Edster: Welcome back to chapter 19 everyone! Hope you are all doing well in the run-up to Xmas! I've been kept very busy with the first two weeks of my new job and am slowly getting used to the new normal of having to wake up at 4:30 every morning, but it feels good to be a proper full-time worker for the first time in forever!
This anime season may be winding down, but the shows that are ending for now are setting up for some awesome finales, especially The Eminence in Shadow and The Rising of the Shield Hero. I can't wait to see what goes down in their last episodes along with what's to come in 2024! Speaking of Shield-Hero, I plan to start the next part of my OC Shield-Hero saga sometime next year if my co-author and I can find a good point for us to either pause or finish this story, but that'll be something we'll discuss once 2024 comes around.
daniel: Here we are! Another chapter! Gotta say that I really enjoyed this one since best boy Climb is really gonna show what he's made of! Also can't wait for the grand finales of the shows my co-author mentioned plus Solo Levelling which will REIGN SUPREME!
Edster: With that all being said, here's what you are all here for. The latest chapter of the Nazarick Triumvirate! As always, the usual disclaimer that neither I nor daniel own Overlord or any of its characters, locations, events or anything else related to the anime, manga or Light Novels. The only things we own are our OCs, Henry and Fengxian. ENJOY!
Chapter 19 – A Few Good Men
As soon as he had terminated his Message connection to Solution, Henry transported himself back to Nazarick via Demiurge's Gate. But he wasn't there for very long as all he did was change out of his usual attire and swap into his adventurer gear. After all, he would create quite the scene around the capital of Re-Estize if he appeared in his garb as the Crown Prince of Nazarick, but as an adventurer, even in armour as fine as his, he would barely pass notice. Only after getting changed did he realise he didn't know where he was going when he got to the capital, so one mortifyingly embarrassing call to Demiurge later (which the Guardian took in his stride as his Crown Prince being so focused on the campaign with the Lizardmen that the details of the other missions had taken a backseat), he was transported via Gate to a side street not far from where the mansion Sebas and Solution resided in was located.
Once he'd gained his bearings, the silver-armoured adventurer cautiously made his way to the end of the side street before looking in both directions to ensure his sudden arrival hadn't been noticed. Satisfied that he was alone, he walked the short distance to the gate of the property and pushed open the metal gates that led to the courtyard. As he approached, he couldn't help but whistle appreciatively of the size and splendour of the place, even the second-most lavish structure he'd laid his eyes on after Nazarick itself of course. Back in the real world, a mansion such as this would only have been available to the rich and ruling conglomerates with the rest of the population having to make do in large (and often cramped) apartment blocks with only one or two rooms per flat, which meant you had to squeeze in a bed, washroom, a dining/kitchen area and space for you to live in pretty tightly. Not the ideal living space, but for those working full-time on low wages it was the most affordable option.
Shaking his head to clear away the thoughts of his old life, Alfred came up to the door and gave it a firm but polite knock. As he waited, he tried his best to compose himself, but the excitement of seeing his beloved Slime after so long of being apart from her was almost proving too much to take. As the door opened, Alfred expected to see the gorgeous dark blue eyes of his secondary consort eagerly awaiting his arrival on the other side but was instead greeted by the last sight he'd been expecting: a blue-eyed girl with long blonde hair and garbed in a maid uniform peering at him nervously.
"U-um…c-can I h-help you, s-sir?" the maid squeaked.
"Who the heck is this? Is she the reason why Solution called me over here? I'm going to need some answers from both Solution AND Sebas after this…" "Good day to you, young miss," he answered in a forthright manner to hide his confusion. "My name is Alfred, an adamantite-ranked adventurer from team Darklight. I am here to see the lady of the manor if she is around?"
"U-um…s-she is…but I wasn't t-told we were expecting any visitors. I-I'll just have to ask her b-before I…"
"Tuare, who is that at the door?" He heard the voice of his beloved Solution call out from within.
"P-pardon me, my lady…h-he s-says he is an adventurer named A-Alfred and that he is here to see you. S-should I let him in?" the maid replied.
He heard Solution sigh and chuckled to himself as he imagined her pinching her nose to compose herself and not express her frustrations at the young girl's timidness. "Yes, Tuare, you may let him in. I have been expecting him." As the shy maid fully opened the doors, Alfred got his first look at his beloved secondary consort for the first time in two weeks. He couldn't help but marvel at how gorgeous she looked in her golden dress with its yellow hem and a small red piece of cloth that was tied around her waist to hold it together, and as his eyes unwittingly moved upward he almost salivated upon seeing her beautiful and ample breasts sticking out of the top of said dress, complimented by a dazzling silver necklace hanging above it and her long blonde hair done in their usual spiral curls that hung down both her front and back. As Solution laid her eyes on him, he noticed the flicker of her delighted smile pass over her face before retaining its usual composure. "Sir Alfred, welcome to my home. I am glad you could make it."
"Thank you for granting the honour of an invitation, my lady," he replied with a formal bow. "Do we have somewhere private where we can discuss our business?"
"Indeed, good sir. If you follow me upstairs, we shall retire to my private quarters." Solution's firm gaze went to the maid who had let him in. "Tuare…while Sir Alfred is our guest, he and I are not to be disturbed under ANY circumstances," she told her in a tone that brooked no argument. "Do I make myself clear?"
"O-of course, my l-lady. I'll g-go and see what I can c-cook for you and Lord Sebas later this evening," Tuare squeaked before, with one last curtsy, retreating to the kitchen area of the mansion.
"If you'd care to follow me up here, Sir Alfred," Solution beckoned the adventurer with an almost flirtatious wink before turning around and making her way upstairs. Almost tripping over himself in his excitement, Alfred strode regally up the stairs before following Solution to her rooms. As the pair entered, Alfred closed the door and removed his helm allowing his long blonde locks to fall back around his shoulders, but just as he was turning around to greet her he saw a besotted Solution running full tilt at him, her normally dark, blank blue eyes aflame with desire, and as he opened up his arms she leapt into them and proceeded to kiss him with all the love she had to convey just how much she'd missed him. And as the pair kissed, their desire for one another coupled with the time they'd spent apart guided their next actions in a frenzied display of lust and passion. After her initial kiss, Solution quickly and skilfully detached Alfred's armour leaving him in the garments he was wearing. At the same time, Alfred carefully slid off Solution's dress, revealing her naked form in all its glory. The pair then fell onto the bed, Alfred on top, and engaged in another wild display of love-making as they both proceeded to explore the bodies they had been craving so much.
"Oh, my darling…having to deal with some of these filthy humans in this place has been torture without you by my side…" Solution breathed huskily, a small moan escaping her as Henry nibbled away on her neck. "Oh yes…yes…YES! Right there, my beloved Crown Prince!"
"I know it would be hard for you, and you have my apologies for that…but you were the only one of the Pleiades I could trust with this mission," he apologised, grinning as he peppered her neck with kisses which caused her to body to buck lustfully under his careful yet passionate ministrations. "But you've done so well to hold yourself back from your usual tendencies, and for that, I am so proud of you…"
"I…I am not deserving of such praise from the Crown Prince of Nazarick. I exist only to serve at the pleasure of yourself and the other Supreme Beings…" his blonde paramour gushed, and as he lifted his head he noticed her face was bright red and her breathing heavy from their exertions. "I am, and will only ever be, yours to do with as you wish…"
Alfred leant in and kissed her again, pouring all the affection he had for his beautiful Slime into it. "You are more than deserving my dear…you and your harem sisters make me the happiest man alive, and I will never be able to repay you for it. Being away from you and your beautiful flesh has been so hard, and I've missed you so much…"
Solution couldn't help but let out an uncharacteristic sob as her beloved's kind words washed over her. "I've missed you every hour of every day, my beloved," she whispered, tears pouring down her face from the emotion of their reunion. "No one will ever compare to you. When those two unsavoury humans earlier dared to imply they could take me for themselves…I had to restrain myself from devouring them for such an insult against my and your names…"
"Oh is that so?" Alfred growled possessively as he cuddled her into him. "Do I need to go and knock some heads on your behalf?"
"I doubt they'd be foolish enough to try…I made my impressions of them very clear during our brief discussion, and Lord Sebas frightened them with a display that caused one of them to wet himself and the other to soil himself. One of them even fainted from fright…" Solution smirked as she curled into Alfred's embrace. At the mention of Sebas' name, Alfred frowned slightly as he remembered why he had been called here in the first place.
"Speaking of Sebas…do you want to tell me what's been going on? And does it have anything to do with that blonde maid who greeted me downstairs?" He asked, sitting up and bringing her with him as he did so.
Solution nodded and, cuddling up into him and running her hands across her chest, told the tale of how Sebas had rescued Tuare, brought her back here, had Solution heal and clean her up, his kindness and affection towards her, his disregarding of Solution's pleas to inform the Supreme Beings and ending it with their encounter with the nobleman and Eight Fingers associate earlier that day which led to her asking for the Crown Prince's aid.
As Alfred listened, he couldn't help but be both proud and disapproving of the elderly butler's actions. Whilst it was in line with the sort of actions that Touch Me and Alfred himself would have taken in such circumstances, it was abundantly clear that Sebas had done this even knowing the risks to himself, the girl, Solution and their mission as a whole and was intent on dealing with any problems himself should any arise. However, it was also abundantly clear based on Solution's accounting of their earlier visitors that a target had already been placed on their back and would now only get larger given Sebas' recent actions against them.
"You were right to contact me, darling. Even though I admire Sebas' kindness, you are correct in saying that such an act could come back to bite him, and therefore us," Alfred said once Solution had finished. "Did he say where he was going when he left?"
"Only that he was going out for a stroll to clear his head. He didn't say when he'd get back," Solution answered.
"Damnit…if those unsavoury fellows know who he is, they're likely to try and ambush him now that he's out in the open!" Although Alfred knew that Sebas could handle an ambush, such a scene would only bring more attention down on him which for a mission based on secrecy was the last thing they needed. "Hopefully he hasn't gone far," he said grimly, replacing both his armour and his helm much to Solution's disappointment. "I'll try and catch up with him and keep him out of trouble. In the meantime, now that he has concluded the Lizardmen campaign, I want you to contact our Father and tell him everything you told me. No doubt he and the Grand Marshal will want to talk to him about this as well."
"If that is your will, then it will be done my beloved," Solution answered demurely, kneeling before her Crown Prince without even bothering to cover herself back up. "I wish you good fortune, and when you return…" She rested her hand over Alfred's pelvis area suggestively. "…maybe we could finish what we started…"
Alfred cupped her chin and gave her one last passionate kiss that had her swooning. "We shall see, my darling. For now, stay here and clean yourself up before reporting to Lord Ainz. Make sure to keep the girl safe too." Without another word, he left the room and headed out of the mansion towards the centre of the Re-Estize capital in search of his wayward butler and trusted confidante…
~TNT~
"Going out for a bit?" Gazef called out as Brain made his way down the stairs and towards the front door. "Got any coin on you?
"Yeah…fancied some fresh air," was all Brain answered, looking at his one-time rival with the first smile that Gazef had seen since he'd picked him up. "If I need money, I'll just sell something I-" Whatever he was about to say was cut off as Gazef threw a pouch of coins at him.
"Go crazy. Have fun," the Warrior Captain told him with a smirk.
"Thanks. I'll try not to spend it all," Brain replied, his smile widening a little, before heading out of the front door and into the hustle and bustle of the capital's central area.
~TNT~
"This looks like the place Lady Aindra mentioned…" Climb thought to himself. Dressed in his civilian clothes with his sword attached to his hip, Climb took a deep breath before approaching the doors of the inn and opening them wide with a firm shove. As he walked through the doors he noticed that the inn was mercifully quiet, which was ideal given the circumstances of his assignment. An armoured figure was sitting on his own at a table to his right, a couple of adventurers were standing at the bar conversing with the bartender, and on the other side in the furthest corner of the inn were two of the people he was here to see. Even if the inn had been packed Gagaran would have been incredibly hard to miss given her size and distinctive weapon, and if Evileye was trying to be inconspicuous in her red cloak and white mask…it would have had the opposite effect given how bright and unusual they were. As Climb's eyes roved over the pair, Gagaran caught his gaze and, with a knowing smirk, waved him over with the mug of beer she was quaffing from.
"Hey there virgin, you looking for us?" the massive warrior of Blue Rose japed as Climb approached.
"It's been too long, Lady Gagaran," Climb replied politely, ignoring her jest and bowing deeply. The muscled blonde growled at the term 'lady', forcing Climb to quickly correct himself to avoid her wrath. "I mean, Miss Gagaran. And greetings to you as well, Lady Evileye." The masked mage remained silent and gave no outward sign that she'd heard him.
"Guess it has been a while…what's up?" Gagaran asked, the same amused smirk from before back on her face. "You here to get lucky with me, virgin?"
"Who knew the famous adventurers from Blue Rose were so embarrassingly light-hearted…" Climb bemoaned to himself as he held up his hands in a placating manner. First Lady Aindra, now Miss Gagaran…if he hadn't been made aware of the type of friendship they shared with his Princess, he'd been embarrassed at their continued attempts to fluster him. "N-no, nothing like that!" He stammered. "Lady Aindra and Miss Tina are currently meeting with Princess Renner, and Lady Aindra asked me to find you both and Miss Tia and pass on a message."
"That right? Well spit it out then," Gargaran demanded calmly, her expression turning serious as Evileye tilted her face so that her unsettling mask was staring right at him.
"R-right. Her message was as follows: We're going into action on the double. Be ready at a moment's notice. We're going to hit them where it hurts," he relayed. "That's all she told me."
"That all? Seems like such a minor chore for the Princess's bodyguard," Gagaran sighed as she took another deep drink from her tankard. "Surely you have something more you can tell us?"
"Well I-oh right, Sir Gazef came by when I was training earlier!" He declared proudly. "He gave me a private lesson in swordsmanship…crazy, huh? And I used the strike you taught me against him…he was so impressed by it that even he complimented me on such a move!"
"You're kidding…the legendary Gazef Stronoff complimented my move? Well good on you kid, sounds like you're moving on up in the world!" She told him proudly. "Even so, you don't wanna…"
"I know…I won't get complacent I swear," he reassured her. "I'll make sure to keep devoting myself to my training."
"Good…seems like my advice isn't falling on deaf ears after all, so here's another freebie for ya kid. That move, whilst it can catch certain enemies off guard…the more skilful warriors like Gazef and I will be able to counter it since we use it ourselves. You need to come up with a move you can transition into in case it doesn't work," Gagaran advised him.
"That's…wow, Lord Stronoff told me the same thing himself after our duel."
"Great minds and all that, am I right or am I right?" Gagaran stated proudly. "Come to think of it…you could probably learn a trick or two from Evileye to mix up your arsenal a bit more and really catch your opponents off guard. You should ask her yourself whilst you're here…"
"No. Magic is beyond your reach," Evileye spoke up bluntly. "Stick to the sword, listen to the likes of Gazef, Lakyus and the meathead here and you'll be fine." Neither Gagaran nor Climb seemed convinced by her to-the-point statement if their uneasy look was any indicator, causing the strange magic caster to sigh openly. "You don't seem convinced…fine, let me try and explain. Those with talents possess them from the outset. Take Gazef Stronoff for example…can you catch up to where he is on effort alone?" Upon seeing Climb's downcast expression and Gagaran's disapproving stare, she changed tack to try not to dishearten him. "I'm not saying give up. Just figure out what you're up against."
If the next look of uneasiness that passed between her audience was any indication, her words were either not being believed or taken to heart which caused her to sigh again, this time in annoyance. "Foolish. Utterly foolish. Those who chase after the unobtainable are certain to ruin themselves."
"I'm well aware of that…" Climb weakly interrupted, but the magic caster of Blue Rose wasn't done yet.
"You're bound for an early grave if you continue on that path," she further admonished. "Think of the people who will weep for you should you pass away due to your foolishness…"
"Hah! I never thought I'd see the day!" Gagaran's loud chuckle was both sudden and disturbing given the morbid turn the conversation had taken. "The shorty here is actually worried about you! Isn't that-!"
"Keep your voice down musclehead!" Evileye snarled as she reached over the table and grabbed Gagaran by the folds of the shirt the giant wore beneath her armour.
"It's true though, right? We've known each other for years, midget. You can't lie to me!" The goliath japed, unfazed by Evileye's anger. With another disgusted growl, Evileye let go and sank back into her chair as Climb watched the whole affair dumbfounded, unsure how to think or react.
"Gain some magic knowledge first," the short mage conceded without looking his way. "Once you increase your knowledge, you'll be able to tell what your magic-using opponents are after. Then you can take the appropriate action to defeat them. End of lesson."
"Thank you, Lady Evileye. I'll treasure your advice and take it to heart from this day forward," Climb swore, bowing deeply to show his gratitude.
"Climb." Evileye's tone may have been soft, but there was still an edge to it that made him listen. "Don't go losing your humanity, alright? The power isn't worth it." Climb looked slightly concerned at her words, but once again she continued before he could interrupt. "I get it, okay? When it comes to natural ability, humans drew the short straw compared to other races. Many of the Thirteen Heroes everyone venerates so much were species other than human, such as the Black Knight who wielded the legendary blade Kilineiram, now wielded by our famous yet devious leader. He had demonic blood running through his veins."
"That right? I keep forgetting about that…" Gagaran commented in an unusually serious tone. "Tell me something shorty…is it true that sword has the power to swallow a nation whole or is that myth a whole load of horse crap?"
"Where'd you hear that particular rumour?" Evileye asked, puzzled.
"I overheard Lakyus talkin' to herself a few nights back…in fact, it's not the first time I've caught her doin' it…" Gagaran frowned. "You'd think that damn blade was sentient the way she talks to it. It's usually all about how she's 'keeping the darkness restrained' and 'not letting your dark power do as you wish with me' and other weird crap. And when I caught her in the act, she got super embarrassed and claimed it wasn't what it looked like." Unbeknownst to them, such a phenomenon had its own label: Chuunibyou. It seemed that more than three gamers had transcended worlds.
"As a priestess I guess she was mortified being seen struggling with a cursed item," Evileye mused as Climb opened and closed his mouth, seemingly unsure how to react upon hearing this rather…strange side of Lady Aindra. "And it sounds like those pointless-looking armour rings weren't just for fashion's sake…"
Climb gasped as he had a sudden yet horrific thought. Lady Aindra was with his Princess right now, and if it was true what Evileye and Gagaran were talking about… "Is Princess Renner in any danger? Do I need to return to her side?" He asked fearfully.
"Don't panic. There's nothing we can do about this right now," Evileye told him sternly.
"Even if we tried to do something, the only way we can stop an adamantite-ranked adventurer is another adamantite, or a whole team of mithril or adamantites," Gagaran added.
"Exactly," Evileye agreed, before bringing her hand to her chin as she thought of something. "That reminds me…I heard a third adamantite-class adventurer team recently sprung up in E-Rantel."
"Oh is that right? That's news to me! Who are these folks? And just how powerful are they?" Gagaran asked, her tone betraying her excitement. Even Climb looked interested in what Evileye had just revealed.
"As I recall, it's a team of four. Their leader is called Momon, a warrior known as the Raven-Black Hero," Evileye began to rattle off. "There is also Nabe, a black-haired spellcaster capable of casting up to Tier Four Magic known as the Beautiful Princess given how men seemingly fall for her at first glance. Then there's Alfred, a silver-armoured knight with a sword and shield known as the Platinum-Silver Hero. And finally, you have Eleanor, a green-armoured lady warrior who rarely shows her face and doesn't say much. She is called the Spear Maiden given her skill with said weapon."
"How the hell did they get to adamantite so quickly if they've only just sprung onto the scene?" The massive warrior asked.
"They resolved a situation in E-Rantel involving thousands of undead. After that, they exterminated the Goblin Tribe coalition headed northwards. Then they retrieved ultra-rare medicinal herbs from the Great Forest of Tob, slew a giant basilisk, and then, and this is the most astounding but it's been verified by multiple reliable sources, they subdued the Wise King of the Forest with their power and are keeping him as a pet. All of this is the span of a few weeks," Evileye told them. As she listed off these accomplishments, both Gagaran and Climb's eyes went wide and their jaws dropped from sheer astonishment.
"Holy hell…" Gagaran finally exclaimed, almost in disbelief. "The four of them sound awesome!"
"W-wait…you mean to tell me those sorts of deeds would be hard for the likes of you, Miss Gargaran? How about you, Lady Evileye?" Climb asked, his mind still struggling to comprehend everything the diminutive spellcaster had just told them both.
"I could handle thousands of undead no problem, but a giant basilisk with its petrifying gaze and toxic venom?" Gagaran shook her head. "No way. Without restorative measures, it'd be too much for me. They are the ultimate test for any warrior. We'd need all of Blue Rose to even stand a chance."
"Gagaran is correct," Evileye confirmed. "Even with the vast magical power at my disposal, I would find single combat with a basilisk difficult. It would no doubt take all of my reserves to survive and defeat it leaving me vulnerable afterwards for any other creatures in the vicinity."
"That can't be! I know how strong Blue Rose is, and there's no way these newbies could match up to the likes of yourselves, Lady Aindra, Miss Tia and Miss Tina!" Climb vehemently denied, a reaction that pleased the giant warrior.
"Thanks for the praise kid! Now let's get nasty!" She japed, almost crushing the young knight in a one-armed bear hug.
"I-I'll have to decline, Miss Gagaran," Climb stammered as he struggled to get out of her grip. Thankfully, Evileye was on hand to get him out of this predicament.
"Enough, both of you. We ought to get moving. Lakyus will be waiting on us, and I don't intend to disappoint her." she stated firmly, getting up from her seat. "Do you?"
"As you wish," Climb said as he bowed. Gagaran merely sighed and shrugged as she loosened her grip around his shoulders.
"Climb…that sword you're carrying. It's not your usual weapon, is it?" The lady warrior asked, pointing to the blade at his hip.
"No, it's a spare. I didn't want to bring attention to myself," he answered. His usual blade was a gift from his Princess and thus would be easily recognisable. Gagaran nodded approvingly.
"Good call, but there's no telling what may happen these days. Always keep your main weapon close at hand." Gagaran's smile then morphed into a conspiratorial smirk. "Do you still have those items I gave you?"
"You mean those bells? I have them right here with me," came the reply as Climb indicated the satchel on his other hip.
"Good. Keep those and three healing potions on you, just in case you need them." With these final words, Gagaran followed after Evileye as the pair walked towards the inn door whilst Climb bowed once more in gratitude for the large warrior's sage advice.
"You know, you'd make a great mother one day," the short mage teased once they were out of his earshot.
"Shut up shorty," Gagaran scoffed.
~TNT~
"Punk ass brat! You're filthy!" These words were followed by the sound of a boot impacting skin that came from the middle of a gathered crowd on the path he was walking. Even though it wasn't his business, Brain quietly stalked to the back of the crowd as more voices rang out, this time in concern.
"He's really laying into him…" One man muttered.
"He'll kill the boy at this rate…" A woman sobbed quietly.
"Sounds like another jumped-up elite picking on the weak…just another example of the divide that exists in this country…" Brain sighed. Even when living among the bandits Brain had been paying attention to what had been going on in Re-Estize, and witnessing the corruption from afar had only validated his decision to leave. Though he knew occurrences like this were wrong and should be stopped, what could he as one man do against those backed by money and powerful and corrupt (and often illegal) factions and gangs? Gritting his teeth at his helplessness, Brain made to manoeuvre his way around the crowd only to stop as someone walked past him with purpose, their hardened gaze set on the gathered crowd. It was an elderly man in a butler's uniform with well-trimmed facial hair, and judging by the fire in his gaze he was furious. But what could an elder such as him do in this situation?
Despite these negative thoughts, Brain couldn't help but keep his eye on the old man even as he slinked into a nearby alleyway. As such he bore witness to the man moving at such speed through the crowd that, even to Brain's well-trained eyes, made it look as though he was disappearing and reappearing with every step he took. "Just what the hell am I seeing?" Before he could react or move a muscle to get a closer look, he heard a commotion coming from the middle of the crowd which he assumed was a result of the old man's appearance.
"Just what are you trying to pull old-timer?" Yelled the same voice that Brain had first heard upon arriving at the scene.
"Yeah, back off if you know what's going for you. This is private business and thus none of your affair!" Shouted a second male voice as Climb, unseen by Brain having approached the crowd from the other side on his back from meeting with Gagaran and Evileye, started pushing his way through with apologies to those he brushed passed. As he got to the front of the crowd the young knight spotted a group of ruffians, judging by their complexion and get-up, surrounding an elderly man in a black butler's suit who was standing protectively in front of a young boy who, judging the manner he was currently curled up in and the bruises on his face, had just suffered a rather harsh beating.
"What, you deaf or stupid?" The gang's leader who was staring down the new arrival as Climb got to the front of the crowd asked. Despite the 5-on-1 situation he found himself in the smartly-dressed butler, much to Climb's astonishment, seemed completely unfazed.
"I'll only say this once. Depart." Though the old man's tone was calm, there were undercurrents of silent rage in his words that instantly made Climb feel uneasy.
"Make me!" The leader roared, swinging his fist towards the butler's face. But with a move faster than the trained eye could comprehend, the elderly gentleman lashed out with a deadly right hook that sent the burly man flying and caused him to land in a crumpled heap, startling everyone around them but especially Climb and Brain, the latter of whom had pushed his way to the middle of the crowd to get a closer look.
"Do not make me repeat myself!" The man told the other bandits who'd started to surround him, their fists raised. Having seen what the man had done to their leader, the others chose wisely and scarpered in terror lest the same thing happen to them. The instant they fled, Climb broke free from the crowd and approached the injured lad who was still curled up on himself.
"Hey! Are you alright?" he asked, cradling the boy's head. As the young lad nodded weakly, Climb felt himself being heavily scrutinised. Looking up, he saw the old man's eyes watching his every move with a curious expression. "Thank goodness, you're still breathing. I've got a potion here that'll fix you up." Reaching into his pouch, Climb pulled the stopper off with his teeth before lowering it to the boy's mouth. "Try to swallow this nice and slowly…don't try and drink too fast or you'll choke." As the liquid trickled down the boy's throat, colour started returning to his face as the bruises started to fade. "There we go. You're doing a great job. You'll be just fine, kiddo…I promise." A green glow surrounded the boy's body as the rest of the scars faded, causing Climb to smile in relief before remembering the elderly gentleman who'd been watching his actions. "Thank you very much…sir?" As he looked around and in every direction for the stranger, he saw him walking away down the street at a none-too-fast pace. "I have to catch up and thank him properly…he really came through for the kid!" After leaving the young boy in safe hands with members of the surrounding crowd, Climb got to his feet and ran off after the old man. His own curiosity now piqued after witnessing these events, Brain stealthily stalked after the young knight, making sure to keep to the shadows and back alleys as he did so.
~TNT~
Just as Climb was drawing closer to the strange man, they turned down an alleyway off to the left of the main walkway. But as the knight dashed down said alley, with Brain continuing to stalk them from behind, the old man turned right onto another small side street. Panting heavily, Climb strove to catch up, but judging from the man's comfortable stride and the way he kept looking back at the blonde he was expecting to be chased. Nevertheless, Climb eventually caught up until he was within shouting distance.
"Excuse…me!" He panted, but as the elderly gentleman turned his head back again, Climb found himself stopping short at the intensity behind his gaze.
"Is there something you need from me, boy?" He asked. Though his face and posture were calm, the man's tone screamed that he'd better like Climb's answer or he'd be in for the same fate as the bandits from before. "Why did you follow me all this way?"
Having made it to the end of the previous alley, Brain decided to hang back and observe the conversation from safety. Should things go bad, he'd intervene on the young man's behalf.
"I apologise…that was pretty rude of me to chase after you in that manner," Climb apologised as he came up to the stranger, only pausing to get his breath back. "Even though my actions are undignified from one of my station, my honour demands I thank this man for his kindness in saving that innocent boy." "My name is Climb…I'm a soldier in training and thus should have been there to protect that child from those bandits." He chose to leave out his association with Princess Renner until he was sure he could trust this man. "Thank you for doing my job," he finished with a low bow in the old man's direction.
"It was no bother. Now I must be going," was all he got in reply as the man turned to leave.
"No! I can't let him leave like that! I have to learn how he did that! It's like Sir Gazef and Miss Gagaran told me…I have to learn whatever moves I can to become stronger. It's the only way I can better protect my Princess!" "Wait a minute!" Climb protested, causing the stranger to turn back with a suspicious glance and the hidden Brain to marvel at the young man's fearlessness, or was it recklessness? He'd seen what this man could do…surely he wasn't foolish enough to keep pestering him and get on his bad side? "I'd like for you to teach me that move you used back there."
"And what purpose would that serve?" The man questioned, his back still turned.
"I've got his attention at least…better make it count!" "I'm trying to improve myself…to become stronger and protect the ones I care about," he explained hurriedly. "After seeing the outstanding technique and control you just demonstrated, I know that learning even a fraction of what you are capable of will help me achieve it."
"This kid isn't your typical knight…most wouldn't dream of asking a stranger for tips on unarmed combat. That's the sort of thing I'd be doing to try and improve myself…" Brain frowned from his hiding place. "Just who is this kid? And what is he after?"
"Hm," the stranger considered, a shadow of a smile passing his face as he turned himself fully to face the young knight. "Alright then…but first, show me your hands." Climb was slightly confused but did as he asked, and as the man took them in his own, he rubbed his thumbs across the surfaces. "They seem strong and firm…the perfect hands for a warrior," he surmised. Although Climb smiled at the compliment, it was humbler than one that was born of confidence.
"I appreciate your praise, but I'm afraid my strength and swordsmanship are still negligible at best," he replied, remembering Gazef's advice about where he really stood in terms of strength given the new limits the veteran warrior had spoken about earlier that day.
"I think you underestimate your ability, young warrior," Sebas smiled. Though he sensed the boy's strength was nowhere near the levels of the likes of his Crown Prince and Grand Marshal, he was still capable for a human. In addition, he was humble and honest regarding his inadequacies, a trait Sebas wished was the case for the majority of humans. Sadly, most of those he had encountered were prideful and full of themselves, whether it be due to their money, influence or other factors, and yet those were the ones who fled in terror or wet their pants, usually both, at the first sign that they were outmatched. "May I take a look at your weapon and see how it holds up?" As the young man passed him the sword hanging from his hip, Sebas held it up to the sunlight and gave it a critical look. Though he was no weapon expert compared to the likes of the Grand Marshal and Lord Cocytus, he still had a good idea of what passed for a good quality blade, and this one, though it was sharp and cared for, still had the rough marks and dull blade of a weapon that hadn't seen much action, which meant… "This isn't your usual weapon, is it lad?"
"How did you discern that?" Climb asked, masking his disbelief. "Such power and intelligence…there's more to this man than meets the eye…" From where he was hiding, Brain was thinking along similar lines.
"The number of blemishes on the blade. If this were your usual sword, you'd be keeping it in good condition," Sebas replied.
"Of course…I'm sorry you had to see it in such a shoddy condition. I was neglectful," Climb apologised as he took the blade back and sheathed it.
"That's quite alright. Through the strength of your hands, the humbleness and honesty of your words and the quality of your blade, even if it is not your usual one, I have seen for myself the type of person that you are," Sebas told him. "You see, the hands and weapon are mere reflections of the warrior who wields them, and through what I have seen and sensed you possess an extremely favourable impression." "He reminds me somewhat of the Crown Prince and Lord Touch Me…if he was to make it through our eventual conquest of the world, I'm sure my Lord Constantine and Lord Fengxian would look favourably upon him and seek to befriend or recruit him. Alas, it would most likely be for nought given our true identities, but it does reinforce Lord Constantine's belief that not every human is like the stuffy and corrupt nobles or the vile and greedy gang leaders who seem to lurk around every corner." Despite these conclusions, there was one more line of questioning Sebas wanted to pursue to see this young man's full worth. "One last thing, and please humour an old man with your honesty. For what reason do you aspire to improve yourself? Whatever it is, it spurred you on to chase me down and seek my guidance, and whilst my initial impression is that you are a trustworthy sort, I want to know why you are seeking even greater power."
"W-well you see…" Climb lowered his head as he recalled the time when his life changed forever. He'd been on the streets, all on his own in the pouring rain after the shelter he had built for himself had been torn down by a group of aristocrats for kicks, with no hope, no purpose and no one to look out for him and wishing for someone, anyone, to come and save him. And then, as if in answer to his pleas, a young blonde-haired girl wrapped in a heavy cloak of her own, with the most sparkling blue eyes he'd ever seen, reached out her hand and offered him to come with her. "Don't be afraid…" she had said with a radiant smile that was forever imprinted in Climb's memories. "From now on, I will look after you. I promise you will always be able to rely on me. And maybe someday…I'll be able to rely on you too!" Those words, and that show of kindness…Climb knew he'd never be able to repay that debt for as long as he lived, but he'd be damned if he didn't at least try. "Because I'm a man. I want to be able to protect the one who saved my life," he finally admitted.
This answer pleased Sebas greatly. "Indeed. Very well then. From my impression of you and the answer you just gave, I have decided on the type of training you'll receive." "It will be far harsher than anything he's been put through so far, but if I have judged this young man's resolve correctly…I'm sure he'll be able to handle it."
"Thank you, sir. I won't let you-" Whatever Climb was about to say was cut off as Sebas raised his hand.
"However…before we begin, you should know that I don't think you have talent." Climb grimaced as he heard the same words, said by the likes of Gazef and Gagaran in less blunt variations, once more. "I'll be frank with you…there's a chance you could die from this. It will depend entirely on the strength of your heart, so if there is someone special in your life then think of them…bring the memory of their kindness to the forefront of your mind and use that as your resolve. If you do this, you'll be fine."
Climb nodded determinedly. He didn't doubt the man's words, but he knew exactly who he'd be focusing on for this. "I just have to hope that will be enough to pass this test…" "Very well then. Please, begin your instruction."
Sebas raised an eyebrow, simultaneously pleased and surprised at this boy's calmness in the face of what could be his death. "You're confident you won't die then?" The butler asked. Climb shook his head, his eyes never losing their determination. "I see. Then let us begin your training right now."
"Wait, you mean right here? In this alley?" The young knight asked nervously. From his hiding spot, Brain tensed apprehensively for what might happen next.
"Draw your blade, young man, and take your stance," Sebas ordered sternly as he backed off a few paces. Knowing this was a command rather than a request, Climb did as he was bidden and drew his sword, settling himself into the same posture he'd observed the likes of Gazef and Gagaran use: Head raised, eyes fixed on his opponent, jaw set, legs body width apart and sword held upright and pointed directly at his target. Sebas nodded in approval as he raised his fists out in front of him. "Hold fast your wits, young Climb. Few have seen this, and ever fewer survive. I hope for your sake that you'll be one of the latter."
Climb didn't respond. His only movement was to lift his blade and bring it back towards himself slightly, forecasting that he was aiming for a quick, sweeping strike towards Sebas' head. "Lord Fengxian would be impressed for certain, but now…the ultimate test of his resolve!" Activating his Intimidation skill, the air around Sebas and Climb quickly darkened until both were surrounded by a patch of purple fog.
"What the hell is that old geezer doing?" Brain wondered. Though it looked dangerous, the blue-haired warrior chose not to interfere for the moment. He would only move in should it look like the young man was about to die.
Climb nervously gripped his blade as the fog surrounded him, and as he met the old man stare to stare he noticed that the warm colour behind his eyes had completely gone. In their place were two dark pits surrounding red orbs that seemed to pierce into the very depths of Climb's soul. As he tried to refocus himself and keep hold of the stare, Climb suddenly felt himself being surrounded by sharp spikes of ice accompanied by a blast of cold wind that started to push him back. But even as the wind picked up, and the spikes shot out further from the ground, Climb willed himself to stay on his feet, to push back and master his fear even as he felt like he was staring into the gates of hell itself.
"I hope this isn't the extent of your valour, young warrior!" the butler's voice, now thrumming with power, boomed from all around him. "If you cannot hold this back, how will you fare when I actually strike?" Climb grit his teeth as he pushed everything he had into maintaining his stance. Despite the overwhelming pressure, he vowed to keep fighting and not give in!
~TNT~
As he approached the outer area of the Capital's central districts, Alfred suddenly halted as he felt a massive surge of power coming from nearby. Taking a moment to expand his magical senses, Alfred focused on the nature of the magic and where it was coming from.
"This feels really familiar, and very intimidating…yup, that's an Intimidation spell alright. And I'd recognise who it's emanating from any day of the week…" It would appear that Alfred's search to find his wayward butler was at an end. But just as he was about to resume his journey, he saw a strange group of men in hooded cloaks stealthily making their way in the same direction. "If they're heading after Sebas too, then they are in for a big surprise. Still, best to be sure and back him up."
~TNT~
"I suppose if this is all you have, then you'll be joining the dead!" Sebas snarled as he swung his fist in Climb's direction with enough power and intent to take his head off his shoulders should the blow land.
"So much power and speed…I won't be able to dodge in time!" Climb panicked as he saw the fist coming towards him. But as the old man's fist drew closer, time seemed to slow around Climb. The vision of his oncoming death was suddenly replaced by a vision of his sole reason for living: the smiling face of Princess Renner, her eyes shining bright and an expression of the utmost care and love on her face and the sound of her laughter ringing in Climb's ears. "No…I cannot die yet! I WILL repay her kindness, no matter how long it takes!" He roared in his head. "I! MUST! LIVE!" With a wild yell, Climb mustered his resolve and pushed back against the fear of death that was still flying towards him. Tensing every single muscle in his body and pulling out every bit of strength and resolve from within his soul, Climb shifted his head to the side just in the nick of time, as a split-second later the old man's fist flew past him, brushing his ear and shoulder in the process. Time seemed to stand still for a moment as Climb panted heavily from having to exert himself beyond the full extent of his strength and resolve, and then, just as quickly as they had appeared, the icicles and the cold wind vanished and the purple fog around him and the butler lifted. As it did so, Climb's trembling knees finally buckled and he collapsed to the ground, sweat dripping down his face as proceeded to suck in great lungfuls of air and slowly tried to remaster himself. "He wasn't joking…if I hadn't found the strength to resist him, I would have died for sure!"
"Congratulations. You've passed," the butler said, and as Climb wearily raised his head he saw him looking down at him with approval, his eyes having returned to normal by now. "How does it feel to overcome the fear of death at your age, young Climb?" Climb's eyes widened as he continued. "You did well to avoid dying from shock. It happens all too often to those who do not possess as much resolve, or to a person who is prepared to die and thus abandons their hold on life entirely."
"H-hold on…I-I have to ask….just what sort of person are you, and what exactly do you do? If you don't mind answering me that is…" Climb eventually managed to stammer.
"Me? No one special, just an old man who knows how to handle himself from many years of experience," the butler answered. "Now then…are you ready to-?"
"Wait! Hold on a second!" Brain was no longer able to contain himself after witnessing what just went down and revealed himself from his hiding spot, much to the other two's puzzlement. Though it hadn't been as intense as what Climb had been put through, Brain had still been affected by the aura the old man had put up, and it had taken all of his wits, resolve and years of experience to not give in to the sweet release of death to escape from the sheer terror that he had felt.
"An acquittance of yours?" Climb asked the butler as he got to his feet. He'd never seen this man before in his life, but judging from his bearing, the steely resolve behind his eyes and the weathered hand gripping the sheathed blade on his hip, he had the appearance of a capable warrior. Maybe Lord Stronoff would know him?
"No…and I assume he's not a friend of yours either…" Sebas frowned, stroking his beard as he observed the new arrival. "Judging by his sudden appearance and readiness, it would appear he has been observing us all this time. Would that correct, sir?"
"Y-yeah, s-sorry…I didn't mean to startle either of you…" Brain panted as he let go of his blade and approached the pair. "I'm a fighter too. My name's Brain Unglaus, and I apologise for my interruption, but after witnessing what happened earlier in the middle of that crowd of people I had to satiate my curiosity and follow you."
"Wait…I've heard that name before!" Every aspiring fighter and warrior in Re-Estize worth their salt had heard of Brain Unglaus and his fearsome reputation. "I know your name…you once went toe-to-toe with Lord Stronoff and nearly came out on top!" Climb bowed his head, an action that caused Brain to blush awkwardly. "It's an honour to meet a warrior of your skill and reputation!"
"A man comparable to the noble warrior that the Supreme Beings encountered in Carne Village…hmm, could be worth keeping an eye on…" "Alright, I'll indulge you. Ask whatever you need to know and I'll do my best to answer," Sebas offered while keeping a wary eye on the new arrival, but was just as surprised as Climb when Brain's gaze instead went to the young blonde.
"Wait…you mean…me?" Climb asked, dumbfounded as to why a warrior of such skill would be asking HIM of all people for help.
"What happened just now…when you looked deep into the face of death and stared it down without hesitation. How were you able to manage it?" Brain asked. Though he hadn't been in the middle of the storm, he had felt the dread of imminent death emanating from the old man all the same. Only his years of training and willpower had saved him from giving in, and even then Brain had been completely paralyzed with terror. He knew full well that if he had been the one being tested, he would have died on the spot if the old man's punch hadn't finished the job before the fear did, yet here was this young, seemingly unproven lad able to face death head-on and come out the other side. "I need to understand how you did it. It was far beyond what any normal man could withstand, and I was at the edge of giving in to it before your show of resolve brought it to an end." Brain was aware that he was on the verge of pleading with this young man, but he had to do this. If he were to face that vampire again…he had to know the secret to keeping one's nerve in the face of such overwhelming power and dread. If Gazef was right, and there were beings of even greater power out there…then facing them might just become the norm for them all sooner or later. "Come on, please. I'm begging you. If you help me, I swear on my reputation that I will repay you in some way."
"I-I'm not sure honestly," Climb answered hesitantly, not wanting to disappoint Brain but at the same time knowing he had to be honest. "The only thing I can remember was thinking about my mistress, the person I care for most in this world and whose kindness saved my life, the entire time."
"H-huh? What do you mean?" Brain asked, confused. Was it really that simple and why he wasn't currently capable of such a feat? "No one has ever meant that much to me…I've always relied on myself and my strength. But if what this lad is saying is the truth then…"
"I don't know how, but thinking about her, about how sad she would be if I died and wanting to live for her as a result made it bearable and helped pull me through," Climb clarified.
Sebas had been watching this exchange in silence, but upon seeing Brain's confused reaction to Climb's words he decided to offer the knight some clarification. "Lord Unglaus…young Climb's steadfast loyalty to the lady he serves allows him to persevere when things are dire for him. When people have something or someone important to them, you'd be amazed at the incredible power they can muster as a result." He had seen it throughout the Great Tomb in the first couple of days after their arrival in this New World. All of them, from the Guardians right down to the lowliest maids and staff of Nazarick, had been energised on a level the likes he'd never seen before when they realised three of their Supreme Beings had chosen to remain with them. Eager to please their masters, they'd thrown themselves into their duties with unrelenting zeal and dedication, expending every amount of energy and breath in their bodies to never let them down and repay them for the generous gift they had granted them just by their mere presence. He had felt this himself upon seeing that his honoured Lord Constantine was one of them, and had witnessed it especially with Lady Albedo, Solution, Narberal and Lupusregina in their eagerness to please the one they loved. These memories brought a small smile to his face as he continued his explanation. "That more than any muscle is the true measure of a person's strength."
The blue-haired warrior in front of him still looked confused, so Sebas decided to spell it out plainly for him. "Find someone or something that you refuse to lose, and you too could demonstrate power that you'd never have thought possible."
"I've already forsaken everything that was ever important to me in the pursuit of strength," Brain spoke up quietly, his eyes downcast. "I don't see how I could…"
"That's fine!" Climb's interruption caught both Brain and Sebas off guard as the boy determinedly went eye-to-eye with the famous warrior and gave him an encouraging smile. "I was able to do it and I have no talent. It'd be no sweat for someone of your calibre!"
It was rare for Brain to break out into a smile these days, but this young man's enthusiasm and encouragement, along with the old man's gentle wisdom, allowed hope to flutter within Brain's heart once again. "Strong and kind to boot…" he murmured appreciatively. "You're going to go far kid. Thanks a lot. I really have been a fool all this time…"
Sebas smiled at their newly forged camaraderie. Though they were at different points in their journey as warriors, these two humans had seemingly found common ground and would now seek to help one another on their respective quests. Though they would never reach the level of his lords…he genuinely hoped the pair would reach their goals. "If I may, Lord Unglaus…"
"You can drop the whole 'Lord' business, sir…believe me I'm nobody that a person of your stature needs to pay respect to," Brain told him with a light-hearted smirk.
"In that case, you may call me Sebas. It would please me greatly" the butler quickly replied, stepping forward with a frown on his face as he got a sudden premonition of incoming danger. If his instincts were on point, it would be approaching them any second. "But for now, I think it would be best if you and young Climb left here as quickly as possible…" As these words tumbled from his lips, the danger showed itself as three hooded men, each wielding a pair of daggers, appeared in the alleyway not far from where he was standing. "It would appear I have some visitors to greet…"
"Woah…that ain't good…" Climb commented as he and Brain both put their hands on the hilts of their blades.
"But that's not all…I sense further trouble sneaking up from behind us as well…" Whilst Sebas was correct in that a pair of Eight Fingers assassins was approaching them from the other side, what he wasn't aware of was that this danger was about to be swiftly taken care of. As the butler and the two young warriors cast wary eyes on all the approaching figures, they were astonished to see the first three hooded figures being tossed violently into the buildings around them by an unseen force, with the sound and sight of blood and broken bones clearly audible and visible as they landed in a heap
"Don't you know how impolite it is to ambush people receiving important life lessons?" a voice they didn't recognise spoke up as from around the same corner that the fallen assassins had flown in from strode a figure in bright silver armour that sparkled in the afternoon sun. The figure dusted his hands before giving the three men in front of him an approving nod. "I'll keep an eye on these sorry excuses for ambushers whilst you mop up the remaining assassins."
"Lord Touch Me's armour! But that could only mean…my Lord Constantine?!" It took everything Sebas had not to give any sort of reaction to his Crown Prince's sudden appearance in his adventurer garb. Taking advantage of their opponents' hesitation at the new arrival, Brain and Climb drew their blades and swept forward to engage the assassins. Brain was able to dispatch his opponent easily, but Climb was being pushed to the limit as his opponent forced him on the defensive by prodding and poking at the young warrior with his knives.
"Fear is an important emotion for sure, but you can't let yourself be bound by it," Sebas advised Climb from where he was standing. Normally he would've gotten involved and taken care of them himself, but he sensed that his lord wished to see from himself the strength of these humans. "If your physical abilities aren't up to the task, prevail with your heart. Never forget that your mind is the sharpest tool in your arsenal."
"Thank you, Sir Sebas…I will not fail you," Climb swore as he aimed his blade towards the assassin's head. "If I should fall here, tell Renner…I mean, tell Her Highness that I fought and died as a warrior until the very end."
Almost the exact same thought ran through the minds of Brain, Sebas and Alfred upon hearing Climb's declaration: "He knows/is close to Princess Renner?" Before they could ponder this any further the assassin crouched as if to burst forward, but Climb was way ahead of him as he leapt high into the air before bringing his blade down towards the assassin's head.
"Here we go! Martial Arts Slash!" Climb's blade was bathed in a brilliant blue knight as it impacted against the assassin's neck, instantly jarring his muscles and sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Well done, young Climb," Sebas congratulated as the young knight came down from the exhilarating feeling that could only be felt in the heat of battle.
"Not too shabby…for a kid that is," Brain added as he casually brought down his hilt against the side of his opponent's neck, rendering him unconscious in the process.
"Indeed. An encouraging display of strength of ability. You should be proud of yourself, young warrior," the silver-armoured stranger praised as he walked up to the group. Though he was breathing heavily, Climb managed a smile as he blushed under their praise.
"As for yourself, sir…thank you for your timely assistance," Sebas said to the newcomer whilst ensuring he did nothing to give away that he knew him. "We would have been surrounded if not for your actions."
"No problem. I was just in the area and could just tell by their shifty mannerisms that those guys were up to no good, so I decided to even out the playing field and put a stop to whatever they were up to," the stranger replied whilst at the same time piercing Sebas with a firm gaze through the slits of his helm. (Once this is over, you and I need to have a chat, Sebas. You have a LOT of explaining to do)
"Miss Solution must have spoken to the Crown Prince after what happened earlier and asked for his help…" Sebas realised. He shouldn't have been surprised though. Even though Miss Solution was his subordinate, her first and foremost loyalty was to Nazarick and the Supreme Beings, especially the Crown Prince given her position as his secondary consort. "Then consider us in your debt, good sir. I am Sebas Tian," he 'introduced' himself.
"My name is Climb, bodyguard to Princess Renner. You have my thanks for saving my own worthless life and that of my comrades," Climb spoke up with a deep bow.
"Brain Unglaus. Cheers for the assist," Brain added casually, causing Alfred to tilt his head as he recognised the name from Fengxian and Shalltear's report on their mission against the bandit camp and subsequently the Black Scripture. "So that's the Martial Artist who stood up to Shalltear and is reputed to be on the same level of strength as Gazef. He doesn't seem to be as depressed or broken as she made him out to be. I'm guessing he's found a reason to bounce back or someone has talked some fight back into him…"
"It's an honour to meet you all. My name is Alfred, an adamantite-ranked adventurer from Team Darklight," he introduced himself with a bow of his own. As he spoke his name, both Climb and Brain's eyes widened as they recognised the name. Though he hadn't been out much ever since his return to the kingdom, rumours of the sudden rise of a new group of adventurers going by Team Darklight had reached Brain's ears. Climb, of course, had just heard all about them from Evileye and Gagaran and was both astonished and humbled to meet this highly-regarded adventurer.
"I know your name…you're the 'Platinum-Silver Hero'!" The young knight gushed, remembering what the two members of Blue Rose had told him. "From everything I've heard, you and your teammates are famous for dealing with a horde of undead in E-Rantel, wiping out a goblin tribe, slaying a giant basilisk and taming the Wise King of the Forest, as well as getting promoted from copper to adamantine-ranked adventurers in the space of only a few weeks!"
"Undead? Goblins? Even a basilisk…?" The rumours Brain had heard hadn't mentioned any of this. If it were true…then this guy and his companions were no doubt incredibly strong. "They're probably on mine and Gazef's level…perhaps even stronger…"
"I see our reputations proceed us…I'm sure Momon and the others would be thrilled about how wide and fast our legend has grown," Alfred commented in a mix of abashment and pride, feeling over the moon at being officially known as a Hero alongside Suzi who likewise shared his enthusiasm about it, as he strode forward and tapped the young knight's shoulder appreciatively. "Maybe once this is all over, I'll share a drink with you and tell you all about it, but for now…." His helmeted gaze turned to the unconscious bodies of their assailants. "I believe we still have business to take care of."
"Indeed," Sebas, having remained silent for the moment out of shame for drawing the ire of his Crown Prince, spoke up as he knelt and examined one of the attackers. "I recognise their garb…they must have been tailing me ever since I left my mansion. I wouldn't be surprised if their employer goes by the name of Succulent," he surmised, placing a hand on the man's forehead and silently activating the skill Palm of the Puppeteer as the others gathered around him. As Sebas' spell took effect, the man's eyes opened in a dull and vacant stare, his pupils and irises glowing a dull, murky colour as if the lights were on but nobody was home.
"What did you do to him?" Climb asked as he and Brain both witnessed this slightly unsettling display. Having seen much worse in his time across both worlds, Alfred remained silent.
"It's a skill called Palm of the Puppeteer, and it appears to be working," Sebas explained as the unconscious man's head titled back and forth, very much as though he were a puppet having his strings pulled by the butler. "Now then…to interrogate him…" Since Palm of the Puppeteer forced the target to obey the user's commands, the assassin confessed that he and his associates were part of the Eight Fingers group and had been sent by Succulent to silence the old butler permanently along with any witnesses or accomplices. This got Alfred and Climb's blood boiling at the thought of innocents being slaughtered for merely being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Sebas was also angry, if the steel behind his voice as he asked his follow-up questions was any indicator, but was able to control it as he continued to draw out answers from their captive who also confessed that they were operating out of the sole brothel that remained in the Capital. Once he'd finally wheedled all of the details he could out of him, including just how many men would be stationed there alongside the fact that Staffan Heivish, the pompous noble who had tried to bully Sebas earlier, also operated out of it, Sebas knocked the man unconscious once again as the rest considered what they'd just learnt.
"Eight Fingers is a relatively large criminal organization that operates within the bounds of the Kingdom," Brain explained to Alfred, having seen the adventurer tilt his head in confusion upon hearing their name. "Whatever underground or criminal activity exists in the capital, you can bet they are either responsible or have a stake in it. Slave trafficking, smuggling, gambling, assassinations…you name it, they do it. And from what Gazef's told me, their money's gotten into the hands of some of the Kingdom's nobles in exchange for turning a blind eye to their endeavours or making what they get up to legal."
"Aristocrats turning a blind eye to the suffering of those below them for the sake of lining their own pockets, why am I not surprised?" Alfred growled. These lowlifes were just as bad, if not worse, than those who'd come to power in his old world and downtrodden the rest of civilization in the process. Whether it was in this world or the old one, gaining wealth and power at the expense of the common folk appeared to be common practice, and the thought of it made Alfred sick.
At the same time however, given the corruption that plagued the kingdom and how the Eight Fingers seemed to be the big fish of the criminal underground, bringing them to heel and working for Nazarick would speed up their conquest of the kingdom quite nicely. After all, as Winston Churchill had proclaimed: Never let a good crisis go to waste.
"Sir Unglaus is correct. As for the name you had him mention, Succulent…he's come up a few times as well," Climb added. "Apparently he's one of the Six Arms and an adamantite-ranked fighter."
Brain turned his gaze towards Sebas who had brought a finger to his chin and was looking thoughtful. "I guess you don't plan on taking what they did to you and us lying down, am I right?"
"They've left me little choice, haven't they?" Sebas answered determinedly. "I plan to bring down the source of all this trouble, and since Succulent will most likely be there too, it's for the best we stamp out the sparks before they become a raging inferno." He then turned to look at the three men standing around him. "I'd be grateful if the three of you lugged these lot to the nearest guardhouse whilst I'm doing this."
Brain shook his head. "I can't back out now, not after what just went down. I'd like to offer my sword and whatever meagre talent I possess to your cause, if you'll have it."
"That goes for me as well. I may not possess as much skill as the rest of you, but I want to see this through to the end," Climb spoke up determinedly before turning to look at Alfred. "What about yourself, Sir Alfred? Will you join us as well?"
"You don't have to ask me twice…of course I'm coming along," Alfred answered, smacking his fist into his palm. "I'll do whatever it takes to see these criminals brought to justice for the harm they've inflicted on the common people of this country."
"Spoken just like Lord Touch Me…" Sebas couldn't have been any prouder of the man he'd sworn to serve and protect. "Sir Unglaus and Sir Alfred may have the skill and strength to deal with these pests, but you might yourself outmatched if you choose to come with us, young Climb. Are you sure this is what you want?"
"Absolutely!" There was no hesitation or doubt in the young man's voice. "If I ran away from this danger, it would only prove that I am unfit to serve my mistress and country."
All three of his comrades were visibly impressed by his staunch resolve. "Is this acceptable for you two gentlemen as well?" Sebas asked Brain and Alfred who both nodded in response. "In that case, there is no more that needs to be said. I accept your support…now let us go to battle!"
"Right!" The other three exclaimed fiercely, and with fist bumps all round the company of four brave men started making their way towards the brothel Eight Fingers were operating out of, walking with purpose and determination as they sought to strike a great blow against the massive criminal organisation.
Edster: And that's another chapter squared away. I hope you all enjoyed reading it as much as my co-author and I enjoyed writing it. Speaking of my co-author, here are his thoughts on what's just occurred!
daniel: Another day another chapter! This one showed us that what Climb lacks in talent he sure as hell makes up for it in sheer determination! He has the heart of a true warrior! And Momon and Alfred are officially recognized as Heroes! Henry is over the moon! Given he is a massive otaku like his friends, and you can bet that neither of them will become like the "heroes" in the genre deconstruction.
Btw I disagree with Evileye, if I were to be dropped in the New World, I DEFINITELY would be a God-like player instead of a regular human, we all have seen how well those fare in there.
And now to take on the Eight Fingers! And begin the first step to the conquest of the kingdom! Gotta do it in the most efficient and pragmatic manner possible!
Edster: Not much to add here since as is normally the case this is mostly a rehash of episode 8, only with a few details changed given our OC's presence and their resultant impacts on the narrative. Team Darklight making an impression and gaining a fearsome reputation with four members is one of them, and Alfred being around in the capital and looking for Sebas obviously changed up the fight between them and Eight Fingers resulting in more of a curb-stomp. And now the dream team of Sebas, Alfred, Climb and Brain are going after Eight Fingers, and what goes down there and the resultant fallout will be dealt with in the next chapter.
As to when the next chapter will come out…if I'm sticking to the two-week time frame between chapters, this one will be dropping after Xmas. And because I'll have family and work it might be a little delayed as a result. I'll do my best to get this out in the usual time slot but at the very least it'll drop before the end of the year for sure. With that said, on behalf of myself and my co-author daniel, we want to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and thank every one of you once again for all the love and support you have shown us and this story. It really means the world to us, and we'll both see you next time for the 20th chapter of the Nazarick Triumvirate!
daniel: Happy holidays and Christmas to all of our fans who celebrate it! Hope everyone has a great holiday season plus an awesome New Year!