's 《 Thousand Hands 》, except six attacks instead of ten...

I guess it's a little unfair to compare him to a level 200 prodigy chosen by god…

These attacks by Stronoff boosted the morale of his men, and momentarily caused panic among the casters.

「 Instant Reflex 」!

「 Flow Acceleration 」!

Diablo witnessed one foreign martial art after another, continuously peaking his interest.

This Gazef Stronoff really lives up to his title… I wonder if he'd ever want to spar...

Contrary to that thought, the sound of a thunderous battle cry pulled Diablo back to his senses.

Maybe I gave him a little too much credit…

…

The Captain of the Royal Select was barely standing at this point. His teeth were grit so hard it felt like they might shatter.

This was a hopeless battle to begin with, but at least I can die knowing I bought the villagers time…

With all the strength he could muster, Gazef steadied his sword in front of himself.

There were dozens of angels closing in on him at this point.

"Come and get me you pieces of shit!"

However, before the angels' crimson blades could find their target, they struck an invisible obstacle.

"《 Air Block》!"

Diablo descended from the sky behind the now kneeling Gazef.

"I've created an invisible barrier, we're safe for now."

Gazef looked up at the strange horned man standing before him.

"I thought you said your magical power was too low to fight?" he said in between bloody coughs.

"I said I was a Demon Lord, remember? I've decided these small fry are weak enough to take on."

At least that's what I'm hoping for…

Reaching into his cloak, Diablo took out an exquisite looking bottle.

"I wouldn't have sent you out here if I didn't have a way to fix you up, take this."

Diablo handed the bottle of 《 Elixir》to Gazef, who took it reluctantly.

"It's the highest grade healing potion from my old world, it should have you at 100% right away."

Diablo was hesitant to use one of his 《 Elixirs》, but Gazef's near-death state was his fault for not helping out from the beginning.

Knocking back the vial, Gazef was briefly enveloped in a white light, after which he stood up with no trouble at all.

He couldn't help but guffaw at the effects. The potions he knew, even the higher quality ones, merely accelerated the body's healing process, albeit to a ridiculous amount.

"You weren't kidding, that stuff is potent!" Gazef said in astonishment. "I feel better than I did before we even fought in the first place."

If only I had an unlimited supply...

Diablo felt bad for having to use one of his few elixirs, especially since he doubted he could obtain more in this world.

Problems for future Diablo I suppose...

Meanwhile, since his unexpected arrival, the angel summons of the Sunlit Scripture had been pulled back to defend their summoners.

"Who are you demihuman? For what reason would you interfere in our battle with the captain?"

The leader of the scripture called out to Diablo, who was still attempting to make small talk with Gazef.

"My name is Diablo! I am no mere demihuman, but a Demon Lord who has come from another world!"

How many times am I going to say that today...

The scripture went silent after hearing Diablo's usual introduction.

Their leader was once again the one to break the silence.

"Insolent fool! There is no 'Demon Lord Diablo' in any of our histories! Why tell such a bold faced lie?"

How many times are people going to keep doubting me today, too…

"Hmph! Believe what you wish, but you will realize your naivety through our battle! Stronoff will be leaving in my place!"

Gazef cast a worried look towards Diablo.

"I don't doubt your strength, but they have you overwhelmed in numbers. It'll be impossible to get close with all their summons and spells flying your way."

He put a hand on Diablo's shoulder.

"You've already given me a second chance, let me help you here."

Diablo couldn't help but grin as he replied to the Captain.

"You remind me too much of my companions. Always trying to keep me from doing too much…"

He lost his train of thought for a moment, thinking through all the times someone had his back in his last world.

"Don't worry though Captain, you go back to ensure the village's safety. I can handle myself in this kind of fight, as a Demon Lord is more than just a powerful magician."

Gazef could feel the resolve in Diablo's voice. He shook his head and turned to walk away.

"It's not often that I walk away from a fight, but I owe my life to you, so I'll make an exception, just this once."

Diablo smiled wryly and looked back towards the scripture.

"Good."

…

Nigun Grid Lewin, the leader of the Sunlit Scripture, was nearly boiling with rage at this point.

The success of this mission was guaranteed! We caught Gazef without any of the Kingdom's treasures and had him on the ropes!

Who is this mysterious horned demihuman…?

Nigun had fought many battles all across the continent and yet he had never seen a demihuman like the one before him now.

He looks almost totally human, but those markings on his face and the horns sticking out of his head say otherwise.

There's no way his claim of being a Demon Lord is true…

Even with this thought in his head, Nigun was internally sweating, still bothered by the mystery behind this so-called Diablo.

"Don't just let Stronoff get away, intercept him with some angels!"

At the command of their leader, two angels flew forward towards Diablo, who stood between them and the now retreating Gazef.

"I told you, I am your opponent now!"

"《 Dark Press》!"

Diablo had his《 Tonnerre Empereur》 pointed at the incoming angels.

As the spell was cast, a massive black orb appeared at the tip of his staff, which flew right into the path of the pursuing angels.

The moment they entered the radius of the spell's effect, they were sent crunching into the ground.

The attempts of their summoners to call them back was in vain, as even the ground beneath the angels began to crumble from the oppressive force.

"Your summons are interesting, but they're far too slow-

With a resounding boom, the angels gave out under the pressure and dissolved into motes of light.

-and far too weak!"

Worried shouts began to rise from the scripture, who were rightfully scared after seeing two of their angels obliterated in a single spell.

"If that was all for your attack, I think I'll take my turn now."

Diablo pointed his 《 Tonnerre Empereur》 towards the scripture, more specifically towards their leader in the middle, Nigun.

Seeing that tool of destruction pointed his way, the scripture leader couldn't help but panic.

"All angels, attack now!"

This might have been a tough spot if their summons were any good…

"《 Cross Blizzard》!"

At Diablo's command, two massive freezing tornadoes sprung forth.

The angels that had moved in to attack were caught up in the torrent, where they were turned to ice, and shattered by the wind's deadly force.

It was a massacre.

About forty angels died from Diablo's one spell.

Upon seeing all their summons wiped out at once, the men in the scripture began to cry out in despair.

"Who is this guy?!"

"Is he actually a Demon Lord?!"

And in all the chaos, they began shooting off the spells they normally relied on,

「 Charm Person 」!

「 Iron Hammer 」!

「 Hold 」!

「 Fire Rain 」!

「 Emerald Sarcophagus 」!

「 Shock Wave 」!

「 Stalagmite Charge 」!

「 Open Wounds 」!

「 Poison 」!

「 Fear 」!

「 Blindness 」!

A hailstorm of spells bore down on Diablo.

"The magic of this world is intriguing, but it is useless!"

He raised his arms as if to take all the attacks, and when the flurry of spells made contact, the unthinkable happened.

A brilliant red light shone from Diablo, as if to stand between him and the enemies' attacks.

Nigun could feel his jaw drop as his watched all his men collapse to the ground, incapacitated by their own spells.

"Impossible- that's impossible! No one should be able to kill so many angels in one spell, and it's impossible to reflect magic!"

He was seething at this point, distraught over his mounting bad luck.

" 「 Principality of Observation 」! Attack!"

Responding to Nigun's faltering voice, the larger angel that had previously remained still at his side moved forward.

It flew towards Diablo, and without losing any momentum, began to swing its mace-like weapon towards him.

"You're smart trying to get in close to a mage, however-

Diablo gave a mental command to his wand, which transformed into its sword configuration, 《 Tonnerre Empereur • Libéré》.

-A Demon Lord is so much more!"

He met the angel's attack head on, brandishing his sword with only one arm.

It seems the level difference between us is great enough that I didn't even need to use 《 Iron Wall 》 to block the attack…

With the force of a high level warrior, Diablo pushed against the angel, sending it a few meters back.

"You're in my way, 《 Heat Sonic》!"

Upon activating his martial art, Diablo's sword glowed red with heat and he unleashed eight swift consecutive slashes.

The majestic form of 「 Principality of Observation 」 fell into pieces, and then disintegrated into motes of light.

"Th-that's absurd!"

"In one attack…?"

"Eeeegh!"

"Impossible!"

A chorus of confused voices erupted from the Sunlit Scripture, including their beloved leader, Nigun.

" 「 Principality of Observation 」 is a defense heavy summon… even one boosted by my talent was obliterated in moments…"

I've fought through and survived countless battles… This is not my destiny… It is not my fate to die on this field!

"Buy me time! I'm going to summon the highest-ranking angel!"

Nigun revealed a large shimmering crystal from underneath his cloak, and held it towards the sky.

Is that a summoning crystal?

Diablo had noticed that these mages were able to summon angels one after another without crystals, so he was confused as to why one had been brought out now.

It's not as refined as the one that Prince Keera used to summon the《 Force Hydra 》back in Greenwood, but the size is definitely the same...

Could it really contain a similar power?

Their summons up until now have been fodder, but I still have to be wary of their trump card…

While Diablo went on guard, the crystal Nigun had raised began to glitter as it broke down.

Then, a light emanated from it that was so bright, it reminded Diablo of the effects of his grand magic 《 White Nova》.

If this thing has power on the level of that spell, I might be in for some trouble!

"Behold! The noble 「 Dominion Authority 」!"

The angel that appeared before them was a cluster of sparkling wings. It lacked legs or a head, and carried a magnificent scepter.

It certainly looks powerful, but something isn't right…

Diablo wasn't well versed in the religions of his original world, but he knew from game lore that there was a hierarchy of angels.

And Dominion types aren't at the top…

"What a tremendous summon! However, to call it the strongest angel, it seems a little much!"

Unfettered by Diablo's jab, Nigun announced his absolute victory.

"This is the angel that defeated an evil spirit single handedly! Not even a self proclaimed Demon Lord can withstand the potency of its magic!"

"Use 「 Holy Smite 」!"

At Nigun's command for an all out attack, 「 Dominion Authority's 」 scepter shattered, and its shards began to float around the angel.

I've never heard of this spell before, but the chances that it can bypass my {Demon Lord's Ring} are slim to none.

Diablo recalled the time that he put his faith in the ring against the Demon Lord of Insanity 《 Modinalam》.

If it can reflect the strongest spell in Cross Reverie, 《 Ruination Flame 》, which managed to decimate Faltra's defenses, it can reflect this 「 Holy Smite 」 as well!

"You fool, did you not see the results of your pitiful attempts earlier? I possess the ability to reflect all magic!"

Nigun had seen the impossibility with his own eyes, yet he wanted to believe there was some kind of limiter on such a monstrous ability.

Maybe it only works on weaker spells, maybe it has a cool down, maybe it has limited uses, THERE'S TOO MANY MAYBES!

" 「 Holy Smite 」 is seventh tier magic, it's in a realm that humanity can't challenge!"

Diablo wondered what he meant by seventh tier. As far as he was concerned, magic was measured by what level one could first learn it, there was no official tier system.

"Then allow me to correct your misunderstanding-

「 Holy Smite 」!

-a Demon Lord is no mere man of the races!"

The spell was cast, and a pillar of brilliant white light descended from the heavens.

However…

"That's… impossible…"

Before the pillar of light could make contact with Diablo, the same red glow from earlier appeared to shield him from the attack.

Just as expected…

Then, in accordance with the ability of his 《 Magic Reflection 》, the 「 Dominion Authority 」 became engulfed in the white light of its own attack.

"No… no! You're an evil spirit! You must be!"

Nigun was laughing hysterically at this point, having just seen the magic capable of vaporizing evil spirits reflected back at his angel.

"I'm no evil spirit. It's as I said, I'm a Demon Lord who was unfortunate enough to happen upon your paltry world,"

Diablo looked towards the 「 Dominion Authority 」 that was still standing after taking its own 「 Holy Smite 」.

I suppose an attack meant for evil beings wouldn't be as effective on an angelic one… I'll have to finish this in one go if I really want them to leave me alone…

"Allow me to give a demonstration on true magical power!"

Nigun froze when he heard these words.

If what he put out before wasn't his true power, what in the Gods' names is he going to do now?!

"O darkness yielded from the blackest night, congregate into an arc…《 Dark Arc Seek》!"

At the center of the Demon Lord's staff, a line of dark light began to manifest. It resembled the arc of a bow, but its size was taller than that of Diablo.

Racking his brain, Nigun couldn't think of any course of action.

Any spells I use will only get sent back at me, and 「 Dominion Authority 」 can't use any attacks so soon after firing 「 Holy Smite 」 !

"O nihility that engulfs all creation, come forth in my hand…《 Black Hole Arrow》!"

A black sphere appeared at the tip of the staff.

It was a hole. A hole that swallowed anything and everything, including light.

Could he really defeat the highest tier angel in a single spell?

He had never heard such an incantation before, but judging from its description, he could only expect the worst.

"O arrow of nihility, pierce the lynchpin that is between the boundary of heaven and Earth… 《 Gravity Abyss》!"

The atmosphere trembled as the crystallization of three maximum magic spells soared towards its target.

Moments later, the projectile that oozed a black radiance made contact with the torso of [Dominion Authority, and the magic was invoked.

"What the-

In only a moment, the body of 「 Dominion Authority 」 warped under the immense pull of the black hole, crumpling inwards on itself, until nothing remained.

…

A dead silence hung over the quickly darkening field. It was only broken by the thud of Nigun as he crumpled to the ground in despair.

"A Demon Lord is truly upon us… the human race is doomed…"

Diablo crossed the empty battlefield, feeling awkward at the sight of a bunch of grown men in fetal positions.

"I wouldn't bother with such a tiresome task," Diablo said in response, standing over the broken man.

Suddenly, Diablo's ring glowed red, signaling that someone had tried to use magic on him.

I didn't see a spell come from anywhere… And it certainly wasn't one of these guys…

He was truly perplexed over what had just happened, and even stranger, he couldn't shake the feeling that someone had been trying to watch him from afar.

Deciding it wasn't an immediate threat, he continued with his victory speech.

"All I wish for is to find my companions, and possibly a way back to my previous world. As long as you and whatever pitiful country you represent don't get in the way, my wrath will be sated."

Nigun looked up at the monstrously powerful being before him.

Is he really just letting us go? He went through all that effort to destroy our angels just to set us on our way?

He couldn't bring himself to believe it, but he would be a fool to not play along.

"Of course, our organization will do all it can to not get in your way again, Lord Diablo."

Still in disbelief, Nigun slowly stood up, and motioned for his men to follow.

Standing up from their prostrate positions, the Sunlit Scripture joined their leader in retreat.

I'd be running with my tail between my legs if I saw multiplex magic for the first time like this too, I guess…

As the battered mages of the Theocracy disappeared over the horizon, Diablo felt like he could finally relax for a moment.

Even in another world I have to keep proving my power...

While he walked back towards the village, he saw someone running over to greet him.

Gazef!

The hulking captain of the Royal Select met him halfway.

"I expected nothing less, but from what I was able to see, you've got power like none I've ever even heard of."

Diablo sighed, and looked at Gazef with a devilish grin.

"For a Demon Lord? It was nothing!"

Otherwordly Peculiarities (Part 1/2)

Chapter Notes

This was originally written as a half chapter, so I'm going to keep it formatted as such. I've also begun uploading an OverlordxRe:zero crossover, so check that out as well.

Chapter 2 (Half 1): Otherworldly Peculiarities

Approximately ten kilometers east of Carne village, an Overlord paced back and forth, lost in a moment of panic.

What the hell was all that? Right when I'm about to go do the right thing, this guy shows up!

The Overlord of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Momonga, gazed at his 「 Mirror of Remote Viewing 」, still in disbelief.

I possess more spells than any player in Yggdrasil probably ever had, yet I couldn't recognize any of that magic besides some of the low tier spells like 「 Explosion 」 …

My initial thought was that he was a player, but his strange magic and appearance almost ruled that out entirely…

In the world of Yggdrasil , there were the human races, the demihuman races, and his own, the heteromorphic races. The man Momonga saw save the village looked like he belonged to the human races, but the strange horns on his head made him want to say demihuman.

But there wasn't a race like that in Yggdrasil… maybe he's just a human wearing fake horns?

Ainz considered this unlikely, as from what he was able to gather from the 「 Mirror of Remote Viewing 」, the humans of this world were on average rather weak. It was likely he was a more powerful race, but he had no inclination as to which one it could be.

If he isn't a player, who the hell is this guy?

It wasn't much to go off of, but some of the magic he used could easily be 9th or even 10th tier equivalent spells… And that last one he used, it seems similar to my own 「 Black Hole 」 , but it seemed to have a longer range and higher potency than what I'm familiar with…

More importantly, there was something he saw that he just couldn't wrap his bony head around.

Was he able to reflect magic?

There was no such mechanic in Yggdrasil , yet it seemed like a truly overpowered ability.

To even have a shot at obtaining something as broken as that, one could possibly use the world item 「 Ouroboros 」, which was "one of the twenty" and allowed the user to demand a change in the game's mechanics from the developers.

He doubted this though, due to the nature of how "The Twenty" are used.

You only get one use, and then it disappears and could possibly wind up in enemy hands… No one would use such a risky option so easily...

Perhaps it's an ability from a different world item all together? Not all of them were discovered before the game shut down, and something that granted magic reflection would certainly have been all over the forums…

This mysterious figure only made Momonga more cautious about the new world he found himself in.

While the people in the village and the attacking knights were pathetically weak, who knows how common powerful beings like him are in this world?

His decision to gather information on the surrounding area only left him with a million more unanswered questions.

I suppose I'll have to go out into this world to find out more about it, I just need to locate the nearest city…

Ainz turned and waved for his attending servant Sebas to come over.

Sebas, who had the appearance of an elderly butler, kneeled before his master.

"What do you require of me, Lord Momonga?"

He was still getting used to ordering his NPCs around, but he needed to get things in motion.

"I want you to organize a more thorough scouting party. Based on the results of my surveillance, there must be a city relatively nearby. It will be the beginning of our operations in this new land."

Sebas stood and bowed deeply before Ainz.

"Of course, my lord. I will alert the other guardians and round up the proper individuals for the job."

"Excellent work, Sebas. And about that other thing..."

The head butler immediately knew what his master was referencing.

"I relayed the information via 「 Message 」 to Albedo earlier as you instructed. She confirmed that several summoned 「 Hanzos 」 were deployed to the area and are in pursuit as we speak,"

Ainz nodded his head affirmingly.

"What about making use of her sister in the case that he eludes us?"

"She is wary due to Nigredo's nature, but said that if you thought it was the best course of action, she would act immediately."

I really hope this absolute loyalty doesn't lead to me making a dumb decision as Nazarick's overlord… It seems that the NPCs would go along with whatever order I give them, even if they thought it might be wrong…

"Very well. Excellent work as usual, Sebas. Before we finish up here, I'd like you to gather all the available guardians to the throne room. I have an important declaration concerning the future plans of Nazarick."

"It will be done at once, Lord Momonga."

Sebas bowed once again, and exited the room, leaving the Overlord by himself.

The undead ruler sighed and sat slouched in his chair.

I know I can't get tired thanks to my new body, but this development is so mentally straining…

…

Diablo woke up with the rising of the sun, finally feeling refreshed from having sufficient MP.

After saying goodbye to all the villagers, he left the village headed West along the outskirts of the Forest of Tob.

Gazef Stronoff had told him the fastest way to get to E-Rantel on foot. He'd even offered Diablo a horse, seeing as many of his men had fallen, but he declined.

Luckily he bought my bluff that I would fly most of the way, but I really don't know how to ride a horse...

Diablo had never needed a mount in Cross Reverie , and unfortunately he hadn't gained any riding experience in his last world.

I'd love to actually fly all the way, but doing so would drain my MP continuously, and I don't know if I can get potions like the ones from Cross Reverie here…

Thus, Diablo would walk most of the way.

Thankfully, Gazef had given him a modest amount of this world's money so he'd have a place to stay once he got to E-Rantel.

He even went as far to say that he'd try and put out feelers in the capital to look for Rem and Shera based on their descriptions.

If there's a busty elf and flat chested cat girl wandering this world, they would stick out right away… Hopefully something comes of his investigation…

Diablo remembered his initial shock upon finding out that teleportation magic wasn't commonplace in his previous world, and how much he dreaded the hours of travel time for guild requests.

I guess I'm used to all the walking by now… but it was definitely more entertaining traveling with Rem, Shera, and the others…

Trying not to succumb to his loneliness, he continued forward with determination.

…

Diablo had been walking for a few hours along the edge of the forest, waiting for the turn in the road so he could start heading south towards E-Rantel.

Up until this point, he'd run into a few small monsters like the previous day, but as he walked further, he could feel a growing magical presence.

I haven't been able to feel any strong magical energies from this forest until now… I wonder what kind of beast is lurking?

The magical power he sensed from this being was dwarfed by his own, but it was more significant than anything else he'd felt during his walk.

It couldn't hurt to investigate a bit…

With this thought, Diablo imbued his 《 Empty Sky's Dance》 boots with MP and flew above the forest, honing in on the source of magical power.

The thick tree line covered the ground almost entirely, so when he felt the magical presence stop growing, he quickly descended into the forest.

I can barely see a thing down here, but whatever is giving off that energy has to be close...

After pushing through a few meters of brush, he finally arrived in a small clearing on the forest floor. It was still canopied by the surrounding trees though, making visibility difficult.

Diablo was now standing in the middle of the clearing, and he could barely make out a shadow moving swiftly around the perimeter.

A distorted voice boomed around him.

"For this King, it is rare to have a challenger so brazenly invade their territory!"

King? Territory? What is this beast talking about? The villagers didn't speak of any country in the forest...

"I'm no challenger of yours, I am the true Demon Lord Diablo!"

He decided to play along with the beast's games for now.

"This one wonders why a demon lord would wander into the forest, but all the same, you will be punished for your trespassing!"

As the beast said this, a giant snake-like tail shot out from the tree line, aimed directly at Diablo's head.

So slow...

For Diablo, who had surpassed level 100 as a warrior, the beast's strike appeared to move in slow motion as he effortlessly tilted his head back to dodge the incoming tail.

Based on that attack, it might be around level 40? Maybe 50? Still, it's strange that a magical beast this strong lives so close to Carne...

"How bold to attack me out of nowhere like tha! I guess I should fight back."

Declaring this to his unknown foe, Diablo took out his wand and gave it the mental command to transform into its sword configuration,《 Tonnerre Empereur • Libéré》.

As he readied himself with his sword, a vicious series of strikes similar to the last came lashing out from the surrounding greenery.

One after another, Diablo deflected the incoming blows, using the training instilled in him by the Master Swordsman.

I had thought it was wrong for someone like a Demon Lord to try and improve, but if I hadn't, I wouldn't be nearly as capable as I am now.

Just an annihilation magician with a big mouth…

He could make out what looked like silvery fur as the beast continued to circle around the edge of the clearing.

"You are a difficult opponent, indeed. This one even has to use magic to defeat you!"

Diablo saw a colored glyph appear for a brief moment in the tree line, after which he could sense the invisible spell flying right towards him.

"I suppose you are but a simple beast..."

Diablo's ring glowed red as the 「 Charm Species 」 spell made contact with him, and was sent back at the beast who had cast it.

Being a relatively low tier spell, the magical beast was able to withstand it thanks to its innate magical resistance.

"This one does not know how you sent that magic back at me... I suppose this one must end it quick!"

The previously hidden beast emerged from the shadows standing on its hind legs, which made it tower over Diablo.

Beady black eyes stared down at him as strange glyphs glowed on the beast's chest, and for a moment, its looming figure seemed rather terrifying.

That is, until Diablo's eyes started to adjust.

I've been fighting a giant hamster this whole time!?

It took all it had in him not to burst out laughing from such a ridiculous sight, but misplaced bouts of laughter in the middle of battle were not very demon lord-like.

"You are truly an intriguing magical beast, why don't you tell me your name before I send you to the next world?"

Diablo didn't actually want to kill this thing. Intelligent magical beasts like this weren't common in his last world, unless if you wanted to count the fallen.

In its strange, distorted voice, the beast responded.

"This one is known as the Wise King of the Forest! You must be quite slow if you haven't heard of my power!"

Wise King? A giant hamster? Just what kind of people found and gave this silly looking thing such a magnanimous title?!

"A mere beast thinks they can call a Demon Lord slow. Allow me to show you who truly deserves the title of 'King'!"

Just as he had done against the angels, Diablo cast《 Dark Press》at the hamster lumbering over him.

Although he tried his best to hold back, as he had only wanted to hinder its movements...

"Uwawawawawahhhh!"

The Wise King of the forest cried out in a high pitched voice that better matched their furry appearance, as it crumpled onto its belly under the oppressive force of the spell.

"This one submits! Wahhhhh! Please stop your terrible magic!"

Such a regal display from a being called the 'Wise King'...

Satisfied with his results, Diablo canceled the spell, allowing the Wise King to slowly resume a neutral position on all four of its legs.

"Wahhh… that was so scary… It felt like this one was going to become part of the ground!"

Hopefully this thing realizes the huge power difference between us… I don't want to accidentally kill it with a spell that's too strong…

As if reading his mind, the Wise King of the Forest stooped their head to the ground, assuming a position that was most likely its attempt at a dogeza.

"You must really be a Demon Lord if you're so strong! This wise king will serve you, just please don't kill me!

"Get up, I have no reason to kill you if you understand you're helpless in the face of my power."

Diablo internally fist pumped that he got it to surrender instead of having to continue their farce of a battle.

"Calling you Wise King is going to get old quick, though,"

It also makes no sense...

"Do you have a name besides your title?"

The giant hamster before him put its hand (paw?) on its chin as if deep in thought.

"This one never received a name besides Wise King, could you give me a name master?"

Now it's calling me master? What are Rem and Shera going to say if I bring home a giant hamster…

Actually no, they'd probably love it. Especially Shera… maybe I should play along?

"A name then, hmm?"

Takuma Sakamoto never had any pets, so he couldn't call himself an expert on naming animals.

"Hamster… Aha! From now on, you shall be known as Hamusuke!"

Not very original, but I doubt there's anyone else here from Japan to criticize me on it…

"Hamusuke! A very noble name for this one indeed! Thank you, master!"

Jeez it's not that special… Well not that they'd know anyway…

"Speaking of which, Hamusuke, you've been referring to yourself with gender neutral terms… You also refer to yourself as a king, so I was imagining you were male."

"This one is actually a female, master. The name only came from an adventurer that I let get away to spread word of my power."

"So you're saying most adventurers that came into the forest… you killed…"

Hamusuke stood tall and put her paws proudly at her hips.

"Of course! This one is unparalleled in the forest! Except for two others, and this stupid statue that came out of nowhere…"

This last bit of information piqued Diablo's interest.

"A- a statue, you say? What does it look like?"

Surely it's just a coincidence… There's no way she's talking about what I'm thinking of…

"If this one remembers, it was a beast that had wings, and a tail like mine. The last time I went near it, this one almost got cooked by lighting! And it's scary looking breath… I decided to leave it alone."

Diablo's jaw might as well have hit the floor after hearing Hamusuke's description.

That's the statue that guards my dungeon! It should be back in the other world… there's no way the whole thing got dragged along with me, right?!

"Where in the forest is it located? It isn't near here, is it?"

"Thankfully for this one, it resides in the center of the forest. It seems like it's guarding this weird pyramid shaped building that I've never seen in the forest before either."

That confirms it then… It has to be my dungeon!

He couldn't help but grin at the prospect of having access to his《 Warehouse 》again, which contained a treasure trove of all the rare items he'd collected from Cross Reverie .

"Hamusuke, I have your first order. Take me to this statue, for I may have an idea of its origins."

"The statue is scary, but this Hamusuke knows you will protect me! It would be quite slow for you to walk, would you like to ride on my back?"

The idea of riding on a giant hamster's back did not sound appealing to Diablo, but luckily he had another plan in store.

"I shall get on your back, but we won't be riding there."

Using graceful movements expected of a high level player, Diablo hopped on and swung his leg over.

He then pointed his 《 Tonnerre Empereur》 down at Hamusuke and cast a spell.

"Change your position as my will demands,《 Azdet》!"

As the magic was invoked, Hamusuke began to float until she brushed past the treeline and could see over the entire forest.

"Wooooooah! Hamusuke has never flown before! Your power is truly amazing, master!"

"Lead the way then."

In what was truly a sight to behold, Diablo and his new pet hamster flew off towards the center of the forest.

…

"This is the spot, master."

Diablo nervously gripped at his 《 Tonnerre Empereur》 as he heard Hamusuke's words.

"So the statue is right below us then?"

"The statue is up further ahead, but it will try to kill this Hamusuke if we fly in too close to it."

Giving an affirmative Umu, Diablo used his magic to make Hamusuke descend past the treeline and onto the forest floor.

I'm not worried about having to incapacitate the statue… It's just the implications of my dungeon actually being here changes everything about this situation…

Diablo tried to channel his nervous energy into a more demon lord-like vigor. If his dungeon was here, it meant he'd have more resources in trying to find a way back home.

And more importantly, if my dungeon was able to come to this world, then it's not out of the question that the others could be here too!

After hopping off Hamusuke's back, the Wise King and Demon Lord pushed through the brush in pursuit of the statue.

It only took a few minutes of walking before Diablo noticed the trees growing thinner, eventually opening up to an area sparse enough where he could make out a building.

That has to be it… That has to be my dungeon!

He could barely contain himself when he recognized the pyramid structure in the distance.

The previously described chimera statue stood in its usual position of guarding the outside of the dungeon.

Defeating the statue isn't much of a problem… but what do I do about the dungeon? It's nothing I can't handle, I just really don't wanna have to go through the whole thing again… Let alone with a giant hamster!

"Hamusuke, stand next to me. I'm going to try something to get us into that dungeon."

"Dungeon? That strange building is actually a dungeon? How do you know this master? And how are we going to get in?"

It's a bit of a gamble, but it certainly beats clearing my own dungeon for a second time…

"I'm more familiar with this place than I let on, but I'll explain that later,"

Diablo reached into his 《 Item Pouch》 and took out a white feather that glowed with a pearly light.

This item, the 《 Angel's Feather》, allows one to teleport their party anywhere in the world, under the constraint that everyone has been to said location.

"This is an item that uses teleportation magic, Hamusuke. Normally to use it with someone else, they need to have been to the target location, however since you're a magical beast you should count as more of my pet if anything."

"Hamusuke does not know how she feels about being called a pet, but if it means your item will work master, then let's do it!"

Diablo nodded and placed a hand on Hamusuke. He concentrated on his desired location, and felt the connection.

As the magic was invoked, a magic circle appeared on the ground, and both Diablo and Hamusuke became enveloped in a soft glow.

Less than a second later, they vanished.

In the time it took Diablo to blink, he and Hamusuke had appeared in an entirely different place, and after allowing his eyes to adjust to the new environment, he realized the item worked as intended.

"Waaaah- This place is terrifying, master! Wh- Where did you send Hamusuke?"

The spacious room they appeared in had walls that grotesquely resembled internal organs, and skeletal candle posts lined an ornately carpeted path that ended at an evil looking throne.

Diablo couldn't help but spin around to take it all in. It was the culmination of his efforts in Cross Reverie , after all.

"This is the thirteenth underground floor of the Demon Lord's Labyrinth, the Demon Lord's Quarters!"

He quickly walked down the carpet and approached the elevated throne.

"Perhaps I should have told you sooner, Hamusuke."

Reunited with its proper owner, Diablo sat down in his throne with grace befitting a Demon Lord.

"This dungeon, this throne, this is where I rule as the one True Demon Lord!"

Hamusuke let out what sounded like an extended "Uwah", and then rushed over to the seated Diablo, scraping onto her belly which seemed like her version of kneeling.

"To have made such a terrifying place as this… This Hamusuke is eternally grateful for your mercy!"

Diablo let out a hearty laugh.

"It wouldn't do me much good to kill someone like the "Wise King of the Forest" anyways. It's much further proof of my power to have you under my control."

Hamusuke shivered a bit in despair, but then raised her head to speak.

"I have one question though, master. It seemed like this place only appeared in the last few days, did you really build it so quickly with none of the powerful forest natives noticing?"

What's the best way to put this…?

"You see, Hamusuke, this world is not the first that I've traveled to. When I was pulled into a different world for the first time, my companions and I eventually came to find this place, and I confirmed that it was indeed my dungeon."

Diablo descended from his throne and began walking towards a side hall, with Hamusuke following behind.

"This place, along with all of its treasures, seem to follow me in my otherworldly travels."

They briefly walked down the hall, stopping at the first room.

"If my suspicion is correct, the administrator of the dungeon should have been brought along as well."

Please be here, Rose… I really need someone I can rely on right now!

Steeling himself, Diablo opened the door to the maintenance room.

Laying there on the metallic table in the center of the room was a beautiful girl. She had long pink hair styled in twin tails, and green eyes that shone with an artificial gleam. Her almost transparent skin was mostly covered by a maid uniform, save for the back and her detached sleeves.

Upon hearing someone enter the room, she sat up, revealing her familiar features to Diablo, who stood at the door.

Tears began to well at her emerald eyes, quickly rolling down her cheeks.

"W-welcome home… My master!"

Otherwordly Peculiarities (Part 2/2)

Otherwordly Peculiarities (Part 2/2)

Rose was undergoing repairs after a particularly brutal battle when she felt the strange phenomena wash over the dungeon.

It occurred in only an instant, but she could tell that something was different. It was her job as the Dungeon's caretaker to know these kinds of things.

Quickly getting up from the maintenance table, she ran out the door into the main room of the Demon Lord's chambers.

Nothing seems out of the ordinary, but I should check just to be sure…

Normally passage to the surface from the thirteenth floor would require working your way back up the other floors, but one of the perks of Rose's job circumvented such a problem.

The teleportation core within her was only usable within the dungeon, but it allowed her instantaneous access to the entrance.

Closing her eyes, she disappeared in a flash.

"This… is most peculiar."

Rose was audibly surprised upon arriving at the entrance, as the usual surrounding desert had been replaced with thick forest.

Is it illusion magic? Plants created with magic? No… the entire biosphere is different from before.

Somehow the entire dungeon has been transported… again?

Rose had a sudden realization at this fact, something that shook her to her very wiring.

Does this mean Diablo… my master… is gone?

She was on the verge of tears when another thought crossed her mind. One that instilled her with hope.

Diablo came back for me before, I know he will do it again!

Wiping her eyes, the Magimatic maid teleported back to the thirteenth floor.

"I'll wait for Diablo, no matter how long it takes!"

Rose made her declaration of faith as she resumed her position on the maintenance table, disengaging her systems.

Diablo felt a wave of relief wash over him. Rose was right where he left her before he got sent to this world.

"It's great to see you're still with us, Rose."

He extended his hand towards her, but instead of taking it, she was staring bullets at the giant hamster lumbering behind him.

"Master, what is this overgrown rodent that you've brought into your sacred domain?"

Gyahhh! I forgot she can be so scary towards those she thinks are close to me… I should clear this up before it gets out of hand…

"Th-This one is known as Hamusuke, previously the Wise King of the forest. Master defeated me easily in combat and spared my life, so now I will serve him for as long as I live."

Diablo could see Rose's eye twitch when Hamusuke called him master.

"I have made many exceptions for the company that Diablo keeps, but Rose is the only one who can call him master!

Hamusuke nearly fainted from the killing intent that Rose shot her way.

Before she could get her hands on the terrified hamster though, Diablo stepped between them.

"Rose, please. You know how important you are to me, and while Hamusuke isn't particularly strong, her role as the Wise King of the forest could prove useful going forward."

The scowl on the magimatic maid's face didn't falter, but her killing intent shrunk to a reasonable level, causing Hamusuke and Diablo to sigh in relief.

"Fine, but no more master talk out of the giant rat."

These repeated verbal jabs were clearly having an effect on Hamusuke, as she had her head hung in shame, but Diablo was just glad things didn't escalate to a physical level.

"Very well, as long as you two can get along. Anyways, Rose, has anything happened to the dungeon since I was last here?"

In response, the dungeon administrator motioned for them to follow as she walked down the hall towards the Demon Lord's throne.

Behind the throne was a large door that began slowly opening inwards, revealing a void that seemed to stretch on endlessly. Stone pedestals dotted the entire room in rows and columns, each with an item on display.

This space was Diablo's
Warehouse
》, the place that houses all of his treasures from
Cross Reverie

"It's good to see that all of my items are intact. What is it you were going to show me, Rose?"

She continued walking towards two pedestals that he could have sworn were previously empty.

"I'm not sure as to how it happened, but the transfer process that the dungeon underwent seemed to have some sort of restorative properties."

Restorative properties? What could she mean by that? I don't recall anything in the dungeon that needed to be 'restored'...

However, as they approached the two particular pedestals, the pieces of the puzzle clicked in Diablo's mind.

"That equipment, is it my
Curtain of Dark Clouds
》 and
Ebony Abyss

Both of these items had been destroyed barring a few scraps when he burned them to save Horn from hypothermia.

"According to my analysis, they are the exact same items that you previously wore."

Diablo was shocked to see his EX rank equipment in pristine condition. They should have been unsalvageable, but with the same power that brought him and his dungeon to this world, were somehow repaired.

My



Gigantes Mail

》 is sufficient enough compared to the


Ebony Abyss

》, however it might be worth switching my mantle…

The
Call of Darkness
》 that he currently wore was EX equipment as well, and came with all the standard benefits, but its special ability of instilling the
Fear
》 status affliction on his enemies was somewhat lacking for his current predicament. It wouldn't do him any good if he came across an opponent high enough in level that they could resist the debuff.

"This is truly astonishing, but I must take it as providence of my power as the Demon Lord! Rose, I'll be swapping out for the
Curtain of Dark Clouds

The
Curtain of Dark Clouds
》 carried an ability that had already saved him once since becoming Diablo. Not only did it grant him massive resistance to all bad statuses including instant death, if he were to receive an attack that would reduce his HP to zero, it would be left at one instead.

He learned the effectiveness of this ability firsthand when he survived being stabbed in the heart by a certain trifling paladin.

Being in a new, unknown world, he wanted every level of protection he could get.

"I shall prepare your equipment immediately, master. By the way, there was one other significant change that came with the dungeons transfer."

"Something else?"

"Yes, the
Large Black Dragon
》 that previously guarded the the twelfth floor has been restored as well,"

The
Large Black Dragon
》had served as the final line of defense before reaching the Demon Lord's quarters. When Diablo and his group cleared the dungeon in pursuit of the
White Cow Statue
》, the dragon with "Super Aggressive" settings was slain by Diablo and Rose when he refused to recognize his master.

"I hope he learned his lesson from last time, but nonetheless he'll offer a useful level of protection should the Dungeon ever become under siege."

As Rose nodded silently and prepared Diablo's equipment, he was left wondering about the intricacies of this whole situation.

I can't wrap my head around this restoration mechanic, but honestly, with all the otherworldly stuff that keeps happening to me, all I can do is just roll with the punches…

Equipped with new gear, and reunited with one of his companions, Diablo was ready to continue his journey to E-Rantel.

Due to his lack of knowledge on the proceedings of the city, he decided to leave Hamusuke in the Demon Lord's quarters for the time being.

Using her teleportation core, Rose brought them to the entrance of the dungeon.

Diablo stared at the chimera statue that Rose had disengaged before they teleported.

Is it a good idea to leave this thing on all the time? I feel like it's more likely to piss someone off than provide any actual protection…

He was quickly torn from his line of thinking as Rose had stopped walking just in front of him, and began to pull her double-headed sword off her back.

The weapon she brandished had chainsaw-like blades on both ends, each one covered in smaller blades that shone in beams of light. It clashed greatly with the medieval-style world they found themselves in.

There's only one reason Rose would pull out her weapon now…

Confirming his suspicions, Rose shouted into the surrounding area.

"You might as well come out now, I'm not moving until you show yourselves!"

A moment of silence followed as Diablo began drawing his
Tonnerre Empereur
from underneath his mantle.

I can't feel the presence of any enemies, but Rose's sensory skills far surpass my own… Gah! Who would be waiting for us outside the dungeon?

After what felt like an eternity, four humanoid shapes began to rise out of the shadows of the surrounding trees.

What the heck are those things? They're dressed in complete ninja attire and I can't get any magical reading on them… I suppose it's to be expected with a stealth type enemy…

However, before Diablo could make his usual proclamation of battle, Rose spoke up.

"As the Overseer of this dungeon, I'll take care of the intruders myself!"

Reaching towards her back, Rose grabbed hold of and readied herself with her weapon, a magnificent double-headed blade that glowed unnaturally along its edges.

Diablo kept his guard up and eyes trained on the newly appeared ninja enemies, but he decided to leave the rest to Rose.

A fight like this is better suited for her, anyways…

The black-clad figures did not respond to their provocations. Instead, they suddenly moved towards Rose with such speed that Diablo almost had trouble keeping his eyes on them.

Still, he wasn't worried. The being that stood between him and the ninjas was a level 150 warrior. Although he didn't doubt that there could be monsters in this world strong enough to give him or Rose a run for their money, he could tell that she'd be able to handle herself.

As the ninjas approached in a dizzying pattern, they left behind after-images as they ran, making the task of tracking their movement that much more difficult.

Phasing in and out of sight, the ninja began throwing a barrage of shuriken towards Rose. The soft glow resonating from each shuriken blade meant they were enchanted as well, guaranteeing more damage on contact.

Despite this, Rose moved and handled her weapon with such grace that she managed to deflect or dodge all of the enchanted shuriken that were thrown her way.

Seeing that their projectile volley was useless, the ninja began to close in on her with blinding speed.

Using the same precision as before, Rose negated their barrage of kicks and punches with her double headed blade. She even got in a few effective counterattacks, greatly wounding two of the attackers.

However, while Rose was busy countering the ninjas in front of her, Diablo felt his senses scream at him to defend himself out of nowhere.

From his own shadow, a fifth ninja identical to the others jumped out at Diablo and slashed him across the back.

If it wasn't for the fast reaction time that came with his high level body, the blow he took most likely would've been a fatal one.

"What?!"

Shouting out in pain, he quickly transformed his staff into its sword form,
Tonnerre Empereur
Libéré

The attacking ninja hastily flipped backwards in retreat, seeing the now battle ready Diablo.

Despite him having dodged the full force of the attack, the ninja had managed to open up a sizable gash on his back. For Diablo though, this was nothing but a nuisance, as the autohealing effect of the
Disorted Crown
that he wore had already begun to activate.

This guy managed to output enough damage in that attack to overcome the threshold of the


Supreme Ruler's Bangle

... If he can negate its damage cutting effect, these ninja have to be high level, almost certainly past the limits of the races…

While Diablo was calculating the strength of these strange new enemies, he almost failed to notice Rose's killing intent roar in intensity out of nowhere.

"You… you inferior beings! To have the audacity to leave a wound upon my master, you must have long since resigned your fate!"

Her usual delicate features were contorted in rage as she threw her weapon blade first into the ground.

We had agreed before setting out that she would keep her



Magimatic Sol


and


Asterismos


as hidden trump cards, but there's no stopping her now…

From a space behind her back where there was previously nothing, two gigantic arms appeared, each tearing a hole in space itself in the process.

The giant arms were covered in what resembled plate armor, but the hinges at the joints gave away its true nature. Pipes ran down their length like arteries, and letters and symbols that one would find in a magic circle were carved all throughout as well. The symbols shined all the way down to the fingers of each armored hand, as if they were distributing energy.

Gripped in one of the hands of Rose's
Magimatic Sol
was a massive double headed sword that was almost identical to her own. The main difference between the two being that just one of the blades of
Asterismos
was as long as Rose was tall.

The ninja that surrounded them grew visibly distressed at the sight of the weapon that looked like it came from another world entirely.

Nonetheless, they still had a mission to carry out, and death in battle was far preferable to returning to their master in failure.

The four ninja had formed a semicircle around Rose, using their speed and agility to shift positions in order to potentially confuse their opponent.

Against almost any other foe in this world, their tactic would have worked. Yet when they made their synchronized attack on the magimatic maid, her response was swift, and deadly.

《Krios》

Calling out the name of one of the constellations, the
Magimatic Sol
made a quick sideswipe with
Asterismos

It's blinding speed was unbecoming given its massive size, and the ninja were unable to form a counter in the little time they had.

Before they could even register their fate, the four
「
Hanzo
summons of the Great Tomb of Nazarick were bisected by the shining blade of
Asterismos

After witnessing the gruesome demise of his comrades, the remaining ninja opposite Diablo began to flee towards the treeline.

However, by the time he had turned his back on his opponent, he was done for.

"Why don't you stick around?
《Freeze Zone》

Diablo cast his magic, and the area immediately surrounding the ninja froze instantaneously, encapsulating him in ice.

Given his opponent's high level, Diablo knew the frozen status effect wouldn't last long, yet he accounted for this with his followup spell.

《Demon Squeeze》

With the activation of his second spell, the highest form of
《Dark Press》
, a swarm of jet black ivy began to grow from beneath Diablo and then shoot towards the still frozen ninja.

As the ivy tangled around the block of ice, it shattered, briefly freeing the ninja before he was bound by the swarming black ivy.

Let's see if I can get any information from this guy before things go south again… Then again it wouldn't surprise me if he keeps quiet, Rose did just butcher his companions…

Approaching the entrapped ninja, Diablo could see the hatred in his eyes. However, this rage didn't seem to be over the loss of his comrades, it was more visceral.

He didn't realize it at the time, but the ninja before him felt a twist of emotions. Hatred towards those who would stand in the way of his master's plans, and contempt for himself and his fellow
「
Hanzos
that had proved so useless.

I can't even use my

「
Message

scroll to relay information about these two to Lady Albedo…

As if fate had read his thoughts, he suddenly felt the emerging presence of another voice in his mind.

「
Hanzo
」

! What happened to your fellow summons? I felt their connections disappear, and considering I didn't receive a message from you immediately I had to assume the worst."

The voice of Lady Albedo resonated clearly in his mind, still managing to soothe him despite her harsh tone.

He knew his captors weren't going to accept the silent treatment forever though, so he cut right to the chase.

The demon known as Diablo is a formidable foe as we already knew, however it wasn't his destructive power that wiped out the other


「
Hanzos
」

Albedo remained silent, so the
「
Hanzo
took that as his queue to continue.

He's accompanied by a warrior-type servant, surprisingly dressed as a maid, similar to the Pleiades. Although the similarities end there, as her attack power far surpasses any of the battle maids, barring Aureole most likely. It's just a hypothesis, but considering how she was able to bypass the innate physical resticances of high level summons like myself, as well as see through our stealth movement, she may very well be level 100 like yourself and the other floor guardians."

There was once again a brief silence, but Albedo knew she had to get as much information as she could about these inferior beings, so she continued with her
「
Message
spell.

What about their weapons? Their armor? Did you see anything that could potentially further or hinder the goals of Nazarick?"

The
「
Hanzo
gulped.

Even though he was an incredibly high level mercenary summon, and possessed resistances to fear and pain, the black ivy binding him had begun to progressively grow tighter.

Tack on the frantic line of questioning he was hearing from his summoner, someone as fearsome as Lady Albedo, and one could understand the despair bubbling up in his heart.

The demon made some slight alterations to his gear, most likely either divine or legendary class like the rest of his equipment. The abilities of said equipment are still unfortunately unknown. His servant, however, wields a strange dual sided blade of light that was able to keep the other


「
Hanzos
」

at bay even with a coordinated attack,

The Guardian Overseer knew there was more to the story. Her summon still had yet to explain how his comrades had perished so suddenly in a four versus one battle.

Continue."

"Yes, of course master. Regrettably, I underestimated the demon's combat speed, and he managed to avoid the attempt I made on his life, although narrowly so. This also showed that he has some level of passive regeneration, as the flesh wound that I landed on him had begun healing over almost immediately."

With a small but growing crunching sound, the ivy that bound the
「
Hanzo
constricted to a point where his bones began to give out under the massive force.

I likely don't have much longer, Lady Albedo, but I will make sure my life doesn't serve as a hindrance to Lord Ainz. After I attacked the demon, his servant became overcome with rage. She threw her already marvelous weapon blade first into the dirt, and then pulled her main weapon… out of thin air…"

Albedo appreciated the efforts of her
「
Hanzo
to some extent, but she was being overcome with a growing irritation as she learned of his and his fellow summons' massive tactical miscalculations.

What is it? Tell me what you saw, now!"

As she gave her final order to her summon, a certain demon was becoming increasingly annoyed as well.

"Who sent you to attack the Demon Lord in his own domain? Only someone utterly stupid would ever order such a transgression!"

Diablo was done waiting out the still silent ninja that he had captured, as he felt himself subconsciously increasing the pressure of the spell. The resulting sickening crunching noises brought his actions to his attention, but by then it was too late.

In his last moments of life, the
「
Hanzo
uttered a curse towards the frowning Demon Lord.

"You insolent low-class demon, how dare you insult the vision… of the supreme one, Lord Ainz Ooal Gown…"

"Ainz Ooal Gown?"

Diablo's inquisition was met with silence as the ninja's body ragdolled and crumpled to the forest floor, released from the grips of the dissipating
《Demon Squeeze》

Well, I guess a name is better than nothing… but Ainz Ooal Gown? They're definitely not a top player from


Cross Reverie

, nor an NPC character, unless they were part of some unimplemented aspect of the game like Rose, but the possibility is almost zero…

The most likely explanation is that I've come up on the radar of a powerful being native to this world… but what could I have done to anger them? I haven't even been here a week and there's already a conspiracy brewing against me!

Although the situation Diablo found himself in was far from ideal, he couldn't help but feel excited at the prospect of a proper challenger waiting over the horizon. He had experienced many life or death battles during his time being Diablo, yet he still longed for the ultimate fight of cunning battle-intellect and prestige that was befitting of his role as the one true Demon Lord.

Not that my title means anything now in this world, but I still have my perfect record of PVP challenges that I need to defend…

He looked over at Rose, who had recalled
Asterismos
and her
Magimatic Sol
into whatever space they reside in.

"You don't think this was overkill, right Rose?"

Picking up her dual bladed sword, the magimatic maid cast a cold look of disgust at the corpse of the ninja.

"I would expect nothing less for any being that slights you, let alone one that was slimy enough to attack you by surprise."

Diablo couldn't help but shudder with the realization of how serious she was. He had always calmed her down in the past, ordering her if he had to, when she took offence towards something his allies did.

When the people before us are truly a threat though, she won't hesitate at all… I guess that's both a blessing and a curse…

"Anyways, this is even more reason to get to E-Rantel. Not only do we have to inquire about the adventurer's guild, we now have a name that's worth looking into as well."

"Ainz Ooal Gown… This name comes up nowhere in my data banks. It's no matter though, anyone who makes an attempt on master's life deserves immediate termination, the details can come later."

Well at least she's confident…

"While I agree with your tenacity, you have to remember that this enemy likely has information on us, and we know next to nothing about him. He and whatever organization he leads have the home field advantage, so we have to be careful with every step we take."

Rose's previous face of disgust quickly shifted to one of regretful shock as she took in the wisdom of her master.

"I-I should have considered such a scenario. My faulty programming is not sufficient to adequately serve you, please punish me in any way you see fit master, preferably physically."

Diablo's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this comment. There's no way he could forget Rose's masochistic tendencies whenever she requested a punishment, even for the slightest mistakes.

"Uh-uh- banish the thought, Rose! I-I could never expect for you to fully see into the abyss that is a Demon Lord's mind!"

I think I navigated that well enough with the Demon Lord persona… if she was gonna see through me there then she would've realized I was acting all the way back when I first found her…

"As you wish, Diablo."

She said this with a hint of disappointment in her voice that Diablo easily picked up on, but there was nothing he could add to the subject without making the situation more awkward.

"Before we head out again, I'd like for you to bring Hamusuke to the surface. He serves a better purpose monitoring the area around the dungeon while we're gone."

"Also…"

He looked her up and down. The maid outfit she wore fit and suited her perfectly, but he realized her revealing outfit may not be customary in the city they were travelling to.

"Pick out a robe or covering of your choosing from the vault. I just want to minimize any attention we may draw to ourselves in the city."

Rose frowned at this proposal, but given the lesson she had just received on looking at the bigger picture, she had no choice but to unenthusiastically accept.

"I will carry your orders out at once."

After giving her confirmation, Rose activated her teleportation core and disappeared to the bottommost level of the dungeon.

Finally alone, Diablo let out a deep sigh and bent over with his hands on his knees.

Rose is about as strong of an ally as I can have, but I can't help but feel anxious over bringing her into a foriegn city…

The Guardian Overseer Albedo slammed her fists down on the desk in front of her in frustration, almost breaking it in half from failing to control her strength.

"L-lady Albedo! Is everything alright!?"

The maid currently attending to her let out a shout of concern, but Albedo immediately regained her composure, as expected of her position.

"I'm perfectly fine, but would you be so kind as to show yourself out for a few minutes? I have a matter of utmost secrecy I need to discuss with Lord Ainz."

Startled by Albedo's sudden shift in mood, the maid nodded and quickly backed out the door, closing it behind her.

「
Message

A few seconds after activating the
「
Message
spell, Albedo felt the connection go through, although she was hesitant to break the news.

Lord Ainz? Can you hear me?

I hear you loud and clear, Albedo. I imagine you have a report for me regarding the


「
Hanzo
」

tracking mission?"

She froze upon hearing her master's voice, almost making her forget everything she had to report.

However, she couldn't let herself off the hook that easily. Someone had to break the bad news to the supreme one.

You knew my intentions immediately, something I'd expect only from the man I love!"

There was a brief silence followed by a cough as if Ainz was clearing a throat that he didn't have.

Hm, uh, yes, of course. Please, tell me the report."

"At once, Lord Ainz."

The Overlord of the Great Tomb of Nazarick sat on the side of a simple bed in an equally plain room, still processing the information he had just received from Albedo's report.

His bleach-white skull that he held in his gauntleted hands was heavily contrasted by the raven black plate armor that covered the rest of his body.

This was far from his normal attire, but at the moment he was masquerading as Momon, an adventurer new to E-Rantel, with Narberal from the Pleiades as his partner.

She was sitting silently on the bed opposite Ainz, as she waited for her master, now adventurer partner, to explain the contents of the message he'd just received from Albedo.

"Well, Nabe, you are aware of the individual that interfered in our plans for Carne village, and I've just received an update on the tracking detail that was sent to tail him."

Narberal continued to stare in silence, eagerly listening to Ainz' words.

"Apparently we underestimated him, or at least any potential allies he may have. He came out of the pyramid building with a female servant of some kind, funnily enough dressed as a maid like you normally are yourself,"

"Hmph, most likely a poor imitation of the real thing,"

"As much as I hate to admit it, it was her that detected and decimated almost all the
「
Hanzos
, taking no damage herself. What's even worse, the last
Hanzo
died before he could relay thorough information on the weapon she used to make quick work of them, so we have a big hole in our data on her."

It was hard for her to take in, but since it was the word of her master, Narbarel had to accept that this enemy was likely stronger than her.

"Even so, there's still no way they serve as a threat to someone as powerful as a supreme being."

Ainz rubbed his chin upon hearing her response. He was confident in his PVP abilities, but he had to operate under the belief that every enemy was stronger than him until he had evidence otherwise.

Currently, all evidence on these two individuals points to them being a potential threat to Nazarick's operatives in the field…

"Even if they don't serve a direct threat to myself, they are variables that could hinder our plans going forward. We know they are most likely en route to E-Rantel, so it's easy to assume they plan on becoming adventurers like us. What their motives are, your guess is as good as mine."

Ainz stood up from the bed, and reconjured his helmet over his exposed skull.

"No matter what their plans are, it just means we have to work twice as hard to establish ourselves in this city."

Although, who knows? Maybe some proper rivals will serve a purpose in being crushed to increase the acclaim of the adventurer Momon…

A Chance Encounter

Chapter 3: A Chance Encounter

After a short walk from the inn, Ainz arrived at the Adventurer's Guild with Narberal in tow.

Their presence as they entered the guild caused the air to shift in a way that had everyone's attention directed towards them. This attention was somewhat abated when they saw the copper plates that swung from their necks, but the quality of Ainz' armor and Narberal's beauty still garnered a few stares.

Approaching the front desk, he was greeted by one of three smiling women, the other two busy assisting other adventurers.

"Excuse me, I'm looking for work…"

"Oh! Then just bring over a sheet of parchment from the bulletin, over where the other adventurers are gathered,"

Of course, so simple…

But I can't read…

The quirk of this world that automatically translated spoken language didn't extend to the written word, so both he and Narberal were helpless in this situation.

It's not like the literacy rate is particularly high, but still, it would definitely hamper the image of Momon if it gets out that he can't read…

Given that he had lent Sebas all his translation related magic items, and that he never bothered to learn such spells, there was only one option.

He grabbed a random sheet from the wall, and walked back up to the receptionist, slamming the parchment on the counter.

"I'll take this job."

The receptionist picked up the aggressively placed sheet, and upon reading it, gave an embarrassed smile.

"I'm sorry, but this job is for mythril plate adventurers and above only."

"I know, that's exactly why I chose it."

The woman across the counter squirmed a bit from his blind confidence, but held her ground.

"Once again, I'm sorry, but rules are rules-"

Before she could finish her thought, Narberal piped up from Ainz' side.

"Lord Momon is far stronger than your insect brain could und-"

Nabe's retort was cut off by a swift chop to the top of her head from Ainz' gauntleted fist.

I think I might've heard Narberal whimper, perhaps I hit her too hard there… Still! How many times have I told her to just call me Momon while we're in public?! No adventurer would ever refer to their partner with an honorific like "Lord", and she was far too rude…

Bowing deeply, Ainz tried to rectify the situation.

"Please excuse Nabe's outburst, normally she is much more professional I assure you…"

However, before their conversation could continue, a new voice chimed in from behind them.

"You've got a lot of audacity to lay your hands on a woman like that, big guy."

"Excuse me?"

Turning around to see who had called him out, Ainz was baffled as his vacant sockets were bombarded with the color gold.

The man before him was donned completely in shining golden armor, barring his head which revealed his youthful features and equally bright crop of blonde hair.

"My name is Emile Bichel Berger! The strongest human warrior of the Faltra City Adventurer's Guild!"

Faltra City? It doesn't fit the naming scheme of the Re-Estize Kingdom… So does that mean he's a foreigner? Why would he be at E-Rantel's guild then?

The copper plate hanging from his neck fit his story of being new to E-Rantel, that, or he was just a disillusioned newbie.

"You seriously want to take me on? Don't let my copper plate betray you, I'm merely new to the city as well, although any worthy opponent would be able to tell that from the get go."

The golden man named Emile laughed heartily at his reply.

"Any warrior worth their rank could tell you're strong, but it's a moot point. As the defender of all women, I have to take you on here and now."

He said this as he pointed his sword towards Ainz, who was slack jawed behind the cover of his helmet, still trying to process how strange the man currently threatening him was.

Defender of all women? Is this guy sick in the head or something? Ugh, I guess it doesn't matter… Now I've got to defuse this situation while maintaining the image of absolute strength that Momon is supposed to represent…

"You plan to fight me in the guild building? Surely you cannot be serious-

Going against what Ainz considered common sense, Emile brought his sword into stance and shouted out his opening martial art.

《Sword Smite III》

Using a move that was only possible for those who had approached the limits of the races, Emile crossed the distance between himself and Ainz at a speed that the Overlord was not expecting.

Nonetheless, the moment he had seen his aggressor get into an attack stance, Ainz had unsheathed one of the massive greatswords on his back, and held it ready to intercept the rather straightforward attack.

What he didn't expect, however, was Emile's sudden loss of forward momentum when his strike was about to land, almost as if he'd canceled his attack.

Instead of their swords connecting, the golden adventurer was able to use his unnatural change in velocity to chain an attack towards Ainz' undefended side.

"Martial arts, huh. Such a troublesome quirk of this new world…"

He mumbled this at a volume inaudible to anyone else as he used his unoccupied arm to try and catch the incoming blade.

It was a gamble considering he didn't know the strength of the man attacking him or the make of his weapon, but he felt it was a safe bet given the mediocre quality of equipment and low level that was common in this world.

The collision caused a painful shriek of metal on metal as Ainz' gauntleted hand met Emile's blade.

However...

"What's this?!"

Against all his expectations, he heard the impossible sound of his armor creaking as his hand was gradually forced back.

Normally, such a thing would be expected in a clash against a proper warrior. Ainz was just a magic caster swinging two swords around, but even with his full mage build, as a max level player, his strength should be around equal to a warrior leveled in the thirties.

This man is of a high enough level to push back against me? Perhaps I underestimated him by comparing him to the local adventurers… He did say he was the strongest from his city, so it wouldn't be a stretch for him to be similar in strength to the high ranking adventurers from the Kingdom…

However, no matter how strong he is, I cannot allow him to outshine Momon in any way!

Subvocally, Ainz activated one of the few spells that he could use while in armor.

「
Perfect Warrior

As the spell took effect, Ainz' level build became that of a level 100 warrior, albeit without the warrior skills that the class would normally have at the highest level.

Still, the sheer upgrade in physical power would prove more than enough, as Ainz' hand that was previously being pushed back now held the blade in place.

This sudden change from his opponent prompted Emile to jump back in retreat, barely managing to snatch his sword back from the grip of the dark warrior.

"Looks like you were holding back on me, but how did you have all that power on the backburner? I'm certain you didn't use any martial arts, so does that mean you're just that much stronger than me?"

Ainz stared back at him in silence for a moment, still trying to figure out what to make of the man that had started a fight with him over the strangest provocation.

"Perhaps I am, but that should only be more reason for you to stop this pointless fight. You attacked me over a misunderstanding, and I could barely get a word in before you came charging at me!"

Emile tossed his golden hair as he let out a friendly chuckle.

"It's funny you mention that, as I may have put myself in a similar situation not too long ago. Before, my actions were drawn from rumors, ones that I found out to be false. But before I learned that, I wound up getting into a battle that I couldn't win."

《Alps Fall III》

He brought his sword close to his chest, and then raised it towards the ceiling. A gold aura began to emanate from him, his power growing with every passing moment.

"However, that was a different time. One must learn from their past mistakes, or they can never grow as a warrior."

Ainz was obviously unfamiliar with martial art techniques, given that they were not a mechanic in Yggdrasil, but his extensive game knowledge gave him a clue as to the move's purpose.

"Using a charge up skill at such close quarters? Are you expecting me to just stand idly by while you prepare your attack?"

As Ainz took a step towards Emile, drawing his other great sword from his back while doing so, his opponent smirked, which made him hesitate.

Instant Activation

The dark warrior didn't need to speculate on this ability, as Emile's growing aura flared to its limit in under a moment.

In a blur of gold, Emile launched into the air towards Ainz, who barely had time to raise his great swords in defense.

"Take this!
《Alps Fall III》

His sword swung downwards with inhuman force and speed, clashing against Ainz' greatswords which formed an X in front of him.

The resulting wave of energy from the impact was strong enough to almost topple all the experienced adventurers in the room.

However, when the dust settled, the watching spectators gasped, as what they saw defied their expectations.

Down on one knee with his sword in pieces, Emile admitted defeat as one of Ainz' massive swords was pointed next to his head.

"I've gotta say, I knew you were stronger than me, but to brush off an
《Alps Fall III》
, as well as shatter my sword…"

The defeated warrior tilted his head up to meet the gaze of the helmeted behemoth that had defeated him.

"Tell me, how did you surpass level 100? Did you train with Master Graham, or did someone else aid you in surpassing the limits of the races?"

These questions caused Ainz' emotion suppression to activate several times over, unbeknownst to anyone else.

Did he just say level 100?! Even more than that, he thinks I'm stronger than a level 100 warrior? These two pieces of information contradict the idea that he's a Yggdrasil player, as anyone from the game would know the futility of trying to get past the level cap…

But why else would he be asking me my level? Although I haven't had long to gather information, the idea of levels or "leveling up" is foriegn to all the adventurers that I've spoken with thus far…

"I don't know this Master Graham, but if you're familiar with the level system, you should know that the limit is 100, correct?"

Ainz brought his greatsword away from the man's head, sheathing it on his back along with his other blade.

"Well, you're half right. Generally, someone of the races could only hope to reach a height like level 99, but due to extenuating circumstances, I've had more than my fair share of life or death battles,"

He slowly stood back up, dusting off his armor in the process.

"However, to breach that limit, one has to complete a quest of some magnitude. The Master Swordsman Graham has been the one to guide warriors past that limit for generations, so I'm curious what great feat you accomplished that broke your limit in place of the Master Swordsman's trials."

The dark warrior silently stared him down, trying to collect his thoughts and come up with a cohesive answer.

"Given how much stronger you are than me, it wouldn't be a stretch for your level to be around 130."

All this new information echoed around in Ainz' bony skull, when it finally clicked that this man could not be from Yggdrasil.

"Perhaps your land's system of measurement is just different from mine. Both myself and Nabe hail from a country very far away, and I take it yours is as well, given this country seems to have no concept of level at all."

Emile simply shrugged his shoulders and turned his gaze towards Nabe, who had been staring daggers at him the entire confrontation.

"We can discuss such semantics later, more importantly, is the lady hurt? Seeing such a harsh physical rebuke made me assume she may be working with you against her will,"

Narberal, about to go on a verbal tirade, was cut off by a
「
Message
from Ainz.

Narberal Gamma, you will play this conversation out accordingly. Do NOT escalate the situation any further!"

Catching her initial venomous words in her throat, she instantly shifted gears as instructed by Ainz' mental commands.

"I'll have you know, I'm a third tier magic caster who is more than capable of handling herself. I misspoke to the kind receptionist, Momon was simply correcting my mistake."

The so-called defender of all women internalized her explanation for a moment, after which his face shifted into a wide smile.

"Ha ha ha ha! Of course! It was just another misunderstanding. For someone as strong as her to respect you like that, I can only assume you're an ally of women as well."

He placed his hand on Ainz' plated shoulder, still laughing heartily.

That is some mental fortitude! But seriously, I can't tell if this was all an excuse to test my strength or if this guy is just an idiot…

"Well, if everything is settled, why don't we discuss things later. Nabe and I still have to find a fitting assignment."

However, before Ainz could continue his conversation with the receptionist, the door to the guild creaked open, revealing two people that caused his emotion suppression to activate ten-fold.

A man with piercing dark grey eyes, white hair, and bluish-black facial tattoos that went down his cheek. He was adorned with a flowing black mantle, gold accents lining it similar to his own armor. Unlike himself, this man only wore one ring, although it too seemed to be of immense quality.

The mysterious glowing staff/sword hybrid that he saw used in the battle at Carne was fastened at his side, its magical power almost calling out to Ainz the mage.

Everything he wore was extremely high quality, much different from the crappy equipment readily available in this world.

Strangest of all though, were the horns that protruded from his head.

So this is the self proclaimed Demon Lord… He certainly exudes a powerful presence, as does the woman beside him...

Standing next to the demon was a pink haired girl whose beauty was arguably equal to the likes of the pleiades. Most of her body was covered by a sleek black cloak, the only other discerning feature being the covered sword on her back.

She doesn't look like much, but if our information is correct, she's the one who butchered those four [Hanzos, which still surprises me to say the least…

Unfortunately, I doubt I'll ever be able to truly confirm the race of Diablo, due to his apparent magic reflection, but perhaps I could figure out the truth behind his partner…

The duo both looked shocked when they saw the scene before them, the centerpiece of it all being their comrade Emile.

"Emile?! What are you doing here? Don't tell me you got sent from Faltra as well?"

Diablo was slack jawed when he saw that the goofy 'Herculean Warrior' was in the same situation as him and Rose.

Wait, this could be a good thing… If Emile is here, then that means the others could be here too, Rem, Shera…

"My friend! Of course the gears of fate would involve you in this mystery, and your lovely companion as well."

Rose rolled her eyes at his comment, having been around this human more than enough to just ignore his transgressions.

"I'll save the pleasantries for later, more importantly, have you seen Rem or Shera?"

Emile cast a downtrodden look, his disappointed face somewhat concealed.

"I wish I could say I have, but does this mean you think they were affected as well?"

Diablo frowned upon hearing his answer, but despite his friend's lack of intel on the girls, Emile's very presence in this place proves the girls likely are here as well.

I don't have a clue what the criteria for getting sent here is though… It could be beings with a certain level of strength, but if Rem and Shera qualified under that rule, there should be more


Cross Reverie

natives around...

"I can't say for sure, but considering that you're here I definitely can't rule it out. Also, what the hell happened here?"

The guild room that Diablo had walked into looked like a tornado had just run through it. Smaller furniture was tipped over, papers were scattered all across the floor, and the other adventurers seemed to be in a state of shock.

Emile looked towards the hulking armored man standing adjacent to himself, rubbing the back of his head and smiling sheepishly.

"Would it surprise you if I said I challenged this guy to a fight?"

Diablo internally facepalmed. Knowing Emile's antics, his excuse for fighting this guy was most likely completely contrived.

"No, I suppose it doesn't."

As he said this though, his eyes glanced down to the floor, where he saw Emile's sword broken in two.

This random adventurer beat Emile in a swordfight?! I mean he looks like a very formidable warrior, but Emile is incredibly strong for a normal human, too strong to lose to a guy from a backwater adventurer's guild…

Shifting his gaze away from Emile, Diablo's eyes centered on the dark warrior whose very presence seemed to domineer over the room.

"I'll give you the due credit of defeating someone like Emile, but don't think for a moment that a feat like that makes you particularly strong, not while I'm here."

The fully armored warrior stared back at him in silence for a moment, but then tilted his head slightly as if confused by Diablo's statement.

"You look like a skilled mage, a wealthy one too based on your equipment."

Ainz said this as he inspected Diablo's loadout from head to toe, wishing he could just use an appraisal spell while he had an excuse to be near his potential enemy.

"However, I seriously doubt you've peered far enough into the abyss of magic to have a chance against a warrior of my caliber."

This comment managed to get under Diablo's skin, much to the pleasure of Ainz.

What right does some meathead swordsman have to comment on the power of my magic? It's almost like he's


trying

to get a rise out of me…

"Hmph, I wouldn't need to cast a single spell to defeat someone like you. Just because you beat Emile doesn't mean you've surpassed me in the way of the sword."

Ainz' unmoving jaw smiled under his helmet as he extracted the information he had been hoping for.

"Oh, is that so? That must mean you've surpassed the limits of the races as a warrior, unlike your friend here."

Shit, he got me! I knew he was goading me and I still took the bait… I've gotta keep the demon lord persona in check, at least while I still don't know who my enemies are in this world…

Still, how does he know about surpassing level 100? Those villagers had no clue, but even Gazef, the strongest human warrior native to this place that I've seen up until this point, had never heard of the master swordsman or the trials…

He briefly looked over at Emile, the likely culprit of the information leak regarding their native world.

Well the cat's already out of the bag, looks like I've gotta roll with it…

"You've assumed correctly, although even a fool could piece that together. If you're so confident in yourself, that must mean you've surpassed the limits as well, yes?"

This time Ainz was on the defensive, carefully calculating how much he wanted to reveal throughout the conversation.

"My knowledge on the matter only extends to what your friend here told me. I never participated in any trials, but my history of battle is extensive. Whether or not I passed this arbitrary limit matters little as long as my strength proves true."

Diablo internalized his response, trying to understand what the mysterious warrior was playing at.

"There's some truth to your words, considering how you were able to handily defeat Emile, a proper warrior in his own respect."

Emile flashed a smile and a thumbs up at Diablo for the rare compliment, earning a slight groan from the quiet Narberal, who was growing to hate this particular human even more.

"However, that explanation doesn't make me any less suspicious of how you acquired such power. At least where I'm from, anyone more powerful than Emile tends to be a high profile figure in some regard."

Ainz' nervousness shot up a level, but not enough to trigger his emotion suppression, much to his annoyance. It seemed that the Demon Lord had more to say though, so he stared at him silently, waiting to hear the end of his point.

"A power like yours behind the wrong individual will inevitably lead to disaster, and I've defeated such individuals too many times to count. Lucky for you, your motives are unknown to me, although don't expect it to stay that way."

Everything about this guy just screamed suspicious. A complete unknown who claims to be from a land far beyond the horizon, yet throws around enough power that he should be known at least by any surrounding countries.

I guess that sounds a lot like my situation, but at least I'm somewhat honest about my origin…

"Well then let's abate any suspicion right here and now."

Ainz said this as he reached his hand out to Diablo, prompting him to do the same.

"My name is Momon. I'm a veteran adventurer from a country long destroyed, and I seek to rebuild my fame in this new land. My only motive is to be the best."

His words were spoken with such conviction that even Diablo had to give him props.

If this guy is acting, then he's even better than I am when it comes to playing a character… Most likely he's telling the truth, and I don't have much else to go on, so let's roll with the adventurer camaraderie…

Reaching out and clasping the massive gauntleted hand of Momon, he gave his reassurance of neutrality.

"If that's the truth, then so be it. As of now we only have one conflict, and that's being number one around here, but I already told you I'm not worried about proving that."

"Hmph. We'll see who's will proves stronger when I achieve Adamantite rank before you even see gold."

Diablo smirked at his comment, it had been a long time since he had any honest competition.

Maybe back in the game, but ever since becoming Diablo, it's either my life on the line or someone I care about…

"Remember the name Diablo when you see yourself surpassed in the rankings."

Probably the best way of introducing myself without breaking entirely out of my persona… Good job me!

"I'll catch up with you later, Emile. Rose, come on. We've still got to register with the guild."

Grabbing Rose by the hand, eliciting a blush from the magimatic maid, Diablo began to walk away from the other adventurer duo, however a calling voice caused him to stop.

"Would you mind coming back for a moment, mister Diablo?"

Walking out from behind a pillar that was in earshot of Diablo's prior conversation, the unknown man revealed himself.

"Who are you supposed to be?"

He was rather tall, his eyeline just about meeting Diablo's. Despite his height though, he looked miserably frail, like he'd be blown away with a passing breeze.

There's no way this guy's an adventurer, he looks too weak to even be a mage, let alone a front liner…

"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Count Iselk, I'm a noble based near the Capital, but I own a large amount of land in the E-Rantel area."

His claim of nobility was backed up by his elegant doublet suit, something a commoner could never hope to afford.

"The business of the nobility does not interest me, I can't imagine you have something worth discussing."

These Lord types are always plotting something behind the scenes, at least from all of my experiences with them…

"I would never ask such a thing of an adventurer, it's against the rules anyways. My request is rather straightforward, Mister Diablo."

"I insist you cease all of this "Mister" talk. Diablo is fine, Count."

"If you say so. Now then, if you want to hear me out, why don't you join me in one of the private rooms?"

It wasn't a difficult choice for Diablo to make. Even if this noble had ulterior motives, he still could be used for his connections in order to find Rem and Shera.

Besides, I'm as good as broke right now since my Lyferian currency is useless, and all of the money Gazef gave me is going towards rent for the inn...

"Very well, I'll hear you out. Rose, let's go."

Diablo began walking towards the Count, expecting him to lead the way, but apparently his interest extended beyond the Demon Lord.

"You there, Mister Momon if I'm correct?"

Turning his attention to the Count, Ainz was surprised that he'd been dragged into yet another random encounter.

"You can drop the honorifics, Count Iselk. What business do you have with me?"

The Count chuckled to himself, feeling out of his element being among the common folk.

"Adventurers and their crude way of speaking, I suppose it can't be helped. Nonetheless, I have the same offer on the table for you, and your partner as well."

Ainz was uneasy about this noble, wondering what interest he could possibly have in some copper rank and unregistered adventurers.

As long as I'm under my alias, there shouldn't be any trouble with taking a job from the nobility… Plus, Nazarick's money situation is abysmal as far as new world currency is concerned…

"If it can serve as a jumping off point for working in this city, I have no reason to decline."

Taking Ainz' statement as a yes, the Count turned and walked towards the back hall, prompting both groups to follow.

The Demon Lord's piercing grey eyes met the vacant orbits behind Ainz' visor, but only for a moment, as they continued forward without speaking.

I've got to play these negotiations carefully… It'd be bad if Diablo is still suspicious of me despite his claims otherwise…

But I can't waste this opportunity to learn more about him and his companion, and if push comes to shove, it could be a useful way to dispose of them with a plausible explanation…

Diablo's thoughts closely resembled those of the dark warrior walking beside him, seeing this as an opportunity to see his potential rival's skill in the field.

However, his intentions weren't nearly as malicious. With no way to know that the man beside him was the supreme Overlord of the Great Tomb of Nazarick, Diablo could only think within the framework he was given.

Despite this, his suspicion was hardly abated.

I doubt this guy is involved with whatever is affecting Cross Reverie natives, but his sudden appearance in the very town I planned to travel to cannot be ignored… Especially when it's clear that someone is capable of tracking my movements…

I'll just have to be vigilant, not like I have much opportunity to act otherwise…

Filing through the entrance to one of the vacant rooms, Count Iselk took a seat at the front of the only table in the room, motioning for the adventurers to take their respective seats.

Both duos complied in silence, sitting down on opposite sides of the table, their party lines clearly drawn.

"Now then, as far as I understand, both of your groups are new to E-Rantel, correct?"

"Umu."

"Correct."

The group leaders responded in turn, both being forthcoming with the information given how everyone present already knew.

"Diablo and, what's your name, miss?"

"You can call me Rose."

"Ah, a lovely name. Diablo and Rose still have yet to register, but you'll be copper plates just like any other starter, despite your level of skill."

Diablo scoffed at this information, but he'd already reasoned such a thing would be the case.

"If Momon here had to register as a copper plate, I assumed the same would go for me."

Rose cast an angry look towards the Count, annoyed by her master's common treatment.

"Someone like Diablo should never have to assume a trash rank like copper. His power deserves nothing short of the highest rank."

Diablo quickly put a hand on Rose's shoulder, which immediately calmed her down somewhat, or at the very least distracted her.

"You don't have to say such things, Rose. My power is unproven in this place. Would it not be more fitting to demolish everyone in the rankings to prove our obvious superiority?"

Ainz let out a slight chuckle at this comment, seeing that Narberal was starting to fume as well.

It reminds me of my constantly feuding guildmates…

Maybe some of them are really out there...

As Ainz started to become awash in hope and nostalgia, the emotions were immediately suppressed, angering him slightly that he couldn't reminisce for longer than a few moments.

"Everyone, why don't we just listen to the Count's offer? Squabbling is getting us nowhere."

Diablo agreed and sat back in his chair, leading Rose to do the same.

"Very good, let's continue. Since I'll be requesting you formally through the guild, I'll also be paying you the copper rate, at least on paper."

Both parties were about to walk out at the prospect of being paid copper rate for a likely extensive job, but the Count's last comment piqued their interest.

"On paper, you say?"

Momon was the first to question the Count, Diablo about to ask the same thing as well.

"From my brief observation, I can clearly tell that you are all stronger than copper rank adventurers. How strong, I'm not exactly sure, but more than enough for what I hope to ask of you."

Both leaders nodded, knowing that even just their equipment was a dead giveaway of being stronger than a beginner adventurer.

"Pending success of the job, I plan to pay you a rate higher than most adventurers would ever see in their lifetimes,"

Diablo was intrigued by such a proposition, but it had him wondering what kind of job would warrant a payout like he described.

His emotions quickly suppressing themselves, Ainz knew this was the golden opportunity he had been hoping for in starting his role as an adventurer.

"I think the obvious question now is what kind of job are you going to ask of us, Count Iselk."

The Count shrugged and continued his explanation.

"It's quite simple, really. Some of my fields have been set ablaze recently by an unknown group, and it seems they have no intention of stopping. You see, I can't conduct my duties as nobility if my main source of income is being systematically destroyed, although anyone could gather that."

He stood up from his chair and called over a servant who was standing at the door, handing the count a small money pouch.

"Your role in this is helping catch or at the very least incapacitating the group doing this. I won't reveal my sources, but I have it on excellent authority when and where the next attack will likely be."

He then opened the pouch he had called for and poured out five coins.

"If the job goes as requested, I'm prepared to pay you five platinum coins, each."

Ainz and Diablo thought through all the implications behind the Count's offer, but neither of them could come up with a likely scenario that outweighed the benefits of such a large sum.

"I'll have one of my attendants inform you on the details, unfortunately I have a very important meeting I need to get to."

With that, the Count took his money and gave a slight bow before exiting the room, leaving the two teams by themselves.

"Well I assume you'll be accepting the offer as well, Diablo."

"Of course, only a fool would pass up such a deal. However, you too must have your suspicions."

"If you're truly so strong, there shouldn't be anything to fear, no?"

Diablo let out a mocking laugh, knowing such a mindset was one that had previously almost gotten him killed, several times.

"If you never fight beings stronger than yourself, maybe that would be an acceptable way to live."

His response surprised Ainz, as he was expecting to elicit more hostility with his comment. Still, it gave him a glimpse into the history of this anomalous demon, if anything.

"Perhaps it's just about having confidence in your ability to overcome such disparities in power, but that's all beside the point. I know I'm strong enough to take on whatever petty group that's burning a noble's fields."

Before Diablo could respond though, one of the Count's attendants came into the room and sat down with some parchment.

"If I'm going to share the details of the operation, I need everyone's affirmation that they're in, because the Count doesn't want any information leaks."

Rose and Narberal both looked to their respective partners, waiting to agree with whatever answer they gave.

The Demon Lord and Supreme Overlord nodded at each other, and gave the same response.

"We're in."

The Hunt Begins

The Hunt Begins

Diablo could feel the heat of the sun beating down on him from directly above, something he had been forced to get used to, yet he couldn't help but admit it made him feel sluggish.

The various shops and inns of E-Rantel passed by him and Rose as they continued down what seemed to be a main street.

We have a few days until the date of the planned attack, so that gives us some time to figure things out… but man does all this walking stink…

After being informed on the details of the Count's operation, Diablo and Rose parted ways with the abnormally strong warrior Momon and his companion Nabe, for the time being.

Registering with the guild was actually easier than he had assumed it would be, as the guild worker who had registered himself and Rose wrote down all the relevant information for them.

For once in his life, Diablo was thankful for the existence of bureaucracy.

Normally I hate having to deal with intermediaries and the like, but having to admit my illiteracy would've been infinitely worse!

A copper plate hung from his neck, one that he'd received from the guild after his registration. He held it out from his neck and stared at it for a moment, growing slightly annoyed at having to start from the bottom, but also excited at the premise of gaining notoriety again.

It doesn't really make sense for a Demon Lord to only be copper rank, but it's all roleplay anyways… maybe if I was a real Demon Lord I could've been a little more insistent…

It was far from uncommon for Diablo to burn bridges or start confrontations with people because of his Demon Lord roleplay, but he also knew when he had to respect the system.

This place doesn't have a formal concept of level, let alone a means of measuring it, so it only makes sense that people have to prove their worth through feats alone…

"Master, do we really need to trouble ourselves with an inferior product when we have more than enough provisions in the dungeon?"

Rose's complaint pulled Diablo out of his head, reminding him of what they were out walking for in the first place.

"You're mistaken, Rose. Even with our current supply, this place could have entirely different kinds of potions. Besides, even if they prove inferior to ours, it means we can make a hefty profit selling some of our own."

Rose let out a small sound of shock, but she quickly regained her happy composure since she remembered she was out alone with Diablo.

"Not to mention, I doubt the gold we have stored in the dungeon has much use as currency, so building up Re-Estize coinage is essential right now."

Even though Diablo had always hated crowds, he did enjoy the experience of exploring a new city for the first time, with a proper companion nonetheless.

I never would have imagined I'd be adventuring with someone back when I played Cross Reverie , but then again I never would've expected to be transported to another world, not once but twice now…

"Look ahead, master. That sign indicates an apothecary of some sort."

Dead ahead where Rose was pointing was a decent sized shop with a sign written in the local language.

"I trust your judgement, Rose, but how can you be sure?"

"Simple. I've been analysing the Re-Estize written language since we've stepped foot in this city. My understanding isn't fluent, but it's more than enough to identify what's written on a sign."

I would have no means of navigating this place besides looking at pictures without Rose, sometimes I forget she's actually an AI and can do these amazing kinds of things…

"Of-of course! As expected of a disciple of the true Demon Lord."

That last comment made Rose blush, but Diablo quickly diffused any possible awkwardness by swiftly walking into the shop.

As they entered the building, Diablo saw all the things he'd expect from a potion maker's workshop.

The walls were lined with shelves containing countless labeled and unlabeled bottles, various types of glass tubing that looked straight out of a chemist's lab were scattered about, and even an industrial looking refinery sat in the corner.

This looks a lot more in depth than the potion making process I know, but it is another world after all…

After a few moments of looking around, a short elderly woman came around the corner to greet them.

"Welcome! My name is Lizzy Bareare, the owner of this shop. Forgive me for making assumptions, but you two are adventurers, correct?"

Rose's current robe was rather unassuming, but Diablo's EX rank gear was on full display, and even to an untrained eye, it's quality was obvious.

"An easy assumption, but yes, we are adventurers new to the city."

Diablo promptly showed his copper plate as he said this, which made the shopkeeper's face drop a little bit.

She probably assumed I was some high ranking adventurer based on my gear, but fortunately for her, I'm a bit more interesting than a normal copper rank customer…

"Don't act so glum, I'd advise you don't judge my worth as a customer based on something like this plate."

Realizing that she had shown her emotions on her face, the elderly shopkeeper started nervously laughing and waving her hands as if she had just been joking.

"Banish the thought! I treat all customers equally, regardless of the status of their finances. Please, tell me your names so we can be properly acquainted."

"I am Diablo, a demon lord from another world!"

Guess I got a little too comfortable for a second there…

Lizzy Bareare had been in the business of dealing with adventurers long enough that she was willing to brush his introduction off as the eccentricity expected of some adventurers.

"And you certainly fill the part, the horns work great with the whole "demonic" image."

She held a finger up on each side of her head and curled them to imitate Diablo's own horns as well, further demonstrating the lack of seriousness she took his demon lord claim for.

Ah, I guess she doesn't really believe it either… Me being a weirdo adventurer is more likely than actually being a demon lord, can't blame her for that…

"My name is Rose."

The magimatic maid at his side jumped in with her introduction, slightly annoyed at how her master was being treated.

"Ah! A beautiful name for a beautiful young woman. I'd love to help you two however I can."

"Excellent. In that case, I'd like you to appraise a few potions for me. I know their value, but I'm curious as to what kind of price an expert potion maker would give them."

Lizzy's interest was somewhat piqued at the idea of appraising these potions, but she doubted this copper rank could show her anything like the true potion she had appraised earlier that day.

"Please, follow me to the workshop."

Following the elderly shopkeep through a short hallway, they arrived at a large wooden table that looked like a workbench.

Lizzy took a seat and prompted the others to do the same. Diablo sat down next to her, but Rose decided to remain standing at his side.

"Alright, let's see what you have,"

Diablo reached into the item pouch at his waist and pulled out a 《Basic HP Recovery Potion》.

Lizzy couldn't tell from this simple action, but the pouch at Diablo's waist held far more than its small size should physically allow, a bonus of having fully upgraded the pouch, a process which had cost the original Takuma Sakamoto six thousand yen.

Imagine the look on her face if I start pulling out potions by the dozen… It'd be like a bad magic act, except it'd be actual magic in this case…

Inside the test tube-like container that Diablo had pulled from the pouch was a green liquid sealed with a cork.

Lizzy instantly lit up with intrigue when she saw it.

"I've rarely seen potions in a container like this, let alone one that is green, very peculiar…"

The veteran potion-maker was now clearly intrigued with what Diablo had to offer.

"Would you mind if I examined it?"

Diablo obliged with an "Umu", and handed her the vial. What she did next was not in his expectations.

" 「 Appraisal Magic Item, Detect Enchant 」."

As she said this, a soft greenish glow came from her hand, which slowly faded after a few seconds.

"Impossible… and it's not even red like the other!?"

Was that magic she used just now?! And it's not like any spell I've ever heard, there certainly wasn't any appraisal magic in Cross Reverie …

"Impressive, I suppose I expect nothing less from a professional like yourself,"

Rose had a small look of amusement, most likely because of her ability to appraise any weapon, which, unlike what Lizzy had just demonstrated, doesn't extend to things like consumables.

"This is not a true potion in the sense that it wasn't made purely by magic, but it still has the properties of never expiring as well having nearly the same effectiveness!"

Really!? If she's that amazed over a basic healing potion, she's probably gonna lose it when she sees the others…

"I-Is that so? Well I wouldn't have bothered you if I didn't have something worth showing,"

"By my estimation, this should be equal to a first-tier healing spell, worth about four gold pieces. Would you mind telling me where you procured such an item?"

She seems to think this potion is really something special… I guess just like in the last world, the average level of things was lower across the board, even with potions…

Also, what does she mean by "first tier"? That guy leading the Sunlit Scripture mentioned tier magic as well, but I've never heard spells categorized in such a way… Although if this basic potion is only in the first tier, what tier could my superior potions possibly be in?

"I made that potion myself, I am a 《 Master Combiner》 after all."

Upon hearing such a revelation, Lizzy's face lit up in genuine curiosity.

"I-I've never heard of an adventurer being so adept in potion making! I understand wanting to protect your trade secrets, but would you inform me at all about your process?!"

The woman beside Diablo was bordering on aggressive with how she was speaking and leaning towards him, but he had dealt with far more pressing social situations up to this point, to his dismay.

"Well, I simply combine the ingredients with my hands, are potions like these not done in such a fashion normally?"

"Of course, any potion made without magic would be created in such a manner, but the quality of this simply surpasses my knowledge on handcrafted potions…"

I can only imagine how she's going to react to these next ones…

"This is one of my weaker potions anyways, I'd like you to inspect this next one."

Diablo reached into his pouch once again, and pulled out a glass tube identical to the last, except this time the liquid inside was blue.

"Ah, well it's nice to see something familiar. As a potion-maker yourself, I'm sure you're aware of how potions normally turn blue during the manufacturing process. What's so special about this one?"

Of course I'm not aware of anything like that… Not only did I just have to click "combine" on my interface, but I've never heard of potions changing colors either…

"It's nothing spectacular, just a simple MP potion. Although the ingredients for it are on the rarer side."

"MP? What exactly do you mean by that? Is it a potion that induces a buff?"

This lady just used magic in front of me, so I was expecting her to understand that term… maybe they use a different term here? Perhaps…

"Mana. It's what you would call a mana potion."

After hearing Diablo's answer, the previously jovial shopkeeper grew dead serious.

"Normally I'd assume you would be joking about such a thing, but based on this first potion you showed me, the idea doesn't seem entirely out there."

"What exactly do you mean? The ingredients for MP potions are rather hard to find, but it's something any decent sorcerer uses, correct?"

Lizzy Bareare stared at him silently for a moment, before shaking her head and holding out her hand.

"I'm not sure what place you come from Diablo, but in all my years of living, not once have I seen a real potion that can replenish mana. I've never even heard stories outside of the fantasies of potion-makers like myself. The real test though, is my appraisal magic!"

No one uses MP potions around here?! That makes it sound impossible to level up as a sorcerer, but then again, most people adventure in teams… My solo play style definitely wouldn't have been viable here…

"Hmph. I did say I came from another world didn't I? A demon lord doesn't obey the known order of things."

He handed her the potion as he said this, and there was the smallest sign of Lizzy starting to believe his claim.

" 「 Appraisal Magic Item, Detect Enchant 」!"

The same glow appeared from before, except this time Lizzy seemed like she was about to pass out.

"Th-this potion, it really does replenish one's mana stores…"

I've got a bad feeling about what I've just shown this woman…

"Diablo, do you have any idea what this means? This is the precipice of an alchemical revolution! Please! I'd do anything, give you anything, I beg that you tell me your secret! Oh, if only Nferia was here right now to witness this miracle!"

I guess you can't just look up the ingredients on a strategy guide in a world like this, but even if you could, based on her explanation, I doubt the ingredients to make MP potions even exist in this world if they haven't been created yet…

"A demon lord doesn't reveal such things so easily, but for the sake of my own interest, I'll enlighten you on one of the ingredients."

"E-Even just that would be amazing, how could I possibly repay you for such information?"

I don't want to rob this old woman blind, and I imagine I can make more than enough just selling her some of my extra potions, so let's just try this…

"Consider this one a freebie, a token of knowledge to start our business relationship. As far as I'm concerned though, the ingredients for this potion can't be found in this plane of existence. For starters, do you possess, or have at least heard of 《 Sacred Mountain Water》?"

The ecstatic look on Lizzy's face disappeared almost instantly.

"No… I've never heard of such a thing. You say this is a key ingredient of a mana potion?"

Just as I thought, either rare ingredients from Cross Reverie can't be obtained here, or no one ever knew what to look for…

"It's unfortunate, but you shouldn't despair. I have a great stockpile of potions to my name, including MP potions of course. I would be interested if someone of your skill could perhaps create a similar potion if you have a finished product to work with."

The veteran potion-maker's eyes lit up once again at the prospect being offered to her.

"You're saying you want me to try and reverse-engineer a mana potion of my own?! I never would have imagined it, but with the real thing in my hands, I can't say no!"

"Also, who is this Nferia you spoke of? Someone that works here?"

"Ah, Nferia is my grandson, and a prodigy potion-maker in his own right. He can even use magic at his age, I know he would be more than excited to see all of this."

Not that I know anything about the theory behind magic, but he's got to be a pretty smart kid to use spells at a young age… I wonder how he leveled up?

"Where is your grandson then? I'd suspect he would be running the shop with you."

"Of course, he's just out running errands. He should be going to the adventurer's guild right now, since we need to put a request in for an escort to Carne Village."

I guess the world is a small place after all… It's a good thing I saved that village, I can't imagine if that poor kid were to happen upon Carne after those knights were through with it…

"Carne Village? Why would your grandson need to go to a small village like that?"

"It's the closest village to the Forest of Tob, and even though the roadways there are relatively safe, it's best to have extra protection when wandering into the forest where the herbs used for potions are located. Though as long as the Wise King of the Forest is around to ward off more powerful monsters, it's an easy job."

Did she say the Wise King of the Forest?! I guess Hamusuke does have some legend around her, but I didn't realize she served such an important purpose! I told her to monitor the area around my dungeon, so I can't be sure she's still performing her former duties as well…

"Potion ingredients you say… It might be worth my time to gather these herbs as well. I'm still unsure as to the compatibility of your ingredients with my potions, so it's worth a try."

"I would be honored to have a master of the craft work with Nferia! If he's kept to schedule, he should be on his way back from the guild soon. He's requesting another peculiar copper rank like you who's potion wound up in my shop. All I know about him is that he has expensive looking black armor and two massive swords on his back."

She's talking about Momon, huh? So not only is he powerful, he's got access to unknown potions as well…

"Before I leave, what kind of potion did this copper rank have? Did they look anything like mine?"

"No, what that man possessed was a true potion. I could tell from its red color, but I didn't believe it until my appraisal magic confirmed that it was indeed a true potion. It's similar to that first potion you showed me, except it was made purely from magic rather than herbs."

I've never seen a red potion in Cross Reverie before, not even in the world where I could've run into it as an unimplemented part of the game… Yet this woman says she's never seen a potion like that one either…

Who could this Momon really be? Maybe he had a potion from his home country that had developed the technique to make such a thing… But that doesn't make sense, if he's traveled so far, either he would have run out of potions or at the very least wouldn't give them out as easily as he did…

That would suggest he has enough to give away some without issue, which means he has a stockpile… But where? He's obviously not carrying them on his person, and there's no way he would leave a fortune like that unattended in his inn room…

None of this makes any sense, but all I can do is be more wary of him…

"Someone of my level is too much for a simple escort mission, but since I require your grandson's knowledge of the area and local flora, I'll join him on his next trip, pro bono."

"Th-that would be wonderful! You're welcome to stay at the shop until Nferia returns, perhaps I could show you some of my process in the meantime?"

Getting my potions appraised was the only thing on my list for now, and it's already almost dusk…

"Very well, I permit you to entertain me while we wait for Nferia."

It wouldn't be very demon-lord-like to be too interested in someone else's potions, I think ended the conversation organically enough though…

…

Diablo felt like he was back in chemistry class with the lesson he had just received on potion-making from Lizzy Bareare.

She was just finishing up explaining the process of the alchemical refinery when the creaking sound of the front door opening got everyone's attention.

"Grandma! I'm back!"

A boy who looked to be in his late teens came around the corner into the workshop. His long bowl-shaped haircut almost covered his eyes entirely, and his white collared shirt and leather apron really sold his look as a craftsman.

He was surprised to see two customers in the back, especially this close to closing time.

Nferia couldn't help but let an audible gulp escape his mouth when he saw the menacing horned man sitting beside his grandma.

"Ah! Welcome back, Nferia. These two are very special guests of mine, please, don't look so stressed."

Seeing the genuine look of reassurement from his grandma, Nferia exhaled and relaxed his face.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Nferia, although it seems like most people know me around the city these days."

He reached out his hand towards Diablo, who reluctantly raised his in return.

"You can call me Diablo, your grandma here was just appraising some potions for me."

Even though Nferia had no ability to properly sense someone's magic power, just from a simple handshake alone he was able to tell that the man before him was not someone to make an enemy of. He imagined that his grandma could probably sense it as well, since she also had the capacity for magic.

The beautiful woman standing beside the aptly named Diablo also sent a chill down Nferia's spine. She didn't give off any magical energy, but her gaze alone seemed enough to kill.

"Wh-what would your name be, miss?"

The stone cold beauty gave a look of disinterest, and gave a simple response.

"Rose."

"I-I see! It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

First I met a man like Momon, and now this guy too?! Is there a reason all these new, powerful adventurer teams are showing up to E-rantel? They're both only duo teams as well, it makes no sense how they've survived as long as they have…

"Anyways… What kind of potions did you guys bring in? You mind telling me where they're from?"

"Diablo here is actually quite the experienced potion-maker, Nferia. The two potions he showed me were made by none other than himself."

"I can't say I've ever heard of an adventurer taking the time to learn how to make potions, but I'm very impressed! It must've been hard balancing adventuring with learning a craft like this."

It's not like I can just say that I maxed out my《Combiner》 class in a video game…

"Hmph, I come from a chaotic world where such a thing was necessary for my survival. Don't expect to understand my intentions so easily."

His casual claim of being from another world confused Nferia at first, but he quickly assumed Diablo was merely being metaphorical.

"Well, whatever place you came from must've been very dangerous, I'm glad that someone so strong has decided to stay in E-Rantel."

"Speaking of which, your grandmother here told me you were planning a trip into the forest of Tob. I assume you've already made arrangements with another group by now, but I was planning to accompany you anyways. I wish to learn about the potion ingredients that lay in the forest, in exchange for protecting you, of course."

"It would be a pleasure to bring you along, I imagine the other adventurers won't mind at all since it won't be affecting their pay."

Nferia was already interested in the dark warrior called Momon, but he hoped he could possibly learn something from Diablo along the way as well, given his alleged knowledge on potions.

"You might as well tell the other adventurers they won't be needed. There exists no enemy that Diablo cannot defeat that some other lesser adventurer could."

Rose chimed in for the first time in the conversation, unsurprisingly in a somewhat hostile manner.

"W-Well, I don't doubt Diablo's strength, or your own, but I've already made a commitment to hire them. It's business etiquette, but beyond that, it never hurts to have more adventurers when dealing with monsters."

Rose looked like she had more to say, so Diablo cut in to prevent severing this relationship right after forming it.

"Bring however many, it matters not. As long as I'm present, no mere monsters are going to cause a problem."

Nferia smiled reassuringly, and nodded his head.

"It's a deal then! We're leaving tomorrow morning, so meet us at the northern gate around midday, alright?"

Diablo replied with an Umu, and stood up from his chair.

"With all that settled, I think we'll be taking our leave. I imagine we'll be doing business again soon, Mrs. Bareare, and Nferia, I'll see you at the gate tomorrow."

Lizzy Bareare seemed like she had much more to ask Diablo, but instead she said her goodbyes, quelling her immense curiosity.

"Come back once you've completed your job with Nferia, I know you must have more amazing potions up your sleeve somewhere!"

I wish I had known about the lack of MP potions around here before showing her one, but at least I was able to procure some information about this place…

"See you tomorrow, Diablo!"

After a few steps around the corner, Diablo was out the front door with Rose in tow, back onto the bustling streets of E-Rantel.

…

Later that night, under the cloak of darkness, a hooded shadow made their way through the largest graveyard in E-Rantel. Their jet black cloak blended perfectly with the darkness, minimizing any signs of movement as they nimbly avoided all the sources of magical light throughout the graveyard.

After traversing deep enough into the necropolis, they came upon a mausoleum. The shadowy figure slowly removed their hood, revealing them to be a young human woman. She looked to be around twenty years old, and very attractive by conventional standards, although her feline-like face could be described as slightly off putting.

"This is the place!"

She said this playfully, smoothing back her short orange-blonde hair before pushing open the stone mausoleum door.

Inside the large stone building, there were no bodies on the stone platforms for laying out corpses, and the ornaments put up when praying for the souls of the deceased had already been taken down. Still, a cloying smell tingled her nose, as if the stone had absorbed the tons of incense burned over the years.

Wrinkling her brow, she walked up to the large platform in the back of the room.

"Hmm~hmm~hmm! Let's see…"

As she hummed to herself, she knelt down and pressed one of the ornate carvings at the base of the platform.

A ker-chk sound resonated through the room, after which the platform began to rumble to the side, revealing a descending staircase underneath.

"I'm coming iiin~!"

The woman gave her greeting to whoever may be at the bottom, stretching the final vowel in a carefree way as she began her descent. There was one turn along the way, and the bottom opened up into a large cavern.

The walls and floor were made of dirt, but due to the cavern being partially man-made, it seemed like it wouldn't collapse any time soon. There was no apparent source of fresh air, yet the underground space lacked the stale smell one would normally expect. However, this place was not part of the graveyard, it was something far more sinister. Strange tapestries hung from the walls, and beneath them sat numerous blood red candles that gave off a gorey scent along with their dim glow. Obscured by the dancing shadows given off by the candles' light were several holes in the wall, large enough for humans to pass through, although not comfortably.

The woman swept her eyes across the room before focusing on a silhouette in the corner.

"Oh! Hey, you hiding over there! You have a guest!"

The shoulders of the shadowed figure flinched after being called out.

"H'lo! I'm here to see Khaj, is he here?

The man was clearly unsure of what to do, and he flinched again as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps from behind him.

"You can excuse yourself, I'll deal with the girl."

The new arrival dispatched his hesitant colleague and showed himself, walking out from the shadows.

Instead of the undead-looking Khaj that the woman was expecting, a different old man walked out into the light.

"You must be Clementine, Khajit told me about you."

He spoke with a distinguished voice that matched his aged looks: long greyish-white hair that went past his shoulders, as well as a lengthy goatee to match.

The most peculiar thing about his figure though, was his left arm. All that remained of it was just above the elbow, and it seemed to be completely frozen over.

"I didn't know Khaj kept cripples around his secret lair, but it's none of my business. Why don't you be a dear and take me to him, hmm~?"

Clementine didn't think much of the old man before her. He only had one good arm, and his glory days were obviously far behind him.

What intrigued her though, was the spear he gripped tightly in his right hand. Appraising weapons was hardly one of her strong suits, but as a warrior who had entered the realm of heroes, Clementine could feel the power in that spear calling out to her.

"Khajit is busy preparing for the death spiral, although I assume you already knew such a thing. And I suggest you show some respect to your elders, both in age and experience."

"Oyah~? Maybe 'ole Khaj didn't give you the full picture?"

The two stared each other down for a moment, before Clementine, without missing a beat, dashed towards the man at speeds impossible for a normal human. She pulled one of her stilettos from her hip before she reached the man, aiming it towards his neck.

Clementine didn't plan on actually killing the man, just getting close enough to remind him of his place on the totem pole. However, his reaction was the last thing she was expecting.

Before she could get her weapon anywhere close to him, the grizzled veteran whipped his spear forwards at a speed nearly indecipherable to Clementine, despite his one-handed grip, stopping it just before Clementine's own neck.

"Foolish child, did you think I would be welcomed into this organization without any merit? You've grown drunk on your power over others, always fighting as if your opponent is weaker than you!"

Clementine's jaw was clenched shut, her teeth slowly grinding back and forth as she endured the first sense of embarrassment in what felt like her entire life. She could count on one hand the humans strong enough to possibly best her in combat, and this geezer was not one of them.

"Who are you, then?"

Her usual carefree, singsongy tone was now gone. It was clear that whatever facade she normally put up, was now gone.

"Paladin Captain Batutta, or I should say 'former' paladin captain."

He pulled his spear away from Clementine's head as he said this, at which she slowly stood back up, putting her stiletto back in its hilt.

"As a fellow member of Zurrernorn, I hold no hostility towards you. But don't think for a moment that I'll allow any such further disrespect."

There was an extended silence between the two, mostly due to Clementine not knowing how to act around this mysterious old paladin who called himself Batutta.

"Well, if Khaj doesn't want to come out, you can at least give him this for me."

As she said this, Clementine pulled something out from within her armor and tossed it to Batutta.

"And this is?"

In the Paladin's hands was a circlet, although one far more ornate than he had ever seen. It was composed of innumerable tiny gemstones which were delicately attached to metal threading as thin as spider's silk. There was also a large black crystal set in its center, about where the wearer's forehead would be.

"Nothing special, just a Crown of Wisdom that I snatched from a pretty looking girl back in the Theocracy."

"A Crown of Wisdom… I wasn't quite sure what they looked like, but if this is what you say it is, then maybe this won't be a waste of time after all."

A smile began to creep back onto Clementine's face, her ego reinflating as her plans still fell into place despite the appearance of this so-called 'Paladin Captain'.

"However, from my understanding these things are useless without a proper vessel to utilize it. Surely you wouldn't have acted with such shortsightedness?"

"I'm not sure if you know, but there's someone in this city with a wonderful talent. One that allows them to use any magical item, maybe something like that crown?"

Batutta let out a chortle as he realized what Clementine was insinuating.

"You want to kidnap this person to aid in speeding up the death spiral ritual, correct?"

"What? Would a paladin never stoop to a low like kidnapping? Surely you've already crossed that hurdle if you're a member of Zurrernorn?"

Clementine was back to her playful teasing, almost as if she had forgotten the display of power that the man before her performed moments ago.

"My past is none of your concern, but I assure you there's no sin I'm unwilling to commit in the execution of our goals. You could even say I have an expertise in the subject."

Batutta gave off no inclination of lying, which led Clementine to wonder why a former paladin would have such a checkered past.

"Here's a question for you, though. What do you stand to gain from all this? I doubt you're the kind of person who would simply be charitable to their organization."

"I just wanna cause a commotion on my way outta this city. I don't know how much Khaj has told you, but I'm kind of a wanted girl."

Batutta fastened his spear to his back, and put his one good hand on his chin in thought.

"I can see how this is all mutually beneficial, but I'd like to ask you one more thing. Khajit has his plans for the Death Spiral, but I have a ritual of my own that I've been working to perfect. It's possible that using the Crown of Wisdom could aid its completion, but there's still a key missing element. Or it'd be more apt to say, a key missing person."

"Oyah~? Is the mighty Captain Batutta requesting my help in finding someone?"

Even Batutta had to be slightly amused at how quickly she was able to flip their power dynamic in her favor, but pride was never something that stood in the way of his mission.

"Normally my Paladin Brigade would be able to handle work like that, but obviously I no longer have that kind of manpower at my disposal. You, however, should be able to navigate this city better than anyone else."

"Well, I'm normally not one for flattery, but I'll keep my eye out. Why don'tcha~ give me a description?"

Clementine hardly felt indebted to this man, but if she could have a favor to hold over him in the future, it would be more than worth kidnapping one more person.

"Knowing her personality, I doubt she's changed her outfit to blend in. Look for a woman with platinum blonde hair and hazel eyes. She'll be wearing a white silk dress with red accents, and a hat with the symbol of the Lyferian faith."

"And the girl's name?"

"Lumachina Weselia, the Head Priestess of the Lyferian Church."

Intensive Introductions

Chapter 5: Intensive Introductions

Peeling open his tired eyes, Diablo stared upwards at the blank ceiling of his new accommodations in E-Rantel.

I wonder what kind of people Nferia hired for this job… He didn't specify anyone besides Momon and his partner, so all I can do is hope they aren't too judgemental…

Diablo was still getting used to the quiet of his new sleeping arrangements. He had grown accustomed to the rambunctiousness of Shera, and Rem always serving as her foil, being the calm and collected member of the group.

Rose is good company, I can't deny that, however…

Sitting up from his bed and stretching, Diablo almost jumped out of the sheets in surprise when he saw Rose standing silently at the bedside.

"Ah, master! You're awake!"

I'll never get used to the fact that she doesn't sleep in a traditional sense, but I guess there's some comfort in knowing I've got someone as powerful as her watching over me while I sleep…

"Y-yes, I'm awake now, Rose…"

Sliding out of bed, Diablo pulled open the blinds and looked outside at the bustling city street that his inn was located on.

However, there was one detail that immediately jumped out at him as he took in the scenery.

"The sun! It's nearly at its highest point, I'm gonna be late!"

As he hurriedly began putting on his equipment, Rose simply looked at him with a blush.

"I was going to wake you earlier, master, but watching your sleeping form distracted me from the time, I apologize for my incompetence!"

Okay, maybe I was wrong about this whole arrangement being so comforting…

"It matters not, Rose. Nferia would be a fool to leave without us after expressing such interest in my knowledge on potion making. Besides, it's not as if I can't just fly to the gate before they leave. Although…"

"Rose is too heavy, right, master?"

It pained him to admit it, but Rose with her 《Magimatic Sol》equipped made her heavier than a mounted knight in full armor. His stats as a max level player, as well as his training as a warrior, made him quite strong, yet this was a task that likely exceeded the capacity of his equipment.

"You're correct, carrying you myself would likely be beyond the flight capabilities of the 《Empty Sky's Dance》boots, but fret not, a Demon Lord always has a workaround."

That is if this even works, but I don't have the time for trial and error, it's now or never!

Having equipped himself fully during their brief conversation, Diablo led Rose through the check-in room and out the front door.

It's a good thing they had an open room on the ground floor, I don't know how I would explain myself if Rose wound up falling through the second story floor…

He still received looks of wonder from the passersby of E-Rantel due to his powerful looking equipment, but what he was about to do next would garner more than a few stares.

"Rose, I'm going to cast the 《Adzet》 spell on you, and control your aerial movements myself as we fly to the northern gate."

It was risky to use a spell meant for inanimate objects on a person, but Rose was technically an automaton, and more than tough enough to absorb any fall damage should things go wrong.

"If it's your wish, I will offer myself to you in any way you please!"

Way to make this awkward, Rose! No, a Demon Lord doesn't feel awkwardness, remember to maintain your composure!

"Er- your loyalty is more than understood, Rose. Now, let's get going in case they're already waiting for us."

Diablo pulled his 《Tonnerre Empereur》from its fastening on his side, and pointed it towards his companion.

Please work!

"Change your position as my will demands, 《Adzet》!"

As the spell began to take effect, Rose became enveloped in a soft green glow which quickly faded away, after which she began to slowly float a few feet in the air.

Yes! It worked!

The curious passersby now let out gasps of astonishment, as they witnessed magic that they knew was only possible for the highest level of mages.

Diablo began to float alongside her as he poured MP into his 《Empty Sky's Dance》boots, relieved that his MP levels were holding steady while using it on two different things at once.

It's a little tricky to control my aerial movement while consciously having to move her alongside me, but not nearly as hard as I expected it to be… Thank god for my years of practice with multitasking!

"I knew such a task was nothing for my master, no, for a Demon Lord!"

"Of course, such a result was only to be expected. Now, let's fly!"

The adventurer duo flew high above the city, trying not to attract too much attention. However, despite Diablo's best efforts, rumors of a two person adventurer team capable of flight magic quickly began to spread amongst E-Rantel's citizenry.

Let's just hope this doesn't cause too much of a disturbance… Flight magic can't be that rare among adventurers, right?

…

At the northern gate of E-Rantel, a group of adventurers were almost finished loading supplies into their horse drawn wagon. Such a sight was commonplace, as adventurers were always coming and going through this gate, due to its proximity to the roads that lead towards the Forest of Tob.

What stood out as unusual though, was the man in illustrious full plate armor helping load the aforementioned supplies.

"That should be about everything, are we ready to get going, Nferia?"

The young man with hair that nearly covered both his eyes quickly shook his head in response.

"They must be running a little late, but we're waiting on those two new adventurers that I mentioned earlier. I hope I can ask you all to be patient, there's a lot I wish to learn from them, especially the one who has knowledge on potions."

A limber looking blonde man amongst the group spoke up with playful annoyance, trying to prod at the mysterious identity of the two last minute editions to their adventuring party.

"Ah come on, Nferia. We've got pretty much every role in the book covered with this team! I understand wanting to expand your knowledge on potions, but how much could an adventurer know that someone from the famous Bareare family doesn't?"

Some of the others present expressed their agreement, but ultimately it was Nferia's decision as the one who requested all of them.

"Especially with someone like Momon here, I don't think you're gonna find too many adventurers that look more impressive than him."

Momon, or more accurately, Ainz, waved off the compliment in a nonchalant manner.

"There's no such thing as too much help when dealing with monsters, Lukrut. I believe you said that yourself the other day, right Dyne?"

"You have a keen memory, Momon. Truer words can't be spoken, and I don't think anyone here would be against more party members when it comes to traveling the highway between E-Rantel and Carne village."

"So, where are these two then? You told them to meet here around midday right? You don't think they might've overslept, right?"

The one called Lukrut continued his speculation, although his questions would quickly be answered as his keen senses made him turn his eyes to the sky.

"Look everyone! Up there!"

Hearing Lukrut's words, the rest of the party turned their heads to look upwards, as shocked looks spread across their faces.

Nferia was the first to speak up.

"Th-that's them! I never could have imagined they both knew flight magic!"

"Hey, Ninya, shouldn't only a high level mage be capable of such a thing? Nferia told us earlier that one of them was a warrior, how are they both flying?"

The resident magic caster of their group was in disbelief as well, not knowing exactly how such a feat could be achieved without a personal mastery of the third tier spell [Fly].

"I… I'm not sure. Maybe she has a unique talent like myself, although it could be something else entirely."

The most surprised of them all, unbeknownst to the rest of the group due to his helmeted face, was Momon.

Of all the people… It's that damned demon sorcerer and his warrior companion! Do they have no idea of what restraint is?! Flying across all of E-Rantel in broad daylight, what could they possibly be thinking?!

Narberal, standing beside Ainz, shot him an annoyed look that matched his internal monologue, no doubt holding back the intensity of her negative emotions.

Before any more questions could be raised, the duo had begun their descent, and landed right in front of the stunned group.

"Everyone, this is Diablo and Rose. After meeting them in my grandmother's shop yesterday, I offered them the same deal that I did for all of you. We can save the introductions for the road, we've only got so much daylight to travel by!"

The one they assumed was Diablo was adorned with a flowing black mantle that had a high collar and gold accents. It was contrasted greatly by his silver-white hair, from which two curled horns appeared to sprout out of. His horns, along with the strange, glyphic bluish-black tattoos that ran down the side of his face and neck, accompanied by his sharp silver eyes, gave him a menacing aura compared to the other adventurers. The long, staff-like weapon he had fastened on his side was unlike anything they had seen, with a bluish-white blade shaped crystal at its top that seemed to give off a faint glow.

His adventurer partner Rose left much more to be seen, with most of her form covered by a plain-looking long brown cloak. A glimpse of bright pink hair leaked out from the corner of her hood, which framed her face that everyone present couldn't describe as anything less than divine. Her immaculate skin and emerald green eyes betrayed the harsh look that sat on her face, as she scanned the other adventurers present with what looked like boredom. Upon her back was a massive double sided blade that was nearly as long as Rose was tall, with the bladed ends wrapped in white cloth.

There was a brief silence as the two newcomers stared down their new party members, before everyone started loading up into the wagon, a general sense of wariness hanging over the group.

Once the whole adventuring party was settled, and the horses began their trot, the inevitable introductions from each member began.

"It's a pleasure to be working with you two! I'm the leader of the Swords of Darkness, Peter Mauk!"

Diablo was managing a calm exterior, but on the inside, he was roiling in turmoil.

I hate group introductions… Hell, I hate any kind of introduction, but now I've gotta leave a good impression on all these different people!

He responded with an "Umu" as Peter continued his team's introductions.

"That right there is the team's eyes and ears, the ranger Lukrut Volve."

Lukrut responded with a cheeky "Hi" while obviously having his attention turned towards Rose, immediately alerting Diablo to his incompatible personality type.

"This guy deals with healing magic and manipulation of nature, the druid Dyne Woodwonder."

"Nice to meet you two."

Their leader Peter seems pleasant enough, but I already know that ranger is going to be pushing my buttons the whole trip if I'm not careful, let alone if he tries to make a move on Rose and gets cut in half before I can stop her!

"And lastly, our magic caster and brains of the team, Ninya the Spell Caster!"

"Nice to meet you! And Peter, I told you to stop with that embarrassing nickname…"

So this is the sorcerer of their group…

Having learned how to sense magic power during his attempt to remove the enslavement collars from Rem and Shera many months ago, Diablo could assess most magic casters on the fly.

He's not that impressive…

A moment of silence loomed over the group as everyone turned their eyes towards Momon and his partner Nabe.

"It may surprise you all, but Diablo and I have already been acquainted. We're actually working on a longer term private request together."

There was a chorus of ahhs as everyone was made aware of their prior connection, with Nferia chiming in first.

"I guess it makes sense that adventurers of your caliber have already crossed paths before, but the fact you guys are currently working together, what are the odds?"

Truly… What are the odds that I've got to work with this guy again!? It'll let me do some more information gathering on him in the meantime, but this is just too much for my psyche to handle…

As Diablo and Momon awkwardly stared each other down, Lukrut seemed to be in a state of pure joy as his head cocked from side to side, no doubt trying to ascertain which female party member he found more attractive.

"Ahh, Diablo, Momon, you two are incredibly lucky men! To be able to travel around with such otherworldly beauties, I envy you!"

Naberal and Rose shot disgusted looks towards the ranger of the Swords of Darkness, with both of them being immediately reigned in by their respective partners before they could cause a scene.

"May I remind you Lukrut, Nabe's skill as a magic caster is what drew me to recruit her in the first place. I imagine the same can be said for Rose in terms of her warrior skills."

Diablo let out an internal sigh, thanking Momon for bailing both of them out, as he had seen his partner Nabe share a similar personality to Rose during their brief interactions.

"Quite insightful of you, Momon. I'd even go as far to say that Rose is a mightier warrior than yourself."

This comment elicited a smirk from Rose, but the reaction of the other adventurers was a chorus of playful laughter.

The leader of the Swords of Darkness, Peter Mauk, spoke for the rest of his team.

"I'd believe in the power of anyone who got a direct recommendation from someone like Nferia, but Diablo, surely you don't actually believe Rose to be stronger than the likes of Momon?"

"Yeah! I mean come on, just look at the size difference, and the weapons and armor that Momon has, it's night and day!"

Lukrut had chimed in as well, pointing out another factor that seemed to distance Rose and Momon at first glance.

Shit! I let my Demon Lord ego get the best of me, there's no way that Rose doesn't blow up over this!

To the surprise of everyone, it was Momon who motioned for everyone to quiet down.

"Peter, Lukrut, while I'll always hold my ability as a warrior to the highest standard, it is entirely misguided to judge someone's strength on appearance alone."

The laughter had abruptly turned to silence as Momon managed to turn a chide at his own strength into a teaching moment for the group.

"Take for example, someone like Gazef Stronoff, a man heralded as possibly the greatest warrior of the Kingdom. Would you compare someone like him to that of an ogre? A monster who far surpasses him in physical size?"

The seemingly obvious conclusion struck the members of the Swords of Darkness immediately.

"I mean, obviously not, but that's becausehe's such a renowned warrior!"

"On the battlefield, you almost never have the grace of knowing the ability level of your opponent. To dismiss someone on physical characteristics alone can prove to be a fatal error, especially in the context of adventuring."

Peter was left slightly stunned at the wisdom Momon had just shared. It went to show just how great the experience gap between the two of them truly was.

Everyone else shared the sentiment, rethinking the metrics by which they evaluated other adventurers, or even monsters they may encounter in the future.

A small chuckle broke the contemplative silence, everyone turning their heads towards the source, which was Diablo, a sly grin on his face.

"To respond to what many would see as an insult with such insight, I guess it goes to show what separates those with experience from those who lack it."

While the other present adventurers believed that they had accrued plenty of experience during their time together, none of them felt they could hold a candle to the battles that the two powerful adventurer groups before them had been through.

Rose had a smug look on her face, with her master's claim of her superior skill going mostly uncontested. Narberal looked displeased, but couldn't protest given the words that her master had just shared on the topic.

"Speaking of strength, I was curious how you two were able to fly together in tandem. Only Diablo is capable of magic out of the two of you, right?"

The one to speak up this time was the timid spellcaster of the Swords of Darkness, Ninya.

"You're correct in that I'm a sorcerer, and that Rose is unable to fly by her own abilities. My own flight ability is thanks to my boots, the 《Empty Sky's Dance》. I cast the spell 《Adzet》 on Rose in order to make her weightless, which allowed me to guide her alongside myself as I flew of my own accord. It's quite simple really, as the magic caster of your group I'd expect you to know such things."

Ignoring the dig at his own knowledge of magic, Ninya was in awe at learning of a new spell, as well as the fact that Diablo had such powerful equipment.

"I've never heard of such a spell, and I had always assumed the only way to achieve flight was to master the [Fly] spell."

The rest of Ninya's team took his word on all matters magical, so they shared his astonishment.

"Boots that can make you fly? Does that mean if any of us wore them we'd be able to fly too?"

Peter cut in after learning of the rare gear within Diablo's possession, curious as to how such handy magical equipment worked.

"Unfortunately for you laymen, it's not that simple. The 《Empty Sky's Dance》 relies on my own mana- erm, MP reserves. While its usage is miniscule for me, I can't imagine any of you non-magic users being able to even leave the ground. Someone like Ninya may be able to find some use in them depending on the size of his reserves."

As many of them had expected, something as magnificent as the ability of flight came with some minimum requirements.

"Still, to not only be able to fly without the [Fly] spell, but also to be able to convey the ability to someone else, you must be a really knowledgeable magic caster, Diablo."

It was hard for Diablo to not lean into the praise of his skills in the realm of magic too much, but he offered a minute gesture of thanks for the compliment.

Ainz on the other hand, kept his intrigue to himself, merely nodding along with the rest of the group.

Magical gear that could bestow flight wasn't uncommon in

Yggdrasil

, but it seems to be a rarity in this new world… And his mention of yet another spell I'm unfamiliar with makes this man even more intriguing…

With a greater understanding and rapport among the group, some more lighthearted conversation broke out as the horses continued their trot.

"Alright, I feel like someones gotta address the elephant in the room."

Lukrut spoke up to break the silence, his gaze focused on Diablo this time.

Uh oh… There's no way this is gonna be good…

"Are those horns on your head real, Diablo? And what about those tattoos, what's the meaning behind those?"

Everyone else nodded in agreement with Lukrut's lines of questioning. While most of them didn't want to be rude to someone brought in by Nferia, it was a question that had been eating away at them from when they first saw Diablo.

Well… I've made it this far while maintaining my persona, no point in dropping it now…

"Real? Of course they're real! I wouldn't be able to call myself the Demon Lord from another world without them!"

Everyone but Nferia seemed to cock their heads in confusion, having never heard of someone proclaiming themselves as a "Demon Lord", yet alone one from another world.

"Demon… Lord? I don't think I've ever heard a title like that before…"

Dyne, who had remained silent for most of the trip so far, was the first to respond to Diablo's provocation.

"The closest thing to it that I know of were the so-called Demon Gods that nearly destroyed the world two hundred years ago, yet you don't strike me as anything like the descriptions of them."

The rest of his group shared his sentiment, not seeing Diablo as some mythical evil being, given his human-looking appearance.

"I know nothing of these "Demon Gods" you speak of, but I promise you my title is entirely real. I've defeated two lesser demon lords who sought to make light of my claim as the one trueDemon Lord."

The outlandish claims of the peculiar man working with them only gave rise to more questions among the other adventures.

Speaking for the rest of his team, Peter Mauk continued the line of questioning.

"Demon Lord or not, does that mean you're not human, Diablo? You certainly look like a human, minus the horns."

I knew this would get out of hand… Do I tell them the truth? Or do I dig myself deeper in this hole I've made for myself?!

"I am a man of the races, yes. However my power transcends the boundaries associated with the races, to the extent that to align myself with them makes sense only due to my appearance."

Once again, Diablo used some terminology that didn't make sense to the people native of this world.

"You used the phrase "of the races", what races besides humans would fall under that categorization?"

There shouldn't be any problem divulging this information, it was common knowledge of my old world anyways… Surely their own classifications can't be much different…

"This is all common information. The races include humans, elves, pantherians, grasswalkers, dwarves, and those like myself, demons."

Glossing over the inclusion of races that they had never heard of, like pantherians or grasswalkers, everyone showed great surprise at Diablo identifying himself as an actual demon.

"Surely you can't be serious, Diablo. While none of us have ever encountered a demon, they're described in stories as inhuman monsters, certainly nothing like yourself."

The culture clash between the world Diablo found himself in, and that of which he had come from was becoming increasingly obvious.

Momon decided to speak up, in order to offer clarification on the situation.

"I have first hand experience fighting demons, and even among all their varying ranks, none look relatively human. Are you sure you're being honest with us, Diablo?"

Unbeknownst to everyone else, Ainz felt like he'd be smiling if it was physically possible for him to do so.

While it's true that within the character customization system of

Yggdrasil

, it was possible to have massive creative freedom over the appearance of one's avatar, if I assume Diablo here isn't actually a player, his claim of being a demon would be easily falsified…

What a great opportunity to learn more about his origins…

"Your understanding of the term 'demon' seems to be far different from my own. Where I come from, those who have the blood of true demonic beings, called the fallen, are referred to as demons. The markings on my face that you pointed out earlier are proof of my lineage, they are not tattoos."

This revelation left everyone puzzled for a moment, including Ainz.

Is there some kind of issue with the universal translation of this world? Perhaps what he's referring to as a "demon" is another word entirely, and what we're all hearing is the closest thing available to us in our languages…

"I'm not sure where you hail from, Diablo, but with the way you describe it, would that not make you a demi-human of some kind?"

Diablo was hesitant with his answer, knowing that the treatment of demi-humans among human nations was notoriously negative. Yet he was confident that his human appearance would carry him throughout the rest of this conversation.

"In practical terms, us demons are a race of demihumans, although I'd preface that with the fact that our definition of 'demihuman' may also be different. All of the races I named previously would be classified as demihuman, besides humans, obviously."

Despite the absurdity of some of his earlier claims, Diablo's logic was beginning to click with the rest of his adventuring party.

"I guess that makes sense. For all intents and purposes, you're essentially a human that has a distant ancestor that we would call a demon. You used the term 'fallen', I assume that's what you meant by it."

Peter's rationalization of Diablo's explanation was shared by everyone else listening, as they all nodded along with the leader of the Swords of Darkness.

"Perhaps the beings you called 'Demon Gods' are the same beings that Rose and I would know as 'Demon Lords'. Their direct descendants are the fallen, otherwise known as demonic beings. I should say, however, that I am no mere demon, but the one true Demon Lord who stands above all others who falsely claim the title."

While his claim of being a Demon Lord seemed to be little more than showmanship to the other adventurers, the rest of his explanation seemed consistent with their understanding of the world.

"Well, I guess that explains the horns and facial markings. Demon or not, I think everyone here is willing to treat you as their fellow man, especially if you managed to earn the trust of Nferia here."

The boy who had hired all the present adventurers had allowed the members of the Swords of Darkness to take the lead with questions regarding Diablo. While he was definitely intrigued by his lineage and past, what Nferia was truly interested in was his knowledge of potions, and he wasn't going to take the chance of offending Diablo when he still had much to learn from him.

"Of course! Diablo left quite the impression on my grandmother, and if any of you know, she's quite a hard person to please. I won't reveal anything he doesn't wish me to, but Diablo has extensive skills in potion making, great enough that we both have things we hope to learn from one another."

Everyone had heard Nferia speak about learning new potion techniques from one of their incoming party members, but hearing him praise Diablo in such a direct way gave them a newfound respect for the demonic adventurer.

"The world I come from, mastering a variety of skills was necessary for survival. Learning to create my own potions and eventually becoming a 《Master Compounder》were just as important as honing my skills as a sorcerer."

Just as Nferia had assumed during their first conversation, everyone was operating under the idea that Diablo's reference to "another world" was merely hyperbolic. It made sense for someone with such a different understanding of the world to be from somewhere extremely far away from where they all called home.

Even Ainz had to acknowledge the proclaimed ingenuity of Diablo, knowing that the allocation of job and racial levels were what could make or break the viability of a person's level build.

That's assuming that he operates on the same system as

Yggdrasil

, which is currently only an assumption… It's possible he was able to spec into a crafting job class without it being a detriment to his magic casting abilities…

He would require more observation of Diablo's abilities before being able to formulate a hypothetical level build of the demon sorcerer.

"I think we can all agree we're happy to have both you and Rose on the team for this request. Like Momon mentioned earlier, you can never have too much help on a mission like this. Although I never imagined I'd be working alongside a Demon Lord!"

A chorus of jovial laughter and shouts of agreement arose from the other adventurers in response to Peter's claim, all of them excited to get a chance to see Diablo put his bold words into action.

In the meantime, the unlikely group continued onwards towards the Great Forest of Tob.

…

Deep within the slums of E-Rantel, a sickly woman made her way through one of the many dark alleyways of the city.

Her ragged clothing did little to protect her from the cold of night, but more importantly, it left her upper thigh exposed, showing the cause of her deadly affliction.

Eight red x's were neatly aligned in two rows of four, showing all who knew of this new disease that she had little time left.

It had been mere days since the outbreak of this disease, which many had begun to call a curse given its peculiar and incurable nature.

Once you were infected, new red x's would begin to appear on the thigh area over the course of a few days. When the ninth and final one appeared, your life was at its end.

Given that the disease had only begun to spread among the poorest residents of E-Rantel, none of them had the funds to seek out proper medical care, let alone provide a substantial enough offering to receive aid from one of the temples of Re-Estize.

However, the woman had one last glimmer of hope. She had heard of someone capable of curing people afflicted with the disease, even in its latest stages. It was said she ran a makeshift clinic within the slums themselves, yet its exact location eluded most who sought her aid.

With barely any energy remaining, she dragged herself further into the heart of the slums, praying to the Four Great Gods for mercy.

As her vision began to blur, and her legs gave out from underneath herself, she caught a glimpse of someone in a pristine white and red dress running towards her, before fading into unconsciousness.

The last thing she had expected was to wake up once again in the land of the living. Looking around, she was surrounded by at least a dozen other disheveled people, most of them in varying states of the disease.

She was in a makeshift cot, housed underneath what appeared to be no more than a glorified tarp.

Immediately, she was hit with the realization of where she was.

"Am I… going to be ok?"

Tears began streaming down her face as the same woman who had rescued her approached her from the side of her cot.

"Of course. By the grace of God, I promise you will be cured of your suffering. The Death Knell disease is a terrible affliction, and while I had never expected to see it again, I'm always prepared to do my part in the service of the Almighty."

The woman's usage of a singular God had confused her, but it was the farthest thing from her mind in the moment.

"You already have eight marks, it's a miracle that you managed to find me in time. Please, hold still while I prepare the blessing."

She had no clue as to what her benefactor meant by "blessing". While she had heard of divine magic casters before, the way they conducted their healing was beyond her knowledge.

The woman who she now realized had beautiful, long platinum blonde hair, with an equally stunning face to match, clasped her hands around a cross shaped artifact of some kind, and closed her eyes.

"Oh God who art in heaven, please hear the voices of those who seek your salvation."

A faint breeze began to sweep through the makeshift hospital, with small motes of golden light carried by its current.

"Please heal this woman stricken with this foul disease."

She placed one of her hands on her head, continuing her prayer as the golden light surrounding them continued to grow.

"Please grant your generous mercy to this woman for her sins, and forgive her."

"Grant her mercy."

"Forgive her."

Her own body began to take on the golden glow that had begun to encapsulate the entire room, with her afflicted thigh shining brightest of all.

"Grant her mercy."

"Forgive her."

As the golden light reached its peak, it began to fade, revealing her thigh to be completely bare of the eight marks which previously covered it.

It was nothing short of a miracle, something that she couldn't have dreamed to be possible from what seemed like an ordinary plea to the heavens. Not only had the marks disappeared, but she felt entirely healthy, as if the plethora of long term afflictions she had acquired from living in the slums had been cured as well.

"Th-thank you so much, miss! How can I ever repay you?"

The woman who had turned out to be her savior merely showed her a soft, caring smile.

"All I can ask is that you turn towards God and his everlasting love. Spread the word so others can be cured of this horrible disease, and so that they can one day be reunited with their creator when they pass on to the next world."

It was clear to her that this woman was not a part of the temple that represented the Four Great Gods. She had never heard of a religion that worshiped only one God, but after seeing the miracle that had saved her life, she knew what to believe going forward.

"Of course! If any more people can be saved from the fate of this disease, it's the least I can do."

Her benefactor nodded, before beginning to walk towards another one of the afflicted individuals.

"Wait, miss!"

Turning her head as she stared into the forgiving hazel eyes of the woman who had saved her life, she had but one more question.

"Can you please tell who you are?"

With the same benevolent smile as before, she spoke to her.

"Lumachina Wesalia. I am but one of God's many humble servants."

…

Whew, it's been a long time since you guys have seen an update for this story, right? I won't make any excuses, but I lost a lot of the creative inspiration that I used to have when writing my stories, and only recently have I been able to get back into the swing of things. Starting a fresh story in the form of Hunter X Zero made me realize that I needed to do right by this story and give it the love it deserves. I still have so many great plot ideas for this, with so many characters to still introduce. I hope I can bring them all to reality, and one day give this story the satisfying conclusion that it deserves. To all of you who held out for an update, here it is, and there's more to come. The rivalry of Ainz and Diablo has only just begun!

Plans for the Future

Hey everyone, I've had the first half of this chapter sitting around for a while so I finally sat down and knocked it out. I'm finally getting close to a few big events in the story that I know will be incredibly fun to write, and thus faster to write as well. This story will be a minimum of 100k words before I even consider finishing it, as I certainly have enough plot ideas to branch it out to that level. I also have an ending in mind too, so things will start to fall into place as we reach the middle of the story as a whole. Once again, thanks for checking out the new chapter, and please, leave a follow, favorite, and review, it's what helps motivate me to deliver new chapters. Feel free to check out my new story idea as well, it's a DBS x DC crossover, so it's a bit different from my usual isekai content.

Chapter 7: Plans for the Future

After several hours of travel, the adventurer party protecting Nferia Bareare consisting of the Swords of Darkness, Momon and Nabe, as well as Diablo and Rose, decided to take a brief rest from their travels.

Having found an open area nestled next to a river and the edge of the forest, it was a tactical place to stop, allowing them full view of the surrounding area, and a much needed source of fresh drinking water.

The group was roughly halfway to Carne village, and would have to complete the rest of their journey after sleeping through the night.

Diablo felt that it was pointless to camp out during the night as long as Rose was with them, given she didn't require sleep like a human, but such a fact was something he didn't think was worth revealing to the others.

I managed to explain away my demonic heritage, but I don't know how they'd process it if I told them Rose was an automaton… Just like in my world, the technology for such a thing doesn't exist here…

Despite their middle ages level of technology, the magic of this world was much more sophisticated. He had learned from Ninya and Nferia that there was low level magic for creating certain food items like salt and sugar, something that didn't exist in Cross Reverie .

In a real world where supplies like that are essential for the proliferation of civilization, it'd make sense that the development of magic would vary greatly from a game world…

While some party members were sifting through supplies from the wagon, the rest of the group was idling around, on alert for any possible threats.

The professional silence was broken by the one Diablo had it expected it from, Lukrut.

"Nabe, Rose, you two always look so composed! Is it because you truly trust in my eyes and ears after all?"

While it was true that as a ranger class, something that Diablo was unfamiliar with in the context of Cross Reverie , yet knew of from other MMO terminology, had enhanced senses compared to the rest of his team, they paled in comparison to the sensory abilities of a level 150 warrior like Rose.

"Not you. It's because Mr. Momon is here."

Standing behind her, Momon rested a hand on her shoulder to make sure her response ended there.

Rose shared a similar sentiment to that of Nabe.

"As far as I'm concerned, you are dead weight in the presence of Diablo. Even my own abilities are more than enough to assure our safety."

The venomous response that Rose espoused made Diablo nervous, but luckily for him, Lukrut's temperament only thrived from such rejections.

"Ah, come on guys! I mean, aren't you two duos lovers, after all?

Oh no, he really said that!

"L-L-Lovers?! What are you saying?! He has Lady Albedo by his side-"

Momon reacted immediately by trying to cut her off, but it was far too late for that.

"Hey! Wait! What are you saying?!"

Raising both hands to her mouth, Nabe had an intensely worried look on her face, like what she had just divulged was incredibly sensitive information.

Conversely, Rose had brought a hand to her now blushing cheeks, a wide smile caked on her face.

"Diablo and I? Lovers?"

She seemed to have the complete opposite reaction to that of Nabe, leaning into Lukrut's assumption entirely.

In a case like this, I think the safest thing for everyone present is if I just say nothing… Everyone's attention seems more focused on Momon and Nabe anyways…

"Mr. Lukrut, can you please stop looking into our personal lives?"

Lukrut slyly waved off his previous claim, not wanting to upset the man he assumed to be the strongest among their group.

"Oh, excuse me then. I didn't know that Mr. Momon already had someone in his life."

He then immediately tried to pivot towards Rose, who hadn't given a clear answer, but the moment he looked towards her, he was met with a harsh denial.

"Don't get the wrong idea, worm. Diablo's might is far too great to be tied down to a single woman, but I serve him and him ALONE."

Laughing sheepishly while holding his hands up in defeat, his leader Peter chimed in to deescalate the situation.

"Mr. Momon, Diablo, I apologize on behalf of my friend here. I know that it's taboo to pry into another's past."

His helmet obscuring whatever emotion might be showing on his face, Momon replied calmly despite his angst over the initial ordeal.

"No, no. There is no problem, as long as he is careful from here on out."

I hope this warning is enough to stop his antics going forward, I don't know if he'd escape with his life if he offended either Rose or Nabe…

"Lukrut, you really need to stop this-"

Peter was cut off as Lukrut raised his hand to cut him off, his attention turning towards the tree line at the horizon.

"Looks like they started to make their move."

Not knowing exactly what he meant, Diablo turned his head in the same direction, realizing that Rose had already drawn her double headed sword from her back.

Of course Rose would already be aware of an oncoming threat, I imagine she was too distracted by the "lovers" comment to vocalize it though…

"Where are they?"

Peter questioned the ranger as he pointed towards the treeline, from which the oncoming threat began to crest into everyone's vision.

It was a horde of what appeared to be ogres armed with makeshift clubs, along with goblins, some of which were donned with basic armor and swords.

"Nferia, please stay hidden in the horse cart, we'll take care of this."

"Yes, I'll be in your care!"

Turning to whom he believed to be the most experienced, Peter asked Momon how to proceed.

"Mr. Momon, how should we split our forces?"

These guys are treating this as if we're dealing with a group of fallen… Unless the non-demonic monsters of this world are way stronger than what I'm familiar with, this should be a breeze…

"Can you all please protect Mr. Nferia? Let us show him how easily we can handle this."

"Roger that. We'll give you as much combat support as we can afford to."

Wanting to ensure the threat was dealt with in its entirety, Ninya chimed in with an important point.

"If we start fighting here, there's a good chance some of them will escape into the forest."

Having a long history of working together, the teamwork of the Swords of Darkness began to manifest.

"Let's do the usual then! Pull out the turtle's head from its shell."

Dyne agreed with Lukrut's plan, continuing to flesh out their formation of attack.

"That sounds good. Peter, though Mr. Momon will block the enemy's attack, how shall we deal with the enemies that manage to get through?"

"I'll use the martial art [Fortress] in order to hold the ogres back! Dyne will take care of the goblins."

"Understood."

"Ninya will protect me with defensive magic. After that, follow the flow of battle and focus on attack magic."

"Yes, roger!"

"You hunt the goblins as well, Lukrut. If any ogres break through, block them!"

"Leave it to me!"

It was evident to Diablo that this was par for the course with an adventuring team that was used to working together, something he had forgone entirely during his time playing Cross Reverie .

"Mr. Momon, Diablo, will that be acceptable?"

Momon replied with a simple 'yes', however, Diablo couldn't help but laugh at what he saw as unnecessary planning.

"Your foresight in battle is greater than I had anticipated, but I'll ask that you leave this to the Demon Lord!"

There was a cacophony of "eh?'s" as Diablo took flight and soared over to the horde of ogres and goblins, floating over them menacingly.

Pulling his staff from its attachment at his waist, he gave the incantation for it to reveal its true power.

"Change into the form that I demand, 《Tonnerre Empereur• Libéré》!"

At his command, his staff began to transform before everyone's eyes, as the crystal that sat at its top shifted to the side, and from the opening a blade of what looked like solid light emerged, in the shape of a sword.

"Mr. Momon, have you ever seen a magical weapon like that before?"

The resident magic caster of the Swords of Darkness looked up in awe along with the rest of his teammates as Diablo prepared for battle.

"No, I must say that weapon is entirely unorthodox compared to anything I've seen."

Unbeknownst to everyone else though, Ainz had seen the capabilities of Diablo's 《Tonnerre Empereur• Libéré》while spectating his defense of Carne village days ago.

I knew that this man had no restraint, but to use what must be a God level item so casually in front of these low level adventurers, he truly wants to show off at every opportunity…

Before any of the other adventurers could begin their plan of attack, Diablo pointed his staff downwards towards the horde of monsters.

"Flames of scorching fury, come forth! 《Burst Rain》!"

The level 70 fire elemental spell that Diablo called upon summoned over a dozen magic circles in front of him, amplified seven times over by the effects of his 《Tonnerre Empereur• Libéré》.

From all the magic circles, a barrage of explosive fireballs began raining down on the helpless monsters below.

There was no time for the ogres or goblins to retreat as they were burned asunder by the countless magical projectiles of fire. Even the notoriously durable ogres succumbed to the spell as their thick skin was charred black, causing them all to crumple to the ground.

The Swords of Darkness stood with their mouths agape at what they had just witnessed. They had all assumed that someone with gear as prestigious as Diablo could wield powerful magic, but this was something beyond the realm of what they understood magic to be capable of.

"Uh, Ninya… Did you recognize the spell he just used?"

Ninya clasped his own staff close to his chest, feelings of awe and fear coursing through him as he took in the reality of what he had just seen.

"N-No… It seemed similar to the third tier spell [Fireball, but it was as if he casted it dozens of times all at once…"

Ainz internally sighed at the whole ordeal, wishing he could've had a chance to build the reputation of his adventurer persona by cleaving through the ogres on his own.

It seems like Diablo is going to be a bigger thorn in my plans than I had initially anticipated…

While everyone else continued standing around starstruck, Ainz had begun moving towards the corpses of the slain monsters.

I may as well confirm my own theories about the existence of data crystals in this world, so this endeavor won't be entirely wasted…

After scanning the field of charred monsters below for any movement, Diablo concluded it was a successful bombardment and floated back down to the other adventurers, noting that Momon was investigating the corpses of the monsters alone.

The first to speak up among the Swords of Darkness was their leader, Peter.

"Diablo, that magic you just used, what tier was that? Irregardless, that was something I would expect only of an adamantite ranked adventurer, no, maybe even stronger!"

Diablo had been met with this terminology of "tier magic" several times since appearing in this world. He still wasn't sure whether it was a colloquial way of measuring the magic he was familiar with, or a different system altogether.

At this point, I'm leaning towards the second… Yet the fact that all my spells and equipment function as normal means they would have to operate on the same fundamental principles…

"In the realm that I hail from, we measure spells on a level system, ranging from one up to one hundred and fifty. That spell I used, 《Burst Rain》, was a level seventy fire elemental spell. Where that fits on your own scaling, you can figure out for yourselves."

While everyone started trying to do mental math conversions based on a level system they had never heard of, Ninya spoke up with an obvious implication of Diablo's explanation.

"So what you're saying is that 《Burst Rain》 is only a middle tier spell? What kind of magic would be considered of a high tier then? As far as I know, humans are only capable of magic up to the fifth tier, I've never even heard of anything above that!"

Ehh… Did I reveal too much with that explanation? I mean, I want them to see me as a demon lord with overwhelming power but, are they going to expect a demonstration?!

The other Swords of Darkness looked towards Diablo, waiting for his answer after comprehending the magnitude of Ninya's question.

"I said I was a demon lord, remember? Comparing me to the feats of mortal men is a waste of time!"

Most of the group regarded him with skeptical looks, but there was no denying the adamantite level power they had just witnessed Diablo so casually use to decimate the horde of monsters.

"Well, I hope we get a chance to see some of your true magical power one day, Diablo. I think you've more than convinced everyone here that you're cut from a different cloth."

Lukrut held a hand sheepishly to head, a confused smile on his face as he praised the self-proclaimed demon lord.

While everyone was curious about Diablo's performance, Momon approached the group after tenuously studying the corpses of the ogres and Goblins.

"I overheard some of your conversation, Diablo. Your prowess as a magic caster was clearly not understated."

Despite Momon's words of praise, his partner standing beside him seemed to look annoyed at the whole ordeal. Perhaps realizing the source of her emotions, Rose made sure to capitalize on the opportunity.

"You lot could only hope to comprehend the true depths of Diablo's power. It's a shame we didn't get to see Nabe use any of her magic, not like it would've compared by any metric."

Nabe's annoyed glance turned into one of full on rage, as not only was she insulted directly, but as a creation of the supreme beings, it was a slight against them as well.

Momon quickly placed a firm hand on her shoulder, wanting to make sure she didn't have an outburst that revealed crucial information like she had done earlier.

"Nabe, I'm sure she said that only to jest. We are a team, remember?"

Rose had a gleeful look as her counterpart reluctantly clamped her mouth shut and looked away, knowing that she had struck a place of insecurity.

"Getting things back on track, is it normal for slain monsters to not drop crystals? I found none during my brief search of the corpses."

While everyone else was still uncomfortable over the stifled confrontation between the two female members of their party, Momon's question managed to replace the awkward tension with confusion.

"Crystals? I don't think we've ever seen ogres or goblins carrying around precious gems or any type of 'crystal'."

"I see."

Monsters dropping crystals? That sounds like something out of a game… Although Cross Reverie never had a mechanic like that. Slain monsters would drop XP, gold, and sometimes gear of varying quality depending on the level of the monster…

Momon did say he was from a far off country, so it's possible the monsters he dealt with there were known for hoarding gems or other precious materials similar to dragons… Still, that was an incredibly odd question for him to ask…

The rest of the Swords of Darkness nodded along with the words of their leader, as he once again took charge to give his party directions.

"Anyways, why don't we get to work on collecting evidence of our kills for the guild?"

"Our? Let's be honest with ourselves, the only one who deserves credit for this is Diablo. None of us even had to break a sweat!"

Lukrut was quick to point out what was likely on everyone else's minds. Despite his usual propension for self-fulfillment, money from the guild wasn't worth possibly earning the ire of someone like Diablo.

Damn… I thought killing all the monsters would help cement myself as a demon lord in everyone's eyes… I didn't think I'd be gypping them out of their livelihood…

"Divy the spoils amongst yourselves, a demon lord doesn't require such a paltry sum."

Diablo's response was surprising to the rest of the group, but they also understood that he clearly came from a wealthy background based on his gear. The guild would pay a generous sum for this amount of slain monsters, especially the ogres, yet compared to the gold in Diablo's treasure room, it was nothing.

The only issue is that my Cross Reverie currency may be regarded as suspicious or simply denied altogether. I'll have to look into either finding someone who will give me Re-Estize currency in exchange, or perhaps melting some of the gold into bars and selling them that way…

Regardless, Diablo had no knowledge on smelting metals, so no matter what he'd have to find someone to help ease his money troubles.

"That's incredibly generous of you Diablo. I promise the Swords of Darkness will repay you somehow."

Peter was genuinely thankful, as Diablo had every right to claim all the spoils for himself. Despite being perturbed by his standoffish attitude, the demonic man had been nothing but benevolent towards him and his group throughout their travels together.

"Perhaps I can rely on you in future endeavors, you've proven yourselves to be a well coordinated team."

A quick nod and a smile was all Peter needed to reply with. Although he didn't see himself or his team as anywhere close to Diablo's level, it was nice to know he had such a powerful individual's respect.

"Alright everyone, you heard the man. Grab a knife and start collecting some ears!

Diablo stood beside Rose as they watched the rest of their party members make their way towards the corpses of the monsters. While Rose's attention was on Diablo, he could've sworn he caught Momon glaring at him from behind his helmet. As soon as he had recognized the sensation, the dark warrior had already turned around to avert any suspicion.

Momon has tried to be pleasant with us this entire trip, yet I can't shake the feeling that he has a well concealed animosity towards Rose and myself… That, combined with all the inconsistencies of his back story, as well as his occasional bizarre questions, makes me incredibly suspicious of him…

Seeing as there was no concrete evidence to declare Momon an enemy, he decided to play it by ear for the time being. He had had a similar feeling towards the Paladin Captain Battuta when they first met, and his inaction almost led to Rem and Lumachina losing their lives. This time though, it was just himself and Rose at risk, and he currently didn't view Momon as a threat the two of them couldn't handle together.

"Rose, I know you won't be making use of one, but how about you start setting up the tents? It'll help improve your reputation amongst the others."

"But Di-

"Before you say it, I know you don't care what these people think of you. But for my sake, I need you to get along with the others, do you understand?"

Despite her indifference towards the rest of her party, Rose could never deny a direct request from her master. If she was willing to sacrifice her life to protect Diablo, she could definitely set up some measly tents. Although he shouldn't have expected much else, Diablo watched as his automaton companion pitched all of the group's tents in mere moments. Most of the others were too distracted with the monster corpses to notice her insane speed, save for Nabe, who watched with a frown, before turning to whisper something to Momon. Moments later, the others took notice of the fruits of Rose's brief labor as well.

"Woah, did you set up camp for all of us Rose? I didn't even see you do it, talk about efficiency huh?"

Nferia looked at the assembled tents with an impressed look on his face. He knew high level warriors could move fast during combat, but he never expected to see such speed employed in a mundane activity like this.

In response, Rose merely scoffed and returned to Diablo's side, caring not for the opinion of a mere human, even if he was paying them.

All we have to do is make it through the night without any incidents, surely that can't be too much to ask, right?

As he watched the sun begin to crest over the horizon, Diablo took the brief moment of serenity to steel himself for what laid ahead.

Once I'm done working with these people and have a little more money in my pocket, I can start properly searching for Rem and Shera… I know they have to be in this world as well, I can feel it…

He hadn't had much time to dwell on it, but the thought still remained: Just how many people were brought into this new world? The presence of Rose and Emile left many possibilities, with the only certainty being that there had to be more of his comrades somewhere out there. However, with that certainty came the possibility that more than just his comrades were brought here. If a being like a demon lord was summoned to this world where the average level was lower, it could be catastrophic. For the time being, such things were outside of his control, so he dedicated his focus towards his friends.

I can't let myself worry, lucky for me, they're all incredibly capable on their own… and if they truly are somewhere out there, it shouldn't be long before I hear word of their shenanigans…

One day at a time, it won't be long until this starts making sense…

I hope…

…

A few minutes have passed, and the sun has finally disappeared over the horizon. It was that brief period of time where the skyline was lit with beautiful shades of purple, pink, and red, in contrast to a black night sky.

"I have to say, twilight on the Katze Plains is quite a sight."

While everyone had taken notice of the stunning sky, it was only Momon and Nabe who had gone out of their way to admire it, as if it was their first time seeing it.

To think I'd get to marvel at such beauty, untouched by centuries of human greed… Blue Planet-san, I know you would love this place…

While the undercover Nazarick duo drank in the scenery, the other members of the party were getting ready to cook dinner. Dyne had already gathered some firewood, and all the components for their stew were assembled.

"It's not fine dining, but under a sky like this, it's the next best thing."

There was a chorus of agreement as everyone started to gather around the unlit fire.

"I'll save us some time,《 Fire》."

Diablo had pointed his《 Tonnerre Empereur》towards the teepee of firewood, and cast the most basic spell of the fire attribute. At his command, the wood lit up with a sudden blaze, before dying down to a perfectly sized camp fire.

"Th-thanks Diablo, but you know I could've done it myself, right?"

The resident magic caster of the Swords of Darkness, Ninya, meekly spoke up, as he wanted to have some use to the group.

"I would expect you to be able to employ such simple magic, but as the caster with a far greater MP to draw from, it only made sense for me to start the fire."

Diablo's logic made sense to the rest of the group, and Ninya quickly gave up trying to argue.

"Yeah, I guess you're right…"

I didn't mean to make him feel bad, it was just simple logistics! Gah, even when I try to be friendly with my demon lord persona, I wind up causing hurt feelings…

"Don't sweat it Ninya, what if we got attacked again and you needed all the MP you could have? Diablo's just thinking for our best interest."

Peter made sure to reassure his teammate, as even he had felt severely underutilized throughout the job so far.

"Alright, let's get the pot fixed over the fire, and this stew will be ready in no time!"

Before anyone could start setting up a stand to hold the pot, Diablo stepped forward once again.

"I know I spoke about managing our MP, but I think this spell will raise everyone's spirits. Change your position as my will demands, 《 Adzet》!"

As Diablo pointed his《 Tonnerre Empereur》at the pot, it became enveloped in a soft green light, before rising from the ground, and suspending itself over the fire.

"While I normally have to maintain focus when moving an object with this spell, keeping it suspended in one place is child's play."

All the other adventurers present let out a series of oohs and ahhs, circling around the floating pot trying to see if it was a trick of some kind.

"That's an incredibly useful ability of yours Diablo. I presume it's what you used to make Rose fly earlier, correct?"

"It is the same spell, yes."

Ainz had been observing in silence until now, as he had a genuine curiosity about the magic Diablo wielded, on a level deeper than the demon lord could currently understand.

A spell of this usefulness would've been common in Yggdrasil , yet no such spell of the same name existed. Telekinesis abilities were not uncommon, but nothing similar to this 《 Adzet 》spell…

While everyone marveled at the floating pot, and as the stew began to simmer, the gears of Ainz' mind continued to grind away.

The way things are revealing themselves, Diablo seems both foreign to this world, as well as Yggdrasil … He did say outright that he's "a demon lord from another world", but I had assumed it to be hyperbole. Yet, the existence of this reality opens up the possibility of their being other realities, possibly infinite. If there exists a power that could transport myself and Nazarick to this world, is it a leap in logic to say the same happened to Diablo and Rose? We're aware of their base in the Great Forest of Tob, which would mean it's their equivalent of a guild base…

Ainz had halted any further investigation of the temple-like building in the forest for the time being, as he didn't want to clue Diablo in on Nazarick's connection to himself in any way. Such an operation would eventually resume, as even if Ainz believes it to not be a Yggdrasil guild base, it could still hold treasures that would be of use to Nazarick.

As things currently stand, Diablo will be left alive. Despite his hindrances towards my plans, he could be the key to uncovering the mystery of our transportation to this world… and once he has outlived his usefulness, I can claim his base and possessions in the name of Ainz Ooal Gown…

I imagine it will be a battle spoken of for generations to come…

…

Deep within the heart of the Theocracy, the country's most important political and religious figures were gathered. It was not uncommon for the Supreme Executive Council to meet, but it was usually regarding matters of an international nature. Today, they had been called together to discuss not a foreign adversary, but a single individual.

All those present were sat at a round table, in a sacred room where they were regarded as equals, and their opinions would be treated as such. Even the Pontifex Maximus, the first to speak, was held to this rule.

"Has everyone been briefed with the Thousand League Astrologer's report on the Sunlight Scripture's latest mission?"

The leaders of the Theocracy all glanced down at the papers in front of them and nodded in affirmation. Next to speak was one of the six cardinals, Raymond Zarg Lauransan, the Cardinal of Earth and commander of the Six Scriptures.

"We've all read the briefing, your Holiness. The Sunlight Scripture was unsuccessful in their assassination of Gazef Stronoff due to the actions of an unknown interloper called Diablo. What doesn't make sense to me, is how that incompetent Nigun managed to lose when he possessed one of our sacred treasures! From my understanding, he and his entire scripture should be dead, yet they were spared by the being who defeated them so thoroughly!"

There was a collective murmur as everyone briefly exchanged their thoughts on the cardinal's comments. The Grand Marshal, Commander-in-Chief of the Theocracy's military, spoke up in regards to the cardinal's confusion.

"Raymond, you read the report yourself! The demi-human employed the ability to reflect magic, including the spell cast by 「 Dominion Authority 」! Are you suggesting there was a course of action where Nigun could have come out victorious? This 'Diablo' character not only negated their spell casting, but also decimated all of their summoned angels with a single spell! Magic on a scale that shouldn't be possible for an individual, demi-human or otherwise!"

The room went silent as the Grand Marshal gave his rousing refutation of the cardinal's condemnation of the Sunlight Scripture's leader. Everyone realized they would have to move past the performance of the scripture, and instead focus on how to deal with this new threat going forward.

"Raymond, as the overseer of the Scriptures, do you see any of them as viable candidates for eliminating this self proclaimed 'demon lord'?"

Trying to turn the cardinal's attention away from the Grand Marshal's harsh words, the Pontifex offered a question regarding the capabilities of the Six Scriptures.

"Unfortunately, I don't see any of them besides the Black Scripture being effective, and they're currently indisposed with preparing for the resurrection of the Catastrophe Dragon Lord. They could be sent out in pursuit either when that situation resolves, or if Diablo acts against us and requires immediate attention, they can be reassigned."

No one present knew the capabilities of the Six Scriptures better than Raymond Zarg Lauransan, so they acquiesced to his superior knowledge on the subject.

"Now, another question to consider: Do we believe Diablo is related to the advent of the gods? It has been one hundred years, we should have been expecting someone like him to appear."

This interjection was presented by Berenice Nagua Santini, the Cardinal of Fire, as well as a firm believer in the prophecy of the appearance of powerful individuals every 100 years. In reply to her question was the Pontifex, who maintained a stoic face despite the gravity of the meeting.

"It would be the only logical explanation for the power he demonstrated against the Sunlight Scripture. If such is the case, we may have no choice but to employ the God-kin against him. For the time being, however, I advise we maintain neutrality. It was mentioned within the report that he only cared to find his companions and 'return to his original world'. If such a statement is to be believed, we may not only be able to avoid a direct confrontation, but also possibly manipulate his actions in our interest. All who agree with the position of monitoring the situation for the foreseeable future, say yea."

There was a unanimous series of "Yea's" from all those sitting around the table.

"All opposed, say nay."

This time there was a resounding silence, proving that everyone was in agreement.

"Excellent. You may all excuse yourselves, this meeting is adjourned."

Thus, things proceeded as normal within the Theocracy; their government unaware of the true threat that had been unleashed upon the world: The Great Underground Tomb of Nazarick, and all those who called it home.

…

Prelude to Disaster

Chapter 8: Prelude to Disaster

Once the stew had reached the perfect simmer, it was only a few minutes of cooking before everyone had filled their bowl.

Everyone, save for one person: Rose.

Diablo knew the obvious reason for Rose not partaking. It was anatomically impossible for her to actually eat or drink, given her status as an automaton. Luckily, he had already rehearsed a reason for her to give if anyone else in the group questioned her on it. Strangely though, he noticed that Momon and Nabe were simply staring at their filled bowls, as if they hadn't decided on eating it.

Unfortunately the scenario he had in mind played out a little edgier than he had hoped, thanks to the likes of Lukrut.

"Rose, is there something you dislike? If that's the case, you know I can feed you mouth-to-mouth right-"

Normally when receiving a comment like this from a human she viewed as no greater than a bug, Rose would have taught him a lesson in etiquette with
Asterismos
》, but her master had made it very clear how she was to act in these situations.

"I know such an idea is above you, but as a warrior of my caliber, my metabolism is incredibly refined. Since I didn't have to lift my blade today, I have no need to eat. In fact, it would more likely throw my body out of equilibrium."

Rose's language on the different functions of the body left most of those present scratching their heads in confusion, but they were able to get the gist of her reasoning nonetheless. The only one who properly understood and was left intrigued, was Ainz.

I didn't think there was anyone in this world who understood modern concepts like the body's metabolism or state of equilibrium… This dietary restriction she's describing almost sounds like some form of intermittent fasting…

It was clear to him now that Diablo and Rose were not only anomalous in power, but also regarding their knowledge.

It's possible that there were other players present in past eras of this world, and certain pieces of modern information were carried down the generations, but this seems too specific…

However, now that Rose had given her explanation, everyone's attention turned to Momon and Nabe, as they had yet to touch the stew in their bowls.

"What about you guys? Is something not to your liking?"

This time it was Peter who inquired, thankfully in a much less inflammatory way.

I had a contingency in mind for this, but thanks to Diablo hogging all the glory, I can't use it in this scenario… Guess I have to improvise, something I'm getting more used to with each day here…

"It has to do with our religious teachings. We shouldn't eat with more than four people after sundown."

"Ho… You hold belief in such interesting teachings, Momon-shi."

Thankfully, it was the wise Dyne who had responded to his fabricated belief system. Everyone else seemed to respect his claim as well, so for now Nabe and himself were out of the spotlight. Just to be sure though, Ainz made sure to control the direction of the conversation.

"By the way, why do you call yourselves the Swords of Darkness?"

Lukrut had a sheepish look on his face as he started to describe his team's namesake.

"Oh, that? Well, Ninya-"

"Please stop, it was a slight mistake!"

Before he could get into the details, Ninya quickly cut him off from what was likely an embarrassing explanation. However, Dyne was quick to provide the exasperated Ninya with some relief.

"There is nothing to be ashamed of, Ninya."

"Please give it a rest…"

Ainz simply stared on in slight amusement at what was obviously some kind of inside joke. He relished the days when his guildmates would tease each other in similar ways.

Just like the constant bickering between Bukubukuchagama and Peroroncino, although it didn't help that they were brother and sister…

Seeing that the rest of his team wasn't providing a clear answer, Peter spoke up to give the actual explanation.

"Um, the name 'Sword of Darkness' comes from the swords of one of the Thirteen Heroes."

Huh? That's it?! Is it something everyone should know about?!

"Who are they?"

Well done, Narberal!

Funnily enough, Ainz wasn't the only one internally rejoicing that he didn't have to admit his lack of knowledge on a well known subject of this world. Sitting across from him, Diablo was having very similar thoughts.

How embarrassing would it have been if I got put on the spot like that? I know I say I'm from another world, but a demon lord is supposed to be all-knowing! At the very least, a proper demon lord should know of other powerful entities…

"So you don't know, Nabe-chan?"

Ainz knew that Narberal wouldn't be a fan of Lukrut, a human, addressing her with the '-chan' honorific, but luckily Ninya chimed in with the full answer before anything derogatory could be said by his companion.

"Among the Thirteen Heroes, the Swords of Darkness are the four swords that the one called 'Black Knight' owned."

Nabe replied with an unenthusiastic 'Hmm', yet the others seemed to take it as a sign of fatigued interest rather than boredom.

"Well, our ultimate goal is to find those swords."

Lukrut explained their connection to the legendary weapons, and Peter served to display their current placeholder.

"Until we get our hands on them, this is our symbol."

From a small leather sheath, each member of the Swords of Darkness drew their respective blade, which was closer in size to a dagger, as well as black as the night sky.

"Real or fake has nothing to do with it. These represent the creation of our team."

It was a surprisingly touching story, and in a way it related to something within Diablo.

While I never had comrades during my time in


Cross Reverie

, my entire persona as a demon lord was incredibly "Fake it 'till you make it"... Even to this day I'm not technically the real thing, but as far as anyone else is concerned, Diablo is the one true demon lord!

"Hmph. Lukrut said something surprisingly insightful for once."

Dyne couldn't let up the chance to chide his usually crass teammate, although it was gift wrapped in the form of a compliment.

"I have to agree. The only way to truly accomplish one's goals is to will it into reality yourself. It will take time, but with enough effort you may one day reach that precipice."

Diablo wasn't one to normally make comments like this, but a certain feeling of nostalgia left him a little more open than usual.

Opposite himself, Ainz was awash in the little feelings his undead physiology allowed him.

In the past, I was like this, too… I adventured with everyone, collected materials, and helped build Nazarick…

Now he was the last of the forty one supreme beings that remained. While Ainz held out hope that some of his guildmates may be somewhere in this world, he was slowly coming to terms with the reality that it simply wasn't true.

Although with the presence of someone like Diablo, anything could be possible…

"I have to admit, your words resonate with me, Diablo. There was a time where I was weaker and less experienced than everyone present, and it was only thanks to arduous trials and the aid of my dear friends that I can stand before you as I am today."

The thought of someone like the warrior Momon being weak was hard to imagine, but no matter how talented someone was, strength of his level was earned, not made.

If you could count my time playing


Yggdrasil

as effort, then in a way it's no lie to say that my power was earned, albeit my actual life was never on the line…

Such a thought was present in the mind of Diablo as well, who had sacrificed any semblance of a social or work life in his pursuit of being the one true Demon Lord of
Cross Reverie
. Unlike Ainz though, he had come close to dying on several occasions since becoming Diablo. It was the high price that came with the experience he had accrued over the past several hectic months.

While everyone was touched by Momon's words of encouragement towards the Swords of Darkness, Ninya couldn't help but detect a hint of sadness behind the dark warrior's visage.

"These friends of yours, are they still around? If they were able to help someone like you I'm sure they're amazing people!"

What had been a hint of sadness had manifested into something more due to Ninya's question. While at its surface, it was innocuous enough, but to Ainz, it dug up many memories of times that could never be replicated, not as things currently stood.

"No, they're no longer with us. If I could still travel amongst them, there would be no place I'd rather be. I'll never forget the days I spent with them…"

The way I said that makes it seem like they're dead, but functionally, that may as well be the case… While the people behind the characters continue on in our bleak world, the sides of them that could only manifest in a place like


Yggdrasil

are gone for good, but there's still always a chance…

"Well, I'm sure one day you'll find more allies like them, right?"

"That day will never come."

The already somber mood had immediately soured even further. Without realizing it, Ninya had broached into a touchy subject matter for Ainz, and some of his true feelings had leaked through his heroic facade.

"Nabe and I will eat in our tent, please excuse us."

With a curt valediction, the adventurer duo that would be known as Darkness picked up their bowls and walked silently to their tent.

That same silence hung over the group for an extended period of time, as no one knew the right words to console the now disheartened Ninya.

"I-I didn't realize they meant that much to him… Did I really say something so wrong?"

Peter elicited a sigh as he moved next to Ninya and put a consoling arm around him.

"Ninya, you know you have to be careful when asking about someone's past, especially someone as mysterious as Momon. There was clearly a bit more to his story that he wasn't comfortable mentioning. His comrades probably died in battle, that's something anyone would be scarred from."

Dyne nodded along, chiming in with his own sage advice as well.

"It's not our place to pry into such details, but thankfully, Momon seems like the type to forgive. Even strong people like him need time to collect their thoughts and emotions when dealing with strong memories like these. But regardless, you'll need to make up for your words with action."

"I'll… make sure to do so."

Despite the reassurance of his team, Ninya still couldn't shake the melancholy that had befallen him. To make such a conversational blunder with a person worthy of everyone's respect, he felt like he wouldn't be able to live it down.

"Life is all about making mistakes, Ninya. It's the only way we can properly grow. Take my advice, it's much better to make those mistakes in a way like this than in a place where your life or the lives of your companions are at stake. For a team of adventurers, this holds especially true."

The rest of the group couldn't help but admire the words of a gifted mage like Diablo, who they assumed had seen more deadly scenarios then the rest of them combined. It also piqued their curiosity as to why someone as haughty and seemingly unbothered as Diablo sometimes had such choice words for the situation at hand. They had no way of knowing it was the occasional breaking of character where Diablo's, no, Sakamoto Takuma's true feelings leaked through.

Who would've thought that Takuma the shut-in would have people he could consider dear friends? I still feel like a social amateur, but with all the practice I've had interacting with others, even with the demon lord persona, my ability to communicate my thoughts properly has grown!

Despite this personal growth, Diablo still believed himself to be nowhere near competent enough to fully drop his Demon Lord act. Even if he wanted to, it was how everyone knew him, and for him to suddenly do a one eighty on his personality would leave those people bewildered.

Not to mention making them dislike me for having lied to them about myself for all this time… Haaa… To think that I could've started fresh in this world, just to immediately jump back into the act, I truly am a garbage-tier person…

But it doesn't always have to be that way…

Reaching into his item pouch, Diablo retrieved one of the precious items that could only be obtained from
Cross Reverie

"This won't heal your relationship with Momon, but I want you to have it, Ninya."

What Diablo had in his hand was a pure white feather that gave off a soft ethereal glow. Ninya could only guess as to its purpose, so he asked directly.

"What is it, exactly? It sure is beautiful, though."

"It's called an 《
Angel's Feather
》, a consumable- I mean, a one time use magic item that allows you and anyone in your party to teleport anywhere that everyone has previously been to."

Ninya, including the rest of the Swords of Darkness, gave audible sounds of awe at the description of the 《
Angel's Feather

"So it's like a scroll containing the 5th tier spell
「
Teleportation
?! I couldn't possibly accept something like this!"

The other members of Ninya's team shared the sentiment, knowing that such an item had to be incredibly rare, and more importantly, expensive.

"I insist that you take it. While it is indeed hard to procure, I have a decent stock of them to my name. More importantly though, it might allow you to make a mistake that would normally prove fatal. You and your team will inevitably face an enemy that is too powerful for you to deal with, even with combined efforts. It is not an admission of weakness to know when to retreat, especially if it can prevent lives being lost in vain. With this item, you and your team have a 'get out of jail free card'. Er- actually, that reference may be lost on you, consider it a last resort plan of retreat, something many adventurer groups never have the luxury of."

No one present could find fault in Diablo's logic, and while it could be considered poor manners to accept a gift of this worth, many would say it's even more egregious to deny it when it's been presented so thoughtfully.

"V-Very well, I accept. I promise I'll only ever use it when there's no other option!"

Diablo couldn't help but smile as he handed off the 《
Angel's Feather
》 to Ninya, who held it with the delicacy one would expect when handling an infant. Such a reaction was completely understandable though, as not only were magic scrolls exceedingly expensive, it wasn't currently possible to store spells of the 5th tier on scrolls, as far as Ninya knew. Not to mention, the usage of scrolls was limited to the branch of magic a caster was capable of using. An item like the 《
Angel's Feather
》 bypassed that restriction altogether, as even someone with no knowledge of magic could utilize it.

Unsurprisingly, Ninya's spirits seemed to be back, as he carefully examined the feather with a look of childlike astonishment glued to his face.

Given everyone in the group had experience in adventuring, they all were extremely impressed with Diablo's gift, but out of all of them, Nfirea felt it the strongest.

Not only does he have incredible potions and the knowledge to make them, he has magic items of such a tier that I didn't think it was possible they could exist… And he gave it away just to encourage a young adventurer…

How could I ever compare to a guy like that?

After observing both Momon and Diablo, as well as the way their female companions interacted with them, a growing sense of dread had been building in Nfirea.

What if Enri falls for them instead of me? I wouldn't even be able to fault her, compared to the likes of them, I may as well be an ant…

Thus, while the adventurers all crowded around Ninya to get a closer look at the feather, Nfirea sat despondent, his worry beginning to show on his face. The only one to pick up on this was Diablo.

"Is something the matter, Nfirea?"

The young Bareare was hesitant to confide in Diablo, given how he was one of the sources of his insecurity, but thanks to the insight he'd learned from the Demon Lord thus far, he decided to roll with it.

"It's not that important, but it does make me feel uneasy… Would you say… you and Momon are popular with women?"

This question out of left field made Diablo's eyes nearly bug out of his head.

What could have possibly provoked a question like this?! I was expecting something about the 《


Angel's Feather

》, or maybe about potions, or magic, but he's asking about my success with women?!

"Must you ask a question you already know the obvious answer to? Much to my own dismay, most women are drawn to Diablo like a moth to a flame. While I'd love to have him to myself, his powerful and alluring presence makes such a thing impossible. I couldn't care less about Momon, but he seems to have Nabe under his spell, despite the claims of their relationship being purely platonic."

Rose jumped in to answer before Diablo could say something stupid, and while he thought her description was exaggerated, he couldn't deny that he tended to attract women he had no chance of properly interacting with. The Swords of Darkness, upon hearing such a pointed question, quickly re-entered the conversation as well, starting with Peter.

"Rose is the only one here who can offer a woman's perspective, but it is true that women favor powerful men. The aura of strength that Diablo and Momon give off certainly means they don't have many problems wooing anyone. Being attractive definitely helps too, but I'm not sure I'd apply that aspect to Momon."

While slyly admitting that Diablo was decently attractive, he also revealed the fact that he had seen Momon's true face at some point in time.

"You mean to say you've seen under Momon's helmet? What did he look like, if he wasn't on the attractive side?"

Diablo was genuinely interested in this, as he still knew next to nothing behind Momon's identity. He hadn't expected that someone so secretive about their appearance had revealed themselves to a group they had just met.

"Well he wasn't ugly by any means, I'd say pretty average. He also looked a bit older than us, probably in his late thirties or early forties."

It was Diablo's intention to push for more information, but Nfirea beat him to the punch with a question he had planned on asking.

"What country did he say he was from?"

"We didn't get that specific."

Lukrut then jumped in to provide at least a little more context on Momon's appearance.

"He's the same race as Nabe, probably from some country to the south. He definitely wasn't what I'd call attractive, though."

Nabe's facial features had piqued the interest of Diablo as soon as he had seen her. While it wasn't one hundred percent accurate, she undoubtedly looked somewhat Japanese, but he chalked that up to coincidence. For Momon to look like a Japanese salaryman given his average description, it made things seem like more than just a coincidence.

"Did he ever mention a place called Japan?"

Given the lack of a reaction, Diablo confirmed that people from this world didn't know of his original homeland. As for Momon and Nabe though, his suspicion only grew.

"No, like I said he never got that specific. It's possible though, since we never got a concrete answer. Maybe we could ask him tomorrow morning?"

"Ahh- perhaps we shouldn't, I think it's best we leave his past alone for now, given how things turned out earlier."

Whew. Almost let that one get out of hand… If he actually was from Japan and they found out I was asking about it, my Demon Lord persona would be kaput! I'll have to investigate this more on my own, asking so directly like that was a bit too risky…

"I have to agree with Diablo on this. If Momon wishes to share more, he'll come to do it on his own time. Although, Nfirea, you looked rather upset, so I'm curious to hear how all of this is related."

Much to Diablo's relief, Dyne backed him up on laying off Momon with the personal questions. More importantly, was why this conversation was brought up in the first place.

"Well, in Carne village, there's someone I don't want falling in love with Mr. Momon or Diablo…"

All of sudden, the reason for Nfirea's distress was made apparent. Diablo almost felt bad that he had unknowingly caused the boy so much grief.

If he knew me better, he wouldn't have been so worried… It's not like I would've been able to do anything if this girl wound up liking me… Rose certainly wouldn't have allowed it anyways, I barely got her to accept Rem and Shera as my wives in the first place…

"All right! Big bro here will teach you some amazing techniques- Gah!"

Lukrut's inappropriate remarks were cut short by a bowl chucked at his head, courtesy of his party leader.

"Give it a rest!"

"You hit my face, you stupid jerk!"

While Lukrut was nursing the growing bump on his forehead, Ninya, Dyne, and Peter had all gathered around Nfirea.

"What kind of person is she?"

"If you're persistent, your feelings will reach her!"

"We'll help support you if you'd like!"

Nfirea sheepishly held his hands up as the group pushed for more info on his girl of interest, all the while Diablo looked on with a grin.

Ahh… I wish I had gotten to experience love as a young man… I couldn't even enjoy it through a dating sim, those managed to stress me out almost as much as the real thing…

For the time being, Diablo allowed himself to enjoy the moment. Sat around a campfire with a group of people who genuinely cared for one another, all under a beautiful starry night sky.

The same could not be said for Ainz, who had been stewing in his own thoughts, too distracted to properly enjoy the scenery.

Perhaps I was too harsh towards Ninya, it's not as if he could've known anything close to the truth of the matter… Even with this emotional suppression, slow burning emotions like these continue to persist. If I'm to be a truly competent leader for Nazarick, I have to control myself better in such scenarios…

His journey as an adventurer had been mostly a wash so far. Despite being admired by the rest of the group, he never got a chance to properly show off his might, thanks to the actions of Diablo. He still intended to learn about the alchemical herbs that grew in the Forest of Tob, but the focus of this whole trip had become learning more about Diablo and his companion Rose. If he walked away from this with an inkling more of an understanding of his past or power, Ainz would consider the whole endeavor a success. Due to his status as an undead, he had no need for sleep and would have no choice but to think over his plans until daytime. He had given Narberal a
「
Ring of Sustenance
, so she wouldn't have to sleep either, which made him wonder how she would pass the time.

Unfortunately it's not as if I can just take off to Nazarick until the sun rises. If my disappearance was discovered, it would raise far too many questions… Looks like I'm in for a long night…

Around that same time of the night, within the heart of E-Rantel's poorest district, a nefarious act was being carried out. In a particular back alley, the makeshift clinic setup by Lumachina was nearing its max capacity, to the point that some of her previous 'patients' had volunteered to assist her. While these laymen couldn't offer blessings like their savior, they assisted in keeping everyone hydrated and fed during their stay, as well as helping guide those in search of the clinic's services.

Without ever realizing it, Lumachina's actions had started a small religious movement, as all the people she had saved had gone forward with a new sense of faith in the God that cured them with such mercy. Compared to the temples of the four great gods, who charged their followers for their services, the benevolence offered by Lumchina was more than enough to change their minds. However, the identity behind what many considered a prophet was still a mystery to her followers. She had told them that she was from the Kingdom of Lyferia, but no one had heard of such a place. By their logic, it meant it had to be an incredibly distant land, yet whenever they had asked how she got to E-Rantel, she would reply along the lines of: "God brought me to a place that was calling out in suffering, I merely answered his call."

Despite the mystery behind her sudden appearance, all of her followers had complete trust in her. Although in this instance, it would be more accurate to say they had faith, many of them for the first time in their life. What these followers would soon learn though, was how not everyone would be convinced of their righteous God, that there was also those who sought to oppose that goodness in the name of evil.

A particularly potent source of that evil had been stalking them silently under the cover of night, eventually finding her way to the heart of their operations.

"Miss Lumachina, we've found another victim of the disease! He already has seven marks, so he should be treated immediately, but that's not all. It looks like he has a stab wound in his left shoulder, but it doesn't look like a wound from any knife I've seen."

Leaning over the shoulder of one of her followers was a haggardly middle aged man, who clearly had spent a long stint living on the streets, given his unkempt greying hair and beard.

"There are many in this city driven to desperation, but it pains me to see God's children resort to such pointless violence… Please, bring him over to the empty bed."

The one she had previously saved carried the decrepit man across the room, setting him down in the cot adjacent to Lumachina.

"You don't need to worry anymore sir, I'll ask God to ease your suffering. You're safe here."

However, before she could begin giving the blessing, a hooded figure seemed to melt out from the shadows, quickly swooping in next to Lumachina.

Well if it isn't my good friend the Head Priestess. You don't mind coming with me real quick,
don'tcha~?"

Unseen to anyone else in the room, Clementine stabbed Lumachina in the upper arm with her stiletto that was enchanted with the
「
Charm Person
spell as she gave her friendly greeting. Every time the former member of the Black Scripture had made use of this technique, her target would view her as a close friend, even despite the stiletto sticking out of them. This time however…

"Ahhh! Where-where did you come from?! Why would you stab me all of sudden?!"

This woman… she's strong enough to resist a mind control spell? The way that bastard Batutta made it sound was that she was a weakling parading as someone important… It doesn't seem like her physical capabilities are that good, seeing as she never saw me approach, but still…

"You're a feisty one, aren'tcha~? Change of plans then, unless you want to see everyone in this shantytown die a slow painful death, you're gonna come with me, nice and quiet."

"Release Miss Lumachina now! We'd rather die than see her taken away by someone like you!"

The same faithful servant from before immediately protested at the idea of Clementine's offer. And while the rest of her followers were more hesitant due to the terrifying aura emanating from the intruder, their faith propelled them forward, and they stood alongside the man, blocking the exits.

"Wowww~! You've really hoodwinked these guys, haventcha~? I mean, it makes no difference to me. Yet, I try to be a thoughtful kidnapper, and this is how I'm repaid?"

In that instant, Clementine appeared behind the outspoken man, and before anyone could realize, stabbed him straight through the heart.

"Guhah!"

Everyone watched on in horror as the life faded from his eyes and he slumped to the floor, wheezing out a few quiet last words.

"I'll get to meet Kami-sama now, right… Miss Lumachina?"

Tears began to well from Lumachina's pained hazel eyes, as she very quickly realized the gravity of her situation.

"Please, don't hurt anyone else! I'll- I'll go with you, but I beg of you, let me heal this man before we go!"

Clementine wasn't on a super tight timetable, as she still needed to wait for Nferia's return from Carne before being able to kidnap him, so she decided to humor the desperate woman.

"I hate to break it to you, but you'd need some pretty high tier healing magic to save this guy, assuming he's even still alive. But I can't help my curiosity, I just have to know why… my client- is so interested in you."

Nearly slipped up there, I couldn't find a fitting word for Batutta… I definitely wasn't about to call that one-armed geezer my boss or superior…

As soon as Clementine gave the go ahead, Lumachina ran over to the man's despondent body and clasped his hands tightly.

"Oh Lord, please answer my call in this desperate time. Your child has only just begun his journey into seeking your everlasting love.
Please hear the voices of those who seek your salvation!"

Without having to be told, all of her disciples had knelt down, hands clasped in prayer, and chanted in unison.

"Grant him mercy!"

"Forgive him!"

"Grant him mercy!"

"Forgive him!"

As their pleas grew in volume, the tell-tale golden light of a blessing began to culminate around Lumachina, and quickly flowed towards the dying man. To anyone trained in perceiving the flow of magic power, they would've seen small motes of golden light emanating from not just Lumachina, but her followers as well.

The purifying light began to fade, revealing the awed and uninjured man sitting up from the ground.

"You- you really saved me, Miss Lumachina. Even in the face of such a terror, you acted so selflessly…"

Just as his savior had, the man began to cry as well.

"Please… Please come back to us. I know God will protect you, he has to!"

As Clementine tried to hide her look of shock at the feat just performed in front of her, she began to drag Lumachina off by the arm.

"Oyah~? Don't worry, we'll take

very

good care of her."

Her devotees looked on with anger and dismay as Lumachina was led outside, before disappearing into the darkness. However, not without giving parting words to ease the minds of those she had come to care for.

"I promise you, God has saved me from many dire situations. This will not be his last test of faith, and I will return, only by his grace and indomitable power."

Whether it was the Paladin Gewalt, the Paladin Captain Batutta, or even the Head Cardinal Vishos, God had always managed to save her. Or to be more accurate…

Diablo! I know you'll come find me!

Intermission

Deep within a cave outside the city of E-Rantel, laid the base of a mercenary group: The Death Spreading Brigade.

At around seventy men strong, all decently equipped and skilled, they were a rather formidable force. Their biggest strength though, wasn't their numbers, but the power of a single individual. Someone who was worth more than everyone else combined. That man was Brain Unglaus, a warrior heralded at the level of the Head Warrior of Re-Estize, Gazef Stronoff. While Brain wasn't technically the leader of the Brigade, most of the men would defer to him given the difference in strength and skill.

Formally, their purpose was to be hired out during times of war, but during peacetime, they spent most of their time raiding and pillaging. They were far from what could be called a moral group. However, this careless attitude was put to the test when they decided to accost someone that was more than willing to defend themselves.

A few days prior…

Sitting in wait, in the coverage of the treeline beside one of the main roads leading to E-Rantel, was a small contingent of the Brigade. This was a common spot for them, where they could raid unsuspecting caravans or carriages traveling into and out of the city. Some of the men were even treacherous enough to take advantage of any women that wound up being their victims. Suddenly, one of them spotted a single person coming into view over the horizon.

"Hey guys, heads up. Looks like a woman traveling alone… Is she insane? Surely she knows the kind of people that could be lurking at a time and place like this, hahahaha!"

His poorly made joke elicited a few snickers from his more black hearted allies, as a few of them joined him in taking a look.

"Yeah, you're right. And look! She's barely wearing anything under her cloak! I can't see it well from here but it might be lingerie or something."

"Cut it out with the fantasies, you really think I'm gonna fall for something that ridiculous?"

"He ain't lying! Come look for yourself Viktor!"

Begrudgingly, Viktor got up from his napping spot and peeked out of the treeline.

"Holy shit, he wasn't lying after all. Looks like we're in for a fun night, boys."

The watchful group cackled in delight as they all had their own twisted fantasy of what was to come.

"Same plan as usual?"

"Of course, so everyone get in position."

As the girl drew nearer, Viktor noticed an even more alluring detail reveal itself.

"I don't believe it, she's got cat ears… and a tail! But I've never seen or heard of a beastman looking this delightful…"

"Hey, I don't think anyone here is gonna judge. Think of it as a rare delicacy, hahaha…"

Finally, their opportunity had arrived. All at once, they crept out of the forest and surrounded her on all sides. Now that they had a proper view, they truly were at a loss for the whole scenario. Underneath her open cloak was an outfit that barely covered her exceptionally small chest, with a velvet colored loin cloth being the only other major source of coverage. She looked rather young, and did indeed have features that they would expect to find from a panther, like her ears and tail, along with her cat-like vertical irises.

"Listen little lady, we don't wanna hurtcha'. Why don't you just come with us and make things easy for yourse-"

As Viktor moved to place a hand on her shoulder, the girl gut punched him out of nowhere, revealing her gauntleted hands that were previously hidden from view. More shockingly, she attacked with such speed that everyone was barely able to process what had happened, as it was only made evident by Viktor flying meters backwards until he slammed into a tree, rendering him unconscious. Dusting off her hand, she gave a stern declaration to the baffled men surrounding her.

"He's lucky I held back. There's a part of me that wanted to use my full strength, but the last thing I need is to be covered in pervert blood. Normally I'd beat you all senseless and alert the authorities, but I've got my own problems I'm dealing with right now. Scurry back to wherever you came from before I change my mind."

It took a moment for everything to sink in for the members of the Brigade, but they knew what had just happened wasn't a fluke. Viktor wasn't anything close in power to someone like Brain, but he was the most competent fighter out of their current small group.

"You know what? Fair enough lady. No point in useless bloodshed, right? My boss though, he's not gonna like this. Might consider you an enemy of the brigade for wounding one of his men like that, ya' know?"

The girl merely scowled in return.

"If your boss has a problem, he can take it up with me himself. Although I may as well ask you, have you heard of any appearances of a person with horns? A sorcerer named Diablo, to be more precise."

The man had to stop himself from scratching his head in confusion at such a ridiculous question. Of course he hadn't heard about anyone with horns, definitely not some magic caster called Diablo either. Yet his more cunning side saw a possible opportunity for gain here.

"That's a funny coincidence, my boss mentioned something or other about a guy named Diablo recently. I remember him mentioning the horns, too."

His allies immediately picked up on what his plan was. They all thought it was odd for someone like her to be walking alone out here, but after seeing her abilities, it made sense that she was probably an adventurer on her way to E-Rantel. Her strange outfit could be an expensive magic item, not to mention her pristine looking gauntlets. If they brought her back to their heavily fortified base, she'd have no choice but to face Brain, and relinquish her items upon her inevitable defeat.

"That is pretty funny. Funny that you'd think I'd believe a word out of someone like you. Still, I've got no other leads, and I think your group will know not to try anything funny when they see the state of that bastard over there. So fine, I'll go meet your stupid boss."

Turning to lead the way, the conniving man finally let a devious smirk spread across his face.

"Follow me then. I'll make sure no one tries anything funny, not like they'd be able to get very far before you broke 'em in half though, heh heh heh."

Brain doesn't take part in our servicing of women, but I don't think he'll care what happens to her after he leaves her on death's door and takes his spoils of battle… That leaves the best reward to the rest of us, hahahaha!

"By the way Miss iron knuckles, what's your name? I'm gonna have to formally introduce you to the boss and all. I'm Albin, in case you were wondering."

The pantherian girl sighed as she started to follow behind him.

"I wasn't wondering, and my name is Rem. Rem Galleu. It'll be the last name you ever hear if this winds up being a waste of my damn time."

Greetings my dedicated readers, as well as anyone new. It's been quite a while right? I won't lie, I haven't been dedicating nearly enough of my focus to writing, and my summer job made it nearly impossible to write too. I have a renewed inspiration though, and I'm gonna be focusing heavily on this story. It was the latest review prior to posting this that caught my attention and made me rethink how I was approaching these stories. So thank you to that anonymous reviewer, it's insightful reviews like those that help me keep writing. Consistency issues aside, things are definitely heating up in the story, right? Another key character has been introduced, and she's far from the last. Everyone will quickly realize just how off kilter the canon events of overlord are becoming with all these otherworlders from Cross Reverie. Thus, the Dark hero arc is coming to a close, and I can't wait to move on to the Bloody Valkyrie arc. I also have big plans for the lizardmen, try and guess who the main character of that part of the story will be! Until the next chapter, which will be much sooner than normal, happy reading.

Dwarven Identity Crisis

Chapter 9: Dwarven Identity Crisis

Rolling off of his bed that amounted to not much more than a thin pad, Diablo groggily exited his tent, stretching his arms as he took in the sunlight.

I was worried I'd be the last one up, but look at that, no one else is awake yet…

It was the crack of dawn, but he had expected a group like the Swords of Darkness to move as soon as daylight had arrived.

Actually, I'm not the first one up… Seems like Momon is even more diligent than me on my best day…

Sitting stoically beside his tent, Momon was silently reading a book that was clasped between his still gauntleted hands.

Geez, it's as if he never takes off that armor… If not for what the others said last night, I'd have thought he was hiding some kind of disfigurement…

However, as soon as Momon noticed that Diablo had exited his tent, he quickly tucked the book behind his back, where it seemed to disappear entirely. Not before Diablo was able to get a glance at the cover, though, which he immediately recognized was written in Japanese kanji.

Well that just about confirms it! This world, just like the last, has its own distinct written language, despite the auto-translation that seems to apply to speech… Either Momon is a former


Cross Reverie

player like me, or this world has seen influence from players in the past… It's definitely a possibility, as I'd have expected him to recognize me if he did play

Cross Reverie

, but he could just be pretending…

Despite this new clue, it only served to raise more questions about whatever had brought him to this new world in the first place.

If he was a player, why did I never see or hear of him in my previous world? He definitely wasn't a top ranker from


Cross Reverie

, otherwise I would've heard of him… There's a very real possibility he's from a different game, as I have seen elements from other games in my previous world… Gah! None of it makes any sense! I won't mention anything for now, not until I have more data on this guy… He could be a useful ally though, if he has a world he wants to get back to, we could work together on finding a way back…

"I didn't take you for much of a scholar, Momon."

"Ah… yes… It would be irresponsible to only work on strengthening my body. Stimulation of the mind is an often neglected form of training."

The dark warrior seemed a little more unsure of himself than usual, but Diablo didn't want to let on about his suspicions, so he played along for now.

"Interesting. You may have to lend me it sometime, I'm curious what kind of literature could hold the attention of someone who's lived such an eventful life."

"It is an intriguing read so far, yet I hate to disappoint you. It's written in a language from my homeland, I don't believe anyone besides Nabe would be able to decipher it."

Your homeland huh? You have no idea…

"I am a Demon Lord, remember? I'm sure I'd be able to figure it out. Regardless, let's save our book club for another time. We've still got a job to do."

Ainz gave an internal sigh of relief, not like he had lungs to sigh with anyways. The last thing he needed right now was explaining to Diablo how he knew Japanese, assuming his theory of Diablo being a fellow other-worlder was true.

"Yes, of course. Why don't we wake the others? It's not much further to Carne village, we should be able to arrive before noon."

Nodding in affirmation, Diablo ducked back into his tent to wake Rose, before he remembered that she doesn't sleep in the first place.

I guess she took my hint about being creeped out by waking up to her staring over me… I didn't know she could be considerate like that…

"We're packing up, Rose. Let's start loading the cart while the others are still waking up."

"Leave it to me, master. Such trivial labor is above a being like yourself."

Rose immediately rushed out of their tent, and began moving the group's supplies at a ridiculous speed.

I know it's part of the demon lord persona, but I don't want everyone here thinking I view myself as above manual labor… I guess her diligence can't be helped!

Meanwhile, Momon watched on in astonishment at the movements of the magimatic maid Rose.

No wonder she was able to make such short work of the


「
Hanzos
」

, that speed and precision reminds me of some of the warrior builds from

Yggdrasil

, not on the level of someone like Touch Me though…

He hadn't seen what kind of skills she had access to, but based on what he had seen, as well as her slaughtering of the Hanzos, meant she had to be at least above level 90. Being in such close proximity to someone who could pose a threat to him, and especially Narberal, was anxiety inducing. Yet despite her harsh language towards the men of the group, similar to his own companion, he didn't deem her to be a current threat.

As long as she or Diablo don't find out I was the one who sent those


「
Hanzos
」

, but there isn't a conceivable reason for that ever happening…

"Wow, you guys got everything ready before we were even up? We could've helped out too, ya know."

A surprised Lukrut was the first to greet the early risers, as the remainder of the well rested Swords of Darkness followed close behind.

"Ah, Rose insisted. She didn't want to waste time since she was already awake,"

Rose gave a "Hmph" as she looked off to the side, crossing her arms for added effect. Even with her forced uncaring attitude, everyone was quick to thank her.

"Hey, it means more daylight for our time in Carne, no harm with that! Thanks for the help, Rose."

Peter's heartfelt gratitude was met with a curt nod from Rose, as she went back to her current task.

"Alright everyone, pack your tents up and let's get a move on. The Swords of Darkness won't be known as slackers!"

The remaining few hours of travel were uneventful, with only the occasional small talk breaking the monotonous sounds of nature that emanated from the forest. As they made their way over the crest of a hill, Carne village finally came into view. Diablo was surprised to see it in such working order, as the damage from the knight's attack had disappeared almost entirely. More unusual though, was the crude fortifications that had been erected around the village. Nfirea, someone who had frequented the village in the past, was the first to point out this change.

"I don't remember Carne having something like this the last time I was here."

With an air of confusion throughout the whole group, they made the rest of the small trek into the village, arriving at a makeshift gate that allowed travel past the small wall that now encircled the village. They were greeted by a few men that were equipped with longswords, likely ones left behind from the knights slain by Diablo.

"What business do you all have in Carne village? Wait a minute, you're Diablo! We can't thank you enough for saving our home, but what brings you back so soon?"

All eyes were now on Diablo, who had neglected to mention his heroic efforts in Carne after his unexpected arrival in this world.

"I'm accompanying Nfirea here to pick some alchemical herbs from the Forest. He had already hired the other group with me, but I came along to see these rare ingredients for myself."

Astonished at this new development, Nfirea couldn't help but praise Diablo for his benevolent act.

"I'm sure I'll hear the details from Enri, but I had no idea you saved Carne, Diablo. You didn't strike me as a humble type of person, but even something like this you never mentioned…"

The young Bareare had already looked up to Diablo for his knowledge of potions, and general level of strength, yet now a new, more heroic side of the demon lord had revealed itself.

"It was a trifling matter, Nfirea. We can discuss it later though, let's make our way into town."

Following a friendly nod from one of the village men, the group made their way past the wall towards the center of the village.

"By the way, when did you guys have the time to build these defenses? I had assumed things would be a little run down from the aftermath of what had happened…"

Diablo's honest inquiry into the matter was met with a confounding answer, one that he would very soon be enlightened to.

"It sounds crazy to say after you showed up out of the blue, but another powerful adventurer arrived not long after you left. She got here in the nick of time when we were being attacked by some goblins from the forest, and even stuck around to train us in using swords. That excuse for a wall was a recommendation from her too, we still have a long way to go though."

Another powerful adventurer? A woman sword master? There's no way it could be…

"Did she ever happen to tell you her name?"

"Of course, although I think it may be more appropriate for her to introduce herself."

Lost in this sudden revelation, Diablo quickly realized they had arrived in the center of the village. The building they were standing in front of had been lent out to their new teacher for the time being. The man opened the door and motioned for the others to follow, where the napping form of a beautiful woman with long dog-like ears could be seen.

"She has a bit of a habit with napping in the middle of the day, but she said it was fine to wake her if she hadn't been fighting beforehand. Master Graham, we have some visitors!"

What are the chances! Sasara showed up here right after I left, and probably saved this village from the repercussions of me moving Hamusuke from her usual spot… Well, I'm just happy to see another familiar face…

Slowly rousing from her slumber, the master swordsman stretched as she got up from her bed, and quickly reached full lucidity as she saw the man standing before her.

"Diablo! I didn't believe the villagers at first when they said you had saved their village, yet here you are! I thought that getting sent to this place had only affected me, yet with you and Rose standing here, it looks like we aren't alone in this after all."

Some of the male members of the adventuring party had to consciously control their gaze, as the striking figure of the freshly awake Sasara was enough to make any person's heart flutter, and her flowing brown hair and amethyst eyes captivated everyone who glanced her way. She wore a loose-fitting white shirt that hung off her shoulders, revealing an admirably sized chest that contrasted her short stature. Along with her outfit's revealing nature, it was also distinctly Japanese, not to mention the multiple katanas that sat next to her bed. To the natives of this world, it seemed she had come from one of the countries to the south, though her physical appearance looked little like those native to the region.

"It's just as you said. I was in the process of looking for Rem and Shera when I came across Carne being attacked by the Theocracy. They saw it fit to deny my power, so dealing out their punishment was the only reasonable choice."

Well, I also couldn't stand to see innocent people getting slaughtered, but that wouldn't sound very demon lord-esque…

"Well, if you say so. After I heard about your time in town, I decided to hang around until you either came back, or when the village folk were adequately prepared to defend themselves."

Even if the people of Carne were regular humans, training from the one heralded as the Master Swordsman from his old world would allow anyone to see rapid improvement in their sword skills. Even in the few short days that had passed, she had turned a village of farmers into a competent fighting force. They still had much to learn, as well as working on overcoming their fear of combat, but she almost felt confident enough to leave the defense of the village in their own hands.

While Diablo was having his brief reunion, Ainz stood aghast in silence.

This woman… is incredibly powerful! I can't ascertain her exact level since she isn't a magic caster, but her HP is off the charts!

Having casted a
「
Life Essence
spell with the silent meta-magic, Ainz had to hide his surprise at the wealth of hit points that belonged to this unsuspecting woman. Such an amount would be reasonable if she was a tank build, but her small build and lack of armor meant that was an impossibility. At the very least, he believed her to be somewhere close to level 100. Another thing that made him pause, were the pointed dog ears that stuck out from her head, not to mention the long flowing tail that resembled a fox's. She looked like a hybrid between a beastman and a human, yet no such race officially existed within
Yggdrasil
. Players could take great creative licensing in how they customized their character appearance, like Shalltear having a flawless face despite being a true vampire. However, no naturally occurring race from the game looked like the woman that stood before him.

Yet another instance where mechanics from the game differ from the real world… I suppose cross-breeding like this would be possible in a world with magic, but I don't want to think too hard on how such a union came about…

"Well, I'm just happy to see another one of my successful students. This whole thing is strange though. I woke up in the mountain range to the north of here, and ran into these gross little people that called themselves dwarves. I didn't believe them obviously, since they looked nothing like me or the rest of my kind, and they laughed when I tried to tell them that

I

was actually a dwarf. Like I said, they were pretty creepy, so I didn't stick around very long. I was on my way down the mountain when I saw the commotion happening in the village, and the rest, well you guys already know."

Diablo was simply thankful that fate had aligned enough for Sasara to keep his mistake regarding Hamusuke under wraps. Everyone else though, especially Ainz and Narberal, looked on in confusion for a moment.

"Excuse me, Master Graham. Did you just say that you were a dwarf? The people you described in your story sounded like the dwarves I'm familiar with, and I assume for everyone else as well."

Sasara tilted her head in confusion, but quickly shrugged it off as she remembered exactly where she was.

"I guess people around here call a different race dwarves too, it's far from the strangest thing I've had to take in recently… Diablo and Rose know what I'm talking about though. Have you two ever heard of these other dwarves?"

Well of course I have…


Cross Reverie's

interpretation of dwarves was glorified fanservice! I can't act like I actually had a problem with it though, but Momon is right. The dwarves she described sound exactly like the typical fantasy race…

"Yes, in fact I have. Outside of Lyferia, most people would associate dwarves with long unkempt beards and mining deep into the earth. The only similar factor between you two is your height."

This unintentional jab at her height elicited a pouting frown from Sasara, as her short stature was a sore spot for her ego.

"Well, these guys were way shorter than me, alright? I couldn't even tell the men and women apart, maybe there weren't any women there at all? Regardless, I'd prefer if I wasn't compared to them, though I can't help having to share their racial namesake."

Ainz nodded along as he tallied another reason in his head for Diablo and his companions being anomalous. The idea of Sasara being a dwarf hadn't even crossed his mind, and for good reason. Dwarves were in fact a race from
Yggdrasil
, though their default appearance was much more in line with her description of the dwarves she had met. Even with extensive character customization in mind, in no way shape or form was the woman before him a dwarf. Yet, Diablo seemed to claim otherwise, and even had knowledge of the dwarves he was familiar with. He made it seem like a regional difference, yet when paired with his claims of being 'from another world', Ainz believed the scope to be much larger than he was implying.

Sensing the growth of an awkward silence, the Master Swordsman attempted to bring a close to their conversation.

"I can tell you guys have stuff to do, so don't let me get in the way. Why don't we continue our catch up when you're done for the night?"

In reality, Sasara just wanted to get back to her nap, but instead played it off as not wanting to interfere in the group's job. More importantly though, was the bit of information about her relation to Diablo.

"Before we head out, did I hear you refer to Diablo as 'student' earlier? Does that mean you taught Diablo in swordplay? I thought he was a magic caster, why would he pursue something so opposite to his talent set?"

Ninya was awed upon realizing that Diablo wasn't just a next-level mage, but also adept as a warrior. For most people, trying to split their time and energy between two different classes like that would be impossible, but he already recognized that Diablo was an outlier.

Ainz on the other hand had already heard Diablo claim proficiency as a warrior, although he had yet to see anything to back it up. Hearing it from this woman though, was more than enough confirmation.

So this is the swordmaster that golden idiot had mentioned… I still don't know exactly where the "limits of the races'' lines up with an exact


Yggdrasil

level, but if Emile was on the cusp of that, then it would be somewhere in the sixties… It didn't make sense before, but how was Diablo able to level up a warrior class when I had assumed he was a full mage build? It's clear that this Sasara Graham is from the same place as him, based on how they were talking about "arriving" here, their strange definition of a dwarf, and their past teacher-student relationship… Diablo can't be from

Yggdrasil

, but he also doesn't seem to be from this world either… I can't expect to understand it fully, but whatever power that brought the guild and myself from

Yggdrasil

, might also have brought him from an entirely different world, most likely a world like this one and not from a game… Perhaps Diablo and those acquainted with him are the key to unraveling this whole mystery, yet it seems they're just as much in the dark as I am… Ugh. This is too much to mentally deal with right now, but I'll have to get some Nazarick denizens to gather intel on all these people, maybe even some of the floor guardians…

Despite his love for the creations of his best friends, Ainz was still hesitant to entrust such a weighty task on them this early. The last thing he needed was one of them making a misstep and creating a powerful enemy with unknown abilities. Regardless of how he decided to play things, he knew that a confrontation with one of these anomalous people was probably inevitable. Which was why he needed to be even more sure of their power, skills, tactics, and anything else that could be useful data in a fight. Although it wasn't his initial intention, gathering intel on Diablo and his companions had become a top priority.

"Yup! I taught him everything he knows! Definitely my most talented student by far, it was almost scary how fast he leveled up…"

It was a longshot, but Ainz had to consider the possibility that this woman had some kind of special talent for increasing someone's level as a warrior. He would go to nearly any length if it meant being able to increase his skill set, so he decided to take a chance on that small possibility.

"Pardon the question Master Graham, but I was curious as to if you'd spar with me when we both have a moment of free time. It isn't often that I encounter powerful warriors like yourself."

Sasara let out a small sigh at having her nap time interrupted again, as she turned to look at Momon, sizing him up as she inspected various aspects of his figure.

"You definitely look tough, but you don't carry yourself like a warrior… It's odd. But as for sparring, I'd be happy to test the limits of your abilities."

"Hoh? You're assuming that I wouldn't be able to defeat you? I can't help but rise to the challenge now."

Shit! I've barely been standing here for more than a minute, and already she's clocked that I'm not actually a warrior! It'd be one thing to point it out after watching me in combat, but just from my stance alone? I'll have to talk with Cocytus or Sebas on how to appear more warrior-like with my posture and mannerisms…

"She might not look it, but this woman outclasses even my abilities as a warrior. Based on my calculations, you have a 99.89% chance of defeat. That miniscule chance of victory is based on the unlikely outcome where she decides to fall asleep during the fight."

Rose was never fond of Diablo's companions, especially given how they were almost always women, but she had come to appreciate Sasara for her abilities as a fighter. Only the best were suited to stand by Diablo's side in her mind, and even she had to admit that the one blessed as the Sword Master far outstripped her in ability.

"Oh come on Rose, I wouldn't fall asleep in the middle of a little sparring. That whole thing with the Demon Overlord was a bit of an outlier, don't you think?"

Demon Overlord?!

This bite of information had Ainz hooked immediately. He had never heard of a racial class called Demon Overlord, nor any type of boss monster of the same name. Despite that, a title sharing the namesake of the most powerful race of undead, what Ainz was himself, couldn't be a mere coincidence. Whatever it was, it had to be immensely powerful to give someone like Sasara a hard time.

"That is correct, but you yourself are an outlier. There should be no excuse for behavior like that on the battlefield when you've been gifted with such power. If not for Diablo's cunning and might, you and everyone else would've been wiped out by Modinalam."

Modinalam… I've never heard of such a name. Maybe I can ask Demiurge if he knows of a Demon Overlord called Modinalam… Assuming the lore of demons is true in this world like it was in


Yggdrasil

, then there should be a demon realm of some kind where he could've originated from…

"Jeez, alright I get it. Obviously I'm thankful for Diablo's efforts. But I mean, I was the one who taught him his warrior skills, so in a way I stopped Modinalam from succeeding too."

It was clear that Rose didn't want to lose the argument, but in the face of a fact like that, even she had to admit defeat.

"I suppose that is the case, isn't it? Well, as long as you continue to make yourself useful to Diablo, I have no problem with you."

"I don't know if a teacher is meant to 'make themselves useful' to their students, but yeah, sure. I already kept this village safe after Diablo had left, so I think I'm doing a fine job. Now if you'll excuse me, I have important business to tend to."

Hastily ending the conversation, Sasara turned and sank back into her bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

"I guess we overstayed our welcome… Come on guys, let's start heading for the forest. First though, there's someone I have to speak to. I'll meet back up with you real quick!"

Leading everyone outside, Nfirea swiftly darted away to a house down the street, although most of the group already knew where he was headed.

"Ah, this must be about that Enri girl. Let's all wish him good luck, and pester him for details later in the forest, hahaha!"

Lukrut chuckled to himself at the prospect of embarrassing poor Nfirea, as the rest of his team groaned at his usual antics.

"Leave the poor boy alone. If he wants to talk about it, I'm sure he'll open up once we've started the job."

Trying to save the reputation of his party, Peter told off his companion as he started heading for the edge of the village.

"While we wait for him, why don't we secure the area near the forest's perimeter? Make sure there aren't any monsters around before we start heading deeper in."

Everyone agreed with the idea, and followed suit behind Peter. Ainz, on the other hand, was abuzz with questions he wanted to ask Diablo and Rose.

I'll hold off for now, as I don't want to seem suspicious about prying into their past, but I need details on this Demon Overlord… If I can get a good gauge of its strength, I can better understand the power of Diablo, Rose, Sasara, and anyone else who turns up that happens to know Diablo…

For the time being, he held his tongue, anxiously awaiting his opportunity to organically inquire about this mysterious Demon Overlord Modinalam.

As the group began to trudge into the forest, Diablo remembered something that he still had to do.

This whole issue with Hamusuke keeping less powerful monsters away from Carne, I hadn't thought about what would happen if I took her out of his usual territory… Well it's abundantly clear now, if not for Sasara showing up, Carne could've been wiped out! I've gotta find a way to sneak off and tell Hamusuke to go back to her original dwelling…

Before he got a chance to give some contrived excuse, Momon approached him with a question.

"Tell me Diablo, what kind of foe was this Demon Overlord Modinalam? I couldn't help my curiosity after hearing about it from Master Graham."

It was innocent enough of a question, but Diablo couldn't take anything said by Momon at face value. His entire identity was still an enigma, and whether he was truly friend or foe had yet to reveal itself.

"Where I come from, there are multiple Demon Lords that were once a single being long ago. While all immensely powerful in their own right, the Demon Lord of Insanity, Modinalam, began absorbing the other demon lords by force. He wasn't able to properly utilize all of his power, given the damage to his mind, but it was still enough to make him one of the most powerful foes I've ever faced."

This explanation didn't elaborate much on the power and abilities of Modinalam, but it still served to offer Ainz greater context, as well as some info on Diablo's homeland.

There were boss mechanics that allowed the absorption of other boss monsters in


Yggdrasil

, but not on the scale of something like a Demon Lord absorbing more of its kin… That could have potentially put it in the tier of a world enemy, but for Diablo to win in what sounded like a one versus one fight, it couldn't have been that strong…

Either that, or Diablo is hiding a level of power that would make him a monster even compared to the top


Yggdrasil

players, like those that held the

「
World Champion
」

class…

Wherever Diablo was truly from, it was clear to Ainz that he had to be one of the top tiers in terms of combat ability. Little did he know that his actual origin was that of the top player of his time, the 'True Demon Lord' of
Cross Reverie

"It sounds like they were a fearsome opponent. However, I've never heard of these beings called the 'Demon Lords', especially not ones that used to be a single entity. Is there a chance that they were ever referred to as the Lords of the Seven Deadly Sins?"

The Lords of the Seven Deadly Sins were world enemies from
Yggdrasil
, and among the strongest bosses in the entire game. They were the closest thing to a 'Demon Lord' that Ainz could think of, at least in terms of them being a defined group.

"No, they weren't. I couldn't tell you their exact number, but the Demon Lords I know of numbered more than seven. They also weren't named according to the seven deadly sins, but instead different parts or aspects of the body. While Modinalam was the Demon Lord of Insanity, by the time I encountered him he had absorbed Iankaroz, the Demon Lord of the Eye, and Cardia, the Demon Lord of the Heart. There were likely others too, but that was before I had knowledge of his existence. Those two I knew for a fact, based on how Modinalam made use of both their signature abilities."

I wasn't expecting them to be the same beings as the Sins, but the way he's describing these Demon Lords is very peculiar… While it makes sense for them to be named after individual parts, given their previous nature as a single entity, their naming scheme and power creep seems eerily similar to that of a game… Why would a game have the true 'big bad' as the boss right from the start? If they're actually mere fractions of the original, it allows nearly endless possibilities of new bosses while fitting within the lore… It's entirely possible that such a phenomena could occur naturally, like how things are loosely based on


Yggdrasil

in this world, but given everything else I know about Diablo, it seems very 'game-like'...

"I see. Who would have thought the world was so vast that so many powerful agents of evil would be running amok unaware of each other?"

"It's as I've said before, there's no greater source of experience than fighting those who are as strong if not stronger than yourself, because there's almost always another monster out there more powerful than the last…"

Diablo's response had a double meaning that he hadn't intended. On its face it was true, and a testament to the many trials he had faced since being summoned as his
Cross Reverie
character Diablo. Yet his usage of the word 'experience' made Ainz think of actual experience points one would accrue through defeating enemies, and it was even more true that triumphing over those of a higher level would net a greater amount of XP.

"That just reminded me… I remember you mentioning how your magic was measured based on the level you first learned it, instead of the tier system that is commonplace in this region. How exactly are these 'levels' measured? Or how do people normally increase their level?"

It was already clear to Diablo that Momon and Nabe had some understanding of the concept of 'levels' based on their interaction with Emile, but it also seemed that they operated under a different system than the one he was familiar with.

"Well, levels are generally only used for adventurers as a way to gauge their strength, so they can be assigned jobs befitting of their abilities. For magic based classes, adventurer guilds would use a magic mirror that responds to your input of magic power. Based on how much of and how clearly your reflection is shown, the examiner can estimate your relative level. For non-magic based classes though, it's usually just determined by a high level examiner of the same class. Increasing your level is the same way one improves at anything, it's just a matter of repetition. Fighting enemies of progressively greater difficulty. I myself am a level 150 elemental sorcerer, although as you've already surmised, I've also surpassed level 100 as a warrior thanks to Sasara. There's no limit on one's level as far as I'm aware, although increasing your level get's exponentially more difficult as you approach 150. Besides Demon Lords, I could count on one hand the number of people I know with levels above 100, let alone 150. What about yourself though? Based on what you said about Emile, it would seem you and Nabe have your own scale of measuring levels."

Ainz was surprised with the sheer bulk of information that Diablo had obliged him. Part of him wondered if he was lying, especially regarding his own level, but based on what he had seen so far, his explanation seemed in line with reality. The issue now was how he wanted to play his hand at answering the demon's question. His knowledge on the existence of levels wasn't a secret, but how much he knew and how much he was willing to reveal was a different matter.

"Where I hail from, we measured strength on a scale of 1 to 100. I'm sure there exist or existed those with power above level 100, but it was the height of what could be accurately measured. The Lords of the Seven Deadly Sins that I mentioned earlier were demons with power that easily surpassed level 100, but no one knew an exact label for it. I imagine the Demon Lords you've spoken of are in a similar league. As for myself, it's been quite a long time since I was properly assessed, but I would estimate my current level to be around 90."

This explanation was filled with lies and half-truths, particularly regarding the idea of level 100 being a kind of 'soft-cap' that only existed due to a lack of means to measure power beyond that threshold. With the only exception being world enemies, no player or NPC in
Yggdrasil
exceeded level 100. However, such a game-like rule wouldn't make sense in a real world like this one, so he had to twist the truth ever so slightly. He didn't believe Diablo to be lying about his system having no hard cap, as based on some of his stories, it seemed that the self proclaimed demon lord had run into many enemies that potentially eclipsed him in raw power. Not to mention the fact that he was able to cross level different classes without having to worry about his level allocation. No game devs in their right mind would create an uncapped system like the one he had described, although it sounded mightily convenient, seeing as Ainz still had to abide by the same class restrictions as he had when he played
Yggdrasil
. He could get around this with the aid of certain spells and equipment, like his usage of
Perfect Warrior
, which allowed him to equip warrior gear regardless of any class restrictions. Yet compared to someone like Diablo, who could freely make use of spells and warrior skills in tandem, he felt like he was operating with an annoying handicap.

If this guy actually did come from a game, how come he doesn't have to follow the rules like I do?! It's only thanks to my time playing


Yggdrasil

that I have access to power which far outstrips the norm of this world, but in a place where game mechanics like level and magic are made real, why must the restrictive balancing rules still apply?

Since arriving in this new world, Ainz had already confirmed that while he could still gain experience, he could not level up any further than his current peak. Based on what Diablo had said, he believed that rule didn't apply to natives of this world, along with wherever Diablo had come from. He imagined it would take multiple lifetimes for someone from this world to even approach level 100, but with the existence of non-
Yggdrasil
phenomena like talents and martial arts, he couldn't rule out the possibility entirely, not to mention the existence of immortal races like many heteromorphs. For the sake of securing his place in this new world, as a beacon for any of his guildmates or other players who may have been brought too, he had to find ways to improve. Whether that was through learning new skills or magic unique to this world, or simply improving his tactics as a PVPer, Ainz couldn't stay as he was while confidently expecting to triumph over every potential threat to Nazarick.

At the very least, I should have Cocytus teach me how to be a proper warrior…


「
Perfect Warrior
」

may turn me into a level 100 warrior, but I don't have any of the skills or prowess that one would expect from such a persona… This sparring match with Master Graham will be very educational, although I hope I don't make too much of a fool of myself… Maybe I could have her train me as well, especially if someone as prideful as Diablo allowed himself to be taught by her…

"Interesting… If I were to do a rough conversion to my level system, you'd be around level 135. That's very formidable, and it makes your victory over Emile far more reasonable. Emile is probably still level 99, which would make him level 66 by your standards. I guess that means you

have

surpassed the limits of the races, although beating someone at the precipice of that limit like Emile is conclusive enough evidence of that already."

Ainz didn't consider himself good with math, seeing as he had never even graduated middle school. In his corporate dystopian future, most people would have no choice but to enter the workforce even at such a young age. However, the basic conversion that Diablo was using made sense to him. If level 150 was what he considered a sort of 'soft-cap' compared to level 100 being a 'hard-cap' in
Yggdrasil
, the two values seemed to equate to a similar measurement. All he had to do was increase a
Yggdrasil
level by fifty percent for an estimation of the level based on Diablo's system. Conversely, taking a level from his system and multiplying it by two thirds would give him a somewhat accurate
Yggdrasil
level. Unless he gained new insight on the average stats of different levels from Diablo, this conversion would have to do. At the very least, it made parsing info out of his otherworldly counterpart's stories that much simpler.

With all that in mind, it means the Demon Overlord Modinalam must be over level 100 in


Yggdrasil

terms, which would put him in the league of world enemies, although likely on the low end… How Diablo could contend with an enemy like that even with the support of his capable allies still eludes me… It's possible he has some kind of trump card skill like my

「
The Goal of All Life is Death
」

, or perhaps he used a world item or some kind of equivalent? I need more information, because if he has a spell capable of defeating a being of that power, his threat level will shoot through the roof!

He recalled his spectating of Diablo's battle in Carne Village, where he made use of powerful magic, including a spell he called
《Gravity Abyss》
, which while having a long cast time, had the effect of generating a blackhole which could ignore conventional durability and had a large area of effect. However he doubted even that spell could be the one he used to defeat Modinalam. The prospect of which made him think of
Super Tier Magic
, but even spells of that magnitude would only chip away at the HP of a world enemy.

Trying to organically extract information from a guy like Diablo is exceedingly painful… Sometimes he's surprisingly forthcoming, but more often than not he'll make some ego driven dismissal of the question… Sigh… I wish I could just use memory altering magic on him and take a peek at the unaltered truth, but he's got that damn magic reflection… If a dev did design that ability, they're going straight to game-dev hell for allowing something so gamebreaking to be allowed!

It was possible that Diablo's magic reflection wasn't as broken as it currently was made out to be, as Ainz was only able to observe it reflect low tier magic, even the
「
Holy Smite
from the
Dominion Authority
was only a 7th tier spell. It was possible that spells of a higher tier could nullify the reflection, especially something like
Super Tier Magic
, seeing as it wasn't the same as conventional spells and didn't consume MP. He had no way of testing these theories besides direct combat with Diablo, which was far too great a risk for the potential reward. He was still considering sending a powerful combatant from Nazarick to fight him in order to gauge his strength, but he was hesitant to use the creations of his former comrades in such a callous way. Of course, if he were to even suggest the idea to any of the guardians, they would unwittingly agree to carry out the order. Which was why Ainz was extremely careful with the things he said to anyone from Nazarick, as his word was law in their minds. It made it difficult to properly communicate with all of them, but with the chance of accidentally ordering something dumb that could lead to dire consequences, he couldn't break the image of a supreme being that all the guardians had in their head when they thought of him.

By this point in time, Ainz and Diablo had split off from the group, as everyone fanned out over the area at the edge of the forest, save for Rose and Nabe, who silently followed behind their masters. Ainz saw this as an opportunity for uninterrupted questioning, while Diablo was growing increasingly anxious as he tried to find a way to inconspicuously sneak off.

"As much as I love recounting my past triumphs, I'll have to excuse myself for a moment. I… need to use the restroom…"

Before Ainz could even manage a reply, Diablo darted off further into the forest. The dark warrior found it strange for him to so suddenly declare the status of his bladder, but he couldn't fault the man.

While this undead body is certainly convenient, some part of me misses the experience of having a satisfying piss… What am I even talking about?

He couldn't help but visibly shake his head at such a strange thought, as Rose quickly sped ahead to follow Diablo.

"Erm, Rose- I think Diablo might be expecting some privacy, perhaps you should wait with us."

Despite his reasonable plea, Rose continued forward unabashedly.

"No act is too private for me to serve Diablo, perhaps your standards have lowered given the company that you keep."

The fleeting remark from the magimatic maid left Narberal seething with killing intent as her dedication to a supreme being was called into question.

"Lord Ainz, know that if your body required such a function, I would do anything I could to assist in the matter."

This comment from his adventuring companion caused his emotion suppression to activate, as the embarrassing sentiment quickly faded from his mind. The aftertaste of that feeling continued to hang over him like a dark cloud, however.

"Your loyalty and servitude would never be called into question, Narberal. Also, let's cease this particular line of thinking, I'd rather not dwell on such a scenario…"

With the embarrassment of the situation completely lost on her, Narberal regained her composure thanks to the assurance of her master, yet her rage towards Rose did not yield in the slightest.

Entering the humble dwelling that he was well familiar with, Nfirea saw the girl he loved sitting across the room at a table. His entrance drew her attention, as she turned to smile at him.

"You got here earlier than I thought! Also, what was all that commotion I heard outside? Did you bring some colorful characters with you this time?"

Enri let out a quick laugh thinking about how peculiar adventurers could be sometimes. Yet the answer she got had betrayed her expectations.

"I- I guess you could say that. I hired a man called Diablo for this job, and apparently he did some great service for Carne recently, all the townspeople were thanking him."

"Diablo is back!? Where is he? I still need to thank him for saving my life, and Nemu's too!"

Nfirea couldn't help but take pause upon hearing this. If not for the actions of Diablo, the love of his life would likely be dead. He would've found out about it upon his arrival, yet instead she was still here, smiling like always.

Thank you Diablo… I don't know how I'll ever repay you, but I promise I will somehow!

"He and the others are checking out the edge of the forest before we start heading further in. I'm sure he'll be around long enough for you to talk to him, though."

Despite his admiration, Nfirea had to acknowledge the small part of him that was jealous towards Enri's savior. Who could fault her if she fell for the powerful man who prevented her from seeing a tragic end? Thankfully, the young potion-maker was able to quash that feeling. He was operating with a new sense of confidence, and he also believed Diablo wouldn't pursue her romantically.

When you're a powerful adventurer traveling the world, why would you tie yourself down with a simple village girl?

Of course, it was this simple village girl that he had fallen for long ago, but he also couldn't compare his life to that of Diablo's.

"Oh thank goodness. I didn't think I'd ever get a chance to see him again, but who would have thought you'd bring him back to me? Thank you, Nfirea."

In the face of such heartfelt gratitude, Nfirea couldn't help but blush as he sheepishly tried to avert his eyes beneath his overhanging bangs.

"Oh- uh- You're… welcome… Really, it's no big deal-"

"Oh don't be so hard on yourself. Only a distinguished potion master like a Barreare could convince someone powerful like Diablo to accompany you on such a simple job."

Enri had said this playfully, an offhand way of complimenting Nfirea, but she also meant it wholeheartedly. It was also true, as it was only thanks to his family's shop that he ever ran into Diablo. Along with piquing the demon lord's curiosity with the prospect of new potion ingredients, Nfirea truly played a key role in having Diablo return to Carne Village.

"He wanted to learn about the herbs that we pick from the Forest of Tob. You see, Diablo knows how to make potions too, and he even showed my Grandma some that made her go crazy! You've probably already guessed it, but he isn't from around here, so he wanted to see if he could substitute certain ingredients with ones from this area."

"Told you I was right! It must be nice to be able to interest someone like Diablo, I can't compare to him at all like you can."

The twinge of jealousy popped up again from this comment, and Nfirea couldn't help but act on it.

"You, uh- want to interest Diablo? Why… would you want to do that?"

Enri wasn't expecting the young man sitting across from her to react in such a way, but she quickly picked up on what he had been thinking.

"Is it not normal to want to appeal to someone who saved your life? Most people who brush against death's door never get the opportunity to be saved, I'm both incredibly lucky and grateful."

"Oh, of course that's what you meant. I would feel the same way as you if I had been in that situation…

However, at the mention of the incident that had left her mentally scarred, tears began to well in the corners of Enri's eyes.

"If only he had come sooner, maybe my parents would still be here too… I- I can't say such things, not after all he did for Carne and myself…"

Nfirea's heart sank upon learning the grisly truth of the incident that had recently befell Carne. All the while his brain scrambled for a suave way to comfort the saddened girl before him. He started to reach towards her to place a consoling hand on her shoulder, but she suddenly looked up from her downtrodden gaze, causing Nfirea to quickly pull his hand back.

"I still have my sister to worry about, though. I can't keep moping around forever, right?"

Enri said this as she wiped the welling tears from her eyes, putting on her same comforting smile that he knew her for. Although, he could tell she was straining to do so. Even a strong-willed girl like her couldn't come out the other end of an incident like this completely unscathed. It was all the more reason for him to be there for her.

"Of course! Th-then…"

"What is it, Nfirea?"

"Will you mar… No, the town, um, well, that is…"

Flustered by the sudden onset of emotions, Nfirea nearly made a massive verbal slip up, as he continued to struggle and find the right words.

"What? What's wrong?"

"T-Tell me if y-you need anything! I'll help you the best I can!"

While his delivery was shabby, he did his best to give assuring words to the girl he hoped to one day propose to.

"Thank you, Nfirea. I really am lucky to have such a great friend!"

"Ah- yeah! No, it's fine… It's just we've known each other a long time is all…"

So she sees me as a friend, huh? That just means I'm making progress, right?

And so, similar to many other men like himself, Nfirea had unknowingly entered the friend zone.

Greetings everyone. As promised, updates will be coming out much more frequently. I'd like to try and post a chapter every two weeks, but it could be slightly longer for these upcoming chapters as we reach the climax of this arc. Sorry if anyone felt this chapter was a little slow, it was more expositional given all the internal thought of some of the characters. I felt it was well needed though, as plenty of new information was divulged for both Diablo and Ainz. If you're not a big fan of these internal dialogue heavy chapters, fear not! Plenty of fighting will soon commence, as most overlord readers already know. I promise the payoff will all be worth it, so if you haven't already, make sure to follow and favorite so you get notified of the next update. Leave a review as well, I always love the feedback. See you in the next chapter!

An Inevitable Decision

Chapter 10: An Inevitable Decision

Dashing through the forest as fast as the obstacles around him would allow, Diablo was on a direct course for his dungeon.

I ran off before they could reply, but it seems like they didn't take much issue with my excuse… more importantly though… Why is Rose following behind me?

There wasn't a good moment where he could've told Rose his plan beforehand, so he was banking on her staying behind to keep an eye on Momon and Nabe, but it appeared he once again underestimated her dedication. While both of them continued to bound forward, dodging branches and roots along the way, Diablo finally questioned his companion.

"Uh, Rose- You do realize I don't actually have to relieve myself, right? That was just a way to get away from those two without drawing suspicion!"

He couldn't see her expression as he was in front of her, but Diablo knew it had to be one of either embarrassment or pleasure, arguably both.

"While it is true that this Rose would accompany you on any endeavor, I recognized the ulterior motive behind your excuse immediately. Yes, of course I realized it."

Rose was certainly smart enough to pick up on the nuance in the moment, but she was also obsessed with serving Diablo, so whether or not she was lying could only be known to her.

"That's… good to hear. If you haven't put it together yet, I'm returning to the dungeon in order to tell Hamusuke to go back to her usual routine. Based on what Sasara had to do, that hamster's role as the 'Wise King of the Forest' actually kept weaker monsters away from the village. Of course, I knew such a thing from the beginning, but I don't want Sasara to be tied down with defending the village for the foreseeable future."

Yeah, I totally knew…

It was somewhat difficult to keep up a conversation as they rapidly moved through the forest, but thanks to both of their keen senses, it was manageable enough.

"As expected of the Demon Lord, no, as expected of

my master

. However, how will Sasara explain her early departure to the villagers without revealing that Hamusuke was moved in the first place? Not that I care for the fate of those people, but anything that could besmirch your reputation must be considered."

Crap. I hadn't even considered something like that… Of course the villagers would demand some kind of explanation, and if they were to find out I moved the Wise King from her territory, I'd be looked down on as a moron who didn't understand the balance of power of the region… I'll have to discuss it with Sasara later, although if she has to remain in Carne for a few more days, that's a worthwhile trade for safeguarding my reputation…

"Your input is always appreciated, Rose, but don't fret over these small details. It's all part of my master plan for finding the rest of our allies, and then triumphantly returning home."

While Rose was incredibly perceptive, not to mention capable of processing data and calculations at a speed beyond that of Diablo, she also looked up to him too much to question such a resolute declaration for the future. Diablo on the other hand, didn't really have a plan. At least not one as comprehensive as he was claiming.

"Please make sure to use me in any way you see fit in order to carry out this grand plan, Diablo. Although I have little sentiment for the people of Lyferia, I know you have a fondness for some of those who we've encountered in our travels. While I may not share the same feelings, I could never put my own personal complacency above your wishes."

Diablo knew that whether or not she wanted to admit it, there were at least some people that Rose cared for other than her master. Even if that care stemmed from said person's strength and ability to protect him from harm, it showed she wasn't entirely an unfeeling machine.

Before being summoned, Rose was nothing more than a glorified roomba for the dungeon… But now she has sentience, a personality… even the skills of a level 150 warrior! I never would have imagined her being one of my strongest companions back when I first became Diablo…

Now that he thought about it, he had never expected to have any companions at all, let alone ones that are so capable. Sakamoto Takuma had always been a solo player, both in
Cross Reverie
and in real life. His interaction with others was limited to the many challengers he faced during his reign as the True Demon Lord of
Cross Reverie
, and the few failed attempts at friendship from his early childhood. Even though the relationships he began to build in his new world were cultivated mainly by chance, the result of his socially tumultuous demon lord persona, they had grown into genuine feelings.

Forget just talking to others, I'm technically married to two women!

Despite both of his marriages stemming from extenuating circumstances, he couldn't deny his feelings towards the first two people he had ever met after becoming Diablo.

I married Shera to fulfill her homeland's covenant and save it from magical decay, and proposing to Rem was in order to free her mind from the clutches of Modinalam… In reality, those merely served as convenient excuses for expressing my true feelings… There's no chance I would've ever been able to propose in some organic, heartfelt way!

As he learned to better acknowledge and act upon his own feelings, Diablo's heart continued to ache as the days without information on Rem and Shera dragged by. He had one source of hope, however.

Those two still have the



Enslavement Collars


from when they first summoned me… I don't know how to describe it, but I can feel that the link in our magic power still exists! So either the enslavement magic is able to persist across worlds, or they were brought here too! I only hope that they haven't run into any serious trouble… Both of them are very capable, but if they had to fight someone like Momon, or the minions of that asshole who came after me and Rose, it could end in disaster…

Diablo had resolved himself. As soon as he was done with this job, he and Rose would head to Re-Estize, the Kingdom's capital city. The Head Warrior Gazef Stronoff had already promised that he would look into any information regarding his companions, but going to the source of the investigation itself could only help his prospects. There was still the matter of the job request from Count Iselk, but he had just over a week until the actual job. With teleportation magic, returning to E-Rantel would be a non-issue.

Alright, enough worrying about the future. I should be coming up to the dungeon any minute now…

"Rose, I want you to watch the perimeter. We won't be here for very long, but I can't take the chance of us being spotted."

"As you wish!"

After her confirmation, both of them slowed to a halt as they reached the sparse area at the forest's center, where Diablo's dungeon lay straight ahead.

The magimatic maid nodded to her master as she vanished from sight, assuming a position where she could see the entire treeline.

Not having to search very long, Diablo quickly happened upon the sleeping form of Hamusuke next to the chimera statue.

"Sleeping on the job now, aren't we, oh great Wise King of the Forest?"

Diablo's sarcastic greeting immediately roused the slumbering hamster, as she instantly gave her best attempt at a dogeza, planting her head into the ground.

"M-Master Demon Lord sir! This one assures you she was not sleeping! More like… resting this one's eyes!"

The magical beast's peculiar speech patterns made her usage of an age-old excuse nearly cause Diablo to let out a laugh.

"Forget the matter, I have an important request. It hadn't occurred to me what kind of effect moving you from your territory would cause, but with new information in mind, I need you to return to your previous dwelling."

Sitting up from her prostrate position, Hamusuke tilted her head in confusion as she questioned her master's order.

"You want this one to leave already? I promise I haven't been slacking! T-This one would prefer not to be punished by Lady Rose…"

So much for being 'Wise' if you can't figure out why I'm asking you to go back…

"It seems you're misunderstood, Hamusuke. You will still be serving under me, I simply require that Carne Village remain safe from those who dwell in the forest. Whether or not you intended to, you kept monsters away from the part of the forest that Carne borders."

"Oh! This one understands now! On the honor of my title as the Wise King, this one will protect Carne Village at all costs!"

Diablo wanted to reply that there wasn't much honor behind the title of a giant hamster, but he didn't want to crush the poor creature's already wavering confidence.

"Excellent. Make sure you don't get too close though, the last thing I need is the villagers thinking you're antagonizing them."

"Understood Demon Lord sir! But how will you find this one if you ever require my skills for something else?"

"First off, stop calling me that. Just say Diablo, that's an order. As for finding you, I'll cast a flashy spell above the dungeon if I ever need to summon you. I would give an example, but I don't want to attract the attention of the others in the forest. Just use those keen senses of yours and you'll be fine."

It wasn't a lie that Diablo could cast something like
《Stardust》
, a level 30 water type spell that produces sparkling hexagonal ice crystals, but he didn't think he'd have much use for Hamusuke going forward in the first place. He didn't have the heart to say such a thing out loud, but the end result was the same either way.

"Y-Yes, Diablo, this one will be on constant alert! Is there anything else you require of your loyal servant?"

"For now, no. Just make sure you stay out of range of the adventurers near Carne,

especially

the one in black full plate armor.

Giving a quick salute, Hamusuke then proceeded to scamper off in the opposite direction, being mindful to take a less direct route to his old territory.

A moment later, Rose appeared behind Diablo. The fact that someone as heavy as a fully armored knight on horseback could move so fast so silently sent a shiver down the demon's spine.

"I detected no movement around the perimeter besides small animals. Thankfully, it appears we weren't followed."

Responding with a satisfied "Umu", Diablo motioned forward as he took off back towards the other adventurers, with Rose following suit behind him.

His gambit had played off, and now he would reap the rewards.

Floating hundreds of feet above the clearing that housed Diablo's dungeon, was none other than Ainz Ooal Gown. However, in the eyes of anyone else, he was nowhere to be seen, heard, or sensed altogether.

It was a gamble on whether or not


「
Perfect Unknowable
」

would work on Rose, but it looks like my suspicions were right!

Based on how the mysterious female warrior had dealt with his
「
Hanzos
, Ainz theorized that she had some ability that allowed her to sense the presence of others nearby. He had gone over the whole report of the incident from Albedo, and while at first he believed Rose to have some kind of high tier ranger job class, the fact that she couldn't pinpoint the exact location of the
Hanzos
while they were hidden made him think otherwise.

There was a chance she would be able to sense me in the area, but I simply could have teleported away in that scenario… Yet the best case seems to have played out, she can neither sense or locate me while I have


「
Perfect Unknowable

active…

Of course, he couldn't neglect the chance that she was bluffing, all in an attempt to draw him out and reveal himself. Yet with his understanding of Rose's personality, he believed that had she detected his presence, she would immediately alert Diablo or simply engage with him directly.

"Lord Ainz. Both targets have left the area, and are en route to the rest of the group."

Hearing the voice of Narberal in his head from a
「
Message
scroll he had given her, Ainz moved on to the next step in his plan.

"Very good, Narberal. When they arrive, make sure to tell them that I'm investigating a strange magical presence further into the forest. Even if they immediately turn around to pursue, I should have enough time to finish and teleport away."

"Understood, Lord Ainz."

With that, the mental link was severed. Ainz was confident with his relatively impromptu plan, but the hardest part was what would come next.

Let's see, it couldn't have gotten far in this amount of time…

Flying over the endless canopy of trees, Ainz quickly zeroed in on the presence of a particular magical beast, one that while not incredibly powerful by his standards, stood out from the rest of the forest.

There's no mistake, this must be the so-called 'Wise King of the Forest'... The「Hanzos


」

never had a chance to mention Diablo's encounter with this beast, if they even saw it in the first place…

As he dipped beneath the treetops, Ainz saw the beast momentarily stop, sniffing around at the air.

Interesting… There's no way this overgrown hamster is anywhere near a high enough level to see through


「
Perfect Unknowable
」

... It still doesn't seem to be aware of me, maybe it was a coincidence? Or some kind of bestial sixth sense?

Regardless, the Wise King's momentary pause was the perfect opportunity for Ainz to swoop in and act.

「
Dominate

Having registered an attack,
「
Perfect Unknowable
was dispelled, yet Ainz' sudden appearance made little difference now that the beast was under his control. Hamusuke was frozen in place as her eyes seemed to gloss over, blankly staring ahead at her temporary new master.

"Now then, just to confirm things, what is your name?"

"This one has been named Hamusuke by their master, but is also known as the Wise King of the Forest."

Hamusuke? That's the name Diablo chose? If this isn't some wonky auto-translation, it sounds like an uninspired name a Japanese person would give… someone like me, probably…

Diablo's choice of name would have to be thought about later, he had limited time before his spell would wear out, not to mention the threat of discovery.

"Tell me about your master. Did he ever say where he was from, or why he's come to E-Rantel?"

Hamusuke's face seemed to light up upon hearing his question, as the Wise King began to divulge damning information.

"My master is Diablo, the True Demon Lord from another world! He told me that this wasn't his first time being pulled into a different world, and how his dungeon seemed to follow him to this other world as well. He can be very scary, but sometimes also nice!"

So he really is from another world… I knew it! Somehow this isn't even his first time being transported to a different world, which begs the question… If the world that his companions are from isn't


his

original one, then what world is he originally from? Piecing together everything I know so far, there exists a fair chance of him being in the same position as me. All the instances of Japanese influence that I've seen from him or his allies, it can't just be a coincidence. Even his name being 'Diablo' could be directly tied to the spanish word for 'devil', a word that existed in Japanese culture too! Yet, he wasn't a

Yggdrasil

player… Anyone with something like magic reflection would be all over the forums! Just looking at my own situation though, if I'm to believe that the guild and myself were transported here from

Yggdrasil

, would it be so outlandish to say he came from a different game? Possibly from an alternate Japan altogether? Then he gets brought to this world around the same time as myself… Whatever the forces at play are that caused this, they somehow struck Diablo twice…

The only way to confirm any of this was to ask Diablo directly. Ainz still had no idea how to approach such a discussion, but thankfully, revealing 'Momon the adventurer' as someone originally from Japan didn't mean he had to reveal that Ainz Ooal Gown was too.

Even if we do have the same homeland, nothing can change the fact that we simply operate differently… Ever since becoming an undead, I could feel my empathy for humanity dwindling. At this point, the only thing I care to protect is Nazarick and all the NPC creations of my dear friends… I can't see inside Diablo's head, but based on the people he associates with, he would inevitably side with humanity if Nazarick were to ever enter conflict…

That was why this situation pained him greatly, at least as much as his undead psyche would allow. There was a chance he could have someone to confide in, a person that he didn't have to act as a supreme overlord in front of. Yet that individual could become an enemy in the future, an enemy with an undefined but dangerous level of strength. Ainz knew he still had time to come to terms on a decision, but it wasn't something he could push off indefinitely. No matter which path he chose, the least he could do was gather more information while he could.

"I see. Do you know anything about this 'dungeon' you referred to? Perhaps its layout or defenses?"

"This one did not see much of the dungeon, as Diablo used something called
Teleportation
to bring us all the way to the bottom. He called it the 'Demon Lord's Labyrinth', and we arrived at the 13th floor. It was a scary throne room, with a whole bunch of creepy skeleton candles… and the walls looked kind of like guts, bleh!"

This dungeon sounds exactly like a guild base from


Yggdrasil

! It has to be from a different game though, as thirteen floors is more than I remember being possible with the data limits… Maybe I can get a little more context…

"Did you see or learn of anything else while you were in the dungeon? Perhaps something important that Diablo said?"

"Hmm… Oh! Behind the throne was a room that looked like it went on forever! He called it his
Warehouse
, but whatever it was, there were things on pedestals through the whole thing! Some of them were weapons and armor, but most of it was unknown to this one. All of it had scary levels of magic power though, that is what this one knows for sure!"

This
Warehouse
sounded like an equivalent to the
Treasury
of Nazarick, and the mention of magic items as far as the eye could see elicited great excitement from Ainz.

Could I be so brazen as to invade Diablo's base? Given the lack of information on all of the defensive floors, the risk is simply too high… I could send my summons and some mercenary mobs as a sort of experiment, though… Depending on the results that yields, we could launch a proper raid team made up of the guardians and myself…

First, there was something he had to confirm. Reaching his arm into the extradimensional space that was his inventory, Ainz pulled out the book he had been reading earlier. It happened to be a guide for better management skills, a genre that he had started to frequent ever since winding up in his new executive role. He held it in front of Hamusuke, slowly flipping through the pages.

"When you were in the dungeon, did you see any symbols that resemble the ones I'm showing you?"

Even in her brainwashed state, Hamusuke scratched her head as she thought hard about her brief time in the dungeon.

"Hmm… This one was never taught how to read and write, but the Wise King boasts an impressive memory! Some of the pedestals in the
Warehouse
were inscribed with symbols that looked very similar!"

There it was. Near one hundred percent confirmation of his theory. Ainz couldn't begin to fathom the mechanisms that allowed all of this to happen, but it had forced him to broaden his perspective. Perhaps Diablo was from the same Japan as himself, or maybe from the past or future. His homeland could be an alternate Japan altogether, and with the possibility of infinite dimensions, it was a credible theory. Despite this revelation of their similar origins, he felt a burning jealousy towards Diablo slowly rising.

How come he gets a body that's nearly identical to a human? He gets to enjoy food, alcohol, intimacy… But despite all of that, he acts like he's actually a demon lord… Wait, perhaps his psyche was changed when he first became Diablo, just like my own upon becoming undead… If he actually has some kind of 'Demon Lord' racial class, it's possible it could be influencing his personality…

There was also the possibility that he was putting on an act, much like himself. Perhaps he was roleplaying because of Rose, seeing as Ainz believed she was originally an NPC and viewed Diablo as an actual Demon Lord. Regardless of the reason behind his enigmatic persona, Ainz now knew that he wasn't truly alone in his current predicament.

Having lost himself in his thoughts for a moment, Ainz nearly missed Hamusuke's next words as she recalled more information.

"This one also remembers hearing Lady Rose mention something about a
Large Black Dragon
having been restored during the dungeon's transfer into this world. Most of it went over this one's head, but I can tell you for sure that they have a powerful dragon guarding the 12th floor."

A



Large Black Dragon


, huh? It isn't the exact same as any

Yggdrasil

draconic racial class, but for it to be the final line of defense for someone like Diablo, it must be incredibly powerful…

Like in many fantasy settings, dragons in
Yggdrasil
were considered some of the most powerful enemies in the game. The developers were clearly biased based on how many world enemies were some type of dragon. Generally speaking, the older a dragon was, the more powerful it would be too. So even though the racial class
Large Black Dragon
didn't specify an age like in
Yggdrasil
, Ainz could infer its age based on the fact that it was 'large'. Since it was a black dragon, it was likely to have an elemental affinity of either darkness or possibly lightning. However, he couldn't expect the logic he was familiar with to apply universally, so it was merely a theory.

"I have another question for you. What do you know about Diablo's companion, Rose?"

The mention of Rose's name was enough to send a shiver down Hamusuke's spine, as she recalled her first time meeting the magimatic maid.

"L-Lady Rose is the overseer of Diablo's dungeon. After we first got there, we found her laying on a strange metal table, almost like she was asleep. She woke up when Diablo entered the room, though. Other than that, all this one knows is how terrifying she is when she gets angry!"

I suppose that's why Diablo is able to trust her so much, she's his equivalent of Albedo… Although at least Rose is able to control her… impulses… unlike my own second in command…

Thinking back to his first actions upon being transported to this new world, Ainz couldn't help but cringe internally. He continued to tell himself that there was no way he could've known that his changes to Albedo's data would have manifested in reality. Regardless, he couldn't help but see it as the consequence of defiling the creation of one of his friends.

I'm sorry, Tabula-san… But why did you have her backstory include 'Is a total bitch'?! Once I had removed that, I couldn't help but indulge in my own childish addition…

[Is deeply in love with Momonga.]

That change in her character had caused more than Ainz' fair share of embarrassing moments. He didn't even have the means to act in any of these instances. The little libido that remained after becoming undead had disappeared for good when he turned down Albedo for the first time.

At least I don't have to question her loyalty… Ugh. I need to get back on track here, there's no use in loathing the wisdom of hindsight…

Ainz blanked on any other questions that Hamusuke might be able to answer, and before he could decide on one, the magical beast slumped over, unconscious.

Sigh… The biggest drawback of the


「
Dominate
」

spell. Its active effect drains the vitality of the target, which only gives you enough time for a few questions…

He had thought of asking about Diablo's magic or spells, but he didn't see a reason why he would've divulged any of that to Hamusuke. It didn't matter either way, as his source of information was now incapacitated.

Alright, let's hope this works…

Using the 10th tier spell
「
Control Amnesia
, Ainz began to peer into the memories of the Wise King. The sensation wasn't anything like from the game, but it felt intuitive to him, as if he was rifling through a metaphorical filing cabinet.

I only need to erase the memories of the last few minutes, but even that is massively draining my MP… I'll definitely need to experiment with this spell if I'm to use it more effectively in the future…

Then, it was done. After canceling the spell, Ainz remarked at how his MP had managed to drop below half its previous value. He had spent too much time rifling through the wrong memories, and even a small mistake like that had cost him greatly. Despite this, the spell was still a success. As far as Hamusuke knew, she had fallen asleep on the way to her old territory. Even if brainwashing magic was used on her, his identity would remain unknown. The foolproof nature of
「
Control Amnesia
was an acceptable excuse for its high MP cost.

When I had first overshot the memory I was looking for, I saw images from inside the dungeon… It was brief, but what I glimpsed was more than enough…

The grand and eerie throne room, the
Warehouse
and its endless sea of precious items, even the peculiar room that Rose was found in.

Hamusuke probably didn't know the means to describe it, but that room looked like some sort of high tech machinist shop… It reminds me of one of the Pleiades, CZ-Delta the automaton…

The possibility of Rose being an artificial lifeform actually mattered greatly to Ainz. Unless buffed by
「
The Goal of All Life is Death
, his instant death magic wouldn't affect beings that weren't 'alive' in the traditional sense. This applied to undead, but also constructs like golems, and of course, automatons.

She was already dangerous, but to have all of those passive resistances as well, it would make her a threat to even some of the floor guardians… Getting her and Diablo in my good graces just got that much more important… If I could influence them as Momon in order to keep them out of the way for any potential operations, it would save me the trouble of a dangerous battle…

It all came back to that troubling question. Satoru Suzuki wanted to befriend someone who he might be able to empathize with, but Ainz Ooal Gown wanted to protect the interests of Nazarick, and guarantee the safety of his allies' creations. Ultimately, his decision would depend on how effectively he could manipulate their actions, and the best way to do that was to gain their trust.

It's unfortunate that I haven't had a chance to show my strength in front of those two, but I'll definitely have my opportunity on our upcoming mission from the Count… Maybe I could summon some powerful undead to show up during the job, and valiantly 'defeat' them, saving the surprised Diablo and Rose… Something like that…

Thankfully, despite being the Supreme Overlord of Nazarick, Ainz had a lot of downtime. Normally he would spend it idly trying to be productive, but now he had something proper to think on. With that in mind, he decided to take his exit.

「
Greater Teleportation

In a flash, Ainz vanished from Hamusuke's side, as he reappeared elsewhere in the forest, back near Carne's edge.

As if on cue, he saw Diablo and Rose rushing towards him through the greenery.

Looks like Narberal did her job well…

"Momon, your partner told us that you sensed a powerful magical beast somewhere in the forest! Did you find anything?"

Diablo had been able to hide his anxiety well, but with the truth only known to Ainz, he was able to sense the demon's urgency.

"Well I was either mistaken, or the beast turned tail and fled. Unfortunately I wasn't able to find anything, I had been hoping to locate the Wise King of the Forest that the Swords of Darkness mentioned."

His explanation seemed a bit too convenient for the skeptical Diablo, but he couldn't surmise a reason for Momon lying in this scenario.

"I see. Well, if any of us sense it again, we can move as a group. I understand going off on your own given the… circumstances at the time, so let's leave it at that."

The black knight nodded in understanding, as all three of them began making their way back to the others.

"I imagine Nfirea is ready to join us in the forest by now, so let's make haste in getting back."

As the three adventurers hustled to their employer, the Wise King of the Forest began to wake from its unnatural slumber.

"Wahhh… Maybe this one does deserve punishment! To fall asleep while carrying out my master's order, it can't happen again!"

Feeling strangely fatigued despite her recent nap, Hamusuke hurried along with her previous task, hoping her master would remain ignorant of the major slip-up.

It had been a few minutes since Nfirea gathered the group at the edge of the Forest, yet several key members were still missing.

"Seriously, where the hell are they? It's not like they ran into a monster that could overpower them, so what gives?"

Everyone else was curious as to the absence of their strongest teammates, but Lukrut stated his annoyance for all of them to hear. However, Nfirea swiftly moved in to defend some of the people he had come to idolize.

"Don't be so quick to demonize them, Lukrut. Although I guess it would apply to Diablo, hahaha!"

Amused at his unintentional play on words, Nfirea managed to restore the mood that the mouthy ranger had attempted to sour.

"What if they encountered the Wise King of the Forest? No one knows for sure how powerful it is, and there's barely anyone who's survived a run in with it…"

Ninya nervously clutched his staff to his chest as he worried about the safety of his new allies, but Dyne and Peter quickly quelled his anxiety.

"Ninya, you've seen what Diablo can do, and Momon is similar in strength as a warrior. Add on their capable partners, and I can't see a group like that being wiped out, even by the Wise King of the Forest."

"If anything, they're probably arguing over who gets to keep it as a pet, hahaha!"

Such a statement would be inane in regard to nearly anyone else, but with the people he had in mind, everyone laughed along at the very possible scenario. As the jovial mood began to die down, a rustling from the forest drew everyone's attention.

"Looks like we get to find out sooner rather than later."

Peter's assumption was correct, as Diablo, Rose, Momon, and Nabe came hurtling out of the forest's edge, slowing to a halt as they approached the group.

"Please excuse our tardiness, Nfirea. We thought we might have detected the presence of the Wise King, but it wound up being a bust. Is everyone else ready to head in?"

"The Wise King? I guess I can't blame it for running away when it sensed all of you guys chasing it down. And yes, we can head out at once. I'll lead the way, just be sure to give a heads up if you detect any monsters,

especially

if it's the Wise King of the Forest."

Voicing his surprise at the explanation for their absence, Nfirea called upon the group to begin the true task of this job request. Diablo made sure to stand next to the young Barreare, as he hoped to learn about possible substitute ingredients for his potion-making process.

"There's probably nowhere safer than being near this many powerful adventurers, I've never felt more assured on a job before!"

Ninya couldn't help but smile as he looked up at the paragons of strength that stood before him. One of them had even gifted him an invaluable magic item, he couldn't help but trust that everything would be fine as long as he was working with them.

Following the lead of Nfirea, the adventurer party made their way into the Forest of Tob, in pursuit of precious magical herbs.

Darkness.

That was all she could see, with the sound of her surroundings being the only context she could gather on the situation.

"You weren't lying, I can practically smell the holy stench coming off of this woman."

She had heard the approaching footsteps of two individuals, and this was a male voice she was unfamiliar with. It sounded almost decrepit, yet incredibly sinister.

"Why would I mislead such a valuable acquaintance of mine? You couldn't find a more potent source of such despicable goodness than the undefiled Head Priestess here."

That voice. She recognized it, without a shadow of a doubt.

"B-Battuta?"

"Ah, you've come back to your senses, haven't you? I don't think you can understand how delightful this current arrangement is for me. How ironic is it that the divine providence you worship would have brought me back from destruction?"

It didn't make any sense. Lumachina had seen Battuta die as a result of being overpowered by Diablo's magic. The fact that he stood before her now made this reality a waking nightmare.

"God would never show favor to someone as wicked as yourself! I don't know how you're alive, or why you've come to this place, but you'll never succeed in whatever sinister plot you're planning!"

"No explanation is needed, I'm here regardless. Also, such a poor choice of words. There is no 'planning', all of the pieces are already moving into place. Don't expect a rescue, either. Whatever meager forces the city and guild can manage will never reach this place. Even if your beloved Diablo somehow turns up, he stands little chance against me after all I've learned."

Lumachina could feel her composure beginning to crumble. She had managed to sustain her willpower ever since being brought to this strange new world, yet in the face of her current circumstances, maintaining the dignity of a head priestess became too much to bear.

I should've known it was him as soon as I saw the Death Knell… I just don't understand… Kami-sama, what is your plan in all of this? Why did you bring me here? Why is such an evil man in the land of the living despite his death? Please… I've always had faith in your plan, I know there has to be a reason for all of this!

"Don't look so depressed, woman. You will be a catalyst in a grand ritual! By perfecting Batutta's Death Knell curse, the Death Spiral will be accelerated beyond any of my original calculations! Rejoice in the fact that you will hasten my ascension to immortality!"

The creepy voice of the other man only served to frighten her further. If she allowed herself to be the cause of countless innocent deaths, she believed even God would be unable to forgive her.

"Why… Why would you do such things, Battuta? You were a Paladin Captain, a holy man… Yet, even staring death in the face wasn't enough to make you change your ways…"

The whimpers coming from Lumachina elicited a conniving laugh from her recurring captor.

"Do you not remember? There is no tragic backstory, no unfortunate circumstances! Some people simply relish in the defiance of sinful actions!"

Battuta had revealed his convictions to her during their previous confrontation, yet even now she still struggled to believe it.

It's true that God's creations are sinful in nature, and that it's only through his grace that we are able to overcome these temptations, but could such an implicitly evil person exist? I couldn't even hope to fully comprehend the Lord's actions, yet the existence of someone like Batutta baffles me anyways…

God had triumphed over the Demon Lord. Good would inevitably overcome evil. This was the paradigm that Lumachina had viewed the world through for most of her life. Evil still existed, yet it only served as a test of one's character and belief in God. However, in her current position, Lumachina struggled to find the answer to this trial.

"Well then, as much as it delights me to see you on the verge of tears, there are important matters at play. Don't fret, it won't be long before you'll be released from this suffering. Hahaha!"

The despondent Head Priestess pulled against her restraints in vain, hearing the receding footsteps of the two cackling men fade into the distance.

God performed his miracles for me even in this unfamiliar place… If his grace extends here, the embodiment of his divine justice has to as well!

There was only one person she knew that had power on the level of God's wrath.

Diablo… You can't let him get away with this!

A few hours later, Nfirea and the adventurer party accompanying him exited the forest. Several of the members carried baskets filled to the brim with a variety of herbs, roots, and other flora. With the Wise King of the Forest going out of her way to avoid the group, their job was relatively uneventful. The brief expedition had been a fortunate lull in the high stress series of events that both Ainz and Diablo had endured.

It was definitely educational, but I didn't recognize a single herb that Nfirea showed me… I'm sure they have similar properties to the


Cross Reverie

ingredients I'm familiar with, but at this rate, I'll have to brute force trying to find the right combination…

With his efforts to locate Rem and Shera looming over him, there probably wouldn't be an opportunity anytime soon to thoroughly conduct such an experiment.

At the very least, I have a big enough stockpile of potions to last quite a while… Assuming I don't get into frequent bouts of combat, putting the issue on the backburner shouldn't have any major consequences…

"Thanks for your help everyone. Normally I'd never be able to carry this much out in one trip, but all the extra hands made it possible. Not to mention Rose and Lukrut being able to point out some herbs that even I had missed."

Having keener senses than the rest of the group was to be expected for Lukrut, being a ranger class, and Rose simply excelled in locating and differentiating magical items. The herbs they were collecting couldn't exactly be called magic items, but it was similar enough for the warrior maid to quickly pick up the skill.

"Did you hear that, Rose? We both have such a keen intuition, we were practically made for each other!"

Lukrut's cringe worthy pickup line surprised the rest of his teammates. Considering the amount of times Rose had tastelessly turned him down, they couldn't help but acknowledge his determination.

Rose however, cared little for his tenacious attitude.

"Only a simpleton like you would expect praise for meeting expectations."

Any normal person would recoil at such a harsh rejection, but Lukrut merely relished in Rose's yandere response.

"Ah! One day I'll pick such a precious flower like yourself, Rose. Your look of disgust only fuels my passion!"

His fellow Swords of Darkness couldn't help but laugh at seeing the ranger's antics blow up in his face, and his continued delusional belief in winning over the harsh, yet alluring warrior.

"Lukrut, you'd have better chances romancing Momon than you would someone like Rose."

Despite not being able to see his face, the awkward body language of the dark warrior after being made the punchline of a joke showed his comical annoyance just as clearly.

"Don't get any funny ideas, Lukrut."

Everyone was hesitant to laugh, as they couldn't tell if Momon was being ironic or genuine with his reply. The source of the commotion, however, found the humor in it.

" Hahaha! Don't worry Momon, you're definitely out of my league!"

Even with all of their many differences, over the course of only a few days, the Swords of Darkness and otherworldly adventuring duos had formed a strong sense of camaraderie. Both Ainz and Diablo were able to recognize this, yet for their own reasons, the whole experience felt hollow, and a similar thought arose from them.

Traveling with this group has been a fun time, but they aren't the people I truly care about…

For Diablo, it was Rem and Shera. The two who had summoned him at the very start of his new life, and the ones who taught him the importance of relationships. Had he been greeted by anyone else, his journey so far would have been entirely different. He never would have met and befriended Klem, the Demon Lord of the Soul that had been sealed within Rem's bloodline. He never would have saved Greenwood from decay and the release of the Demon Lord Cardia, all of which happened thanks to his time with Shera. Even though he had only met them through chance, no one in this new world could share the level of understanding he had with them.

Ainz first thought of his guildmates. The people who had built and maintained the Great Tomb of Nazarick alongside him. All of them had lived in the same bleak world, and
Yggdrasil
was a place where they could truly express themselves despite that. Yet, they were no longer comrades he could rely upon. Now he had a duty to protect their legacy, the newly sentient NPCs of Nazarick.

Both of them were star-crossed gamers, men dedicated to their fantasy world of choice. In some ways, they were very much alike, even in their new roles as a person that many look up to. There was a chance that this commonality would allow fruitful cooperation between the two, but ultimately, their interests were not aligned.

Despite his claims of being a Demon Lord, Diablo was still very much a human internally. He would protect innocent lives wherever he could, even going so far as to spare some of his enemies if they were also a human being. Though the personalities of Sakamoto Takuma and Diablo were different, they both operated under the same modern moral framework of his original world.

Ainz on the other hand, while retaining his personality and sense of self, had lost his connection to humanity. There was no deliberate act that changed his outlook, it was merely the manifestation of his
Yggdrasil
racial class. He had already come to terms with the possibility of meeting another player that had a positive karma alignment, it was the very reason he had been toying with the idea of building a nation with Nazarick at its core. A utopia that allowed any cooperative race total sovereignty, as well as the boons that came with pledging loyalty to the supreme ruler of Nazarick. Regardless of his good intentions, Ainz knew that many people would die in the process of carrying out such an elaborate plan. The human nations wouldn't stand idly by if a country led by the undead suddenly appeared on the map and began claiming territory. No matter how well he manipulated Diablo as his Momon persona, there would come a time where the demon lord would have no choice but to stand against Nazarick. Even with the confidence afforded to him by his guild and its vast resources, when Diablo's unknown arsenal of magic items was taken into consideration, not to mention any of his other potential allies, Ainz had no choice but to consider him a threat.

Will I really be able to kill someone in the same position as me? I may have lost my allegiance to humanity, but there's still a part of me that empathizes as a fellow gamer…

He had resigned himself to the fact that he would humor the potential relationship with Diablo, but was certain it would never get in the way of Nazarick's interests.

The guardians will accept the idea of using him as a pawn for the time being, but if he were to oppose us directly, I'd have no choice but to order his elimination… Albedo, Shalltear, Demiurge, Cocytus, Aura, Mare, Sebas, the Pleiades… None of them would respect me if I turned my back on Nazarick in order to accommodate Diablo's actions…

Thus, the relationship between the two otherworlders had become that of a pseudo cold war. Neither side would directly antagonize the other, but instead make use of proxies to carry out their interests. Unfortunately for Diablo, such a dynamic would currently remain unknown to him. As long as the connection between the adventurer Momon and the Overlord Ainz Ooal Gown continued to elude him, the prideful demon lord would never know his true enemy.

"Hey Momon, think you've still got enough time for that sparring match with Master Graham? I imagine everyone else here wanted to see that go down."

As the group began to enter town, Peter reminded the dark warrior of his earlier request to the master swordsman.

"I believe we're still ahead of schedule, so we'll be able to make it back to E-Rantel by nightfall if we leave within the next hour. Plenty of time for your match with Master Graham, Momon!"

Even if Ainz wanted to back out, he no longer had any kind of excuse.

"Eh… That's most fortunate, I'll be sure to head to the Master's home right after I get some water."

Of course, he had no use for nor the ability to drink water, but he needed to buy at least a little time to collect himself,

"Alright! After we load up the wagon, let's go with Momon to cheer him on!"

Everyone enthusiastically agreed, with cheers proclaiming the dark warrior's might ringing out from some of the pary's members.

"I'm putting my money on the guy who was willing to tangle with the Wise King on his own!"

"If his prowess as a warrior is on par with Diablo's as a magic caster, I don't see how he could lose!"

I hope this supposedly dwarven woman isn't as strong as her HP makes me think she is… It would be counterproductive to make Momon look like a schmuck when he has to fight someone with prestige…

Ainz had walked off towards the well on the other side of the village, but as soon as he was out of eyeshot, quietly let himself into an empty home that was unlocked.

I saw the attack that befell Carne, and with the amount of villagers that died, there was bound to be a few empty homes…

It was already obvious that he would have to use
「
Perfect Warrior
for his upcoming match, and while he couldn't use magic while it was activated, he could still cast a few preparatory spells beforehand.

Having these active while I'm using


「
Perfect Warrior
」

is going to drain my MP down to zero, but it's a sacrifice I'll have to make… I'll have plenty of time to regenerate the loss now that the job is almost over…

「
Infinity Wall
Life Essence
Greater Full Potential
Greater Resistance
Indomitability
Sensory Boost
Greater Luck
Draconic Power
Greater Hardening
Penetrate Up
Greater Magic Shield
Body of Effulgent Beryl

Most of these were buffs to his physical stats, whether it was strength, speed, durability, or even something more metaphysical like luck.
「
Life Essence
would allow him to track his opponent's HP, which meant he'd be able to tell when an attack was effective or not.
Body of Effulgent Beryl
increased his resistance to bludgeoning attacks, which was the source of physical damage that he was most vulnerable to as a skeleton-type undead, with the additional effect of negating the first instance of bludgeoning damage entirely. While attacks from a warrior's blade wouldn't be classified as a bludgeoning attack, it was not uncommon for them to use blunt force techniques like with the hilt or sheathe of their weapon. If Sasara tried something like that on him, Ainz feared his armor giving out under the pressure.

Actually, I should prepare for a scenario like that… It won't be foolproof, but it should buy me at least the benefit of the doubt…

Thus, he casted an additional illusion spell so that it appeared he had a full human body under his armor. The fatal flaw in this, was how he couldn't replicate the appearance of battle damage or blood on this illusory skin. It would have to suffice though, as he wasn't specialized in illusion magic enough to pull off such a feat.

Ainz had done all the prep that he could, within reason. He had considered using a few cash shop items to provide even more buffs or get out of jail free cards, but his stingy nature kept him from indulging.

If my life was actually on the line, I'd have no choice but to use them… But this is merely a friendly sparring match, even if my reputation is at stake…

Clearing his mind of the self-doubt that had begun to form, the dark warrior exited the vacant home, and made his way to the Master Swordsman Graham. The other adventurers were still loading up their haul from the forest, so he had a brief moment to consult Sasara alone.

He politely knocked on the worn wooden door, and after a few seconds of waiting, he heard the pleasing voice of the home's sole occupant.

"Is that the armored tough guy from earlier? You can let yourself in!"

Ainz had to give her credit for being able to tell that it was him on the other side of the door. One of the many rings he wore had the effect of making the presence of his magic power undetectable, so Sasara had managed to locate him in some other way. Perhaps she was like Sebas, who with his monk job classes, was able to sense the presence of others from their ki. Someone with the title of Master Swordsman likely didn't have a barehanded fighting job class, but given her anomalous existence in this world, he couldn't dismiss the possibility.

"I don't believe we were properly introduced. Please, call me Momon."

The disguised Overlord tried to nip an annoying nickname like that in the bud as soon as he could. He already had to deal with the theatrics of his unyielding subordinates, being made light of by this woman was simply too much for him.

"I guess we weren't. You can just call me Sasara if you want, I get enough respectful decorum from the villagers as is."

I guess our feelings on the matter aren't that different… Does every person in a position of respect get tired of all the honorifics after long enough? I imagine there are some despots who enjoy that kind of attention, but for an under-qualified salaryman like myself, it feels undeserved…

"This sparring match I proposed, I was curious if you had a framework in mind, or if you were expecting me to come up with the details."

Ainz was hoping to grant himself any reprieve he could to mitigate the potential for failure, and the first step he thought of was setting favorable rules.

"Hm? Oh right, you did mention that. Well, you can just come at me with all your strength, I'll match my ability level accordingly. It's not like I wanna hurt you or anything."

This explanation caused a wave of relief to wash over Ainz. He had been worried that his provocative challenge would cause her to make an example of him, but it seemed she was an educator through and through. However, he couldn't help but probe at the exact level of her power.

"What if I proved to be too much to handle? You wouldn't use some crazy secret technique to keep your perfect record, right?"

His boisterous statement elicited a smirk from the Master Swordsman, most likely because she knew he was bluffing.

"Oh please, I'd never use one of my more potent martial arts during some friendly sparring. Of course, I don't think I would have to anyway. It's as I said before, you look like a pretty strong warrior, but you don't have the presence of someone that I'd consider a threat.

Her explanation was vague, but it fell in line with Ainz' assumption of how she could sense the presence of others, and gauge their level of strength.

"Well, I have no qualms with admitting the superiority of another warrior. But I expect those claims to manifest on the battlefield, or in this case, our little exhibition match."

Ainz wasn't currently in
「
Perfect Warrior
, so she would no doubt be surprised by the shift in his power as soon as their match started. He had already rehearsed a reason for this though, something along the lines of lowering his power level when not in combat.

I think there was an old anime that had a concept similar to that… Not like I ever had enough free time to watch a whole series, between my overly demanding job and playing


Yggdrasil

He knew that the boost of
「
Perfect Warrior
wouldn't be enough to close the gap entirely, especially in conjunction with his lack of martial arts or warrior skills.

"I get it, seeing is believing after all. Just make sure you stick to your own advice. If you have flashy trump cards yourself, don't do anything rash, alright?"

As a magic caster, Ainz had a plethora of trump cards he could use, but when under the effects of
「
Perfect Warrior
, he had to rely on his strength alone.

"Of course, it's common courtesy after all."

Despite his helmet obstructing direct eye contact, the two found themselves locked in a momentary gaze. If Ainz was able to sweat, there'd be a bead rolling down his forehead as he worried over what she was thinking.

"Great! I'm glad we were able to clear all that up. As for the spar, we can use the empty field next to the village. I've just gotta grab my weapon and then we can head over."

Lined against her bed were a series of different katanas, the same ones Ainz had laid eyes on earlier that day. One stood out from the others though, as it was slightly larger, and had a crescent moon shaped pommel. He could tell it was on a whole different level of quality compared to her other swords, yet she grabbed one of her far more ordinary looking blades.

"Ah, wondering why I'm not using
Dark Moon
? I don't wanna offend you, but there's a fair chance it'd cleave right through those twin greatswords of yours."

It was a believable statement, as the quality of his armor and weapons was limited to what he could make with
「
Create Greater Item
, which made them comparable to adamantite equipment native to this world.

"No offense taken. It'd be strange for someone of your title

not

to have a legendary weapon. After all, what I hope to get out of this exchange is simply insight on being a better warrior. One never truly retires their status as a student of the blade, we must always keep learning."

That sounded like something Touch Me-san would say… I don't see the logic of one of


Yggdrasil's

greatest warriors not resonating with someone like Sasara…

"That's a thoughtful philosophy you've got there, Momon. I can't tell you the number of warriors who sought me out to help them break the limits of the races, only for them to have been overconfident in their insufficient ability to improve."

"Only those who have suffered bitter defeats know the true importance of continued growth. That applies to almost any facet of life, but especially with being a warrior."

Seemingly impressed, Sasara led Ainz out the front door as she finished fastening her katana to her waist.

"Hmm, you and Diablo are actually kind of similar. He may act the part of someone with unflinching confidence in their abilities, but he saw improving his fighting capabilities as being important enough to even ask to learn under me. That isn't the action of a person drunk on their current level of power."

Of course he would do something like that, any gamer in their right mind would level up another class if given the chance…

"He is an enigmatic figure, I'll say that much. Sometimes he'll say something surprisingly thoughtful, while at other times he'll make a self aggrandizing statement regarding his might or intellect. Regardless of his true character, I can see why you took him on as a student."

By now, the other adventurers had spotted Ainz and Sasara on their way through town, and quickly hurried to catch up.

"Looks like the spectators have found their way to us. How does twenty paces apart sound for the start, by the way?"

"Uh- That should suffice…"

Ainz could only pretend that he knew some kind of standard distance for warrior sparring, but thankfully it hadn't been a test on Sasara's end.

"Perfect. Well, we're almost at the field, so if you want any pre-fight encouragement, I'd suggest you get it now."

She motioned behind them at the cluster of adventurers that were jogging up the road in pursuit.

"I don't rely on the words of others, but maybe they have some useful advice against an opponent like yourself."

Giving a sarcastic laugh in reply, Sasara turned and walked towards her starting position in the field, her hand already resting on the base of her katana.

"Momon! Good luck out there!"

"Give her all you've got! Show everyone the might of E-Rantel's finest!"

"Her puny sword's got nothing on those massive twin blades of yours!"

Several of the Swords of Darkness gave him spirited cheers for his success in the fight. However, even if he had said it offhandedly, Ainz was hoping for a shred of info out of Diablo.

"Your encouragement is much appreciated, everyone. Before I step out to meet Sasara, I was wondering if you had any advice in terms of my opponent, Diablo. As a student of hers, you must have sparred plenty of times."

He wasn't expecting any fruitful info from Diablo at this time, but he was still able to glean at least something before stepping up to the chopping block.

"I'll say this, Momon. If at any point you think you've got a handle on her, just know she's holding back. The only way to prove that wrong would be to decisively defeat her, so don't get complacent mid-fight."

Nodding in reply, the domineering figure of the dark warrior began to walk towards what would soon become a battlefield.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Starting from roughly where Sasara had, Ainz counted out twenty paces in the opposite direction. This distance meant that one of them would have to take the offensive and enter the other's range. Depending on the combat philosophy, some would say this allows oneself to take the initiative, but others argue that it can leave you vulnerable to a well-timed counterattack. As a warrior with little actual experience fighting with a sword, Ainz decided he was better off being proactive rather than reactive. The last thing he needed was being immediately forced on the backfoot.

Drawing his massive twin greatswords from his back, Ainz assumed a combat stance he had seen Touch Me-san use in the past. That was the extent of his warrior knowledge.

"Diablo, do you mind announcing the start of the duel with a spell? Don't use anything too exciting, the last thing this village needs is another scare."

Diablo felt miffed that she would even assume he'd be so foolhardy as to use a dangerous spell in this circumstance, but he obliged.

"Very well. I'll cast
Stardust
to signal the start of the match. The effects will be immediate, so no need for any hesitation."

Standing off to the side, equidistance between the two combatants, Diablo raised his
Tonnerre Empereur
into the air.

I can't lie, I'm curious to see how this will turn out… I don't see a way Momon manages to win here, but who knows what kind of skills or tactics he'll make use of…

Seeing that both Sasara and Ainz were ready to start, he channeled his magic power and said the incantation.

Stardust

A flurry of sparkling hexagonal ice crystals burst forth from Diablo's wand, making the spectators turn their attention for the moment in order to admire the relatively cosmetic spell. The two warriors on the other hand, paid little attention to the distracting sparkle of lights. Just as he had planned, Ainz activated
「
Perfect Warrior
, which elicited a brief look of surprise from his opponent. What had previously been the stats of a level 33 warrior had transformed into that of the max level. It wouldn't take a Master Swordsman to acknowledge the obvious difference, but she was able to discern it immediately.

It's now or never, I've got this!

Launching himself towards the gifted swordsman, Ainz delivered a blinding horizontal side swipe with one of his blades. Using the other to swing down from over his head as he shifted his momentum. Unfortunately, Sasara was able to casually jump back, just outside the range of his attack. She had intended to reply with a counter while he was still committed to the momentum of his last strike, but the strength of a level 100 warrior allowed Ainz to stop his movement on the spot, as he crossed his swords to block her swipe at his chest.

A dissonant chorus from the metal on metal collision rang out across the field. Ainz was now inclined to believe his opponent's earlier statement about her main weapon cleaving his in half.

I was able to handle the recoil from that, but if Diablo is right, she's merely matching my abilities to make me complacent… Maybe if I dial it back a little, I can catch her off guard by going all out on a single attack…

The metallic shrieking of their swords ceased as Ainz pushed off Sasara's weapon, launching himself several meters back. Meanwhile on the sidelines, the Swords of Darkness quizzically watched as Momon's tactics changed.

"He started off with the initiative, but now he's backing away intentionally? Peter, you're the most knowledgeable on this subject, what do you make of it?

Lukrut was adept with a bow, but sword combat was something he lacked a deep understanding of.

"I'm not entirely sure. My guess is he used that first charge to gauge her power, and now he's going to try to counter an attack of her own. I could be wrong, Momon eclipses me as a warrior by a longshot, so if he has a different strategy, I would defer to it on the spot."

Everyone else was too transfixed on the transcendental speed of their movements. They had never seen adamantite adventurers in combat before, but any preconception they had was smashed by what they were currently witnessing.

Diablo on the other hand was watching with calculative interest.

It seems like my level estimation for Momon was fairly accurate… He definitely outclasses me in raw warrior ability, but if I factor in my martial arts, I might be able to pull out a victory… Not to mention I could use magic at the same time, but I also haven't had a chance to see any of his own martial arts… If he has an ability like Batutta that can't be reflected by my ring, it would be incredibly troublesome…

After a brief standstill between them, Sasara took the initiative this time and dashed towards Ainz. Her movement was on such a level that she left after-images as she darted around in an attempt to disorient her opponent.

Even as a level 100 warrior, I can barely keep my eyes trained on her! There's a high chance of her being above level 100 at this point, unless she's using some kind of skill, but I haven't detected anything like that…

He would have to take a gamble. Utilizing a move he had seen from some of his warrior guildmates, Ainz launched one of his swords towards the rapidly approaching Sasara.

It was clear she hadn't been expecting him to make such a decision, as she was forced to dodge the incoming projectile. The dark warrior had never intended to hit her with that attack, though. By making her commit to dodging, it had forced her trajectory to be far more predictable, allowing him to counter with his remaining weapon.

Ainz planted his backfoot, and lunged forward towards his attacker. Sasara was able to raise her katana in defense, but given that she was still airborne, the force of his concentrated blow sent her flying backwards.

This gave him ample time to retrieve his other sword while the Master Swordsman stuck her landing several meters away. Despite being successfully blocked, Ainz' attack had managed to strip the top layer of the surrounding earth from the shockwave alone. His opponent, however, stood unphased, smiling at seeing his usage of an unorthodox technique.

"That was a pretty risky maneuver, you know? What if I had countered before you could retrieve your weapon?"

Ainz let out a confident laugh as he gave his answer.

"I would still have one good sword left, right?"

Even though her challenger's form was strangely sloppy given his level of strength, Sasara had to admit that the man was not without effective tactics.

"There's that unshakeable resolve I'm so very familiar with. Alright then, why don't we turn things up a notch. We said no trump cards, but that doesn't mean we can't use martial arts altogether!"

If she had wanted to, Sasara believed she could defeat Momon without having to use any of her attack skills, but she wanted to see what kind of abilities her formidable opponent had to offer.

I hate to disappoint, but I have none!

"Who's to say I haven't used some already? Don't tell me you can't activate an ability without chanting it out loud."

"Hmph, adventurers usually have an inclination for theatrics. Sorry for making assumptions based on that."

Regardless of his claims, Sasara was about to unleash a skill of her own.

Flash Thrust

Using the martial art that propelled the user forward towards their opponent, her application of it made it seem like she had teleported right in front of Momon.

What the-

Before he could even finish a thought, his opponent's blade came hurtling into contact with the side of his armor. By the time he had even attempted to dodge, the explosive collision from Sasara's attack rang out.

*BOOM*

With a hit that managed to catastrophically dent his Adamantite armor, Ainz was set hurtling backwards. Without being able to use the
「
Fly
spell, he had no way to correct his current trajectory through the terrain.

"Woah, did she go too far? Momon still hasn't got up!"

Ninya watched with anxiety as her powerful colleague came to a halt, a trail of disrupted soil leading up to his current position.

"Look, Ninya! He's almost back on his feet! Did you really think he'd stay down that easily?"

It may have been a quick bout so far, but the attack he had just received was one that would eviscerate most other warriors. The fact he could even stand was a testament to his fortitude.

"I'll admit it, you got me with that one…"

Ainz looked down in dismay to see the state of his armor. Thankfully, she hadn't fully penetrated it, so his shoddy illusion would remain hidden. Still, if not for his undead physiology, a dent like the one he sustained would have surely pierced his internal organs. He could even feel the armor poking in between his ribs.

Right as he was about to launch another attack, the Master Swordsman held up her hand.

"I think that should be enough."

Everyone looked towards her in confusion, even Momon, who had begun to grow enthralled with their mock battle.

"Don't get this twisted with me conceding. I'm glad to see you're ok, but that last attack could've seriously injured you. The last thing I want is another training accident on my record…"

While the onlookers were slightly disappointed to see the clash of titans end without a proper conclusion, they had to acknowledge the point Sasara was making.

"Believe me, I couldn't call this a win for myself in any way besides that I withstood that last attack. The damage to my armor won't be an issue, I have ample funds to get it repaired once I return to the city."

As the two combatants returned from the field, they were greeted by the very impressed spectators.

"You were awesome out there Momon! I couldn't even tell what was happening most of the time, you and Sasara are just on a whole different level!"

Nfirea had been intently watching the matchup from start to finish, as he knew there wouldn't be many other opportunities to watch such masters of their craft go all out. Of course, he didn't realize that Ainz was at his limit, and how Sasara had only begun to actually show her hand. In the eyes of the weak, it was hard to perceive power differences in people that were in a different league altogether.

"With talent like that, subduing the Wise King of the Forest would've been child's play! If I ever hear about it being captured, there won't be a doubt in mind of who managed it!"

Sharing his opinion that resonated with his whole team, Peter gave praise where he believed it was due.

"Please everyone, the person you should be complimenting is Sasara, not me. Even if I fought with my life on the line, I don't think I'd be able to best her."

Ainz was pleased to see that he had succeeded in boosting his reputation, but he always wanted to be seen as humble. Making his Momon character more personable was a secondary objective of his.

As everyone was about to give their praise of the Master Swordsman, Sasara spoke up as she approached the group.

"You can save the commentary, there isn't much you could say that I haven't heard before, hahaha…"

After spending her lifetime training for the role she was blessed to inherit, Sasara preferred being treated like a peer in casual conversation. She would always be proud of her skill, but stating the obvious in times like this felt like wasted breath to her.

"Hey, fair enough. Although personally, I wouldn't mind a little admiration here or there."

Lukrut said this as he eyed up Rose and Nabe, both of whom replied with a face of disgust.

"Ahem! This has been quite an eventful job request for everyone, hasn't it? I'd say it's time we say our farewells and head out while we still have daylight."

Ainz had been able to sense the irritation radiating off of Narberal, and quickly interjected before anything dangerous was said. He also genuinely wanted to get moving. The continuous acting, not to mention fighting outside his comfort zone, made him desire a break from it all.

Also relieved at being able to exit the conversation, Sasara sighed in relief as she started walking back towards her temporary home.

While everyone else started to follow suit, Diablo jogged ahead in order to talk to his former teacher.

"Sasara, while we still have time, I need to know what your plan is from here on out. As things stand, I'm trying to locate Rem and Shera, or any other allies who may have wound up here. Rose and I also registered as adventurers so we could build some wealth for our time spent in this place, but that's a less important matter."

Sasara had mentioned talking with Diablo earlier that day, yet her mental fatigue made the conversation difficult for her.

"You know I'd do anything to help you find those two, and I'd definitely like to go home as well. I can't lie though, this village has started to grow on me. Even before their loss from the Theocracy attack, this place was so defenseless. If I hadn't been nearby, everyone could have been wiped out by a goblin attack. I may seem like a stoic swordmaster who can ignore things in favor of studying the blade, but I just can't."

Quite honestly, Diablo never really viewed her that way. Even her departure from his party after Modinalam's defeat could be chocked up to embarrassment from falling asleep mid way through.

"I see… Well, I would never coerce you over a matter like this. As long as I know I can find you here, that will suffice for now. I imagine Rem and Shera will want to see another familiar face after I reunite with them."

It was disappointing to hear that someone as capable as Sasara wouldn't be joining his group, but Diablo couldn't fault the young master. He had never foreseen it, but there were people he had grown to protect as well.

"Of course. Also, once I'm confident in the ability of the village to defend itself, I wouldn't mind traveling with you to find other allies of ours."

For now, that would be enough support from Sasara. He currently didn't even have any leads on Rem and Shera, or anyone else for that matter. Towing Sasara along in the meantime would be overkill. However, he did know that a time might come where he'd need to rely on her power.

If things ever come to blows with that Ainz Ooal Gown guy, having her by my side would be incredibly assuring…

It still bothered him that there hadn't been any other signs of the mysterious figure who had sent assassins to eliminate him and Rose. Perhaps they were biding their time as they assessed both of their power and abilities. Whatever the reason, Diablo couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to be looking over his shoulder.

"I wish you the best with your time in Carne, I'm expecting a legion of proper warriors here by the time I come back!"

"You better believe it!"

Returning to the rest of his group, Sasara waved Diablo off as she closed her door and immediately jumped in bed, falling asleep as soon as she hit the sheets.

The low hanging sun had finally dropped fully below the horizon, as the brilliance of the innumerable stars lit up the night sky. The adventurer party contracted by Nfirea had made it back to E-Rantel with time to spare. While it's common knowledge not to traverse the roadways at night, the stretches close to the city itself were still relatively safe. After they had entered through the gate in the city's wall, a series of farewells began to start.

"Momon, Diablo, we're gonna go bring all this stuff to Nfirea's place, alright?"

Peter spoke up as the leader of his team, which left the remaining tasks to the two groups of outsiders.

"Very well. I'll report to the guild with our proof of the monsters we slayed, and I assume Diablo will join me, seeing as he did most of the heavy lifting."

Glancing towards Momon, Diablo wondered why he actually wanted him to come along. There wasn't really a reason he had to be at the guild himself for this process.

"I can't speak for Momon or Nabe, but feel free to keep our share of the profits on those. The gift you gave Ninya, and by extension our whole team, is worth more than any money the guild will offer."

Peter thanked Diablo as he reached his hand towards him, at which Diablo hesitantly clasped it and shook.

"I don't expect anything in return, it was a gift after all. But seeing your determination, even I couldn't turn such an offer down."

Diablo hated having to participate in social conventions like these, but by now, he had had plenty of practice. It didn't assuage his dislike of the matter, though. After releasing their handshake, the two groups started to diverge.

"After our business at the guild, we'll meet you guys at Nfirea's place of business."

The warrior with dented armor offered a final word pertaining to everyone reconvening, as he began making his way towards the guild office.

"Alright, we'll see you guys there!"

Nfirea waved his newfound idols off as he began the short trek towards his family's workshop. As most of them had expected, Lukrut was about to say something absurd towards the objects of his affection, yet he was shut down by the suffocating killing intent that began to emanate from Rose and Nabe.

In response, Diablo and Ainz quickly hurried their companions along, both surprised at how Lukrut still remained so confident.

Once the duos were finally alone, it took several minutes of silence before someone would break the feeling of unease.

"Diablo, I have to be honest with you. I've been waiting for a good moment where we could talk alone."

As he said this, Nabe began to slow her pace to give her master the privacy he was implying. After a hesitant nod from Diablo, Rose did the same, yet made sure she wasn't walking next to her counterpart.

"That explains why you had the Swords of Darkness go their separate ways from us, but what could you need to ask that requires all of this secrecy?"

The face created by Ainz' illusion magic couldn't display his emotions, but had it been real, a look of trepidation would be all over it.

"Tell me then, Diablo… you're actually from a different world, aren't you?"

The demon lord's movements froze for a moment, yet he continued his stride to keep pace with his interrogator.

"Haven't I always claimed that? I wouldn't call myself the 'Demon Lord from another world' if it wasn't the truth."

Even though he had always made this declaration upon meeting most people, rarely did anyone ever question it in such a way. Ainz knew the whole truth, however, and Diablo's answer wouldn't suffice.

"Come now, we both know there's a difference between what I'm implying and what you lead others to believe. You don't travel between worlds, you were brought here against your will."

This time, Diablo completely stopped walking. His head was spinning with all the implications that stood behind Momon's question.

How could he possibly know about something like that? Was I right all along? Is this guy actually a


Cross Reverie

player?!

"So that's how it is. I have to thank you for confirming my suspicions, I never could have expected you to reveal any of this out loud…"

"Your suspicions? Fine, if I'm expecting the truth from you, it's only fair that I follow suit. Yes, I am also from another world. I believe that you and Rose are in a similar position as myself and Nabe, correct?"

This conversation defied anything Diablo could have seen coming. The person he had been wary of ever since meeting them was laying all their cards on the table. Yet, he still couldn't understand his reasoning for doing all of this.

"Well, anyone with a middling level of intelligence could have pieced it together. You showed up here at the same time as myself, logic would dictate that the appearance of two powerful unknown adventurer duos are connected in some way. Sasara all but confirmed this when she talked about how she wound up in Carne."

Even though it was late, there were still people wandering the streets of E-Rantel, and several of them had begun to stare at Diablo and Ainz who were planted in the middle of the road.

"I never doubted your intelligence, this is just a matter of setting the record straight. If we are to work together in the future for Count Iselk, I don't want any externalities affecting our ability to cooperate."

At a surface level, Momon's reasoning made sense. But with all the implications that Diablo was still trying to comprehend, it just didn't sit right with him. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure of an effective way to confirm his theory, even after this massive reveal of information.

"How very proactive of you… But I'm curious, exactly what kind of world did you come from? Even though I'm certain it's different from my own, there are still some intriguing similarities that I've picked up from you since we first met."

Ainz now knew that the million dollar question was fast approaching. He had decided that revealing his somewhat true origins would be acceptable, yet now that the moment had come, he was having trouble finding the right words.

"Let me make it easier for you. Remember this morning? When I saw you reading? I caught a glimpse of that book you were so quick to hide. How is someone like yourself able to fluently read Japanese kanji?"

It was like a conversational bomb had been dropped. As if time had briefly stopped, neither knew how to act next, as both of their reactions confirmed the truth to each other.

Before a response could be given however, a shriek from one of the people who had stopped to observe them drew their attention. Stumbling from around the corner, was the small frame of someone who had been wounded within an inch of their life. If not for having just traveled with them, they never would've been able to recognize their recent ally.

"N-Ninya?!"

The young adventurer looked as if he could barely stand, as he desperately forced himself towards Ainz and Diablo.

"My- my team… They're- they're all dead…"

He crumpled to his knees as the two he had begun to look up to ran to his side.

"What are you talking about?! What happened at Nfirea's?!"

The sheer brutality of Ninya's state dispelled the shock Diablo had been grappling with a moment before. Whatever had caused this, they would have the demon lord's wrath to reckon with.

"There was a woman… a-and two men… They slaughtered everyone, my team, they- they tried to help me escape! I wanted to bring them with me… but… there was no time! Th-They told me to use the feather and save myself… "

Breaking down into a fit of painful tears, Ninya collapsed into Diablo, who stood by as the tragedy stricken adventurer sobbed into his mantle. Yet, something immediately stuck out to Diablo. With Ninya pressed against him, he could make no mistake in identifying the feeling from his chest that had momentarily baffled him.

Ninya is a girl… I can't question her reasoning for hiding her true gender, but I imagine it was similar to Horn's justification… But good god, why am I finding this out under these circumstances?!

Both Ainz and Diablo knew they had to head straight to Nfirea's workshop, but they couldn't just leave Ninya alone in critical condition. Thankfully, there was a saving grace who happened to be walking back from the adventurer's guild.

"Diablo? Momon? What happened here?"

Running up to them was none other than the golden herculean warrior himself, Emile Bichel Berger.

"There's no time to explain, Emile! Just get Ninya somewhere safe!"

Chiding himself for not doing so earlier, Diablo pulled out a high tier healing potion from his
Item Pouch
, and quickly poured it over Ninya. Following a brief glow of light, she quickly returned to a completely uninjured state. Yet while her body may have been healed, the trauma that came with witnessing the horrors she had would not be so easily abated.

"Momon, we'll finish this talk later! Grab a hold of me, we're going straight there! Rose and Nabe, you too!"

Diablo then produced an
Angel's Feather
from his store of items, and as soon as Ainz and the others had put their hands over his shoulder, activated the item's effect.

If even one of them is still alive, using this will have been worth the cost! And if the perpetrators are still there, we can get the jump on them!

As their vision was occluded by a flash of light, they reappeared just outside the Barreare workshop. Whatever expectation Diablo had of saving those who were still clinging to life was immediately snuffed out as he stormed through the front door. It was as if a typhoon of blood and gore had raged through the building's interior, with the lifeless corpses of his former comrades strewn about, with the lifeless corpses of his former comrades strewn across the room.

How… How could this happen?

Even after contending with beings that could be defined by their evil nature, at no point in Diablo's life had he ever witnessed such a horrific scene. In that instant, there was only one thought overpowering his mind.

With a rare visage of unbridled hatred, Diablo made a declaration.

"When I find who did this… there won't be an ending for them besides destruction… I'll reduce them to atoms!"

In the face of such an abominably evil act, the Demon Lord's righteous fury had been awakened.

Hey everyone. Quite a beefy chapter here, it arguably could've been split into two. Yet, I couldn't find a good place to cut it in half, so instead it's just an extra long chapter, in record time as well. Anyways, the fate of the swords of darkness has been revealed, with Ninya as the sole survivor. While Ainz had felt a mild disappointment upon discovering the swords of darkness' bodies in canon overlord, Diablo is outraged! Imagine how he'll feel when he sees his old nemesis at the center of it all, not to mention lumachina's life hanging in the balance. The truth behind the MC's identities has also been brought out into the open, and the fallout from that will have to wait until the current crisis is resolved. All will be revealed in the next few updates. I'm not sure if this arc will wrap up in the next chapter, but bear minimum it will be done within the next two. I only wish FFN wasn't still glitched as I'm releasing all these chapters. I haven't gotten any traffic graph data for like a week! I see your follows favorites and reviews coming in though, so it's not all bad. See you in the next chapter!

The Graveyard Incident (Part 1 of 2)

Chapter 11: The Graveyard Incident (Part 1)

Why?

This was the one word that continued to pound in Ninya's head. Yet, many of the questions that it stemmed from, she knew the answers to. It was an unconscious denial of her current reality, the poor girl couldn't even trust her own mind at this point.

She knew why they had been attacked. The terrifying woman with orange hair had announced how she was going to kidnap Nfirea, and slaughter the rest of them. Ninya's comrades had immediately stood to defend their employer, urging him to escape while there was still a chance. They even insisted on Ninya getting away with him too, and if she hadn't hesitated, perhaps she could have at least saved Nfirea. Even if her teammates had never known her true gender, they did know of her tragic past, and how she had a dream of finding her estranged older sister, who had been taken by nobility and sold into slavery.

Was I trying to act brave? Or was I just frozen from terror…

No matter the reason for Ninya's inaction, once the two sinister men had walked into the room and blocked their remaining exit, any chance of changing her mind had vanished. Despite the belief she held in her team's capabilities, the Swords of Darkness had been cut down in the blink of an eye. If not for the fact that Clementine had decided to torture her instead of killing her on the spot like the other's, she never would've had a chance to use the
Angel's Feather
》that Diablo had given her.

Even after being healed by the Demon Lord's potion, Ninya could still feel the sadistic woman's stiletto piercing into her abdomen. The surgeon-like accuracy that she had used meant that most of Ninya's vital organs had remained intact, but the profuse blood loss would have caused her end if not for encountering Diablo and Momon. She knew they were on their way to the guild, and had used the feather to teleport there, but was forced to walk a few blocks before finding them.

Those people are probably long gone by now after they saw me vanish… Nfirea is going to be used in some evil ritual that they had been bragging about, all because I couldn't act in time… I couldn't even honor my team's sacrifice by keeping him safe…

With such an extreme level of trauma and guilt, the only thing tethering Ninya's psyche to reality was her older sister. She couldn't imagine what kind of suffering she had been forced to endure, if she was even still alive at all. As long as her body was functioning, she had no choice but to overcome her circumstances, for the sake of rescuing her childhood protector.

"Ninya? Can you hear me?"

The traumatized adventurer had been completely zoned out, a result of the torrent of grief and regret that wracked her mind. Coming back to her senses, she saw the concerned face of a man knelt down in front of her.

"Yes? Sorry, I don't want to worry you, I'm- I'm fine…"

A newcomer to the E-Rantel adventurer guild, Emile Bichel Berger was the one who had scooped her up off the street and brought her inside the guild. Despite being a new face, Emile had already garnered enough respect from the other adventurers that he was able to keep them from approaching Ninya and possibly startling her. Several of them still watched on with concern from a distance, though.

"Miss, I couldn't begin to imagine what you've had to go through, but based on your injuries from when I first saw you, there is little chance that you are truly ok. I don't wish to overstep my bounds, but please ask of me anything that could help you at this moment."

The intense nature of her situation up until this point almost made her gloss over a small detail in what Emile had said.

"Miss? Wh-Why do you think I'm a girl?"

Glancing down, Ninya saw that her taped chest was now covered by a simple robe that she never remembered putting on. However, her actual clothes had been shredded to a point that they did little to cover her upper body.

"Before I got you a robe from another kind adventurer, you were unfortunately, ehm- slightly exposed… Fret not though! I made sure to have any onlookers avert their eyes!"

Flashing the now blushing girl a toothy smile, Emile's ever-present enthusiasm managed to lift even her abysmal mood.

"If you wish to hide your womanhood, I won't question it. But as someone who considers himself a defender of all women, I couldn't help but address you as such."

While the blonde man's unusual attitude made her take pause, she was able to recognize the genuinity of his promise, and his good nature as a person.

"Th-thanks, but… the only reason I ever hid being a girl was to not cause issues for my adventuring team… Now that they're gone, I guess there's no point in keeping up the act…"

This comment caused a somber silence between the two, as Emile sighed and stood up from his kneeled position.

"It is your decision to make, but please don't say such morbid things. It's not good for the mind, but especially the soul. Believe me though, I only say this as someone who also once felt useless in the face of a grave threat."

Ninya thought she could see a slight crack in Emile's assuring smile as he brought up what was his greatest personal failing. She was hesitant to inquire more about it, but sensing this from her, Emile continued his explanation unprompted.

"When the Demon Overlord Modinalam attacked my home city, my team and I stood at the front lines to defend it. We had all been so confident, but a powerful minion of the invader cut us down like it was child's play. In the end, I couldn't do anything to prevent their deaths, and I have to live with that fact. The decision you must make now, is what you do in response. You can shut down and give up on life, or you could use it as motivation to grow stronger. To become a person who can protect those they care about. Personally, I recommend the second option."

He was right. The thoughts of her older sister that willed her on, she would use them to crawl out of the seemingly bottomless pit that had taken her mind captive.

"Thank you for sharing that… I really needed to hear it. But… I just don't see how I could ever get strong enough to stand up to the people that did this to me…"

Emile pondered for a moment, but as a warrior, he had little knowledge in the ways that magic casters leveled up.

"If you were a warrior I'd recommend training with the Master Swordsman, but if there's anyone who could help you, I would ask Diablo. He's the most impressive elemental sorcerer I've ever seen, surely he has some good insight on the matter."

Ninya had seen Diablo's prowess with magic firsthand, yet at the time she felt too embarrassed to ask a question like 'how do I get stronger'. Any hesitation she may have had before though, had been violently taken from her.

"Of course! I can't expect any more favorable treatment from him, but I'll never know unless I try!"

The silver ranked adventurer had little to offer Diablo in exchange for his tutelage, but she was willing to do anything if it meant becoming stronger.

"That's the spirit! And don't worry, Diablo might seem like an unapproachable guy at times, but once you get him talking, he's surprisingly thoughtful. I don't see him being able to deny someone with a determination like yours."

Her fractured psyche would persist, but just as the man before her had, Ninya would attempt to overcome her trauma, and grow from it. Before she could reply though, everyone's attention was drawn to the front door of the guild bursting open.

"Everyone! My grandson has been kidnapped, and the perpetrators are unleashing hordes of undead from the city graveyard! Momon and Diablo are already on their way there, but they'll need all of you to help protect the city!"

Desperately pleading with the gathering crowd of adventurers, was the grandmother of Nfirea, Lizzie Bareare.

"If those two are involved, that means this is serious. Hey, listen up people! Those of you who are combat ready, come with me! We've gotta stop any undead from getting into the city, let's go!"

Not forgetting the person he had been entrusted with, Emile knelt down and placed a hand on Ninya's shoulder.

"I hate to leave you here in such a state, but the circumstances are dire. I promise once this is dealt with, I'll be back to check on you."

Ninya couldn't possibly make a fuss at the man's desire to save someone who had been put in danger because of her mistake. Instead, she'd use this time thinking of ways to persuade Diablo into teaching her how to be a better magic caster.

"It's fine, really. But please, be careful out there, Emile."

Confidently nodding as he fastened his sword on his hip, the golden warrior ran out of guild office, leading a pack of adventurers towards the graveyard.

I know Diablo and Momon are strong, but I can't help worrying about them… If anyone can stop the people who did this, though, it's those two and their companions…

Thus, Ninya sat back in her chair, and began planning her new future.

Stepping into the room that had been turned into a slaughterhouse mere minutes ago, Diablo scornfully began to examine the three bodies that were haphazardly slumped against the blood-soaked wall. The inhumane level of cruelty that was used in dispatching his former comrades made it difficult to maintain his concentration, as thoughts of vengeance continued to creep up from the back of his mind.

As he started to reach down, however, the corpses suddenly came to life, except they lacked any semblance of who they originally once were.

"They've been turned into undead?!"

Before Diablo could even retrieve the《Tonnerre Empereur》from his hip, Rose had already moved to dispatch the unexpected threat.

"《Krios》!"

Using the double-headed blade that she kept fastened on her back, Rose delivered a perfect side swipe that severed all three of the undead's heads in half. The grisly sight of exposed brain matter would have been more off putting if not for the already ghastly state of the room. Spinning her weapon to remove the blood and gore, the magimatic maid then gracefully fastened it to her back. Up until this point, her miniature version of 《Asterismos》had been covered by cloth, and its unusual design piqued the interest of Ainz.

An untrained eye would have missed it, but each blade on that weapon of hers is covered in extremely small serrated edges that move along a track, almost like a chainsaw…

While it was an interesting gimmick, he knew that it wasn't the true weapon of Diablo's companion. According to Albedo, the last surviving Hanzo of the group had perished before he could describe the weapon that Rose had apparently "pulled out of thin air". There were always multiple possible explanations, but it sounded eerily similar to how his inventory functioned after being transported. He hadn't considered it until now, but with his confirmation of their origins, there was a chance that Rose was a player as well.

It's unlikely, though. Her personality seems far more in line with those of my NPCs than someone who was originally human. Not to mention her role as the overseer of Diablo's dungeon… Depending on how this all plays out, I may get a chance to see this mysterious weapon in action…

Just as Diablo was doing, Ainz knelt down and examined one of the now truly dead corpses.

This was Lukrut… I can't say I liked him, but he didn't deserve a fate like this… None of these people did…

Ainz didn't feel any deep connection to the Swords of Darkness, but the human side of him that remained couldn't help but leer at such unscrupulous methods.

How interesting though, all of the bodies seem to have small circular pierce wounds… What kind of weapon leaves a wound like this?

"There were at least two different assailants involved here. One of them is capable of casting
Turn Undead
as we've now seen, and the similar wounds on the bodies indicate a warrior of some kind, although it could be an assassin as well."

Standing up from his brief examination of Peter's corpse, Diablo mostly agreed with Ainz' theory. Additionally, while undead monsters did exist in his original fantasy world and game, there was never a necromancer type class that could summon them. It was possible that like many instances he had encountered thus far, this was something that was a planned feature for
Cross Reverie
, but seeing as this was an entirely different world, he couldn't be sure. Turning his attention back to Momon, he relayed the info he had gathered from the cadavers.

"It's the same case with Peter, yet his body has a wound that's different from all the others. It's a stab wound in his chest, but it doesn't look like it's from the same weapon. Almost like, it was from a spear…"

Diablo couldn't help but momentarily recoil as he was reminded of his own spear caused wound. Putting his hand over his chest, he recalled the moment when Battuta had stabbed him through the heart with the《Rising Spear》martial art. If not for the effect of his《Curtain of Dark Clouds》, it would've been a fatal blow.

I just hope whoever did this isn't nearly as capable as Battuta was… Despite his strength, it was his battle intellect that proved to be a challenge, I only came out alive thanks to a gamble…

Noticing something at the corner of his eye, Diablo's painful reminiscing came to an end. Amidst the disturbing amount of blood that coated the wall, there was a clearing that contained a few letters, the rest blocked by the slumped body of what used to be Peter Mauk. Shifting his co-worker's remains to the side, the full word was revealed.

SEWER

Was this meant to be a message from Peter before he died? That doesn't make sense given the way in which they were killed, not to mention the clear level of experience that the killers possess… That means this has to be a red herring, a deliberate attempt to throw us off their tracks…

"Momon, take a look at this. I'm curious if you'll arrive at the same conclusion that I have."

Walking over to Diablo, the hulking form of the dark warrior crouched down beside him, and elicited a curious hum.

"It's good to know that a peer of mine is able to think critically like this. We both know Peter couldn't have had the time or energy to write this out with the killers present. Based on how the bodies became undead, it's also clear that they didn't leave before everyone was completely dead and subsequently turned. There is a chance that this is a double bait, and they truly did escape into the sewers, but we can eliminate that possibility with more information."

At the mention of gathering further intrigue, Diablo had noticed another oddity with the corpses. None of their weapons or armor were stolen by the attackers, but something else was missing from each body.

"Their rank plates. They're all missing their adventurer rank plates!"

Unbeknownst to him, Ainz had picked up on the same clue, yet missed the chance to voice it out loud first.

"You're right. One of them specifically took the plates as trophies, meaning they have a lengthy experience with killing adventurers…"

All three of their unknown enemies were clearly skilled, but knowing that one of them had a history of claiming the lives of adventurers made the situation that much more unnerving.

"It doesn't matter who they are. They've killed far too many, so there's only one path for us to take. We tear them out by the roots and stop anything like this from happening again."

Diablo had managed to compose himself since entering the room, but as more information revealed itself, and the twisted nature of his new enemies became more apparent, he was starting to lose himself.

I can't be weak. There isn't any peaceful resolution to all of this, I have to be willing to go all the way…

Up until this point, Diablo had attempted to spare most of the human adversaries he had come up against. Whether it was Galford after he decapitated Prince Keera, or Battuta after failing to complete his death knell ritual, he still relied on his modern moral framework and tried to preserve human life where possible. Interestingly, this philosophy had served to both help and harm him throughout his travels. Sparing Galford had provided a powerful ally during Modinalam's assault on Faltra, yet his hesitation to finish off Battuta had nearly resulted in not only his death, but the deaths of his companions.

This time is different though… The people that did this, there's no other way of stopping them… I just have to lean into the demon lord persona and go all out, they've earned the consequences that come with that!

"I agree, but before we do anything, we first have to locate them. Do you have any spells capable of tracking Nfirea or his captors? Perhaps Rose has some kind of capability that could help too?"

In the midst of his anger, Diablo had neglected to think much about their immediate next step. Unfortunately, he was an elemental sorcerer, and had no such spells that Momon was implying. While Rose had exceptional senses, she lacked any specific ability regarding long range tracking.

"Er- If I had access to all my belongings, such a task would be trivial. However, as things stand, I would appreciate it if you took the necessary measures."

Ainz eyed the demon suspiciously. Given his current motivation, he knew Diablo wouldn't grandstand in a moment like this. So for whatever reason, he didn't have access to information gathering spells like Ainz. Admittedly, most of those spells required him to make use of scrolls, as he was far from specialized in divination magic, but he did still have easy access to it.

"I see. Very well, I'll take the lead on this one. Just remember that you owe me, and don't go talking to others regarding what you're about to see."

Making his way over to a table, Ainz pulled a map of the city off the wall and sprawled it over the tabletop.

I don't see it being much of an issue if Diablo learns of our usage of scrolls… It might provide an opportunity to see if he's familiar with such a mechanic, but at the very least it will be a learning experience for Narberal…

"Nabe, my things please."

Rushing to her master's side, Narberal quickly took the large sack off from her back and placed it in front of Ainz. It looked like it could hold a fair amount of items, but in reality, it was an
Infinite Backpack
and functioned similarly to his inventory. Removing the string that tied it off, he reached his gauntleted hand into the bag and began pulling out scrolls one by one.

"This is
Locate Object
. I shouldn't have to tell you what we're looking for. Also, there's a chance the enemy is using
Detect Locate
, so using
Fake Cover
and
Counter Detect
is the basic of the basics."

Along with the ones he described, there was now a stack of nearly a dozen scrolls sitting atop the map.

"Alright, this should be enough for our enemy. Nabe, you may begin."

Nodding to her master, Narberal began activating the scrolls in the order he described.

Fake Cover

As she tossed the scroll in front of her, it unfurled in the air, before being consumed in a blue magical flame. Diablo stood by acting like it was all trivial, but in reality he had a great interest in these magic scrolls.

Scrolls existed in Cross Reverie and my previous world , but their usage was pretty rare… Yet if they could contain useful magic like this, I'm sure they'd be way more popular…

By nature of the fact that they came from two different points in time,
Yggdrasil
had a more extensive magic and skill system compared to
Cross Reverie
. While the attack potency of these abilities are relatively similar, there were simply more mechanics at play in Ainz' original game world. Thankfully for Diablo, despite this deficit, he had his own favorable circumstances that
Yggdrasil
natives didn't benefit from.

Counter Detect

One by one, the scrolls proceeded to burn away as Nabe diligently activated them. While the quantity that Ainz had chosen could be considered overkill, he wasn't taking any chances given the growing number of anomalous factors he continued to encounter.

When collecting information with magic, you must take measures to protect yourself well… To do a player kill, you have to collect as much info as possible, then attack hard and swift! These are the basics from the document 'Anyone Can Easily PK' that Punitto Moe created… Even if the chance of one of my enemies being a player is miniscule, I have to apply the same logic… The stakes are higher now then they ever were in


Yggdrasil

, not only is my life on the line, so are the lives of all the NPCs…

Ainz knew that resurrection magic was a real phenomenon in this world, but how it would affect a player like himself was something he didn't want to risk testing out.

Locate Object

With all of their counter-spells and other magical defenses in place, Nabe used the final scroll, which immediately revealed the location of the missing plates to her. The sensation could best be described as a sort of 'Eureka' moment, a sudden revelation that allowed her to point out the exact spot on the map of E-Rantel.

"It's here."

While neither of them were thoroughly familiar with the layout of E-Rantel, both Ainz and Diablo recognized the location from their brief travels in the city.

"That area is a cemetery, if I remember correctly. Alright, now cast
Clairvoyance
and
Crystal Monitor
simultaneously so we can see what we're dealing with."

Handing Nabe two additional scrolls, she tossed both of them into the air, everyone watching with anticipation for the spells' activation.

Clairvoyance
Crystal Monitor

Not a moment later, what appeared to be a portal tinged with a green magical light manifested above the table. This was not a portal for travel, but a one way visual feed on their desired location.

"I see Nfirea! But why is he surrounded by undead? They even seem to be ignoring him, it doesn't make any sense…"

The
Crystal Monitor
showed a dire image. Standing in the center of a horde of low level undead was Nfirea, dressed in a strange translucent white gown, and adorned with a circlet that seemed to exude magical power.

"There's only one explanation, Diablo. I don't believe you ever learned of this, but Nfirea has an extraordinary talent that allows him to use any magic item regardless of their restrictions. It's merely a theory, but the group that orchestrated all of this must have needed a suitable person to make use of a powerful artifact of some kind, likely one that aided them in summoning this sheer quantity of undead."

With the newly acquired information in mind, everything started to click for Diablo. As someone who was well aware of class and level restrictions and how they applied to certain weapons or items, he immediately recognized the value of a person like Nfirea, especially for those with evil intent.

I've heard a few mentions of these things called 'talents', yet I had no idea they could produce phenomena like this… The only comparable innate ability I could think of would be how Sasara can negate the damage from a single attack each day… For a warrior, it could be considered the perfect skill, but in terms of general utility, something like Nfirea's could allow for endless possibilities…

Now that he really thought about it, with a talent like his, Nfirea could easily powerlevel his way up using high level gear that would normally be inaccessible to him. Of course, most people didn't have access to equipment like Diablo, but if he felt generous, the young potion master could truly utilize his talent to the fullest. Before any of this could be considered though, they still had to save him, and with a confirmed location, their rescue operation was ready to launch.

"Momon-san, should we teleport and attack at once?"

Ainz felt a pulse of nervousness run through him with Narberal's mention of teleportation, as he had yet to reveal their capacity for such a thing to Diablo and Rose. Thankfully, the others took this as an implication of making use of something like an《Angel's Feather》, as Diablo countered the battle maid's idea before her master could respond.

"Unfortunately, the《Angel's Feather》is restricted to places that everyone in the party has been to before. Perhaps you and Nabe have visited the graveyard, but Rose and I haven't, so it wouldn't work. My other teleportation magic is similarly limited."

Breathing a sigh of relief, Ainz had won out in this conversation in a few different ways. Not only had he avoided suspicion, but Diablo also revealed the fact that he had means of teleportation besides the usage of an item. He could only speculate, but perhaps the demon lord didn't have access to teleportation spells with an accuracy similar to
Greater Teleportation
, let alone
Gate
. Regardless of how accurate his spells were, they both had the limitation of teleporting to locations that they had traveled to previously, or that were within their range of vision. Ultimately though, Ainz had never planned on using teleportation even if it were just him and Narberal. He wanted to use this opportunity to increase his fame as an adventurer, to create a mythos surrounding the mysterious 'Dark Warrior'. Saying that outright in front of Diablo would make him seem conceited, so the current circumstances that eliminated teleportation as an option worked out perfectly for him.

"As Diablo says, teleportation isn't viable. In addition, we don't know the full scope of what these people are carrying out. Depending on the amount and level of the undead, the residential districts could be quickly overrun. We have to confirm that the city's defenses haven't been breached yet, and then we can work our way towards the graveyard's center."

Nodding in agreement, both Diablo and Rose were on board with Ainz' plan. While the demon lord resonated with the goodwill behind his plan, Ainz was operating for purely self serving reasons. Human lives would be saved in the process, but this was merely a byproduct to the undead overlord.

"Let's get moving then. Since we aren't sure of the exact scope, every moment we waste could be crucial."

However, before Diablo could make it to the door, a familiar face came into view as they entered the shop.

"Oh my, if it isn't Diablo!"

The unmistakable form of the short and elderly Lizzy Barreare suddenly froze as her eyes adjusted to the unthinkable state of her workshop.

"Wha- What happened here?! The- The adventurers I hired, why… why are they all dead?! Where is Nfirea?!"

Admittedly, the scene before her looked convincingly incriminating. If not for the overwhelming concern for her grandson, the elder Barreare would have fled in a panic.

"Miss Barreare, you must calm down. We didn't do this. The Swords of Darkness and Nfirea were attacked here after we split up to head to the guild office. Your grandson is alive, but he was taken by the people responsible for this. We were about to leave in pursuit of him before you arrived, so I suggest you find some place safe to wait in the meantime."

Speaking up from the other side of the room was Ainz, his booming voice and threatening physicality quickly putting an end to the woman's frantic state. As he moved to join Diablo at the entrance, the demon lord gave Lizzy an urgent request, and more importantly, a way for her to help her grandson.

"Put your faith in us, I promise we will return with Nfirea. As Momon said, you should head somewhere safe, and the best place for that is the adventurer's guild. I need you to alert the other adventurers that a dangerous group has summoned a massive amount of undead in E-Rantel's graveyard, and to get there as fast as possible so we can keep them from spreading into the city itself."

Having been rattled to the core by the rapid onslaught of unsettling information, Lizzy Barreare used all her willpower to get her body moving.

"A-Alright! Just please, please bring back Nfirea!"

As the shop's owner hastened out the door, the remaining adventurers her grandson had hired followed suit. There was no time to be more gracious with their exit, everyone understood how dire the scenario was. While the powerless grandmother headed towards the guild, Ainz, Diablo, and their companions sped away in the opposite direction, towards the epicenter of this brewing disaster.

I won't let anyone else die because of my mistakes, especially not someone whose safety I'm responsible for…

Whether Diablo's resolve to kill would be borne out in his actions was yet to be seen, and it would soon be put to the test.

Meanwhile, at the western gate of E-Rantel's inner wall, a tenuous silence hung over the area. The typical background noise of the outdoors had vanished, something that wasn't completely unusual on the outskirts of the city's massive graveyard. Perhaps it was some kind of innate sixth sense, but animals and even insects were repelled by the negative energy emitted by the undead. While it had grown eerily quiet in the past, it had never been completely silent. The few guards on duty had grown complacent due to the abject boredom of being assigned to this post, and after standing guard for nearly half the day, they failed to notice the sudden change in their surroundings. None of them could have imagined what would follow in the wake of this unnatural silence.

"Another quiet night."

"We haven't fought the empire lately, and less undead are appearing, right?"

The two guards positioned right behind the gate quipped at the decreasing difficulty of their careers, unaware of the fact that they had managed to jinx themselves.

"Hm? What's that sound?"

Breaking the tone of their conversation, one of the guards could have sworn he heard a distant rumbling. His friend's skeptical reply continued to derail his train of thought, though.

"Hey, don't try to scare me like that."

"Quiet! I actually heard something."

Trying to focus using the extended period of silence, his suspicions were confirmed. Perhaps his fellow soldier didn't have senses as keen as his own, because they refused to acknowledge the sound.

"It's just your imagination."

Suddenly, one of the sentries standing atop the wall noticed the source of the disturbance.

"Hey! Look over there!"

As the other guards on the ground hurried to get to the wall's top, everyone else gathered around the veteran with the most experience of their unit.

"That's…"

In spite of his many years in the Kingdom's military, the sight before him brought about a loss of words. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of undead were pouring out from the graveyard, all headed straight towards the inner city.

"An army of undead?!"

One of the other soldiers finished the vet's incomplete thought as he continued to try and shake off the shock that was setting in. Even if this was an unprecedented scenario, his experience with facing death time and again pushed him into action.

"And there's way more than just one or two hundred… About a thousand?!"

His estimate of the undead force only continued to grow as he looked further into the distance. The army driven by a hatred for the living seemed to be endless, especially under the poor visibility conditions of a foggy night.

"Notify the soldiers at the station! We have to keep them back until help arrives!"

It was career soldiers like the grizzled vet who could effectively lead his men in impossible situations such as these that allowed the Kingdom's military to stand up to its neighbors. While it was true that Re-Estize boasted a larger headcount amongst its soldiers, compared to the knights of the Baharuth Empire, or the magic casters of the Slane Theocracy, the primarily conscription based army was severely lacking. The only silver lining in this trichotomy were the soldiers who served beyond their compulsory service, the ones who could build valuable experience through ceaseless combat and exemplary leadership. In any world or time period, these veterans are what make fighting possible for those serving on the front lines. However, despite this man's ability to rouse his comrades to take action, their small force stood little chance in even delaying the encroaching threat.

"Keep them back! Don't let them reach the top!"

All the guards were now firmly planted at the edge of the wall, relentlessly working to keep the growing tidal wave of undead from cresting over their fortifications. Even though most of the opposing force was composed of mere
Skeletons
, their racial resistance to piercing damage was enough to make the thrusting spears of the guards largely ineffective. For every attack that did manage to ring true, another undead would take the fallen enemy's place, and it didn't take long before the insufficient guard detail was overwhelmed.

"R-Retreat!"

Despite their allegiance to defending the city even if it cost their lives, everyone present understood that dying here would be pointless. The best possible outcome was escaping further into the city and grouping up with reinforcements from the station. As the last of the guards descended the wall's stairs, their attention was drawn from the unrelenting creaking of the gate by a terrifying guttural groan. Rising above the gate itself, a massive amalgamation of undead came into their view. Before any of the guards could relent at the nightmarish sight, four figures emerged from the fog laden woods behind them.

Is that a



Necroswarm Giant

Standing at the front of the group of newcomers, the heroic looking dark warrior Momon remarked at seeing an undead he was familiar with.

"It's adventurers, we're saved!"

"No wait, look… They're copper plates…"

The grandiose appearance of the newly arrived adventurers had them believe they were high ranked, but upon seeing the copper plates hanging from each of their necks, the guards lost hope.

"All of you need to get out of here immediately."

Ignoring their dismissive comments, Ainz was ready to give a proper demonstration of his power. Just as he was about to ask Narberal for his sword though, Diablo stepped up beside him, grabbing his《Tonnere Empereur》from his hip.

"We can't let that thing destroy the gate. Get reduced to ash,《Explosion》!"

Pointing his otherworldly wand outwards, Diablo unleashed a low level fire spell, but it was more than effective enough for a
Necroswarm Giant
. As the hydrogen collected from the surrounding atmosphere was ignited, the swarming mass of undead was blown to pieces, as the remains of what wasn't vaporized were sent catapulting across the area.

This guy always has to have the spotlight, doesn't he?

The guards looked on in awe at the brilliant display of magic power. They had a feeling that these adventurers weren't normal copper plates, but after seeing Diablo decimate a monster of such proportions, that feeling became fact.

"Just who are you people?"

Normally both Ainz and Diablo would take this opportunity to confidently introduce themselves, albeit for different reasons, but they didn't have the time to spare.

"Open the gates!"

The dark warrior's demand of the guards caused them to freeze up for a moment. They didn't want to offend someone of his caliber, but his request was insane in their minds.

"D-Don't be so reckless! There's an army of undead on the other side!"

Such a reaction was to be expected, even after Diablo's demonstration of his power. The men standing guard were just normal humans, they could never look such a grave threat in the eye and remain steadfast.

"Is that a problem for me, Momon? Fine, have it your way then. I hope you'll be more accommodating of the other adventurers once they arrive. Let's get to work, Diablo."

Crouching down into a squat position, the dark warrior launched himself into the air, easily clearing the gate that stood between him and the undead horde. Diablo used his《Empty Sky's Dance》boots, and Nabe cast the third tier spell
Fly
, as each of them followed Momon in close pursuit. Rose hopped the gate in a similar fashion to Ainz, albeit much more gracefully. As soon as the adventurer team had disappeared from view, the raucous cries of the undead began to grow quiet, until…

"Hey, do you hear that? The voices of the undead…"

What had previously been a soul crushing torrent on their ears a mere minute ago had faded into near complete silence. There was only one explanation for this sudden change, but it was unbelievable to all of those present.

"No way! Going against that many undead… It's impossible."

"Just who are those people?"

Even in the distance, they could still hear the sound of blades sweeping through flesh and bone, and even feel the shockwaves from the unfathomable magic of the《Sorcerer of Annihilation》.

"That man, he called himself Momon. And he referred to the magic caster with horns as Diablo."

"Those two were copper plates? Impossible."

This was the main fixation of their confusion. How could such obviously powerful adventurers be the lowest rank? Even if they came from another Re-Estize city, or the Empire, their rank would carry over. For all intents and purposes, it seemed as if they had shown up out of nowhere.

"Hasn't there been rumors of a new adamantite plate?"

The barren field scattered with the remains of eviscerated undead that they gazed down on was more than enough evidence to support this rumor. However, it wasn't only one figure with rumored adamantite tier power now.

"We may have just seen a legend, no… two legends. A raven black warrior, nay, a raven black hero, and a horned caster of destruction."

"《Heaven's Fall》!"

Floating above the graveyard, Diablo pointed his《Tonnere Empereur》towards the dwindling crowd of undead, and unleashed a level 100 Earth spell. A barrage of countless meteorites began to rain down on his helpless low level enemies, and the large AOE of the spell caused a sizable dent in their remaining forces.

It shouldn't take too long to wipe out noob tier monsters like these, but there's no telling how much longer Nfirea has… We've gotta keep moving and leave the stragglers for the other adventurers…

Locating Momon slightly up ahead, Diablo began to fly towards him, yet he noticed an odd peculiarity on his way over.

Maybe I'm just seeing things, but it almost looks like the undead aren't attacking Momon… He's cleaving through them at a speed that they don't have much time to resist anyways, but I can't shake the notion that they seem to be avoiding him…

It was possible that Momon had a skill that managed to stun nearby enemies, especially with a large level difference, but undead tended to be resistant or outright immune to status effects like that. However, Diablo knew that differing rulesets were possible if not certain given the existence of alternate worlds, so he'd have to inquire about it later.

"Momon! Let's keep heading for the center, we'll leave the rest for our reinforcements. Surely they should be able to handle a few skeletons, and we have to find Nfirea as soon as possible."

Stopping his stride as he bisected a skeleton that was unfortunate enough to be in his way, Momon, or more accurately Ainz, had already arrived at a similar thought as Diablo.

"That's what I was thinking. We don't know what kind of ritual they have planned, and if this is just the start of it, we can't let it spiral out of control. I'll lead the way, I assume Nabe and Rose will catch on quickly."

As Momon resumed his sprint, Diablo turned his head to the side in order to locate Rose. The magimatic maid was in her element as she moved through a horde of undead like a river's current, dismembering all that fell in her path. Perhaps she could sense the gaze of her master, as Rose swiftly made her way towards Diablo, still leaving a trail of destruction in her wake.

"We're making a beeline for the Mausoleum, make sure you clean up any of the undead that make it past Momon."

Nodding in response, she took off in the direction Momon was headed, as Diablo poured more mana into his boots and accelerated onwards.

Nabe, who had been raining down her own spells nearby, also followed suit as she flew slightly behind the demon lord.

I can see it up ahead, even with all this damn fog… It's time to focus up, I've gotta remember who I'm dealing with here… These people murdered the Swords of Darkness, and kidnapped Nfirea to use as some kind of vessel… Just like I freed Rem from her curse of housing the Demon Lord Krebskulm, I'll save Nfirea from whatever terrible fate they have for him!

As he began to approach the Mausoleum, a group of figures came into view standing just outside of it. It was a circle of people in hooded black robes, with a man in the center wearing a distinctive red robe who held an orb that exuded magical power.

Diablo and Nabe descended until they landed next to Momon and Rose, as the whole group confidently approached the occult looking enemies.

"Lord Khajit, they've come."

Okay, one definite idiot here…

After seeing the ringleaders of this whole disaster standing out in the open and carelessly revealing the name of their mastermind, many of the fears that Ainz had prepared around going into this began to dissipate. Obviously a lower threat was to be preferred, but he couldn't lie that a part of him wanted to have a challenge, especially after his brief duel with the Master Swordsman.

"Hello there. It's a nice night, isn't it

Khajit

The decrepit looking man who was known as Khajit gave a glance of annoyance to his subordinate for the careless slipup, as Diablo stepped forward with anger resonating in his voice.

"Forget the small talk, what have you done with Nfirea?! Tell me where he is, or I'll atomize you where you stand and find him myself!"

Khajit and his followers couldn't help but be taken aback as they had a magical artifact of immense power pointed towards them.

"Keh! Do you think I should fear you when I have the power of the
Orb of Death
at my disposal? You've taken leave of your senses if you thought you could just stroll up here and make demands of me!"

With his patience far past the point of entertaining the arrogance of a wretched person like Khajit, Diablo nearly activated his spell on the spot, but was stopped by an interjection from Ainz.

"One of your allies had a piercing weapon, and there was another who used a spear. Were you planning to lay low? Or could it be you're scared of us and hiding on the sidelines?"

On cue, the sappy hum of Clementine could be heard from the entrance to the mausoleum, as she poked her head into view.

"You examined the corpses, huh? You're good!"

Khajit was clearly annoyed at the fact that she had made her presence known, but Clementine reassured her co-conspirator before he could complain.

"Oh forget it, Khajit. It seems they've already got things figured out, no point in hiding now."

As soon as she had stepped into the light, the collection of rank plates that made up her armor were front and center for the new arrivals to see.

"Well, it was thanks to you that we were able to find this place. Surely you didn't think we would fail to notice how you pilfered the Swords of Darkness' rank plates?"

Clementine clearly wasn't finding the current circumstances to be that unnerving, as she stuck out her tongue and pointed at her face, as if to say 'Whoops, did I do that?'.

"Aw come on, it wouldn't be much fun if we didn't leave the wannabe heroes a little breadcrumb trail."

At this point, Diablo was almost confused with how nonchalant his enemies were acting despite being faced with an incredibly powerful team of adventurers. Neither Khajit or Clementine appeared particularly impressive to him, but the reasoning behind their confidence was the last thing he could have expected.

"Of course an unhinged amateur like yourself would think that way. Thankfully, you've managed to deliver exactly who I wanted."

Stepping out into the moonlit entrance, was a weathered, yet robust, old man.

There's no way…

Diablo could never mistake that paladin uniform, the well kept beard that reached down to his chest, and most importantly, the fiery gaze of killing intent that he had experienced once before.

"B-Battuta?! What kind of trick is this? I killed you myself… I saw you burn up in my《Darkness Cannon》!"

The dangerous ex-paladin laughed raucously, as he walked further out from inside the mausoleum, confirming without a shadow of a doubt that it was him. His half missing arm that he had as a result of Diablo's《Absolute Zero》was obscured by the sleeve of his undershirt, but it was obvious enough for the one who caused it to notice.

"What a pitiful Demon Lord you are. You couldn't begin to understand the forces at play here, and despite clearly having been influenced by them, the idea of my resurrection still confounds you!"

While Diablo obviously had a past history with their newly appeared enemy, Ainz and Narberal were at a loss for who this elderly man was. Regardless of his unknown origins, it was clear to them that this man was several tiers beyond their other opponents.

Diablo was ready to obliterate Khajit and Clementine where they stood, but the appearance of this man has put him on guard… Even if he supposedly defeated him once, it must've been a close fight for someone like Diablo to consider him a threat…

"Seems like Diablo left you in quite a state from when you last fought, yet you seriously think you can beat not only him but myself as well? You've got quite the ego for a geezer past his prime."

Battuta turned his attention to the dark warrior that he had ignored up until now. As far as he was concerned, Diablo was the only real threat currently present. Yet he saw this as an unlikely opportunity to truly crush his sworn foe's spirit.

"I won't take criticism from a warrior who hides behind full plate armor like yourself. A real man can look his enemy in the eye, but I digress. I'm the last person who should be rattling off about honor. Well then, I have unfinished business to attend to with a certain head priestess, so unless you have any other one liners to get out, I'll be taking my leave."

Before Batutta could even take a step, Diablo began charging after him. The demon lord immediately understood who the paladin captain was referring to, and that he couldn't be bluffing about such a claim. If Lumachina had been brought to this world too, of course luck would have it that one of his greatest foes had found her first.

"Momon! Follow me, we're taking him on together!"

As Diablo rushed into the mausoleum, past a smirking Clementine who knew she shouldn't interfere, Ainz began to follow suit.

"Nabe, you and Rose can work out who takes on who. If it comes to it, don't hesitate to use your full power, and don't worry about me, just complete your part of the mission!"

The echoing steps of Battuta and his pursuers slowly faded until they could no longer be heard. Now it was a proper two versus two, although both female companions knew they wouldn't be fighting together.

"I think I'll leave the gross old man to you, Nabe. I'm much more interested in dismantling that woman."

Walking away from the mausoleum into an empty stretch of the graveyard, Clementine couldn't help but follow her confident challenger.

"What can I say? I love a girl who knows how to speak her mind. I'll leave the other one to you Khajit, I hope you don't mind that arrangement."

Grumbling to himself as his supposed ally made her choice of opponent without even considering his wishes, Khajit turned to face Nabe, whose face was plastered with a look of sheer annoyance.

"Let's get this over with, you disgusting human worm."

Hello everyone, sorry for the slight delay in this chapter. As I said, I'd be taking more time on ironing out the next chapter or two, and I decided to split the graveyard incident finale into two parts so I could provide a timely update. The arc will be fully concluded in the next chapter, so be ready for that. Also, my patience with the FFN tech support team is growing thin as it's been almost a month since I've had any traffic stats for my stories. Please make sure to follow and/or favorite, as it's the only kind of data I can get until FFN decides to stop slacking on fixing their website. Reviews are always appreciated as well, so until the next one, happy reading.

Afterword

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