Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia/Boku No Hero Academia, Overlord, or any other property in this work that I did not make myself.
The Sorcerer Hero: Deku
Chapter twenty-five: The raid part two- monitoring the raid
The pro heroes and their police allies, when they tried to conduct their raid on the Shie Hassaikai compound, were expecting to rush in, take down a bunch of yakuza thug type villains, confiscate a lot of Trigger, and put an end to a major criminal enterprise that netted Japan's villainous element a lot of funding as well as put illegal narcotics that bolster the power of quirks out on the streets and in the hands of lesser thugs looking to be able to go toe to toe with heroes.
...What the pro heroes and their police allies conducting the raid were not expecting was getting confirmation that the Shie Hassaikai had allied with the League of Villains, a confirmation that came in the form of a Black Paladin bursting out and going on to kill a police officer and the pro hero Rock Lock, also a number of the other undead looking quirk-forged monsters that are under the sway of the League of Villains came swarming out to fight the heroes and police.
Although the lesser quirk-forged monsters (the heroes and police STILL think that the undead monsters were made via the use of a quirk) were relatively easy enough for the heroes and police to deal with, especially Shinso who took out a few skeletons by whacking them in the skulls with his expandable baton, the Black Paladin (it's actually called a Death Knight but none of the second New Worlders knew that) was an entirely different level of difficulty (and horror) altogether.
After killing the first police officer and Rock Lock, the Death Knight went on to kill three more police officers as well as Centipeder and Mr. Brave, despite the other pro heroes working to try and take it down. "Can anyone help us destroy this monster before it kills anyone else?!" Fat Gum practically roared out, "It's too damn slippery for us to-"
Fat Gum was cut off when Ainz cast a Dragon Lightning at the Death Knight, then when it reeled he cast a Fireball at it. That was enough to vanquish the undead monster. "...Damn, Ryukyu," Fat Gum said as the Death Knight vanquished by Ainz collapsed into ash, "Your intern there is hella strong. He took out the Black Paladin like it was nothing."
"I guess what Nejire told me about Midoriya having vanquished Black Paladins before is actually true," remarked the Dragon Hero as she flew in place while in dragon form. The remaining lesser undead were all vanquished, and care was made to ensure those killed by the Death Knight didn't get back up again. Sir Nighteye looked into the front yard of the Shie Hassaikai compound, saw no other monster within sight within the house of horrors.
"...We're going to have to call in backup," Sir Nighteye said grimly, "There's too much risk now, especially as we just saw that the Shie Hassaikai have teamed up with the League of Villains due to the fact we were attacked by a Black Paladin and a bunch of other quirk-forged monsters that all look like what the living dead are like in modern popular culture."
Ainz looked around, saw that none of the U.A. students were seriously hurt, but most of them were very clearly freaked. Hopefully things won't get too bad so as to force the hero students to sit things out regardless of any who are willing to continue; Ainz wanted to stick through to the end and see how things turn out.
...
Help did soon arrive in the form of All Might and Endeavor, the two highest ranking pro heroes in Japan at the moment. Although Endeavor brought his interns Todoroki and Bakugo plus a number of sidekicks, All Might came alone. "I came as soon as I heard that a Black Paladin was involved," All Might said, his tall and strong form plus his distinctive baritone putting the worried minds of those present at ease, "What happened?"
"Four police officers as well as the heroes Centipeder, Rock Lock, and Mr. Brave were all killed by the Black Paladin before it was finally vanquished by one of Ryukyu's interns," one of the still alive police officers said, "We also saw signs that the first vanquished officer and Rock Lock both... they both tried getting back up after being killed by the Black Paladin, with the officer succeeding. Both the officer and Rock Lock... had to be put back down."
"Were the others also killed by the Black Paladin prevented from getting back up as well?" Bakugo asked, "Considering the fact that they look like kinds of undead, anyone they kill might get back up." Bakugo recounted how he destroyed the head of a girl killed by one of the lesser quirk-forged undead looking monsters under the sway of the League of Villains.
"Considering the fact one of the other slain officers also tried getting back up after being slain, all persons slain by the Black Paladin were shot in the head while they were down," the officer replied, "As was the second slain officer who tried getting back up. You have a good ability to take initiative, young man, as grim as the duty you had to do might have been."
Endeavor, a look of serious contemplation on his face, said, "So the League of Villains not only have quirk-forged monsters that look like living dead, but anyone killed by at least their Black Paladins can get back up as a form of living dead themselves. Must be some sort of chemical reaction that activates on the death of the victim when they're killed by the Black Paladin."
"Either way, we need to do things here with the utmost caution," All Might said, "We've already lost three heroes and four police officers, and the raid that Sir Nighteye is leading hasn't even made its way into the house yet." Folding his arms over his well toned chest, All Might said, "For reasons of safety, I say we send all hero students back and allow only the officially licensed adult pro heroes and the police officers handle this."
"You're sending all of us back?"
Both All Might and Endeavor turned to look at Todoroki who spoke up. "Young Todoroki, it is very dangerous here for those like you who are still hero students," All Might said, "There's already been seven deaths. It would be foolish of us adults to let any youths risk themselves, we're lucky none of you students have been killed."
Gesturing to All Might, Bakugo said, "Well at least keep Deku around. Don't forget, All Might, that it was Deku who smoked five of the Black Paladins at Aldera, then the two at the attack launched by the League of Villains on Takoba National Stadium during the Provisional License Exams, and I'm willing to bet he also took out the Black Paladin that was reported to be here."
"I can't deny that Young Midoriya has more than proven himself," All Might said, "But even so he is a first year student. I simply cannot allow someone so young and lacking in experience to take such a risk, a risk only police officers and officially licensed adult pro heroes ought to be taking."
"Actually, I have to agree with the boy who's arguing to let Midoriya stay and help out," Ryukyu said, "That Black Paladin was too slippery for me and some of the other pro heroes here to keep pinned down so we can try finishing it off, but Midoriya was able to defeat it no problem. I feel like we're going to be needing him if there's another Black Paladin in there."
Turning to look at Sir Nighteye, All Might said, "What do you think, Sir Nighteye? Ultimately this raid is your responsibility, although I do strongly urge you to agree sending all of the hero students back and letting us handle things is the right way to go."
The salaryman looking pro hero held a hand to his chin, wore a contemplative look on his face. "...At an absolute minimum," Sir Nighteye said, "We ought to keep Mirio and his year mates from U.A. that are here. They've proven that they can stand with actual pros already, and we'll need all of the help that we can get. But I do agree that sending back all hero students under third year is a good idea."
Bakugo and Todoroki let off annoyed huffs, although All Might looked mostly relieved. The pro heroes had all of the hero students gathered around and told that all of them were being sent back to the safety of U.A., aside from Mirio, Nejire, and Tamaki. Most of the first years were... actually relieved they wouldn't have to be facing anymore of the League of Villains's quirk-forged undead looking monsters.
Shinso looked a mix of relieved and understanding, and Todoroki and Bakugo looked annoyed although not because they were being kept out of the action. As for Ainz, when he saw All Might give the announcement that all of the first years were being sent back, the Sorcerer King couldn't help it but feel like the Symbol of Peace was subtly hinting at wanting as much of whatever glory there was to be gained here to himself.
A vote was held when some of the pro heroes and a number of police officers argued for letting any willing first year hero student stay and help, but when the vote ruled in favor of the outcome that All Might wanted, all of the adults had no choice but to send back all of the first years regardless of if any were willing to stay and help with the raid.
When All Might tried reassuring the first years that they will be given a chance when they're more experienced, Ainz once again felt like All Might was secretly not wanting to share any glory to be gained here, and was settling for sending away all first years after an argument was made to let the third years stay. Ainz felt that the Symbol of Peace, in addition to unknowingly trying to keep the name of Izuku Midoriya from achieving renown, was in need of being served a slice of humble pie.
...Well, since he was being sent back to U.A. for safety reasons, Ainz suddenly found himself with a lot of free time on his hands. As the Sorcerer King was already planning on how to work things here, he saw Shinso hand his expandable baton over to Aizawa while saying it's more effective than their hunting knives on the monsters that look like skeletons. Aizawa, arching an eyebrow that denoted a degree of piqued curiosity and interest, thanked Shinso before sending him off with the other first year students back to the safety of U.A.
As the first year hero course students were making their way back to U.A., Bakugo let out an annoyed growl. "Damn it, I can't believe we're being sold short here," snarled the explosive teen, his temper clearly stoked.
"The pro heroes have their reasons for sending us back, Bakugo," Shinso said.
"But we did prove ourselves," Bakugo said, "I mean, we fought that horde of quirk-forged undead looking monsters that the League of Villains sicced on us and all of the other hero academy students at Takoba, taking out all that was sent against us... and then there's no denying how Deku here has proven to be pretty much the go to guy for smoking Black Paladins."
Nodding once, Kirishima said, "Yeah, I think it's un-manly that the prime Slayer of Black Paladins is being sent away when there's a chance more may show up."
"Well it's reassuring to know that I have the confidence of some people here in Japan," Ainz said, "But given that this is official pro hero business as we technically aren't pro heroes, we have to do as the actual pro heroes say."
Tsuyu nodded once before she said, "Hado-senpai whispered to me and Ochaco that she'd gladly swap places with you Midoriya, with you staying to help the pro heroes and police and Hado-senpai leaving to go back to U.A. with us."
"Amajiki-senpai whispered the exact same thing to me," Kirishima said, "He'd gladly return to U.A. with us while Midoriya took his place to fight those monsters."
As the U.A. first years continued to make their way back to U.A., they passed by a store that just so happened to be one of the Mr. Suzuki owned businesses. Ainz during the early parts of his scouting for store fronts found this one and figured it'd be great to launder money for the Shie Hassaikai if turned into a business. It was a book store that offered much lower prices than many big name book stores due to dealing with used goods.
It also had an apartment located above the store, which is yet another reason Ainz chose it. The apartment served as a store room for the book store but it could be cleared up and set up to be a residence if the need ever arose; it even had a little living room area set up already if one wanted to hide in the above store apartment and spend all day reading. It would serve as the perfect place for Ainz to do some... monitoring, as it were.
"Ah, this is one of the stores my sponsor Mr. Suzuki owns," Ainz said, "And one that I like as it deals in the business of books."
"You do give off a scholarly vibe, Midoriya," Shinso remarked, "What with how you pull in good grades at school consistently, not to mention how the wizard look you're pulling off makes you look like the kind of person who'd love to hole up with a bunch of books."
Looking to his peers, Ainz said, "Do you suppose Aizawa-sensei and the other heroes will get mad at us if we took care of some errands while we're out before returning to U.A.? I want to head in to see if there's a few books I'm looking for."
Holding a hand to his chin, Todoroki said, "Now that you mention it Midoriya, we do have some free time on hand, given we were sent away from the raid. I suppose that if we get back to U.A. before the raid is over, then ultimately there is no harm." Folding his arms over his chest, Todoroki went on, "I can pick up some of this one snack that I'm rather fond of but it's not available on campus."
"This may be off subject, but it still amazes me how big of a deal girls at school like Hagakure and Ashido are making of it that you aren't interested in dating anyone, Todoroki," Ochaco said, "Your love life or lack of interest in having one is your own business. At least I feel as such."
Todoroki gave Ochaco a single nod of acknowledgement. "Thanks for being so understanding and respectful of me, Uraraka."
With a look of consideration on her face, Tsuyu said, "Maybe I can pick up a few things myself while we're out kero. There's this jelly candy that I like which isn't available on campus back at U.A."
"I... have no money to spare," Ochaco admitted out of embarrassment, "So I'll just head straight back to school."
"A new CD I want just hit store shelves yesterday," Bakugo said, "But I haven't been able to buy it. I got it that it's available at the music store across the street from school, so I'll swing on by there to buy a copy before heading back."
Shrugging, Shinso said, "Since we do have free time and it's still fairly early in the day, I can swing by the nearby cat cafe for breakfast."
"I... I feel like I wanna let some steam off," Kirishima said, looking down at his right hand as he clenched it shut into a fist, "I'll head straight back to U.A. as well, the gym there has better means to take punishment from a serious workout."
With the plans in mind, the U.A. students agreed to do their own respective things before (most of) them headed back to school. Before Ochaco left, Ainz offered her some spending money if she wanted to treat herself. "I have some credit with Mr. Suzuki, so I'll be fine," Ainz explained as he offered Ochaco a ten-thousand yen bill, a sum that surprised everyone present, even Shinso who's comparatively as stoic as Aizawa.
"B-But this is a lot of money, Midoriya!" Ochaco said, clearly flustered.
"I do not think it is fair that you are returning to school without doing anything due to lack of funds," Ainz replied, "So you ought to treat yourself."
"Damn, Midoriya," Kirishima said, "You're pretty generous. It's hella manly."
Now that she had funds, Ochaco said that she'd join Tsuyu in her errands if she'll allow it, to which the frog girl agreed. With everyone now having something to do, they all broke away to do their respective things, with Ainz heading straight into the used bookstore. He saw that there was only one person in the store at the time, the person manning the counter.
It was a female thug who was a lesser member of the Shie Hassaikai, but not one that's high enough in the hierarchy of the organization to be of great importance. She also wasn't in any sort of legal trouble, so she was safe to work as a public face. The female thug, a slim but healthy cute girl in her early twenties with rainbow hair that shifted in color due to her quirk, wasn't even paying attention to who it was that walked in as she was watching a NetTube video on her phone.
Ainz subtly cast an illusion spell to make anyone who looked into the store think nothing was going on inside, also would keep anyone from being interested/wanting to go in until Ainz was out of the way. Ainz then cast another illusion spell to appear as his skeletal self wearing the royal orange robe with the hood, as well as the iron gauntlets and the Mask of Jealousy. "Ahem," Ainz spoke up, getting the girl's attention.
When she saw she was being visited by the true boss, the girl very nearly fell out of her seat. "S-Sir!" the girl stammered, "I, umm, uhh-"
"It's fine," Ainz said, "It's still early in the morning and I bet that no customers have even come in yet. Anyway, I'm going to be taking some books up to the apartment above the store here to have some alone personal time. Take care not to let anyone disturb me, I actually need to get away from some of the others for a bit."
"You can count on me, sir!" the girl said, "The upstairs is employees only anyway, so it's not like anyone will go up there without me knowing and saying so." Ainz nodded once before he proceeded to make his through the store, picked a few books without care what they were (he wasn't actually going to read them, he just picked them for his cover), and took them with him to the apartment above the storefront.
...
Alone in the small apartment above the storefront, Ainz first cast some counter intelligence spells to make the place completely secure against any manner of scrying. He then made his way into the actual apartment; it was filled mostly with boxes of books, but it was set up enough so that it could serve as a place to stay overnight if need be. The girl who worked the counter down in the store had stayed here overnight a few times for various reasons.
There was a plush black leather loveseat with its back to the wall, a coffee table directly in front of said loveseat, a TV on a stand against the wall opposite of the loveseat, a large and comfy papasan chair in the corner to the right of the loveseat (if you're seated on the loveseat) with a large round pink smooth cloth cushion that filled slash lined the entire chair, and lots and lots of boxes filled with books all around. The kitchen off to the side was moderately well stocked.
Ainz had no need for any of the food or drink, as he is undead. But he did know of some folks who did have a need to eat and drink that would be able to keep him company. And given who is serving as the boss enemy of the raid, Ainz figured that those two people would be interested in keeping him company here to see how she did if any of the raid team members were actually able to reach her through all of the minor undead that would be waiting inside.
"Portal to Nazarick," Ainz said before stepping into the portal, which closed behind him. A few moments later, the portal appeared again, and Ainz still with his illusion spell up to disguise his look came back out with Aura and Mare following him before the portal closed behind them.
"Wow, I think this makes Cocytus the only floor guardian to not yet visit the second New World, Lord Ainz," Aura remarked as she and her twin brother looked around the small apartment they were in.
"...Huh, that's a valid point," Ainz said, "I'll have to keep that in mind. I wouldn't want him feeling left out of the fun here, especially as I had Sasuke do something Cocytus could have done just as well."
As she looked around, Aura asked, "Where exactly are we, Lord Ainz?"
"This is a small apartment located above one of my money making interests here in the second New World," Ainz explained, "This apartment is being used mainly as a store room for said interest, but it's set up well enough to serve me well for why I'm here right now. I brought you and Mare along because I figured that you two would like to keep me company while I monitor things from here."
"What exactly are we going to be monitoring, Lord Ainz?" Mare asked, giving off a somewhat timid air as he always did.
"It's actually me who has to monitor things," Ainz said, "You and Aura are free to read any of the books in the boxes if you wish, or watch the TV. But if either of you would also like, you may watch what all I'll be monitoring." The Sorcerer King sat down on the loveseat and got some magical monitor screens to appear, showing various scenes that were over at the now abandoned first Shie Hassaikai compound.
As Mare looked through one of the boxes for the books that Ainz mentioned, Aura looked at the screens and noticed what was being shown in the one screen that was the most to Ainz's bottom right. "Hey!" Aura said as she pointed at the most bottom right screen, "That bloodsucker Shalltear is right there!" The most bottom right screen did indeed show Shalltear, wearing her signature armor and wielding her Spuit Lance. She looked like she was waiting for someone to come to greet her.
Turning to look at Aura, Ainz said, "Indeed, Aura. As the base that is being shown is a base of mine but was compromised to the heroes of this world, I decided to use it as a way to test how effective bases of mine here can deal with raids. It's been set up with sufficient fodder forces from Nazarick, as well as a fair few traps, and Shalltear is waiting at the end to greet anyone who is able to get to the end of the dungeon. All good dungeon raids ought to end with a boss encounter, after all."
"Shalltear serves as the floor guardian for the first three floors of Nazarick," Aura remarked, "So it's weird to see her serving as the guardian of what's essentially the last floor of a dungeon."
"Hmm, I suppose you have a point," Ainz said. The Sorcerer King told the dark elf twins that there was food in the kitchen area if either were hungry, and Aura immediately went to look while Mare was still looking through the books. While they were both distracted with their respective things, Ainz looked at all of the monitor screens as he saw the remains of the raid team try to make its way through the old Shie Hassaikai compound.
There was a number of traps throughout, as well as a good number of undead. The undead was mostly low level pop monsters such as skeletons and simple zombies, a few Nazarick Guarders here and there, and one Death Knight every few levels. All of this was topped off with Shalltear at the end, waiting to see if any of the humans who were part of the raid team would be able to reach her at the end of the dungeon.
With just the persons who showed up to the raid, Ainz was confident that only he would be able to reach the end, where he would have a mock fight with Shalltear that would see her flee while taking with her whatever undead weren't vanquished. The fight would be a show to help bolster the renown that Ainz was trying to build up in the second New World, similar to his 'fight' against Sasuke during the attack on the Provisional License Exams.
However, backup was called in to help the raid team, with said backup coming in the form of All Might and Endeavor with the latter bringing a number of sidekicks. Additionally, All Might had all of the first years sent away from the raid in what Ainz saw as an obvious bid on part of All Might to horde as much renown as possible to himself. Because of this, Ainz's plans to use the raid to gain more renown were scuttled.
Not only that, but the additional power on the side of the heroes made it more likely that the raid team had a real shot to reach Shalltear, especially since that glory stealing oaf All Might was part of things now, and he had proven capable of vanquishing Death Knights. Seeing as how it was clear that no one had reached Shalltear yet, Ainz called her via Message. "Shalltear, it's me," Ainz said, and on the screen that showed her, Shalltear perked up.
"Lord Ainz?" Shalltear replied, "What's going on?"
"There's... been a change of plans," Ainz said, "I am no longer part of the raid team, so we won't be able to have our mock fight."
"Why?" Shalltear asked, "What happened?"
"All Might happened, that's why," Ainz said dryly, "That being said, a tall and very buff blonde haired man will be the one most likely to reach you first in the raid. He's bar none the strongest member of the raid team, but he's still well below your level. You should have no issue besting him."
Shalltear was seen in the monitor screen showing her nodding once in understanding. "What do I do after I kill him, Lord Ainz?"
"I'll think about how to deal with him, so don't do anything to his body," Ainz replied, "Just remember the acting you have to do."
"What if anyone comes in with All Might?" Shalltear asked.
"Kill them too," Ainz said, "Depending on who they are, I'll decide whether or not to resurrect them and make it look like they were merely knocked out during the raid." Considering the fact that Ryukyu was the only hero not going into the dungeon due to the size of her dragon form, Ainz could not care less who lived and died during the raid, because at most he'll only need to resurrect a few choice humans afterwards.
He just hopes said choice humans if they die aren't killed by any of the Death Knights, at least in a way that triggers the Death Knights' passive that raises those they killed as undead of the same level. Ainz was still curious about why the teacher killed by a Death Knight during the incident over at Aldera wasn't raised; was it due to how brutally violent said teacher had been killed, his body far too damaged to make raising him feasible?
As Ainz contemplated that, Aura came back with a bottle of cola. Similarly, Ainz noted that Mare was curled up in the papasan chair, reading a book that Ainz... was surprised was among the stock at the used book store. Considering what the book was, the Sorcerer King was surprised that there was even a copy of it available in Japan here in the second New World. Ainz made a mental note to ask the girl downstairs about it.
Ainz was also surprised to see that Mare was actually willingly reading it. Just what kind of person was Bukubukuchagama like exactly?
END, CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Author's notes;
This chapter kicks off with the raid team going against the old Shie Hassaikai compound being thrown for a loop when a bunch of undead come out, including a Death Knight who isn't stopped until Ainz kills it. When the undead who came out initially are finally stopped, the raid teams calls in some help, which arrives in the form of All Might and Endeavor, the latter of whome brings a bunch of sidekicks along.
All Might calls for all of the hero students to be sent back for safety reasons, but Sir Nighteye manages to argue for keeping the Big Three around. There is some annoyance with the first years all being sent away, especially seeing as one of them is Ainz who proved to be effective at dealing with the most threatening of monsters. Ainz himself is annoyed, and sees this as All Might wanting to hog as much glory to himself as possible.
So Ainz finds a secret, secure, cozy place to monitor the raid from, and with Aura and Mare to keep him company, Ainz Messages Shalltear to inform her of a change in plans. Until the next chapter, take care and stay safe.